In this ongoing series, I like to share my thoughts on specific cards from the wargames I enjoy playing. I am not a master strategist, and I certainly don’t win every game, but I do appreciate how the mechanics work and how cards can change the flow of play. Today, we are looking at a particularly interesting card from a game set during a turbulent time in European history.

Card #60: French Leader Napoleon from Congress of Vienna

The game Congress of Vienna is published by GMT Games and is part of the Great Statesmen Series. It is a card-driven wargame that focuses on diplomacy and military action during the years 1813 and 1814. Players take on the roles of the major powers involved in the conflict against the Napoleonic Empire, including Russia, Austria, and Great Britain, along with their allies like Prussia and Spain. The game is unique because it splits the action into two main phases. First, there is the conference table where players argue over important issues. Second, those issues are used on the battlefield to recruit units and fight battles.

Players use cards from their hands to debate various topics. These topics range from military operations and recruitment to the future of the French government and British financial aid. The cards are versatile tools. They can be used to move issues to your side of the table, provide bonuses or penalties to dice rolls, or even be traded with other players. Some cards are saved for the war phase to help modify dice rolls during combat. To be successful, players must learn the value of each card and when to play it.

The French Leader Napoleon card is one of the most powerful cards in the deck. It contains a lot of information, but every detail serves a purpose. The card offers bonuses for specific issues, such as Minor Country Issues and French Recruitment, and it provides significant Dice Roll Modifiers (DRMs) during combat. Timing is everything with this card. Early in the game, it can be used to gain new troops, giving the French player two extra units to command. During the Diplomacy Phase, playing Napoleon to move an issue allows the French player to place a free Military Operations Marker on the map. This marker can be used to order units to attack.

However, the card’s true power is felt on the battlefield. The bonuses Napoleon grants depend on which French army he is leading. If he commands the Grande Armée, he provides a massive +6 DRM. If he is with the Army of the Elbe, the bonus is a +3 DRM. As the game progresses and the Allies approach Paris, using Napoleon in defense grants a -3 DRM to the attacking Allies. Making the right choice in these moments is critical for victory.

After playing several times, I can say that Congress of Vienna is likely my favorite game in the series. It feels like the system has matured and evolved into something more substantial than its predecessors. It plays more like a traditional wargame while still incorporating the diplomatic elements. There is still a lot to learn, but the experience so far has been very enjoyable.

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He eventually became Emperor of the French and conquered much of Europe through his brilliant military campaigns. He is known for his strategic genius and ambition, but also for the high cost of his wars. He implemented significant legal reforms, such as the Napoleonic Code, yet he ultimately faced defeat and exile. His legacy is complex, marked by both power and downfall.

He was born on the island of Corsica to a family of Italian origin. In 1779, he moved to mainland France and was commissioned as an officer in the French Royal Army in 1785. He supported the French Revolution and rose quickly through the ranks after the siege of Toulon in 1793. By 1796, he was commanding campaigns against the Austrians, scoring decisive victories. He led an invasion of Egypt in 1798, which helped him gain political power. In November 1799, he staged the Coup of 18 Brumaire and became First Consul. After securing victory in the War of the Second Coalition, he sold the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803. Finally, in December 1804, he crowned himself Emperor of the French.

We have created two videos about this game. The first is a raw video recorded after our initial play at the Buckeye Game Fest in May 2025. The second is a full review video filmed after our second play at WBC in July.

In the next part of this series, we will look at the Mobile Vulgus card from the Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust Expansion by GMT Games.