Clash of Giants II: 1st Ypres & Galicia 1914

About this board game

Clash of Giants II: 1st Ypres & Galicia 1914 is a 1–2 player First World War strategy game with an approximate playing time of 300 minutes. It presents two separate campaigns using a shared system: the struggle between Russia and Austria-Hungary in Galicia, and the climax of the Race to the Sea at First Ypres.

In Galicia 1914, players command armies across a 200-mile front from Krakow to the Romanian border. Austria-Hungary must attack early to gain enough victory points to withstand the powerful Russian offensive that follows, while special rules cover the fortress of Przemysl, rail supply, Russian cavalry replacements, Austrian reinforcements, and major assault preparations.

First Ypres covers the brutal fighting from Lens to the English Channel. The scenario includes the Belgian retreat from Antwerp, flooding along the Yser River, cavalry replacements, British remnant counters, and uncertain Tactical Efficiency Ratings for the newly raised German reserve corps. Victory depends on controlling five of nine key victory hexes at the end of the game.

The game’s command system makes coordinating large formations difficult. Each army receives its own movement allowance through a command roll, while an interactive random chit-pull activation sequence keeps the next activation uncertain. Each player has only one combat phase per turn and must choose when to declare it, balancing the opportunity to attack against the risk of giving the opponent time to reposition or strike first.

Combat uses Tactical Efficiency Ratings that reflect training, equipment, and morale, meaning numerical strength is not the only measure of battlefield power. The package includes:

• One 22" × 34" backprinted game map
• Two player aid cards
• Two 5/8" countersheets
• Two six-sided dice

With closely balanced campaigns and difficult operational decisions, Clash of Giants II offers a detailed examination of two distinctive 1914 offensives.