Since our last update of Congress of Vienna (CoV)’s components: specifically focusing on its gameboard; 0ur efforts were driven to provide Terry Leeds, our graphic designer, with the best raw material for him to do an excellent job taking our play test version and converting it into a “production worthy” piece of functional art adapted to the game’s mechanics.

We already had some knowledge of what Terry Leeds was professionally like. His “Imperial Struggle” work is prominently displayed in my collection of games as a wonder that I find difficult to play, but whose graphics complement the design and made it easier for me to enjoy this well-envisioned game.

Furthermore, for Congress of Vienna, Terry depicted many of the game elements (cards and map board) with a series of different figures, a variety of indicia, so color blind players can play CoV in a much more intuitive way.  This proved a success, which pleasantly surprised us, because honestly it was a situation which we had not thought of when we initially designed the basic components of the game for its first prototypes!

As with the November ’21 game board update, we do not have this latest version extensively play tested through in-person play; but conducted through using an electronic means over the internet: Vassal.  This is a legacy approach since most Congress of Vienna playtest groups were created during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This facilitated having play test teams of wide geographic breath with representatives from Europe and across the USA (what a wonderful and talented multi-national group!).  Yes, coordinating different Time Zones could be challenging; but our enthusiastic players always found a way to accommodate each other.

Since the last game board update, we incorporated a few new rule modifications, “tweaks”, from play testers who found such edits helpful to avoid need to take time to reference, or perhaps overlook in the “heat of battle”, certain key rules and/or optional rules during their play of exciting and entertaining Congress of Vienna games. 

We also refined and clarified rule references, so they’d be easy to read and interpret.  These updates were conveyed to Terry who incorporated them into his beautiful graphic rendition of the CoV game board here shared.

So with no further ado, here is the September 2022 Congress of Vienna game board update!

Map References to Optional Historical Rules

When we first communicated with Terry, we had doubts about whether to include some form of graphic representation of the game’s Optional Historical Rules on the board!  Would they make the map look “too busy”?

Fortunately, the ever-talented Terry found an excellent and visually very attractive solution. Using the coding “OHR”;  he strategically placed a symbol of a “Granada” (which is the Spanish word… it is “Grenade” in English) employing an elegant violet color in the different territories or boxes of the military map where certain optional rules are relevant. This includes a reference to the rule’s case numbering in the CoV Rulebook to facilitate a quick cross-reference.

After a game or two, our play testers did not have to open a Rulebook.  This map graphic was all the reminder needed to prompt their recollection!

The Diplomacy Area of Gameboard

Although this latest game board is somewhat reminiscent of that presented in November; now its tracks, territories, flags, etc. are elegantly presented, historical, and with a very professional finish. We provided Terry game material as well as our experiences playing the game with related historical background.

Terry joined us to observe some Congress of Vienna Vassal play testing.  We also shared InsideGMT content – for examples of that background: for playing experiences see  Congress of Vienna’s Spring Campaign of 1813 AAR from the Transatlantic Team — Introductory/“Short” Scenario | Inside GMT blog and for an example of Historical Background see A Historical Introduction to the Congress of Vienna Period Part 1 of 4: The Gathering Storm (1805 – 1812) | Inside GMT blog

The four National Tracks and Negotiation Table have attractive borders that we loved the first time we saw them with their four beautiful Leader Seats. These integrate both the image of leader and the national flag of each nation. Finally, the Negotiation Table has integrated within it the well-known image of the Congress of Vienna, as a permanent reminder of the importance of negotiation between the Great Powers during 1813-1814.  Powers which could each be represented by a player in this game.

The gameboard features three key tracks: the dual tracked Absolutism & Liberalism, the Future Government of France, and Pax Britannica. These have been stylized and simplified. Furthermore, Terry included each Major Power’s National flag to make it easier to remember which player receives or loses VP when a track’s pawn enters it.                                                                                                                                     

Separate from the Diplomatic Area of the Congress of Vienna game board is its Military Map (where the War Phase is going to be resolved) and at its base, serving as a kind of border, is the DRM Battle Track.  

