Field Commander · Player’s Guide
Napoleonic Strategy Games
Waterloo, Élan and Chess offer three different ways to take command. Choose Waterloo for divisional simulation and historical resources, Élan for tabletop tactics, or Chess for familiar rules with Napoleonic figures.
Compare the three games
| Comparison | Waterloo | Élan | Chess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | Divisional / army | Battalion / tabletop | Single board |
| Pace | Deliberate, thoughtful | Brisk, turn-based | Classic chess tempo |
| Learning curve | Deep | Moderate | Familiar |
| Best for | History enthusiasts | Tactical gamers | Chess players |
Strategic Simulation
Waterloo: divisional command and historical resources
Choose Waterloo if you want to command divisions in a simulation of the battle of 18 June 1815, rather than play a smaller tactical board game or chess.
A divisional-level Napoleonic wargame of the battle of Waterloo, with a companion historical resource library. The game and resources can be bought separately or together.
Its divisional / army scale and deliberate pace suit players looking for a deeper simulation. The companion historical library includes uniform plates and commander biographies, giving history enthusiasts another way to explore the period.
Explore Field Commander: Waterloo
Tabletop Tactics
Élan: facing, fire and manoeuvre
Choose Élan if you prefer battalion-level tabletop tactics on a defined battlefield, with directional units and turn-based movement and combat.
A Napoleonic tabletop tactical board game with directional units, turn-based movement and combat, played out on an interactive 12×12 battlefield.
The interactive 12×12 field focuses the choice on facing, fire and manoeuvre. The series comparison places Élan between Waterloo and Chess in learning curve: moderate, with a brisk, turn-based pace.
Explore Field Commander: Élan
Napoleonic Chess
Chess: familiar rules, Napoleonic figures
Choose Field Commander Chess if you want classic chess rather than a simulation of historical battlefield command.
Classic chess reimagined with British and French Napoleonic figures from Field Commander: Élan. Play the computer at 5 levels of difficulty.
British and French Napoleonic figures from Élan give the board its military character while the rules remain classic chess. Play a friend locally or challenge the computer; the familiar learning curve makes this the choice for chess players.
Explore Field Commander ChessInterested in Waterloo’s uniforms and equipment?
The game and historical resources can be bought separately or together. The Uniforms & Equipment volume covers the French, British and Prussian armies and is available separately or as part of the full Commander Edition of Field Commander: Waterloo.
View the Uniform Plates