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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Frederick the Great’s Army

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Written by Philip Haythornthwaite (Osprey Publishing: Men-at-Arms 236, 240, & 248)

Frederick the Great’s Army: The Prussian War Machine

Introduction: The Prussian army of Frederick II was the envy and terror of 18th-century Europe. Renowned for its iron discipline and blistering rate of fire, it was an army that often achieved the impossible. This comprehensive three-volume set from Osprey is the gold standard for wargamers, providing a detailed look at the organisation, tactics, and striking uniforms of the force that forged the Prussian legend.

Frederick the Great’s Army 1: Cavalry

Frederick the Great’s Army 1: Cavalry

This volume examines the organisation, tactics, and uniforms of the renowned Prussian cavalry, including cuirassiers, dragoons, and hussars, which were considered a model for other European armies.

Frederick the Great’s Army 2: Infantry

Frederick the Great’s Army 2: Infantry

This book focuses on the organisation, uniforms, and tactics of the Prussian infantry, which was the backbone of Frederick's army throughout the Silesian and Seven Years' Wars.

Frederick the Great’s Army 3: Specialist Troops

Frederick the Great’s Army 3: Specialist Troops

The final volume in the series covers artillery, engineers, and other specialist troops. Frederick recognised the importance of these arms and expanded them significantly.

Historical Accuracy: Haythornthwaite’s expertise ensures that the evolution of Prussian military thought is well-documented. For the wargamer, seeing the transition from the rigid formations of the 1740s to the more flexible (if exhausted) units of the later Seven Years War is incredibly helpful for scenario design. The plates also offer great inspiration for our brigade commanders (two mounted Baccus figures) and overall commander bases (three mounted Baccus figures), helping to depict the professional, focused look of the Prussian officer corps.

Conclusion: These three volumes are the "Prussian Bible" for Seven Years War hobbyists. They offer the perfect blend of tactical theory and visual detail, ensuring that your Baccus miniatures don't just look like a blue blur, but a historically accurate representation of the finest army of the age.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Muskets.

What do you think?

Have you read these volumes? Did they inspire you to pick up the paintbrush, or were the technical errors too much to bear? Let me know in the comments!

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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