Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
HOLD THE LINE comes to the wars of Europe in the Age of Reason with FREDERICK’S WAR. When Frederick II led his army into Silesia a long duel began between a still fragile Prussia and the first class power that was Austria.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Action Points
Spend a limited allowance of points across several possible actions each turn.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Line of Sight
Visibility between pieces determines valid targets, movement, or effects.
Hexagon Grid
Use a hexagonal map where each space connects evenly in six directions.
Read the full game description
HOLD THE LINE comes to the wars of Europe in the Age of Reason with FREDERICK’S WAR. When Frederick II led his army into Silesia a long duel began between a still fragile Prussia and the first class power that was Austria. Featured here are eight battles from the fearsome contest: Mollwitz, Choutusitz, Hohenfriedburg, Kesseldorf, Kolin, Leuthen, Hochkirk, and Liegnitz. The game closely aligns with the Hold the Line system, but includes more advanced command rules, more detailed cavalry rules, optional rules for each warring nation’s units, and much more. The Prussian army is well drilled and led by a bevy of talented generals, including Schwerin, Zieten, Leopold von Dessau, and of course Frederick the Great. The Austrian army is slightly weaker, but is aided by fearsome light infantry units and in later scenarios are led by such capable commanders as Daun and Loudon. As Prussia can you humble the Austrians and make your kingdom a first-class power? As Austria can you weather the Prussian storm and halt the first steps towards decline? The enemy approaches, the sound of cannon deafens, men shout commands, smoke fills the air. You must HOLD THE LINE! For each scenario each player receives a number of command points to activate the units in his army for movement, close assault, and fire combat. Each side also receives a random number of command points for the same, but never knowing how many creating a battle field chaos that makes the game highly replayable. Scenarios take approximately 1 hour to play so you can get in multiple plays in an evening.