Field of Battle

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Field of Battle, Designed by Brent Oman and published by Piquet, Inc., the Field of Battle system stands as one of the most respected horse-and-musket wargaming frameworks of the modern tabletop era. Originating from the broader Piquet gaming philosophy, Field of Battle streamlined classic card-driven mechanics into a single, cohesive system that masterfully simulates command friction, the fog of war, and battle momentum without forcing players into exhaustive chart lookups or micromanagement. Across its three distinct iterations—from the original breakthrough 2006 release, through the refined 2011 second edition, to the polished 2020 third edition—the rulebook family has continually perfected its core sequence deck concept. By replacing rigid movement turns with dynamic card draws and initiative rolls, Field of Battle ensures that no two actions play out identically, offering a deeply atmospheric and unpredictable grand tactical experience that scales brilliantly for 6mm Seven Y...
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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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