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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The Army of Maria Theresa

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The Army of Maria Theresa

By Christopher Duffy (Original Publication: 1977)

The Resurgence of the Imperial Eagle

Introduction: While Frederick often steals the spotlight, Duffy’s study of the Austrian army reveals the incredible administrative and tactical overhaul led by Maria Theresa. This book covers the transformation of a demoralised force into a professional machine capable of standing toe-to-toe with Prussia.

The 6mm Connection: This volume is a goldmine for those painting Baccus 6mm Austrians. Duffy provides essential details on the "Grenz" (frontier) troops and the specialised role of the Austrian artillery. For Black Powder, it perfectly justifies giving your Croats and Hussars the Marauder rule, as Duffy emphasises their lethal efficiency in the "petite guerre" or small war.

Historical Insight: The standout insight is the technical superiority of the Austrian artillery under Liechtenstein. Learning how the Austrians outpaced the Prussians in gun design and deployment adds a layer of tactical depth when positioning your batteries on the Homolka Mound or across the Morellen-Bach.

Conclusion: A mandatory companion to the Prussian volume. It reminds wargamers that the Austrians weren't just targets for Frederick—they were a sophisticated, evolving, and dangerous opponent.

Rating: 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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