Wilderness War is GMT's latest entry into the card-driven wargame series, following For the People and Paths of Glory. Dramatically simpler and more streamlined than either of their previous entries, the complexity still exceeds the classic Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, but only just.
In Wilderness War, the players get to re-fight the 7 Years War in North America. Although only a single deck of strategy cards is used, a la We the People, the two sides are dramatically different in character: the French are irregular-heavy (especially Indians) and rely on raiding to tie down the superior numbers of British Regular & Provincial drilled troops, who will themselves be intent on sieges and trying to force a pitched battle. Like Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, the fortunes of war turn as the game goes on: the French are masters early, with the crushing British manpower advantage accruing late.
A lot of the interesting aspects of this war are covered through rules or special cards, from the early recalcitrance of the colonial assemblies and infighting amongst the colonials to the very different natures of the battles of outposts and sieges and the raiding in the backwoods.
Winner of the 2002 International Gamers Award.
Winner of the 2001 Charles S. Roberts awards for Best Pre-World War II Boardgame (Charles S. Roberts Awards).
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