PREVIEW

Empires in Arms

By Richard Moore

Screenshots

Austerlitz Play-by-Email Austerlitz: The Rise of the Eagle - the premier play-by-email Napoleonic wargame

Another imminent Napoleonic Wars computer game is Empire in Arms, a PC version of the classic boardgame of the same name.

Empire in Arms is a seven-player game of grand strategy during the Napoleonic period and runs between 1805-1815. You can play by yourself, by email or over the Internet.

It is developed as a corps-level game with diplomacy playing a large part in your efforts to make your nation the ruler of Europe.

Turns are monthly, during which time you conduct negotiations and build your forces, and there are separate phases for military movement.

Like the classic Diplomacy, moves are simultaneous and the resulting battles are settled at the end of the phase.

Commanders on the battlefield get to pick a strategy before entering into a series of rounds that will decide the outcome of the clash.

You can rule your country as you wish and can be a good ally or a treacherous one at your whim.

Minor nations can be overrun and your armies are built from a force pool that contains landwehr, regulars, guards, light cavalry, heavy cavalry and artillery.

Many historical leaders from the period are included to command corps and fleets, from Admiral Nelson to Marshal Davout (hooray!!!!) and the Ottoman rulers.

You win the game by having the highest number of glory points.

I cannot wait!