Matrix Games Forums

is it possible to download a copy of the manual for this game before buying? I want to read it to understand the mechanics and get an idea of how the game works

How often does this game go on sale? It looks interesting but I would be playing solo against the AI so $40 seems high

Thanks

I can't post the whole manual since it's larger than 10mb so I did a partial with the rules. You can also check out various EIA tutorials to see how the game plays (https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=360761). The game usually goes on sale a couple times a year. I've seen it down to about $19. New v1.27.04 Update should be out next week. Enjoy!

There are several people who frequent the forums if you want to try a multiplayer game as well. Over thirty years old and to my mind still the Gold Standard of Napoleonic Grand Strategy games

pzgndr wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:49 am I can't post the whole manual since it's larger than 10mb so I did a partial with the rules. You can also check out various EIA tutorials to see how the game plays (https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=360761). The game usually goes on sale a couple times a year. I've seen it down to about $19. New v1.27.04 Update should be out next week. Enjoy!
User Manual v1.27 Abbreviated.zip

thank you so much for this - really appreciate it and very much looking forward to reading it

amandkm wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 1:16 pm There are several people who frequent the forums if you want to try a multiplayer game as well. Over thirty years old and to my mind still the Gold Standard of Napoleonic Grand Strategy games

thank you - I'm currently playing Napoleons Eagles by Avalon Digital (which I'm really enjoying). This game caught my eye and looks like it has very good depth. I'm very impressed with the way this game is still supported 19 years after its release - for me that is massive and gives me confidence that the developers are extremely passionate about their digital version of the game

The irony is that back in the day I played the War & Peace boardgame but not Empires in Arms. Then I saw EIA at Matrix and got hooked. As for being passionate, it's more like being insane at times? LOL With Marshall Ellis coming back to code development, I may have more time to dip into Napoleons Eagles (War & Peace) which I have and have just poked at over the past year. W&P has nice operational campaigns but EIA has grand strategy for the entire conflict.

I caught the bug after reading about it in the old AH General Magazine. The scope of the game was just mind-boggling to me. More military than Diplomacy, more tactics than Third Reich (Love those leader ratings and the 'rock paper scissors' battle chits), and more diplomacy than almost anything, plus everyone I knew could join in!