1714: The Case of the Catalans

About this board game

1714: The Case of the Catalans is a competitive strategy game for 2–5 players, with an approximate playing time of 120 minutes. Set during the War of the Spanish Succession, it places the powers of the Grand Alliance against Bourbon forces from France, Castile, and Bavaria.

Players represent Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, Austria, Portugal, and Savoy as they seek to reclaim the throne for Archduke Charles and preserve Europe’s balance of power. Yet victory is not shared: each player follows a hidden agenda and competes to secure the most valuable territorial and commercial concessions through the Peace of Utrecht.

Each turn, players choose how to use one of the available cards, resolving its event by paying resources or “selling” it to perform an action. The deck features important battles, events, and characters from the war, while Bourbon victories provide setbacks that counter the players’ plans.

• Recruit troops and strengthen your forces.
• Move armies across the map.
• Attack enemy forces in adjacent areas.
• Gain resources to support your campaign.
• Manage public opinion, also called Will to Fight.

Actions are each available only once per turn, and the same action cannot be used in two consecutive turns. Public opinion also influences the order in which players select new concessions, making national support an important part of the struggle.

In 1714: The Case of the Catalans, military pressure is only one route to success. Careful timing, negotiation with the enemy, resource management, and attention to rival ambitions are all essential to becoming the country that benefits most from the war’s settlement.