A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65 (1981) Board Game

A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65 is a classic board game released in 1981 that focuses on the American Civil War. Designed by Frank Chadwick and Alan Emrich, the game offers players a chance to experience the strategic challenges faced by both the Union and Confederate forces during this tumultuous period in American history.

Game Components of A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65

Game Board: Covers most of the United States mainland, featuring boxes for cities, roads, railroads, and rivers.

Counters: Represent infantry and cavalry units, each containing 10,000 to 15,000 infantry or 7,000 to 10,000 cavalry.

Unit Ranks: Militia, Veteran, and Crack units.

Rules: Four pages of rules for the basic game, with additional advanced rules.

How To Setup A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65

To set up the game, players place their respective Union and Confederacy units on the board according to the initial deployment rules. The game starts in July 1861, with the Union player taking the first turn. Each player must organize their units and resources in preparation for the lengthy campaign ahead.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn Structure: Each game turn is divided into four phases: Movement, Combat, Promotions, and Recruitment.

Unit Movement: Point-to-point movement system without a hex-grid.

Combat: Quick and realistic combat system with modifiers for factors like entrenchments and river crossings. Advanced game includes a combat limit of 8 units per combat round.

Promotions: Units can be promoted from Militia to Veteran or Crack after victorious battles or during the promotion phase.

Recruitment: Players recruit new units based on the resources available in controlled cities.

Game Objective:

Union Victory: Capture all Confederacy cities with a recruitment value of 2 and 3.

Confederacy Victory: Capture Washington, capture enough recruitment cities to surpass the Union’s army maximum, or avoid a Union victory by the end of the game.

Player Experience

Playing **A House Divided** offers a fast-paced and strategic experience, especially considering its scope. The game requires players to manage resources, move units efficiently, and engage in tactical battles. Despite its simplicity, the game captures the essence of the American Civil War, making it an engaging and historically rich experience.

Pros

Simple yet Deep Rules: Easy to learn but with depth for experienced players.

Fast-Paced Gameplay: Games can be completed in less than a full evening.

Historical Accuracy: Effectively recreates the strategic challenges of the Civil War.

Innovative Movement System: Uses a point-to-point movement system instead of a traditional hex-grid.

Cons

Imbalanced Victory Conditions: The Confederacy’s ability to win by capturing Washington can lead to unrealistic last-minute strategies.

Limited Color: Compared to tactical games, it has less detailed gameplay elements.

Personal Thoughts on A House Divided: War Between the States 1861-65

**A House Divided** is ideal for those interested in strategic wargames and the American Civil War. It offers a balanced mix of simplicity and depth, making it accessible to new players while still challenging veterans. The game’s focus on resource management and strategic movement makes it a great choice for anyone looking to experience the high-level decisions faced by commanders during the Civil War. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking highly detailed or tactical gameplay.

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