Pax Baltica

Pax Baltica(TM)

- Three Kings conspire to once and for all break the Swedish dominance in the Baltic. Charles the XII of Sweden decides to act swiftly as he has been taught and soon the Alliance begins to crack. A 21 year long bitter war has just begun which eventually ends an empire and sees another one rising...

Game components:
- Book-case box
- A2 4 colour map
- 60 coloured wooden blocks
- Counter sheet
- Plastic markers
- Game rules and 5 scenarios
- Tutorial instructions
- 4 dies

Pax Baltica™ is a Grand Strategy Game covering the entire Great Northern War and recreates the intriguing conflict that is often considered a side-show of the War of Spanish succession. Yet the conflict probably have had greater impact on Europe’s political, cultural and social developments than the latter.
The Great Northern war, a 21-year long devastating war, lasted from 1700 to 1721 and ended Sweden’s period as a major power in northern Europe and formed the starting point of Russia’s domination of the Baltic Region for centuries to come.

Pax Baltica™ is probably the first board game ever covering the entire Great Northern War. The game includes five different scenarios with varying playing-time of two to eight hours depending on scenario. The units in the game are high quality colored wooden blocks which give great flexibility for game play. The four-color map is divided into provinces which you have to conquer in order to take control over a country and to eventually defeat the enemy. This dynamic conflict covers large parts of northern and eastern Europe. From Bremen in the West, to Smolensk in the East. From Trondheim in the North, to Bender in the South. Playable nations are Sweden, Russia, Turkey, Denmark and Saxony. The game includes a A2 full color map, 60 high quality wooden blocks, 4 dies, various markers and rules including 5 scenarios.

In the beginning of March 1700 bad news arrived to Stockholm. The city of Riga in the Swedish province of Livonia is under attack from Saxony. Shortly thereafter, in April Denmark attacks Holstein-Gottorp, which independency is guaranteed by Sweden, Lunenburg, Holland and Britain. The 18 year old king of Sweden Charles XII does not hesitate long. In mid June his navy of 38 ships of the line set sail in order to rendezvous with a combined Dutch/British force of 23 ships of the line. The outnumbered Danish navy is now forced to stay in Copenhagen. In the same time a mixed force of Swedish, Dutch and Lunenburg troops forces the Danes in Holstein-Gottorp to retreat back to Jutland. Charles XII has now landed 10 000 men on Zealand and threatens the Danish capital Copenhagen. This makes the Danish king Fredrik IV to sue for peace. Meanwhile in the east, August II of Saxony has reinforced his troops in Livonia and Riga is now under siege. While Charles XII is planning the liberation of Riga more bad news arrives. Peter I of Russia declare war and have marched into Ingria. There the city of Narva is now under siege by an army of 40 000 Russian troops. This was the flying start of the war known as The Great Northern War and it’s here “Pax Baltica” begins...