How to Play

Paths of Glory

2-2 players 480-480 min 8.1 Board Game Geek Rating

Players command opposing forces in WWI using a card-driven system spanning 1914-1918. Each turn involves playing cards from your hand for operational movement, strategic movement, special events, or replacements. Victory requires balancing multiple priorities with limited actions. Central Powers leverage interior lines while Entente uses superior numbers in this innovative recreation of the Great War.

Published 1999

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Each player takes one of two sides

Central Powers (CP) or Allied (AL)

Place markers on tracks

Turn marker on August 1914, VP marker on 10, all three War Status markers on 0, all Replacement markers (GE, AH, AL, BR, FR, RU) on 0, Current CP-RU VP marker on 0

Place Mandated Offensive markers on each player's MO table

Place US Entry marker on "US Neutral" space

Place RU Capitulation marker on "God Save the Tsar" space

Each player places 6 action markers on their action round table

Place 5-6 Move/Attack markers near the CP player (who goes first)

Set up starting units on the map according to the setup chart; units in parentheses start reduced; some spaces start with Level 1 trenches only

Neutral nations' units are not placed until their entry event is played (exception

Turkey enters when CP reaches Limited War)

CP player decides whether to start with "Guns of August" card in hand; shuffle remaining Mobilization cards and draw to 7 cards

AL player shuffles 14 Mobilization cards and draws 7

First turn Mandated Offensives begin

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Turn Structure

A. Mandated Offensive Phase → B. Action Phase (6 rounds) → C. Attrition Phase → D. Siege Phase → E. War Status Phase → F. Replacement Phase → G. Card Draw Phase → H. End of Turn

Action Phase

Each round, CP player acts first, then AL player; each plays one action per round

Available Actions

Activation Cost

Equals number of different nationalities in a space (with exceptions for certain unit combinations)

Movement

Activated units may move up to their Movement Factor; each space costs 1 MP

Combat

Units in attack-activated spaces may attack adjacent enemy spaces; both sides determine combat factors, play Combat Cards, roll dice on fire tables, and apply losses

Flanking Attacks

Require attacks from 2+ spaces including at least one army; if roll of 4+ succeeds, attacker fires first

Retreats

Losing defender retreats 1-2 spaces based on loss differential

Entrenchment

Armies may attempt to dig trenches instead of moving (roll ≤ Loss Factor to succeed)

Stacking Limit

Maximum 3 combat units per space

Supply

Units need supply line to friendly Supply Source; Out of Supply units cannot activate, perform SR, or use Combat Cards

Winning

How to claim victory.

Automatic Victory

CP wins if VP reaches 20+ at end of any War Status Phase (E.2); AL wins if VP reaches 0 or less

Introductory Scenario

(ends Turn 3): CP wins with 14+ VP; Draw 11-13; AL wins with 10 or less

Limited War Scenario

(ends Turn 10 or when player reaches Total War): CP wins with 17+ VP; Draw 13-16; AL wins with 12 or less

Campaign Scenario

(ends Turn 20):

Armistice

Game ends immediately if Combined War Status reaches 40+ in War Status Phase

Peace Offer

If one player accepts opponent's peace offer, game ends in a draw

VP Changes

Gained/lost by capturing/losing VP spaces (red-named spaces), playing certain events, failing Mandated Offensives, and during War Status Phase effects

Tournament Play

Draws count as AL victory; players may bid VP to choose sides