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

Charge! or How to Play Wargames

on

Charge! or How to Play Wargames

Wargames Rules: Charge! or How to Play Wargames

First published in 1967 by Brigadier Peter Young and Lieutenant-Colonel J.P. Lawford, Charge! is one of the most influential and enduring classics in the history of the hobby. It presents a world of "Old School" wargaming, where the spirit of the game and the spectacle of the tabletop are just as important as the outcome of the battle.

The rules are designed for an era of 18th-century "Lace Wars" that is more evocative of the period's flavour than a rigid simulation of historical drill. The system uses large units—originally designed for 30mm or 25mm "flat" figures—where a standard infantry regiment might consist of 48 figures. Combat is straightforward, using simple dice rolls to determine casualties, and the rules famously include provisions for "The General’s Luck" and the dramatic impact of a bayonet charge.

While modern sets may offer more technical detail, Charge! remains beloved for its charm, its clear and gentlemanly prose, and its focus on the grand spectacle of long, colourful lines of soldiers. For many, it represents the foundational "imaginations" style of gaming, where fictional nations like the Electorate of Steuer-Wurst or the Duchy of Goulash-Stein provide the backdrop for gentlemanly conflict.

Published by: Morgan-Grampian / Reprinted by Ken Trotman Publishing

What do you think?

I would love to hear your opinion on these rules! Do you use them for the Seven Years War? How do you find they handle the 6mm scale? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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