Written by Charles S. Grant & Phil Olley (Ken Trotman Publishing: 2009–2015)
The Wargaming In History Series: A Grand Tour of the 18th Century
Introduction: The Wargaming In History series represents a monumental achievement in hobby literature. Published as 12 hardback, full-colour volumes by Ken Trotman, these books are more than just battle reports—they are deep dives into historical scholarship applied to the tabletop. While the series covers various eras, seven specific titles by Charles S. Grant (co-written with Phil Olley for the first two outings) provide an exhaustive look at the 18th-century "Horse and Musket" period.
Vol 1: The Seven Years War Krefeld, Sandershausen & Lutterberg - 1758 (2009)
The series debut focuses on the 1758 campaigns in Western Germany. For our 6mm project, this volume is essential for understanding the smaller, often overlooked engagements that defined the struggle for Westphalia. It provides the perfect tactical blueprints for deploying our 24-figure Baccus infantry in the broken terrain of the Rhineland.
Vol 2: The War of the Austrian Succession Dettingen, Fontenoy and Laufeld (2010)
Co-written with Phil Olley, this volume steps back to the 1740s, covering Dettingen, Fontenoy, and Lauffeld. While our primary focus is the Third Silesian War, the uniform details and tactical evolutions described here are vital for contextualising our Austrian Whitecoats. The maps are particularly helpful for setting up the complex defensive lines required for Fontenoy-style scenarios.
Vol 4: The Seven Years War Hastenbeck, Rossbach & Leuthen (2011)
This is the "Prussian Juggernaut" volume. It covers Frederick’s most iconic victories and his most desperate hours. The study of Leuthen, in particular, helps us refine the Oblique Order on the table, challenging us to move our 6mm brigades with the same precision Frederick demanded of his own commanders.
Vol 5: The Seven Years War Minden, Kunersdorf, Torgau & Maxen
Focusing on the bloody middle years of the SYW, this volume highlights the rising lethality of 18th-century warfare. For our 3-gun artillery batteries, the descriptions of the massive grand batteries at Kunersdorf provide excellent inspiration for tabletop placement and Black Powder effectiveness.
Vol 9: The Seven Years War Lobositz, Reichenberg, Prague & Kolin (2013)
This volume takes us into the heart of the Bohemian theatre. It is a mandatory resource for our Third Silesian War project hub, detailing the rugged landscapes and the tenacious Austrian defense. The maps are perfect for use with our Total Battle Miniatures buildings to recreate the urban outskirts of Prague.
Vol 11: The Seven Years War Small Actions (2015)
Perhaps the most versatile for the everyday wargamer, Volume 11 focuses on "Small Actions" at Bamberg, Pirna, Olmutz, and Basberg. These scenarios are tailor-made for our 12-figure cavalry stands and skirmish units, providing high-stakes narrative play that doesn't require a full weekend to resolve.
Scholarship & Spectacle: What sets this series apart is the photography. Seeing these battles played out with thousands of miniatures—much like our own 6mm ambitions—provides a visual guide to "grand-tactical" aesthetics. It encourages us to treat our Overall Commander bases as the focal point of a vast, moving map.
Conclusion: The Ken Trotman series is the ultimate reference library for the serious 18th-century enthusiast. It bridges the gap between the academic histories of Christopher Duffy and the practicalities of the wargames table, ensuring our project remains rooted in historical reality.
Comments
Post a Comment