STRATEGIKON

In 1688, Louis XIV embarked upon a war of aggression later called the NINE YEAR's War or the War of the Grand Alliance. At the same time, supported by influential British political and religious leaders, Wiliam III Prince of Orange crossed the Channel to invade England, deposing the English King James II, his father-in-law in the "Glorious Revolution." The War of the Grand Alliance is a companion game to No Peace Without Spain. A new countersheet provides additional leaders (for such commanders as William III, duke of Luxembourg and Vauban), additional corps and additional fleet counters while a set of new event cards allow the players to recreate the most famous incidents of the war such as the Pacification of Scotland, the naval battles of Lagos and Beachy Head and the Death of Louis.

Nine Years: War of the Grand Alliance 1688-1697 offers some additional options such as fighting in the Northern American Colonies, where the conflict was known as King William's War, naval battles in the Atlantic between the Bourbon and Allied Atlantic Fleets and special rules for invading England and -newly present- Ireland. Victory points are still gained or lost by the Alliance player, but with new features. Peace negotiations are influenced by the board position in Spain, Germany, Ireland and England.

This Stand alone game uses the No Peace without Spain System, also contains a campaign game combining the components and scenario rules of both the Nine Years: War of the Grand Alliance 1688-1697 and NO PEACE WITHOUT SPAIN games into one epic scenario running from 1688 to 1713 for the epic scenario ownership off both games is needed. Now players can recreate one of the decisive moments in European history, as France begins its long slide to revolution, Austria enjoys its last moment of continental dominance, and Britain asserts itself as the preeminent economic power of Europe.

Will Louis XIV assert French hegemony? Will Austria prevail in central Europe? Will England continue as a Bourbon ally or become "Great Britain.?" These and other possibilities are now open to players.

Note: Ownership of both games in the Series allows one to play the campaign game linking both scenarios.



PRODUCT INFORMATION FOR NINE YEARS: WAR OF THE GRAND ALLIANCE (1688-1697)

. Complexity: Moderate (about 4 out of 10)
. Playing Time: About 4 hours
. Solitaire Suitability: Average due to card driven system
. Series Designer: Don Herndon
. Designers of Nine Years: Sean Chick, Kris Van Beurden
. Artist: Mark Mahaffey

Game
Components:

1 22" x 34" map – compatible with No Peace Without Spain rules
1 rule and scenario book
2 player aid cards
55 playing cards
1 sheet of 100 counters
10 six-sided dice
1 box and lid set

So while waiting for Nine Years War, I got back to my Dutch War scenario and knocked it into shape. It details Louis' surprise attack on the Dutch republic which was to have quickly succumbed to a massive land offensive, while the English (under secret treaty) would attack by sea while supplying a small land force (that's why London is under Bourbon control here and a English corps in French colours is in Dunkirk). But the French did not plan for the Dutch Water Line, a zone of inundations, canals and fortresses. William of Orange became de facto leader of the Dutch republic, and he soon cobbled together an alliance with Spain, Austria and a number of German states (Fr. Wilhelm of Brandenburg started ut as an ally, went neutral, and then active ally again) to turn what was to have been a small quick war on the part of the French into a European wide conflict that would set the stage for the subsequent Nine Years War and War of the Sp. Succession.

I added an Atlantic control box and new turn track, and also made substantial changes to the Netherlands area to allow for increased focus here. The Amsterdam fortress space has been split into two with a new fortress space of Naarden. Groningen has been added with a limited sea move link to Amsterdam. The non-fortified space of Lobith (on the Rhine) has been added to allow the French to make their right hook around Maastricht to attack Amsterdam from the east. The minor power of Cologne/Munster also been added. Also Lille is not yet French, it's Spanish, and level 2 since Vauban hasn't rebuilt it. Since the number of turns is shorter, I use a War Weariness track which also triggers events (such as the murder of the De Witt brothers and appointment of William to supreme commander). Card events cover the naval war as other events. Here are some pics. If anyone is interested in making up a Vassal module to test it out more, let me know (not that proficient with Vassal myself).

I recently discovered the development of this game using as a base the No Peace Without Spain system and map.

It seems a good idea, but I have some reservations on how a map used for depicting the Spanish Succession War can be used for the 9 Years War. I don't know the other theaters of war, but regarding Piedmont the situation in the 2 wars was completely different.

We all know as the NPWS map is, but in the 9 years war I think that:

- there should be no Verrua space but a Casale space, in French hands (its possession was one of the reasons the Duke of Savoy decided to enter the war, since he was surrounded by fortresses in French hands). I think it is of the utmost importance to depict it, otherwise all the meaning of the war in Piedmont gets lost, and also the strategic situation (don't forget that in the 9 Years War Spanish and French are enemies, not allied).

- there should be a Pinerolo fortress in French hands, in the eastern part of the Alps (another reason for the Duke to enter war, to expel the French from there, a fortress so near to Turin and served by easy Alpine passes). Again, it's extremely important to have it.

- Turin was not the big fortress of 10 years after, and played no part in the war.

- there should be a "normal" space connecting Pinerolo and Casale, where the 2 battles were fought (Staffarda and Marsaglia), because the French were trying to connect the 2 fortresses in the piedmontese plain in their hands, Pinerolo and Casale. Again, how can the war be played without the space where the 2 battles were fought?

- there should be a "Dauphiné" mountain space, a country which played no part in the following war but an important part in the 9 years war.

Mauro, thanks for your message.

Our starting position to create this game was to re-use the map. As such, there are some "corners cut" in representing the exact situation of the 9 years war.

If you look at the 5 spaces of the NPWS map, then one of these (Verrua) begins the game Bourbon-controlled, this to represent Casale. The 4 other spaces remain in hands of Savoy, which enters the game in 1690.

I have just finished another game (which I'm going to post about soon) in which several fights were fought between Savoy-Austrian forces & French forces, in the Besançon, Montmelian and Turin spaces. Not exactly historical, but the area is certainly (just like in NPWS) a place of conflict.

Malgré cela, vu le nombre de jeux sur le sujet, je suis curieux de voir ce que ça rend

Tout est dit... Je suis très intéressé moi aussi.
Le parti pris (qui peut se comprendre pour des raisons pratiques et de coût) de garder la carte de NPWS va forcément imposer des limites à la simulation.

J'ai cru comprendre que notre ami Drago préférait même cet opus. Quid du rendu de la guerre de la Ligue d'Augsbourg?