An Impossible War

An Impossible War plunges players into the heart of the First Carlist War (1834–1838), a major but often overlooked civil conflict in Spanish history.

This medium-complexity, card-assisted block game for two players puts you at the head of the forces that shaped Spain's destiny: the Carlists, defenders of tradition and the monarchy, and the Liberals, supporters of progress and change. It's up to you to rewrite history or preserve the old order—the fate of a nation rests in your hands.

War breaks out upon the death of Ferdinand VII, when the Spanish throne becomes the subject of a succession struggle between his daughter Isabella II and her brother Don Carlos. This dynastic conflict quickly turns into an ideological clash between absolutism and liberalism. The Carlists establish their stronghold in northern Spain—in Navarre, the Basque Country, and neighboring provinces—where the population and rugged terrain favor their resistance. Under the command of the brilliant Tomás de Zumalacárregui, they forge a disciplined army capable of standing up to the more numerous but poorly coordinated government troops.

Despite several victories and daring campaigns, the Carlists never managed to capture a major city. The death of Zumalacárregui during the siege of Bilbao in 1835 marked a decisive turning point. Don Carlos then led a daring expedition to the gates of Madrid in 1837, but failed to take the capital. For their part, the liberal troops, reorganized under the command of Baldomero Espartero, regained the initiative and inflicted a series of defeats on their opponents. In 1839, the supporters of peace signed the Abrazo de Vergara, ending the fighting in the north, although Carlist resistance persisted in Catalonia until 1840.

An Impossible War recreates these decisive years in great detail. Infantry and cavalry are represented by wooden blocks, introducing the fog of war into operations, while artillery and logistics are managed using specific counters. The main map covers the theater of operations in the north (Navarre, Basque Country, La Rioja, Burgos, Cantabria), while a second map is used to manage expeditions and uprisings in the rest of the peninsula.

The game system combines traditional block mechanics with card support. Each side has its own deck of cards comprising historical, operational, and tactical events, which add tension, variety, and unpredictability to each game. It is not a “card” game in the strict sense, but the cards enrich the strategy and replayability without dictating the structure.

The asymmetry between the two sides is at the heart of the game. The Carlist player must exploit their mobility, the quality of their troops, and their knowledge of the terrain to consolidate their positions and wear down the enemy. The Liberal player, at the head of larger but less effective armies, must maintain order, control revolts, and pursue Carlist expeditions throughout the country, while managing significant logistical difficulties.

Between sieges, raids, and political maneuvers, players will have to balance caution and daring, manage their resources, and seize the opportunities offered by a tense and unstable historical context. An Impossible War thus offers an immersive and deeply strategic experience that is at once historical, tactical, and human, reflecting the complexity of a Spain torn between modernity and tradition.

Box contents:

• 1 main map (North)
• 1 regional map (rest of Spain)
• 1 battlefield board
• 1 rulebook and 1 game booklet
• 2 game aids
• 73 wooden blocks (48 blue – Liberals, 25 red – Carlists)
• 1 sheet of 18 mm stickers
• 2 sheets of 18 mm counters
• 72 cards (36 Liberals, 36 Carlists)
• 10 wooden artillery counters
• 4 six-sided dice
• 2 cloth bags