Guns of August

About this board game

Guns of August is a two-player board game with an approximately 180-minute play time that simulates the first three months of World War I on the Western Front. Set during the critical opening phase of the conflict, it captures a period when mobility reigned and the fate of France hung in the balance.

The game is designed to encourage historically accurate play without relying on a rigid collection of special rules. Its mechanics compensate for the benefit of hindsight, allowing players to make decisions that feel historically plausible while still making sense within the game.

Players maneuver corps and divisions across 9-mile-wide hexagons. Each turn represents three days, while modest movement point allowances keep forces from moving freely across the map. Chit pull activation creates a highly interactive flow, ensuring that command decisions unfold with uncertainty rather than following a completely predictable sequence.

• Simulates the opening three months of WWI in the West
• Uses corps and divisions as maneuver units
• Features three-day turns and 9-mile-wide hexagons
• Uses chit pull activation for an interactive game flow
• Resolves combat with artillery and rifles that reveal comparative army strengths

Combat uses artillery and rifles to reveal the comparative strengths of the opposing armies. This approach supports the game’s focus on maneuver, judgment, and the changing balance between the forces in the field.

Optional rules add further uncertainty and replay value. Variable setup changes the initial situation, while fog-of-war counters conceal information and make each decision less certain. Released in 2011, Guns of August offers a focused simulation of a pivotal opening campaign in military history.