A right patriotic wargame day

It being the 250th birthday of these United States, we decided to pull off an oldie but a goodie.  My normal son whose into all things boardgames is quite busy now, but it was a chance to walk my other sons through different games.  In this case, the old Avalon Hill game 1776.  Released to coincide with our country's bicentennial celebrations, it has been a classic almost from day one.  

There were later editions, but the original rules were pretty straightforward.  A strategic level birds eye view of the Revolutionary War from Canada to Georgia.  The emphasis is largely on the military campaigns and considerations, not so much diplomacy or economics or home front morale. To refresh myself and provide an intro, we stuck to the basic rules meant for an introduction. 

The basic rules are, even by intro scenario standards, very basic.  Basically one step more than RISK with a cool map to play on.  The main game is pretty much in the abstract to begin with, as large strategic level games usually are.  But it's more so for the basic scenario rules. 

Nonetheless, the game went off pretty well.  Didn't finish it, though we'll see. As of now, we stopped with me, as the British, having to decide which way to go.  Confront the Colonials where they are strongest, or break off and go after Philadelphia.  It's already the October Turn, and by the end of December the British must have 25 more points than the Colonials to win.  And I'm at 21.  If we get back to it, we'll see.  

Until then, have a happy July 4th 250th celebration!  

Decisions, decisions