A House Divided (1981)

A strategic-level wargame about the American War Between the States. It features point-to-point movement, low-complexity rules, and relatively few counters to maneuver. The game can simulate the entire war, or the action can be broken up into year-long scenarios.

Alan Emerich writes, "I did the additional design work for the 2nd edition of the game, and have added some player aid sheets and additional optional rules for both it and the 3rd edition of the game." He offers the Living Rules 3.1, dated May 2006, on his website. (See web link below for the full package; some parts are available in the Files section.)

In his Designer's Notes, when comparing rules set 3 (the Phalanx Games version) to 3.1, Emerich says "matters of phrasing, timing, and examples have greatly improved the game’s clarity" while taking the rules length from 20 pages to 30.

The Living Rules 3.1 package also includes player boards helping the management of some advanced/optional rules, and his suggested additional counters (flat leader units, orders, navy counters, more flags and entrenchments...) "should a 4th edition ever be published".

Magazine References:
BattlePlan Index Article List:

• Battleplan,No.1 March-April 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 1 of 3, Alan Emrich
• Battleplan,No.2 November-December 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 2 of 3, Alan Emrich
• Battleplan,No.3 July-August 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 3 of 3, Alan Emrich

Awards

2002: Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee.

1989: Charles S. Roberts awards, Best Pre-World War II Boardgame

Microbadges: