The Autumn of 1813 was the most active period in the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon at the Crossroads covers the Autumn campaign at a scale which focuses on the strategic issues and emphasizes playability, with several battle scenarios playable in an evening, and full campaign in about 8 hours.

At the outset of the Campaign in August the Emperor allowed the Coalition forces to seize the initiative and hold it; he stands accused of not going where the action was, and was repeatedly left flat-footed by the push-and-pull of three Coalition armies charging the center of his position at Dresden, then retiring when Napoleon reacted. Though he won the critical battle at Dresden, his subordinates lost four battles over a 2-week period. When Blücher moved from Silesia to cross the Elbe, a battle in or near Leipzig was certain.