Overview

Battles for a Continent: The Plains of Abraham & Sainte-Foy is a low-complexity tactical wargame simulating two pivotal Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War) battles fought outside the gates of Quebec City. The game covers the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759), where British forces under General Wolfe defeated the French under Montcalm, and the Battle of Sainte-Foy (1760), where the French attempted to retake Quebec. The game also includes a bonus scenario: Braddock’s Defeat — The Battle of the Monongahela. It is a print-and-play wargame designed by Perry Moore.

Components

• 1 map (22” x 17”) depicting the battlefield terrain outside Quebec City
• 2 sets of die-cut counters (British and French forces)
• Rules booklet covering all three scenarios
• Scenario-specific setup charts
• Combat results table (CRT)
• Terrain effects chart

Setup

Select one of the three scenarios (Plains of Abraham, Sainte-Foy, or Braddock’s Defeat). Place the map and sort counters by nationality. Each player takes command of one side — one player controls the British forces and the other controls the French. Deploy units on the map according to the scenario setup instructions, which specify starting hexes and unit compositions for each battle.

Turn Structure

Each game turn follows a standard wargame sequence:

1. Initiative Phase: Determine which player acts first this turn.
2. First Player Movement Phase: The first player moves eligible units within their movement allowance.
3. First Player Combat Phase: The first player resolves attacks against adjacent enemy units.
4. Second Player Movement Phase: The second player moves their units.
5. Second Player Combat Phase: The second player resolves attacks.
6. End Phase: Check victory conditions and advance the turn marker.

Actions

• Movement: Move units across the hex map, spending movement points based on terrain costs. Units have individual movement allowances printed on their counters.
• Combat: Attack adjacent enemy units by comparing attack strength to defense strength on the Combat Results Table (CRT). Results may include step losses, retreats, or eliminations.
• Stacking: Multiple units may occupy the same hex, subject to stacking limits. Stacks may become disrupted under certain conditions (stack disruption rules).
• Leader Effects: Leader counters provide bonuses to combat and morale for units they accompany, reflecting historical command influence.
• Defensive Fire: Defending units may fire against attacking units during melee combat, potentially inflicting casualties before the melee is resolved.
• Rally: Disrupted or disordered units may attempt to recover during the appropriate phase.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory conditions are scenario-specific. Generally, the British player wins by holding Quebec and inflicting sufficient casualties on the French, while the French player wins by driving the British from the field or recapturing key positions. Each scenario specifies geographic objectives and casualty thresholds that determine victory levels (decisive, marginal, or draw).

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Stack Disruption: When a stack takes losses, remaining units in the stack may become disrupted, reducing their combat effectiveness in subsequent turns.
• Leader Casualties: Leaders may be killed or wounded during combat, historically reflecting the deaths of both Wolfe and Montcalm at the Plains of Abraham.
• Defensive Fire vs. Melee: Defenders get to fire at attackers before melee combat is resolved, giving defenders a significant advantage in prepared positions.
• Terrain Effects: The terrain around Quebec — including the cliffs, the St. Lawrence River, and the open plains — significantly affects movement and combat.
• Print and Play: The game is designed as a print-and-play title, requiring players to print the map and cut out counters.
• Three Scenarios: The Plains of Abraham (1759), Sainte-Foy (1760), and Braddock’s Defeat (1755) each provide distinct tactical challenges with different force compositions.

Player Reference

Unit Type	Role
Infantry	Main combat units
Artillery	Ranged fire support
Leaders	Command bonuses
Militia/Irregulars	Light forces, varied quality

Terrain	Effect
Open	Normal movement and combat
Woods	Reduced movement, defensive bonus
Cliffs/River	Major movement obstacles
Fortifications	Strong defensive bonus