Game play in this grand strategic challenge is based on a simultaneous monthly turn: players issue orders to their units during the order phase; then during the subsequent collision phase, the orders of both sides are executed simultaneously, on a daily basis until the month has elapsed.

Movement. Units move using their movement type and capacity. Movement is affected by various factors such as weather, types of units moving, terrain, presence of generals, civilization level of the province, moving through friendly or enemy territory, and whether the unit has been order to force march. In addition, units movement attempts are checked for the initiative level of their leaders; a unit that fails its check usually stays idle.

Weather at the Strategic Level. Weather conditions are simulated on the main map. Winter in particular is represented by a drastic change in the map look (as this was really the dreaded season in Colonial America). Weather affects movement, attrition and combat deeply.

Attrition and Supply. Players must supply their regiments either through foraging or by maintaining supply depot and wagons. Supply depots are expensive to build and must be defended (or they will be captured) and thus players must plan their deployment very judiciously.

Strategic and Tactical Fog of War. The map also uses fog-of-war so that players cannot see too deeply into foreign controlled provinces. And in the wilderness so common in Colonial America, you can't spot Indian war parties, rangers and other irregular forces unless you also possess nearby their counterparts of your own.

Unit Orders. Units can be ordered to force march. This increases the distance the units move in a turn but decreases its combat readiness and worsens its attrition. Units can pillage a province. This provides supply to the unit but only for awhile. Units can also choose an offensive or defensive stand, which impacts strongly on battle results. Units may board on ships and river transports, and disembark from same. Finally, orders to build forts and depots, or destroy them, can be issued.

Cities. Some provinces have a city. The city acts mostly as a supply source, and may be fortified. Some are already so in the scenarios. Victory in the game comes with the capture and continuous control of the key objective cities of the scenario in play.

Siege Warfare. Military units outside of a city garrisoned by enemy units automatically besiege the city if they began the turn located in the enemy controlled province. Armies can either besiege or assault the city. Assault are costly in terms of casualties, but provide speedy results. Sieges may drag for ages, especially that of port cities which are much harder to capture unless they are also blockaded by naval units hostile to the port city.

Naval Combat. Ship combat determines the weather gauge before battle (influence by ship quality, crew and leadership); having the weather gauge provides the player with significant combat bonus and movement bonuses. Dominance at sea allows for faster and easier strategic redeployment of forces in a theater where land movement is painfully slow and harmful.

Filters to the Rescue. A large set of game filters is accessible easily via the TAB key, allowing the player to see all the information he needs without leaving the map.

Reports. There are many report windows that the player can inspect to check everything from the details of the previous turns to the list of his units, the political status in vigor or the balance of victory.

Wide range of Scenarios. Players can choose among over 10 different scenarios, covering both the French & Indian War (1755-1763) and the American War of Independence (1775-1783). This include in both cases a Grand Campaign spanning the whole conflict.

Historical Events. There are special historical events throughout the various scenarios offered by the game. They cover things as varied as a slave uprising or an Indian raid, the Declaration of Independence or foreign powers joining in the fray.