Empires & Alliances

Empires & Alliances is a strategic-level World War I wargame from Compass Games, inspired by the classic style of Guns of August. Players command the Central Powers and Allied forces across Europe from 1914 to 1918, with the map stretching from France to Russia and from the Baltic to Italy, Greece and the Ottoman theatre.

The game uses monthly turns, corps-level units and a straightforward sequence of play built around reinforcements, supply, movement and combat. Armies begin in their historical mobilization areas, while optional rules allow players to explore alternatives such as the Schlieffen Plan, Plan 17, Austro-Hungarian deployment choices and flexible mobilization.

Combat uses an odds-based CRT with a 10-sided die, fortifications, entrenchments, artillery, air support, tanks and Stosstruppen appearing as the war develops. Supply, replacements, war weariness, blockade, submarine warfare and new countries entering the conflict all shape the long struggle.

With a 1914 scenario, a 1918 scenario and the full four-year campaign, Empires & Alliances gives players a broad strategic WWI experience that can range from an evening scenario to a full weekend campaign.

Contents include: two mounted maps, four 1/2″ countersheets, eight player aid cards, one rules and scenario book, one 10-sided die, and one box and lid set.