GRANDS STRATEGES, by Jean-Jacques Petit. From Jeux Descartes, address above.

Introductory wargaming, á la français et Napoleon. This interesting item for those with some French at their disposal, comes in a big, eye-catchingly handsome box. The two 13" x 19" geomorphic maps are mounted and pleasingly colorful in a rather pastel way. They also contain some rather interesting and varied terrain, which variations go a long way to making the generic scenarios more interesting than they would normally be. The 50 well-drawn counters are similarly colored, but you have to stick them into their plastic holders in somewhat the same way as one does with one of Mayfair's railroad games. As the counters are not color differentiated per player, the colored holders are necessary to tell who's whose.

Players get four different levels of infantry, from 3 to 8 SP's, three different levels of cavalry (which are either heavy or light) and field and horse artillery. After that, it gets really basic. The huge rules book (in size, not pages) is clear, concise, well-illustrated, informative … and French. Ever play a wargame before? Then you won't need the rules; the pictures and tables suffice. This is rigid ZOC, E/Ex/R CRT wargaming. There are advanced rules for combined arms, cavalry charges, army morale and even loosening up those rigid ZOC's. There are also ten scenarios which sort of mix and match maps and various unit types to show the basics (real basic basics) of Napoleonic warfare.

GS is a spruced up (and highly attractive), gigantic Napoleon at Waterloo, without the historicity. It holds no surprises, presents no design breakthroughs. I don't think anyone interested in the historical aspects of wargaming is going to start shipping those francs east, but this makes for a pretty nifty introductory game - if the prospective novice has a smattering of French, or you're there to help him along. As such, it makes for a very attractive present.