The Peloponnesian War (wargame)

The Peloponnesian War is a two-player board wargame published by Simulations Canada in 1977. It simulates the fifth century BCE war between Athens and Sparta, which began in 431 BCE and ended in 404 BCE. One player commands the Athenians and the other the Spartans on a hex grid map of about 22 by 28 inches, using 270 counters. Much of the strategy concerns logistics: mobilising troops, finding money to pay for them, and keeping supply by controlling cities and naval supply lanes. Each turn represents one year and the game ends after 27 turns, and a full game is estimated to take eight hours or more. Rules also exist for three players, with the third taking the Peloponnesian states other than Sparta. Designer Stephen Newberg wrote it as an outgrowth of his scholarly work in ancient history, founded Simulations Canada to publish it, and issued a boxed second edition five years later.