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

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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...
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Olmutz to Torgau: Horace St Paul and the Campaigns of the Austrian Army in the Seven Years War 1758-60

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Olmutz to Torgau: Horace St Paul and the Campaigns of the Austrian Army in the Seven Years War 1758-60

By Horace St Paul (Edited by Neil Cogswell)

Olmutz to Torgau: Horace St Paul and the Campaigns of the Austrian Army in the Seven Years War 1758-60

Introduction: Picking up after the disaster of Leuthen, this volume follows the professionalisation of the Austrian army during the middle years of the war. It is a narrative of grit and strategic recovery, detailing the lifting of the siege of Olmutz, the surprise at Hochkirch, and the bloody stalemate of Torgau. St Paul’s role as an observer allows for a rare look at the Austrian "Grand Staff" in action as they attempted to outmanoeuvre the most dangerous general in Europe.

The 6mm Connection: This volume is particularly useful for the "Petite Guerre" (Small War). St Paul spends a great deal of time on the Croats and Grenzer regiments. For Baccus 6mm players, this provides the historical justification for fielding large numbers of irregular light infantry in Black Powder. His descriptions of the night attack at Hochkirch are perfect for scenario designers looking to implement "Fog of War" rules or specialised night-fighting mechanics for their 6mm battalions.

Historical Insight: The standout insight here is the Austrian use of "Abatis" and field fortifications. St Paul details how the Imperial army turned villages into fortresses at Torgau. This influenced my own modelling, encouraging me to invest in more 6mm-scale earthworks and gabions to represent the "Fabian" defensive tactics that Daun favoured to frustrate Frederick.

Conclusion: If the first volume is about survival, this volume is about mastery. It provides the tactical depth needed to move beyond "line versus line" wargaming and into the world of strategic positioning and combined arms.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Muskets.

What do you think?

Have you read this volume? Let me know in the comments if you’ve used this research to inform your painting or game strategy!

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

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