Capstone Games has announced Fire & Stone:  Siege of Vienna 1683, an asymmetrical wargame depicting that pivotal battle, set to release on October 11.

The Siege of Vienna was the turning point in the 300-year conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Austrian Hapsburgs.  Over 100,000 Ottoman troops laid siege to the Austrian capital, which was defended by only some 12,000 regulars supported by the city’s militia and citizen volunteers, hoping to hold out long enough for a relief force to arrive.

In the game, each side uses its own unique deck of cards to launch assaults, conduct sapping operations, and pursue other tactics to delay or overcome the opposition.  Both sides are in a battle against time, as the defenders must prevent the Ottomans from overrunning the walls, while the attacker must claim victory before relief arrives to rescue the defenders.

Fire & Stone:  Siege of Vienna 1683 was designed by Robert DeLeskie (The Wars of Marcus Aurelius) and features artwork by Donal Hegarty (1960: The Making of the President).  The game is intended for two players and takes a little over an hour to play.  It will also include a booklet with historical notes on the battle and siege warfare in the 17th Century.  MSRP is $49.95.  Capstone will premiere the game at this year’s Spiel fair in Essen Germany this October before releasing it into the trade.

Click Gallery below to preview some of the game components.

October will also see the launch of Andreas Faul’s Terra Nova (see “Capstone Games Reveals ‘Terra Nova’”).  Capstone recently announced a new direct-to-consumer subscription service (see “Capstone Games Announces Capstone+”).