Objective of the Game

In Wallenstein, a strategic board game set during the Thirty Years' War in Central Europe, players aim to score the most victory points by conquering territories and deftly managing resources like grain and money, over the course of two years.

Game Components

• A board with a map of Central Europe, divided into different regions.
• Province cards corresponding to the regions on the board.
• Player tokens in various colors representing armies and buildings.
• Resource tokens for grain and money.
• A „dice tower,“ used to determine combat outcomes.

Gameplay

Rounds Overview

The game spans two years, with each year divided into five rounds:

1. Planning Phase: Each round starts with planning actions placed secretly on personal boards. Possible actions include moving armies, constructing buildings (palaces, churches, markets), collecting taxes, and recruiting soldiers.

2. Action Phase: Actions are revealed and executed in a fixed order. Not all actions are available each round, requiring strategic foresight.

3. Supply Phase: After the fifth round of each year, players must attempt to feed their populations by giving up grain. Harvest shortfalls can significantly reduce available grain supply and cause revolts if there’s insufficient grain.

4. Winter Phase: After each winter supply phase, a scoring phase occurs, where victory points are awarded for controlled regions, buildings, and provinces with the most palaces, churches, and markets.

Combat

In combat, participating units are thrown into the dice tower. The tower’s mechanics can unpredictably retain some units. The ones that fall out at the bottom determine the combat outcome. Hence, an element of chance plays a crucial role in the game.

Strategic Insights

• Long-term Planning is critical. The selection of actions must be carefully considered with respect to end-of-year victory point scoring.
• Resource Management: Efficient management of grain and money is essential for maintaining armies and expanding regions.
• Observing Opponents: Keeping an eye on opponent's plans and movements can provide important strategic insights.
• Luck Factor in Combat: Since the dice tower can produce unpredictable results, risks should be carefully assessed.

The game concludes after two years, and the player with the most victory points wins.