A House Divided (1981)

Game description from the publisher:

A House Divided simulates the epic struggle of the American Civil War that was fought over the twin issues of slavery and state's rights. The period from 1840 to 1861 saw these issues brought to a boil, and in 1861 the nation became tangled in a terrible war that lasted four long years.

The game depicts the war between North and South from the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas Junction) to Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse – or Grant's surrender at Harrisburg... Each player leads one of these two nations and makes the strategic decisions which determine the outcome of the war.

The game board represents the United States, north and south and from the Atlantic coast to just west of the Mississippi. The play map contains a number of boxes, each representing a city, town or locations important to the war. These boxes are connected by transportation lines – blue for rivers, tan for roads and black for railroads – which provide the paths to victory or defeat.

With point-to-point movement, low-complexity rules, and relatively few counters to maneuver, A House Divided can simulate the entire war, or the action can be broken up into year-long scenarios. Will you keep the Union whole or force the separation of the United States?

Alan Emrich writes, "I did the additional design work for the 2nd edition of the game, and have added some player aid sheets and additional optional rules for both it and the 3rd edition of the game." He offers the Living Rules 3.1, dated May 2006, on his website. (See web link below for the full package; some parts are available in the Files section.)

In his Designer's Notes, when comparing rules set 3 (the Phalanx Games version) to 3.1, Emrich says "matters of phrasing, timing, and examples have greatly improved the game’s clarity" while taking the rules length from 20 pages to 30.

The Living Rules 3.1 package also includes player boards helping the management of some advanced/optional rules, and his suggested additional counters (flat leader units, orders, navy counters, more flags and entrenchments...) "should a 4th edition ever be published".

Magazine References:

BattlePlan Index Article List:

• Battleplan,No.1 March-April 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 1 of 3, Alan Emrich
• Battleplan,No.2 November-December 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 2 of 3, Alan Emrich
• Battleplan,No.3 July-August 1987
  • A House Divided - "A House Restored - Rules variants for GDW A House Divided" Part 3 of 3, Alan Emrich

Components (Mayfair Games' fourth edition):

• 234 die-cut markers representing armies, leaders and specials
  • 48 miscellaneous 5/8" counters
  • 45 Veteran Infantry ¾" counters
  • 18 Veteran Cavalry ¾" counters
  • 21 Crack Infantry ¾" counters
  • 15 Crack Cavalry ¾" counters
  • 42 Militia Infantry ¾" counters
  • 6 Militia Cavalry ¾" counters
  • 21 Utility ¾" counters
  • 4 General counters
• 2 Order of Battle forms
• 1 game board 21" x 20.50" (six-panel)
• 6 dice (3 blue, 3 gray)
• 1 tray
• 1 box
• 1 rule book, containing basic, standard and advanced rules.

Awards

• 2002 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee
• 1989 Charles S. Roberts awards, Best Pre-World War II Boardgame

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