Description

Blood on the Alma was released in Line of Fire Magazine # 13, "Blood on the Alma" is a 2-3 player game recreating the 1854 Battle of the Alma River at the brigade level. Each unit is represented by a stack of step counters that modifies attack strength. Each army plays differently-- the French have a more traditional sequence of play, their allies the British are activated by chit pull, and the outnumbered Russians must contend with morale checks while dealing with phases that are scattered throughout allied phases. The Russians have a terrain advantage which they historically squandered; the allies possessed a technological advantage in the Minie Rifle, but due to poor communication, it was not used by the British until late in the battle, when it turned the tide decisively. Combat is resolved by comparing modifiers to defense rolls, and the type of attacking unit determines the available outcomes. A number of factors, including victory for each side, are tied to and fluctuate with a single track, creating a sense of momentum and narrative.