The Three Days of Gettysburg (Second Edition)

About this board game

The Three Days of Gettysburg (Second Edition) is a detailed two-player simulation of the three most important days of the Battle of Gettysburg, with an approximately 360-minute playing time. Released in 2000, it is designed for players ready to devote a large table and a weekend or two to the experience.

The battlefield goes far beyond basic terrain. Alongside clear ground, woods, hills, rivers, and roads, the maps represent different road types, varying elevations, slopes on hex edges, and differing levels of human habitation. Buildings may affect movement or positioning, adding further detail to the landscape.

Units include infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with several types of each. Around eight different kinds of infantry and artillery have varying performance, while morale ratings determine how much fire units can withstand before they are likely to become demoralized. Some units are green, and formations can matter at the scale represented by the game.

• Units contain varying numbers of troops.
• Some units can occupy two hexes when marching or deployed in line.
• One especially large unit can occupy three hexes when fully deployed.
• The second edition includes replacement maps drawn by Joe Youst.
• The update materials include new counters, charts, tables, and reinforcement lists for both sides.

The initial level of detail may feel staggering, but after the rules have been learned, play is described as flowing rapidly. That accessibility does not make it a quick game: The Three Days of Gettysburg remains a substantial commitment for two players seeking an expansive and highly granular battlefield experience.