Napoleon is based on the game of the same name that was published by Columbia Games back in the early 1970's. Napoleon was one of the very early 'block' wargames, so good at creating 'fog-of-war'. The map features point-to-point movement. Each road has a limit to how many troops can pass over it in a given turn. This, combined with limited command control makes planning an essential ingredient of this game.

This 3rd edition of the game is significantly different from earlier editions by nearly doubling the number of blocks (from 48 to 84)which allows for a more accurate divisional-level order of battle. There are also rules changes - the addition of Leadership rules (with blocks for Napoleon, Blucher and Wellington) and modifications to road limits to accommodate the additional counters. There are now, in the third edition, 4 days turns each day (there are two day turns per day in the earlier editions) - I suspect that this, too, is to facilitate realistic movement rates for the higher number of blocks in the game.

Key Differences in Second Edition versus Third Edition

• 2nd edtion has 48 blocks--shorter (60+ min.) play time vs. 3rd edtion has 84 blocks--more accurate division level
• 3rd edtion has Blücher, Napoléon, and Wellington leader blocks that give slight combat and movement bonuses
• Although units have increase nearly doubled, the 3rd edtion map remains same size, leading to overcrowding.

Reimplements:

• Napoleon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815

History of the Game:
Napoléon was first published in 1974 by Gamma Two Games, a Canadian company located in Vancouver, B.C. That edition sold out twice. In 1977, the game was licensed to Avalon-Hill Game Company of Baltimore, and they produced a 2nd edition of the game. Later, after Avalon-Hill had sadly gone to wargame heaven (1954-1998), Columbia Games published a 3rd edition. This too had several printings and has recently sold out once more. Columbia Games has plans to publish Napoléon once again in 2013 as a new 4th "five-star" edition.

For more information and pictures of the earlier Avalon Hill edition, go to Napoleon: The Waterloo Campaign, 1815