Wallenstein

About this board game

Wallenstein is a strategy board game for 3–5 players, with games lasting about 150 minutes, set at the beginning of the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). Each player controls several countries and competes to become the strongest power by the end of the game.

Players manage a changing wartime realm through a range of important actions. They can conquer new countries, collect taxes, erect buildings to develop the economy, feed the populace, and provide victuals for their army. Every decision contributes to the challenge of maintaining power while the war continues.

• Control several countries during a major European conflict.
• Conquer territories and collect taxes.
• Build developments that strengthen the economy.
• Feed the population and supply the army.
• Manage unrest and the threat of costly rebellions.

Some actions increase the chance of unrest, and expensive rebellions can break out when pressure becomes too great. Players must therefore balance expansion and development with the needs of their population and army. At the end, the strongest power wins.

The game takes its historical setting from Albrecht von Wallenstein, an ambitious mercenary commander of the Imperial army. His career included rising influence, dismissal and reinstatement, the recovery of Bohemia, defeat by Gustavus Adolphus at Lützen, and eventual assassination at Eger in 1634 after intrigues with Protestant forces.

Wallenstein employs the cube tower included in the publisher’s earlier game, Im Zeichen des Kreuzes. The design was later re-implemented by Shogun and Wallenstein (Second Edition).