Hapsburg Eclipse and Ottoman Sunset are sister games in the States of Siege series originally from Victory Point Games of old. Both games were recently re-published in swanky new editions by Tabletop Tycoon. (Now just Tycoon.) Each game covers the Great War from the perspective of the ailing Hapsburg and Ottoman Empires. While they share some core game mechanics, both games have distinct rules to handle the particular challenges facing each empire. Inevitably, one wonders, which is the better game?
The Case for Hapsburg Eclipse
Clearly, Hapsburg Eclipse is the better game for a number of reasons. To begin with, Hapsburg Eclipse is a deeper game. You’re not just protecting Vienna. Obviously, to win you need to take care of business militarily. You also have to manage fractious ethnic groups that threaten the multicultural fabric of your Empire. This means you also have to hold it together on the National Loyalties Tracks. Lastly, you need to win on the National Will Track. Success in these three domains is crucial to victory.
Speaking of National Will, the Hapsburg Empire is a more resilient polity than the Ottomans. National Will can fall to -5 and you’re still in the game. You can battle through major crises, recover and right the ship of state. In Ottoman Sunset, National Will can only fall to -3. A couple of big crises and the Ottoman Empire collapses.
Resources
Truth be told, the resources in Hapsburg Eclipse are way cooler.
The Przemyśl Fortress is decisive in shutting down the Russian menace and injects some real tactical nuance.
The Great Retreat is another powerful strategic weapon to bring the Russians to heel.
Radio Intercepts give some real tactical options. Dropping all three on the Brusilov Offensive is a thing of beauty.
Mackensen is very versatile and great insurance for that must-win Offensive. (Just wish he could be used in Serbian Battles.)
Those German Aid chits are the ultimate reinforcements. Drop one of these bad boys on the enemy to seal the deal.
These resources grant real agency to the player.
Victory
However, where Hapsburg really eclipses Ottoman Sunset (sorry, I couldn’t resist) is the path to victory. Most of the enemy fronts can be removed from the game. The Russians from the Polish track via the Great Retreat. Romania and Italy can be knocked out opportunistically. In both cases, you just have to plan ahead and be ready to seize the moment. Ultimately, the Russians will be neutralized by internal political turmoil.
Applying the Napoleonic principle of defeating your enemies in detail, there is a path to victory which could see you end up fighting only the French army in the Balkans. If you play your cards and resources just right, they will never cross the Bulgarian Trench Line. These realities grant the player some real strategic agency to shape the board and win the game decisively. You’re not playing to just survive. No, you are leading the Empire to crushing victory and imperial glory
As you can see, Hapsburg Eclipse isn’t the sister game to Ottoman Sunset. Rather, it is the big brother in this relationship. Clearly, Hapsburg Eclipse is the better game for those bold enough to see the path to victory and seize the opportunity.
Ottoman Sunset is clearly better, here’s the proof:
https://hitchkennedy.substack.com/p/why-ottoman-sunset-is-a-better-game-99f
Dang it, as per your coverage, you bring another fascinating game into my purview!