What is Alliance?
Alliance is the game of diplomacy and conflict set in the Napoleonic era using the esteemed Columbia Block System.Up to seven players vie for supremacy by negotiating deals in “the battle before the battle” and, if talks break down…war!
A Beautiful playfield!
The map itself is enough to make any bystander want to jump into the action. A larger, neoprene map, (a full image is available below), will also be available to give your game a feel of equal epicness of the conflict itself.
The “Columbia Block System”
Quebec 1759 is the first Columbia Block System game that innovated wargaming!
The game information for each piece is facing the player, but not the opponent! This allows a “fog-of-war” aspect of play that allows an extra layer of subtlety to gameplay. It allows for feints, bluffs, and outright surprises!
Also, it has a step reduction system built into place as well! As units take damage, they simply are rotated to show their new strength. It is an innovative design that has been a fan favorite of gamers in the know for years!
Download the Rules!
Want to dive into a little light reading? Then download the rules! It is an easy read and only 8 pages long!
What an amazing game – with a lower player count it flows well and has great player interactions and dynamics, with the geography, victory conditions and force pools producing a real Napoleonic feel. It’s not a deep simulation but a fun game with simple and effective rules which lead to rich game play within a relatively short play time.
We had a great time playing this game. There may be other games that do this, but it combines elements of Diplomacy with a very cool wargame engine using a 4 sided token that allows for a Stratego-like concealed movement.
Have only played the solitaire rules to learn the game. Find them to be original and fun and straightforward. Each game has been different with the random card draw. And you learn a whole lot about the geography of Europe!
As the solo player, you must maintain a “Balance of Power” so that you can keep your options open for subsequent actions given the random card draw. If you beat up on a particular power, you may find yourself out of luck if that is the next card you draw. So in a conceptual way, the solo version quite accurately represents the play of politics and alliances in that era. I look forward to teaching it to our gaming group, and negotiating the Balance of Power.
Pretty amazing flexibility to allow 1-7 players (probably best with 3-4, though). I like the low block count, simple mechanics, and card-driven play, which makes this Napoleonic game accessible to a non-expert.
