Clash of Giants: Campaigns of Tannenberg and the Marne, 1914

About this board game

Clash of Giants: Campaigns of Tannenberg and the Marne, 1914 is a World War I strategy game for 1–2 players with an advertised playing time of 180 minutes. It includes two separate games using the same core system: the German victory at Tannenberg and the climactic Battle of the Marne.

At Tannenberg, German forces must halt a Russian offensive into East Prussia and destroy the Russian 2nd Army. The victory conditions push both sides to take risks, while the German player must exploit every advantage to withstand superior Russian numbers. Special rules include German wireless intercepts.

At the Marne, Germany attempts to defeat France during the war’s first six weeks. The Allied player must first disengage and rally French and British armies before launching a powerful counterattack, while the German player can win instantly by taking Paris. The Marne also includes an Allied Counterattack scenario.

The system focuses on the challenge of commanding groups of armies. Each army’s movement allowance is determined separately by a command roll, while combat emphasizes training, equipment, and morale rather than simply counting numbers.

• Two full-size, large-hex maps covering Tannenberg and the Marne
• 264 full-color counters representing divisions and brigades
• Rules for solo or competitive play
• Two player aid cards, a rulebook, a battle book, and one six-sided die

Turns represent 1–2 days, with each hex covering 4.5 or 3.3 miles. Tannenberg can be completed in a couple of hours, while the Marne can be played in an afternoon, making Clash of Giants a focused way to explore two defining campaigns of 1914.