The changes made to the Feb. 2021 Congress of Vienna (CoV) Production Gameboard, which replaces the Nov. 2020 edition previously posted on GMT’s site for the game, are based on Vassal play tests conducted by gamers (both veteran grognards and Eurogamers) located in both Europe and the United States. Their diligent contributions while enjoying play of fun and exciting CoV games are most appreciated!
For images of the CoV Vassal gameboard, as well as a wide range of game-related material, including how to play videos and After Action Reports by one of our play test teams (what a game that was!), see GMT’s site: GMT Games – Congress of Vienna .
Gameboard configuration, improvements, clarifications or things to Aid players were developed through these Vassal games and are implemented within the Feb. 2021 Production Gameboard. Of course, the frontal, plain and limited view of a computer screen is very different from a Zenith and 360º view over a wonderful and wide game board placed upon a table with appropriate refreshments ranged nearby. We hope we will soon be hearing the sound of the dice rolling, the shuffling CoV playing cards, noticing how they mix and slide inside a deck, along with all the fun and friendly banter (including grumbling undertones and facial expressions/body language when things don’t go as a player hoped or the unbridled joy of when they do) that is so much a part of a lively in-person gaming experience of Congress of Vienna and our hobby overall!!
Many play testers introduced some very interesting ideas for improving the board, cards, rules and markers. However, I want to especially thank our Assistant Designer and Editor Fred Schachter for his idea that key rules should be graphically depicted on the gameboard for when they’re triggered by condition(s) in certain spaces. These provide rule cross-references, grant VP or limit Army advancement/collaboration so players, in the heat of action, run less risk of overlooking an important rule. These reminders are indicated both on the game board (in or adjacent to those key spaces) as well as in the rulebook, its “Quick Learn Summary”, and Player Aid Charts. Thus, each player can find them easily and appropriate to his tastes.
These reminders, to be found in the Congress of Vienna Production Map Image associated with this narrative and now found on GMT’s site for the game, include the following:
1) We made the Diplomacy Round Record Track easier for players (“ergonomic”?). Why? Because we observed that during the often-turbulent excitement of diplomatic negotiations; gamers sometimes lose track of the Round they’re playing. They even forget the order of Major Powers’ play! This happens because in setting up a turn’s Diplomacy Phase, the player who starts each Diplomacy Round can change according to an initial card wager of who first chooses among Issues! Furthermore, because the players debate a lot, some a lot more than others! The markers for Diplomacy Round tracks, and their sequence of play are easier to control. Each Major Power’s track is distinct, so different markers are sufficiently spaced!
2) On the Victory Point Record Track, which runs from 0 to 80+ VP; the two extremes are important because a series of minor rules are triggered by a Major Power’s marker entering one these two boxes. We included associated rules schematically in these boxes.
3) Both the Pax Britannica and the Liberalism / Absolutism Record Tracks now have short reminders for indicating the needed die roll for a pawn to successfully advance on a track!
4) The Future Government of France Record Track has been thoroughly tested both for the names of its different boxes (some entertaining, lively, and fascinating debates occurred among those of the team familiar with the period’s history) and for the track’s related VP mechanic. In the first case history-knowledgeable play testers led by our two History teachers (Dave and Peter as well as Ku, a play-tester who resides outside Paris, France) were successfully concluded. We agreed to eliminate the light blue box’s bombastic name “Republic of French Revolutionary Ideals” and created a more historically reasonable nomenclature: “the Peers of France Regency of Napoleon’s son” (among those peers perhaps Talleyrand, Fouche, Davout, Caulaincourt…). Some track VP modifications are not aesthetic… but we believe it brings more historical intensity to the game by allowing Russia’s performance to be more independent than that of the other players. Here, we seek to reflect the deep fears some European statesmen felt regarding the Russian “Bear’s” ambitions!
5) Rule Cross-References: In many spaces of the game we include a reminder to a rule that occurs when war approaches or involves that space or Major Power overall. Although it is of passing interest to experienced players, it is a great help to novice players who are just learning Congress of Vienna’s game system rules!
6) We consistently named the four Major Capital spaces of game’s European Major Powers. Now each name is highlighted with a yellow background with titles harmonized. Paris and London are still called the same; but Austria and Russia HQ are now Vienna and St. Petersburg!
7) New Grande Armée Rule: Our most inquisitive, cagey, creative, and competitive play testers discovered a non-historical based strategy accruing to France’s notable advantage by using the rules literally as written. Unintended consequences indeed! Fortunately, their shades were not with Napoleon during 1813 and the historical war ended as we all know in French defeat! However, with their help we added slight VP modifications that “discourage” this strategy. A strategy jokingly dubbed the “Rope-a-Dope Strategy”. This is not a term we’re familiar with in Spain. I got a crash education regarding legendary heavy weight boxer Mohammed Ali to explain the reasoning behind this name… and a very apt name it is! In my opinion, this elegant solution has to do with the size of the Grande Armée: the gist of this is at the end of each turn, a weak Grande Armée results in a French VP penalty while a powerful Grande Armée gains France a VP reward as Coalition Europe quakes in fear. We placed a reference to this rule in the Grande Armée Box (where its military units are located)!
8) We eliminated the two dual homeland spaces: Portugal and Southern Spain. Now they are simply Portuguese (PT) and Spanish (SP). They are no longer identified as British. The game remains the same, but this rulebook section is simplified.
9) The Military Map Legend has been updated so that its references are correct as some were outdated!
Finally, our play testers may continue finding small bugs in the gameboard’s texts, labels, and/or symbols that will be updated as needed. Until Congress of Vienna is committed for production, we keep play testing and seek assuring that the Production Map has no errors and is as “player-friendly” as possible in helping prevent key rules from being overlooked during the excitement of a close, engaging, and sometimes intense gaming experience; since any that get by makes us have regrets for a long time!
Thanks for your interest in Congress of Vienna: a GMT Great Statesmen Game!
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