Avalon Hill (1970, $7.98)
Designed by Tom Shaw

Players 2 or more
Playing Time 1-2 hours
Period Modern (hypothetical)
S cale Strategic
Turn 1 month
Map not specified
Unit corps

Components
1 AH slipcase Bookcase Box
2 16"x8" mounted mapsheets
1 double-sided instructions card
1 16 page Battle Manual booklet
45 die-cut counters
2 identical sets of 4 defense cards
2 identical double-sided Battle Table cards
2 blue plastic mapboard clips
1 blue plastic parts tray (with shelf for mapboards)
1 yellow business reply postcard
1 magenta "Do A Friend A Favor" postcard
1 AH catalog folder with prices valid through December 31, 1970

Counter Manifest
20 black including 2 spares
25 red including 4 spares

Card Manifest
2 Each set lettered A through D

AH says:

“If you think you have what it takes to run a war ... we present Kriegspiel ... an extension of chess ... the Knights, the Bishops, the Castles, the Pawns become units of infantry, armor, special forces, and mechanized troops. Here YOU command actual military forces in a modern setting. YOUR decisions alone determine each game’s outcome. Kriegspiel contains no chance elements whatever (no dice, no chance cards, no spinners) — it employs logic - tactics - strategy - the science of human behavior.”

The AH Company History (1983) says:

“[S]etting the state of the art back 5 years.”

The reviewer says:

“Resoundingly relegated to bottom position by both [SPI and AH] polls, the game is far too simple for experienced wargamers. Unfortunately, it is also of doubtful value to beginners. There are plenty of interesting rules: invasions, weather, prisoners, supply, and an intriguing diplomacy rule ... The trouble is that the game’s scale is too small, with the result coming after a few brisk fire fights before any plan can really get underway.” Nicholas Palmer in The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming (1977).

Comments

Perhaps the only AH game with color coordinated mapboard backs — one is black and the other is red, corresponding with the nations they depict. Kriegspiel was the first AH game released in 1970 and their first wargame to appear in the Bookcase Box. According to S&T 53, it was also the first wargame to utilize a matrix CRT and geomorphic maps. The game’s origin may have constituted a “first” as well — reportedly James Dunnigan could not deliver another freelance design which was scheduled to be released at the March 1970 American Toy Fair so Tom Shaw put Kriegspiel together at the last minute. Despite these inauspicious origins, AH still managed to sell 86,000 copies in several years.

Collector’s Notes

Probably only of interest to Avalon Hill completists. Boone lists low, high and average prices of 1/20/6.47 at auction and 3/30/9.64 for sale.

Other games from this designer

Baseball Strategy; Football Strategy (both AH).

Capsule Profiles Games That Begin with "K"

Kriegspiel
Kamikaze
KampfPanzer
Kingmaker
Knights of Camelot
King of the Mountain
Khyber Rifles