Great Medieval Battles is a collection of 4 board wargames published in 1979 by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) that simulates historic battles that were fought during the Medieval period.
Great Medieval Battles is a collection of 4 board wargames published in 1979 by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) that simulates historic battles that were fought during the Medieval period.
Great Medieval Battles is a "quadrigame", four thematically connected games that use the same basic rules. The four games in the box are:
The game box includes:
The games use a common set of rules with an alternating sequence of phases. The first player uses the following sequence:
The second player then repeats this series of phases to complete one Game Turn.
In addition to the standard rules, each game has some additional rules that are unique to its situation.
After the success of SPI's first quadrigame, Blue & Gray in 1975, the company quickly produced more quadrigames over the next four years. Great Medieval Battles was published in 1979, rose to #5 on SPI's Top Ten Bestseller List the month it was published, and stayed on the list for the next four months. [1] Each of the games in Great Medieval Battles were also offered for individual sale. [1]
In 1999, two of the games, Tamburlaine and Bannockburn, were re-released in Strategy & Tactics #197. In 2010, Black Prince was re-released in Strategy & Tactics #260.
In Issue 98 of Campaign, Kevin Pollock commented "SPI has designed a nice game system to reflect conditions on the medieval battlefield while still holding on to the basic idea of the quad system - simplicity. The only problem I can see is that the game tends to be a bit slow due to the excessive number of die rolls." [2]
In Issue 15 of The Grenadier , Ralph Vickers was not sure the rules truly reflected a simulation of medieval warfare, noting "On the whole one must conclude that medieval warfare in the hobby still has a way to go in its development." Vickers concluded "Before medieval games get into the ballpark of realism, game mechanics will have to be developed similar to supply in WW II type games." [3]
In a retrospective review in Issue 85 of Fire & Movement , Peter Pariseau liked the game, calling it "one of the more interesting past efforts. [It] offers a number of interesting ideas, and designers have been slow to use its many insights." Pariseau concluded, "Four Great Medieval Battles was ahead of its time ... The real key to the game is in the unusual combat system and its variable rout result." [4]
In a retrospective review in Issue 6 of Simulacrum, written over 20 years after the publication of Great Medieval Battles, John Kula considered the relatively simple and dated game and commented, "Board wargame systems have tended to become more sophisticated and more complex. In some respects, this is good, as it demonstrates a development and maturation which are commendable and healthy for the hobby. The cloud in this silver lining is the unfortunate feeling that the early games are unsophisticated and somehow beneath our dignity. This paternalism is distressing." [5]
Cemetery Hill, subtitled "The Battle of Gettysburg, 1–3 July 1863", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1975 as part of the "quadrigame" Blue & Gray: Four American Civil War Battles that simulated four battles of the American Civil War. Cemetery Hill was later released as a stand-alone "folio" game.
Golan subtitled "Syrian-Israeli Combat in the '73 War", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that simulates operational level ground combat between Egypt and Israel on the Golan Heights during the just completed Yom Kippur War of October 1973. Golan was originally published as part of the "quadrigame" Modern Battles: Four Contemporary Conflicts.
Napoleon's Last Battles is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications in 1976 that simulates the last four battles fought by Napoleon. It was one of SPI's most popular games, and also received many positive reviews.
Linda D. Mosca was the first commercially published female board wargame designer. In the mid-1970s, when the wargame industry was dominated by men, she was the only woman employed in a creative role.
King Arthur, subtitled "The Battle of Stonehenge, 536", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1979 that simulates the fictional Battle of Camlann between the forces of King Arthur and his son Mordred.
Blue & Gray: Four American Civil War Battles is a board wargame originally published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that simulates four battles from the American Civil War.
Battles for the Ardennes is a "quadrigame" — a board wargame that contains four different battles using one set of rules — originally published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1978 that simulates Second World War battles in the Ardennes Forest region in 1940 and again in 1944.
The Art of Siege, subtitled "Four Great Siege Battles", is a collection of four board wargames published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1979 that simulates four famous sieges.
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Marengo: Napoleon in Italy, 14 June 1800 is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1975 as one of four games packaged together in the Napoleon at War "quadrigame". Marengo was also released as a separate game the same year. The game simulates the Battle of Marengo between Austrian and French forces.
Modern Battles: Four Contemporary Conflicts is a collection of four board wargames published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that simulates four modern-day battles set in the early 1970s.
Napoleon at War, subtitled "Four Battles", is a collection of four board wargames published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that simulates various battles fought by Napoleon.
Thirty Years War, subtitled "Four Battles", is a "quadrigame" — four separate board wargames packaged in one box that use a common set of rules — published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1976. The four games simulate different battles during the Thirty Years' War, and were sold individually as well as in the quadrigame format. Some of the games were well received by critics, but overall, the quadrigame did not sell well.
Westwall: Four Battles to Germany is a collection of four board wargames published by Simulations Publications (SPI) in 1976 that simulate battles in Europe in late 1944 and early 1945 during World War II.
Blue & Gray II, subtitled "Four American Civil War Battles", is a collection of four board wargames originally published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that each simulate a battle from the American Civil War. It is the sequel to Blue & Gray published earlier in the year. Each of the four games was also published as individual "folio games."
Four Battles in North Africa is a collection of four board wargames published in 1976 by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) that simulate various battles during the North African Campaign of World War II.
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Four Battles of Army Group South is a collection of four board wargames published in 1979 by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) that simulate various battles between German and Soviet forces on the Eastern Front of World War II.
Supercharge: Battle of El Alamein, October 1942 is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1976 that simulates Operation Supercharge during the Second Battle of El Alamein of World War II. The game was originally published as part of the Four Battles in North Africa "quadrigame" — a collection of four games simulating four separate battles that all use the same rules. Supercharge was also published as an individual "folio game."
Robert at Bannockburn, subtitled "The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1979 that simulates the Battle of Bannockburn between armies of the English and the Scottish. The game was originally published as part of Great Medieval Battles, a collection of four games.