A game of B&T can last 1 or more game years depending on the scenario chosen — up to the full conflict. During each game year, there are 8 action rounds where players move their pieces on land and sea, perform raids, build forts and roads, etc. Battles/sieges usually occur at the end of each action round. A game year also includes 3 logistics rounds: “Fleets arrive”, “Colonials enlist” and “Winter quarters”.

B&T is card driven. But unlike most card assisted war games player don't manage a hand of cards. Each player starts the year with one undisclosed reserve Action card picked randomly. At the beginning of each Action round, both players draw a new card. They must then choose one of their 2 cards to play for the current round. The other card becomes their reserve for the next round. At each action round, the French player also gets a random Indians action card.

The Action points (AP) on the cards in play determine how many stacks of pieces a player can activate during the current round. In addition the cards trigger events and determine initiative for the next Action round. Movement is point to point. Pieces can also move via sea zones.

Each side has particular assets he must make the most of in order to achieve victory. The British have overwhelming numbers, the French are more adept at wilderness fighting with the help of their numerous Indian allies. To win, a player must control enough enemy key spaces to reach the scenario’s Invasion victory points requirement by game end. In one-year scenarios, pieces removed permanently from play yield Invasion VP as well. The French player can also win if he succeeds in enough raids during the current year to reach the scenario’s Raid victory points requirement.

By its nature, the game lends itself to solitaire play. In bonus, the rules allow to split the actions of each camp methodically. This way, up to 2 British players (British, Colonial) and 3 French players (French, Canadien, Indian) can relive the historic pains of shared command.

COMPONENTS:

t• 22" x 34" mounted map

• 54 cards: 21 British, 21 French, and 12 Indian

• 135 unit counters: 54 British, 21 Colonial British, 44 French, and 16 Indian

• 8 Commanders: 4 French and 4 British

• 17 Vagaries of War tokens

• 1 small fabric bag

• 6 custom dice

• 1 sheet of markers

• 1 Player Aid sheet

• 4 Scenario Information sheets

• 1 Indian Setup sheet

• Rulebook and Playbook

SCENARIOS:

    1755 Vaudreuil's Petite Guerre

    1757 Loudoun's Gamble

    1758 Amherst's Juggernaut

    1755-1759 French & Indian War campaign

VARIANTS:

    1755-56 Early French & Indian War

    1758 An Ambitious British Offensive

    1755-1759 French & Indian War with historical reinforcements

PLUS:

    Optional 1760 campaign year

BGG link Living Rules from GMT