As Long as the Grass Grows: The Conquest of the American West 1845-1881

Beyond the great river Mississippi, where a part of your nation has gone, your father has provided a country large enough for all of you, and he advises you to remove to it. There your white brothers will not trouble you; they will have no claim to the land, and you can live upon it, you and all your children, as long as the grass grows or the water runs, in peace and plenty. It will be yours for ever. President Andrew Jackson As Long as the Grass Grows is a card driven board game depicting the Conquest of the American West from the Texas Annexation of 1845 to the surrender of Sitting Bull in 1881. At the start of each turn a President card is drawn and resolved, to determine the policies of the new administration, foreign affairs, and gold rushes. The players draw Action cards, make agreements, and play their cards as Events or for Action Points so they can move, raid, and fight with troops of cavalry and infantry, or tribal warbands. The United States Player wins by protecting pioneer trails, upgrading them to railroads, civilising tribes, and seizing control of territories, particularly those with pioneers and gold. The Great Plains, Northwestern, and Southwestern Tribal Players win by resisting the westward advance of the United States, maintaining control their homelands, and avoiding the Reservation for as long as possible. Includes Scenarios for 1845-57, 1857-69 and 1869-81, which can be combined into campaign scenarios. Two player alternate history game with no US player. 108 Event cards including Generals, Chiefs, Pioneers, Gold Rushes, and Epidemics. 10 President Cards representing every president from 1845 to 1881, reflecting the policy of their administration. Buffalo, Gold, Massacre, Trail, Peace Chief, and War Chief markers. California, Oregon, Mormon, Bozeman, Smoky Hill, Santa Fe, Old Spanish, and Goodnight-Loving Trails allow rapid movement across the continent, may be raided by local tribes, and upgraded to railroads. Control of territories by the British, Mexicans, Mormons, Texans, CSA, USA, and Tribes. Variable victory conditions, increasing for the US and decreasing for Tribal Factions as the game proceeds. —description from the designer