This track is in the same position it had in our playtesting design; but is now in a more attractive and perfect finish while maintaining the previous version’s functionality.

The Map of Europe and its key elements for the War Phase

However, the graphic aspect where we believe Terry has fully developed and shown his creative ability is with the CoV map of Europe.  This is where the entire War Phase takes place!

In addition to providing the latest play test map image of the time, we only advised him that for the background of this area of board he should choose an historical map of the Napoleonic Age – but a map which would not cause confusion, stress, and/or distraction to the players – and that the different converging battlefronts on Paris were adapted to the geographical reality of the different spaces or territories that constitute them.

In addition to complying with our guidelines, what Terry delivered is visually very attractive. The degree of different battlefront border detail, a solution given to represent mountainous territories and landing spaces, and above all, the rendering of European Minor Countries is spectacular and visually striking!

Historical national flags are perfectly represented and integrated with their appropriate spaces. So, when Army Blocks are moved on this part of the Congress of Vienna game board you can feel like a real emperor observing the placement of his armies, hearing the march of tramping boots, all to the tune of that nation’s martial music.

Also, the replacement symbols upon the map were changed from the unimaginative triangles of our playtesting board into the symbols used by Terry of vintage infantry silhouettes colored according to each nation.

Now on to the Military Map’s particular graphics which CoV players appreciate.

Similarly, the central space of Paris, where four army tracks converge, has been completely redesigned by Terry. With it he opted for a hexagonal shape upon which different battlefronts abut. As it is of larger size than other shapes used to depict territories, it makes Paris graphically stand out with all players eyes drawn to it…. as well is should!

In addition, the amount of text information previously placed in Paris has been dramatically reduced (see the below “before” and “after”). The background of this space, and that of the game’s other capitals, Vienna, St. Petersburg, and London, is another successful Terry contribution. Finally, the historic French National Flag and title banner (as are the rest of the game’s Major Powers) that appear in these capital spaces are visually beautiful to behold!

Finally, Terry created a revamped Legend so new players can quickly appreciate the Military Map’s important symbols’ meanings!

Next to be shared via InsideGMT is the final design of other  Congress of Vienna components: its game, handicap, and initial situation cards as well as its die-cut counters.  As you’ll see, Terry Leeds improved those components’ graphics enormously.  Before sharing them, we must complete their review (proof-reading) to reveal any possible minor bugs on our part or regarding the contents’ passage from the old play test versions to new production-ready graphic designs.

Closing Thoughts and a Request… We believe new Congress of Vienna players will find this Terry Leed’s game board design less “threatening” since much of the text and label content of the previous November ’21 design has disappeared. Even map references to the game’s optional rules are seemingly not imposing undue complication for players who want to play with only the game’s standard rules!

There may have been those gaining an unwarranted impression of a complicated game through viewing the November ’21 CoV game board.  This has hopefully totally disappeared!  Now the game board is highly functional to facilitate learning and being able to quickly play the game.

Furthermore, at least to myself and the CoV Play Test Team; it is also visually very attractive.  There are clear references to the game’s rulebook when a question arises. It also makes it easier for newbies to grasp Congress of Vienna’s game play through the game board’s complementary player aids, short Rules Summary, and other game components. Only a color-highlighted case number reference to a rule need be made upon the map.

It would be very interesting and helpful for the CoV Team to receive feedback from InsideGMT readers with knowledge and experience with other games regarding these CoV gameboard design elements and layout matters.

Kindly provide your comments, suggestions, and observations via the provided InsideGMT “Post a Comment” capability or another form of communication. Thank you in advance for that much appreciated input and interest in Congress of Vienna!

The New Congress of Vienna Gameboard can be found here or seen below.

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