Napoleon at Bay: The Campaign in France, 1814

About this board game

Napoleon at Bay: The Campaign in France, 1814 is a two-player, 180-minute, division-level simulation of Napoleon’s 1814 campaign. It portrays one of his finest campaigns, fought against the combined armies of Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

The game focuses on Napoleon’s use of subtlety and lightning speed while facing heavy odds. Players experience a campaign in which isolated enemy forces can be attacked on advantageous terms, presenting a classic example of maneuver and concentration.

At the heart of the design is Napoleon’s use of interior lines. The game shows him shifting to engage different parts of the opposing armies, reflecting the campaign’s movement between separated enemy forces rather than treating the conflict as one continuous front.

Napoleon at Bay uses the CAMPAIGNS System — Series 1. Its scale places players at the division level, with each hex representing 3,200 meters, each strength point representing 1,000 men, and each turn covering two days.

• Players: 2
• Playing time: 180 minutes
• Setting: The Campaign in France, 1814
• Scale: 3,200 meters per hex, 1,000 men per strength point, and two days per turn

Released in 1978, the game offers a focused study of a campaign in which Napoleon confronted overwhelming opposition through rapid movement and carefully chosen engagements. Its division-level perspective and campaign framework make the historical situation the central feature of play.

The 1983 edition contains 260 counters, including 18 blanks. For players interested in Napoleonic campaigns, this simulation presents a detailed look at the 1814 campaign and the strategic importance of operating along interior lines.