And the War Came

And The War Came is a strategic two-player wargame covering the American Civil War. Players take command of either the United States or the Confederate States of America and attempt to shape the course of the war from 1861 to 1865.

The game focuses on army and corps command, operational movement, logistics and fog of war. Players must manage replacements, move their formations, promote their generals and make effective use of order and event cards.

One of the game's defining features is its “We Go” turn system. Both players conduct their operations during seasonal three-month turns. Unit strength and type can be hidden from the opposing player by counter covers, creating uncertainty about the actual strength of enemy formations.

COMMAND AND LEADERSHIP

Generals are at the heart of And The War Came. Leaders can be promoted during the game, with their abilities changing as they rise in rank. They influence the initiative and combat effectiveness of the units under their command.

Generals may also be wounded, captured or killed, making the management of military leadership a key part of the game. This reflects the historical importance of senior commanders during the American Civil War.

Units primarily represent infantry and cavalry corps, along with forts. Movement is conducted through areas rather than a traditional hex grid, keeping the game at a strategic level while making operational movement an important part of play.

FOG OF WAR

Counter covers conceal unit information until formations are committed to combat. Players therefore have to make strategic decisions without always knowing the exact strength or composition of enemy forces.

Cards add another layer of uncertainty. The deck contains order cards used to activate units, as well as cards combining orders and events. These events may represent partisan activity, diplomatic incidents, recruitment, surprise attacks and other wartime developments.

MULTIPLE SCENARIOS

The game includes several scenarios covering different stages of the conflict:

• 1861 – short yearly scenario
• 1862 – short yearly scenario
• 1863 – short yearly scenario
• 1864 – short yearly scenario
• 1861-1863 – multi-year campaign
• 1863-1865 – multi-year campaign
• 1861-1865 – full-war campaign

Players can therefore focus on a particular year or attempt to control the entire course of the American Civil War.

VICTORY

Victory is not based solely on destroying enemy forces. Territorial control, political considerations and war weariness also influence the outcome.

The Union player must take the initiative rather than simply building strength, while the Confederacy seeks to hold territory and make the continuation of the war increasingly costly for the North.

GAME CONTENTS

• 1 20-page rule and scenario booklet
• 1 34 × 22 inch map (86 × 56 cm)
• 90 USA & CSA unit counters
• 108 USA & CSA counter covers
• 41 USA & CSA General counters
• 55 blue & grey marker chips
• 6 USA & CSA player aid sheets
• 30 orders & events cards
• 4 six-sided dice (4d6)

SPECIFICATIONS

Period: American Civil War, 1861-1865
Scale: Strategic / Corps level
Movement: Area movement
System: “We Go”, order cards, fog of war
Players: 2
Playing time: approximately 120 minutes
Age: 14+
Language: English
Designer: Larry Pinkerton
Edition: Pinkerton Games, published under license by Blue Panther LLC

SL-HQ OVERVIEW

And The War Came offers an engaging strategic approach to the American Civil War, placing particular emphasis on leadership, command and uncertainty rather than attempting to reproduce every battlefield engagement in minute detail.

Its combination of rotating counters, counter covers and cards creates an effective fog-of-war system, while the evolving capabilities of the generals give the game a strong command dimension.

For wargamers looking for an accessible strategic American Civil War game, with a relatively moderate playing time and a strong emphasis on leadership and operational decisions, And The War Came is an attractive option.