Reinforcements Have Arrived: Soldier King Lands from Noble Knight Games!

on
There is nothing quite like the feeling of an international parcel hitting the doorstep, especially when it contains a classic piece of campaign gaming history you’ve been eagerly anticipating! My boxed copy of GDW’s 1982 classic, Soldier King , officially arrived today—safely shipped over from Noble Knight Games. The components are in fantastic condition. Leafing through those vintage 1982 rulebook pages and unrolling the map sheets in person immediately brings back that great, nostalgic operational gaming aesthetic. The Inspiration Behind the Campaign I have to give a massive tip of the hat to Neil Patterson over at the Aufklarungsabteilung blog. It was reading through Neil’s fantastic posts and seeing how he integrated Soldier King into his own campaign gaming that originally hooked me on the concept. The clean map layout, simple area movement, and multi-faction dynamic make it an ideal engine for driving grand-scale strategic campaigns on the tabletop w...
16

Battle of Lobositz, 1st Oct 1756

on

Battle of Lobositz, 1st Oct 1756

📜 1. Historical Context

On the morning of 1 October 1756, the opening major engagement of the Third Silesian War took place near the Bohemian village of Lobositz. Frederick the Great, seeking to prevent an Austrian relief force under Field Marshal Browne from reaching the trapped Saxon army at Pirna, led 28,000 Prussians into a dense autumn fog.

Frederick initially mistook the Austrian lines for a mere rearguard—a costly error. The battle devolved into a brutal, tactical slog through the vineyards of the Lobosch Hill and a desperate bayonet charge once Prussian ammunition ran low. This engagement proved to Frederick that the "new" Austrian army was a professional force of high calibre, far removed from the troops he faced at Mollwitz.

🗺️ 2. The Scenario: Table Setup

Following the cartography of Christopher Duffy, the tabletop is divided into three distinct tactical zones: the vineyards of the Lobosch, the marshy Morellen-Bach, and the stone-walled village of Lobositz.

Christopher Duffy Map Key

  • 1. Prussians: Initial deployment on the Homolka Hill.
  • 2. Austrians: Defensive positions behind the Morellen-Bach.
  • 3. Lobosch Hill: Difficult terrain; vineyards providing cover to light troops.
  • 4. Morellen-Bach: Marshy stream; hinders cavalry movement.

🛡️ 3. Orders of Battle

All units follow the project standard: Infantry (24 Baccus figures), Cavalry (12 Baccus figures), Artillery (3 guns, 12 Baccus figures), Brigade commanders (two mounted Baccus figures), and overall commanders (three mounted Baccus figures).

Austrian Forces (FM Browne)

  • The Lobosch Hill Defence
    • Croat Pandours
    • IR 22 Lacy
  • The Main Line (Lobositz)
    • IR 49 Browne
    • IR 29 Alt-Wolfenbüttel
    • Austrian Grenadiers
  • The Cavalry Reserve
    • CR 2 Lucchesi Cuirassiers
    • DR 3 Kollowrat Dragoons
    • HR 2 Baranyay Hussars
  • Artillery Support
    • Position Battery

Prussian Forces (Frederick II)

  • The Advance Guard
    • No. 13 Itzenplitz
    • No. 26 Meyerinck
  • The Prussian Centre
    • No. 3 Anhalt-Dessau
    • No. 6 Grenadier Garde
    • No. 1 Winterfeldt
  • The Cavalry Wing
    • CR 8 Rochow Cuirassiers
    • DR 5 Bayreuth Dragoons
    • HR 2 Zieten Hussars
  • Artillery Support
    • Homolka Grand Battery

📸 4. The Action

[Insert photos of Baccus 6mm regiments here]

The engagement began in the early morning mist. Prussian battalions attempted to clear the vineyards on the Lobosch Hill, but the Austrian Croats used the broken terrain to devastating effect, forcing Frederick to commit his infantry reserves earlier than intended.

📚 Sources & Credits

What do you think?

Have you refought Lobositz on the tabletop? How do your rules handle the deadly slog through the Lobosch vineyards compared to the open cavalry clash on the flank?

Related project hubs for this period:
The Silesian Wars 1740-1763 Project Hub  |  The Seven Years War 1756–1763 Project Hub

← Return to Muskets & Magnification

Comments

Post a Comment