High Ground

The year is 1862 and the war between the states has just begun. You are an up and coming officer and must prove your leadership skills on the battlefield. "Take the high ground!" has been the order given by military commanders throughout history. With the high ground comes increased shooting range, vision over the battlefield, and exceptional defensive positions.

But, how will your men respond in battle? Will they carry out your orders unintimidated by the destruction and death swirling all around them, or will fear get the better of them as they flee in panic? It is your duty to see that this does not happen. The battlefield is an ever changing and dangerous place. Your orders must be quick and decisive if you are to win the initiative. If you hesitate or second guess yourself, it will be a long march home to regroup.

High Ground is a highly tactical hex based game that once again pits the rebels against the yanks on the battlefield. Each player has an advantage that very few Civil War commanders ever had: choosing their terrain before the battle. At the beginning of each game both players place terrain and city hexes on their side of the board. These must be carefully arranged because cities are the recruitment centers and hills offer defensive advantages. Capture your opponents high ground or cities and you have won the day.

FAQ

Q. Which RISK do I have to own to play?

A. You need one of the newer sets that includes infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Of course, you may substitute pieces from other games. The RISK set comes with 6 colors, each of 40 infantry, 12 cavalry, and 8 artillery.

Q. What is the board made of?

A. The map is two 11"x17" laminated sheets.

Q. What about more than two players?

A. We are currently developing an expansion pack that will let you use all of the RISK pieces for up to a 6 player game.

Q. Can you tell me more about actual gameplay?

A. Sure. High Ground is a tactical recreation of a US Civil War battlefield. Each player gets to place 3 cities and 3 hills on the board secretly. The cities are not only the recruitment centers where new troops enter the board, but they also are the means of generating troops. The more cities you own, the more troops you receive each turn. The hills provide defensive bonuses and range increases for artillery. Four hills come preprinted in the rear of the battle field. Each turn, the player with initiative decided who places their troops first and who completes their movements and battles first. The player who won the most battles in the previous turn has the initiative (ties are decided by a die roll). Initiative also provides a movement bonus to your infantry. Having initiative is important, but losing initiative does not necessarily mean losing the game because after holding initiative for two consecutive turns, a player does not automatically get it for a third turn. On the third turn of a player's potential initiative, it must be rolled for again To win, you must capture all your opponent's cities or any four of his hills.