TDG: Friedrich

How did they fight the Seven Years' War? With playing cards! No joke- check out this classic wargame of maneuver, bluff, and attack from Rio Grande Games. Will it be Frederick's greatest triumph? Or will it be a seven years' snore? Cody takes a look!

[SkoonerJr]

I bought this game when I got back into board games cause it was in your top10. My collection now is almost a dozen games but this one I still enjoy the most!!

[IceNiner]

Another great review, Cody!

The Friedrich Game appears to be very similar to "Napoleonic Wars" by GMT, but your vid shows enough variation for me to want to add it to my collection now. Also, kudos to Holly for playing! :-)

I'm 47 and in my experience its been extraordinarily tough to get the ladies to try these types of games. We had one female player in my group who finally got out of her comfort zone of Catan and Magic TG and tried Twilight Imperium and ended up being one of the most successful players at it (She became adept at adopting the strategy of SPECTRE; let the male aggressive players battle it out while avoiding/underestimating the 'timid woman' who bided her time then came in en masse and conquered the battered victors territories-she was so Machiavellian!). As games progressed so did her strategic thinking. It was enjoyable to behold.

 I've also have only heard of only one female player in my region (Wyoming/Northern Colorado) who plays Flames of War and is supposed to be very formidable. It would be great if more female players would try these games and I believe they might enjoy it more than they think they would. Friedrich will be joining our games circulation now. Thanks!

[decb]

Great review as always, I hope to get Maria to the table for the first time this weekend. Keep em coming.

[Rorynes]

Simple rules but huge strategy and tactics:this game is a masterpiece and ten years that I have been playing it live and online is so much fun!

[lilletrille]

I have been looking at this game for months, and with this review I just decided to order it! If its only half as good as you say, it should be worth the money! :)

[meenki]

I'm a hardcore hex&counter wargamer but I love, love, love Friedrich and Maria!

[klausfritsch]

Thanks for the review. I finally got it two days ago and am looking forward to playing it (at the moment I have Napoleon 1815 on the table). One question though: As far as I understand the rules, the attacker plays cards from the suit he is sitting on and not from the space he is attacking. So, attacks can occur over suit lines where attacker and defender play cards from different suits. Is that correct?
The only thing that is bothering me is that the winner of a battle does not lose any troops. Maybe my view will change after playing it for real.

[john-lenin]

The big ocean in the middle looks weird.

[WhatsDaveUpTo]

Have you still not tabled Maria? And why not? I looked at a playthrough and it just looks insane with all the crazy rules. I don't know how I would ever teach it to someone. I bought it but am returning it.

[grimmnorsefury]

~ had a chance to give 'Maria' a runthru yet Cody? Hope it didn't get lost in your move to Texas...

[kevinw]

I’m on the fence regarding Friedrich or Maria. I’ve heard Maria is better for 3 players but is more complicated? I only ever have 3 players.

[juliesquirrel]

Have you tried the companion game, "Maria"?

[bergstro]

Following up after a year. I'd love to hear how this compares to Maria in your mind.

[neonhummingbird]

I'm a Commie. I came for the Fried Rich. Left disappointed.

[stevendolges]

I wanted to like this game, maybe it was the circumstances under which I played it, but I didn't enjoy it. The suite designations seemed arbitrary and while I understand it was used to force 'resource' based decisions it didn't really make sense to me. No general/leader differentiation was a bummer. The luck of the cards pertaining to Russia and other powers leaving the war is rough. Russia could go out on the first card or the last. I think the game just falls flat for me in terms of mechanics. The map is beautiful though.

[greginfla_]

Another game purchased off of Cody’s recommendation and But I have great news to share. I have found a online gaming site for Friedrich! Playfriedrich.com

[romain]

I thought Maria was much better than this as the most interesting aspect of the system - diplomacy - is better developed. Friedrich felt a bit dry by comparison. Of course both are good games but do a very poor job of simulating the conflicts they depict.