1776 (boardgame)

1776, subtitled "The Game of the American Revolutionary War", is a board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1974 that simulates the American Revolutionary War. Its release was timed to coincide with the bicentenary of the Revolution, and for several years was a bestseller for Avalon Hill.

Description

1776 is a two-player wargame that contains elements of both strategy and tactical combat. It contains a campaign game plus four scenarios covering the invasion of Canada, the Saratoga campaign, Greene's Southern campaign, and the Yorktown campaign.

Components

The first edition game box contains:

16 in × 44 in (41 cm × 112 cm) mounted hex grid map of colonial America from Quebec to Georgia

416 die-cut counters

two sets of combat cards and several other player aids

32-page rulebook

six-sided die

Gameplay

There are three levels of rules included: Basic, Advanced and Campaign.

In all levels of the game, attacking units must move into the same hex as the enemy unit in order to initiate an attack. This combat lasts as long as both sides wish to engage. If one side disengages, the other side has an opportunity to follow-up and attack, even if it is the attacker who is retreating and the defender who is following up. As Games & Puzzles noted, "Consequently, attacks should not be embarked upon lightly." Supply units must be in the same hex as a unit attacking or defending, otherwise all Combat factors are halved.

In the Advanced and Campaign games, each player has eight Tactical cards which have various strategies on them such as "Frontal Assault" or "Enfilade Left".