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

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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about

"History, High Command, and the Grand Scale of 6mm"

Welcome to Muskets & Magnification—a wargaming journal dedicated to the grand spectacle of 18th-century warfare, operational campaign tracking, and the art of independent, solo play.

My name is Andrew, a lifelong military history enthusiast, miniature modeller, and historical wargamer. This blog serves as the central headquarters for my ongoing 6mm wargaming projects, chronicling the conflicts of the Enlightenment—from the disciplined ranks of Frederick the Great's infantry during the Silesian Wars to the dense wilderness ambushes of the French & Indian War.

A Background in the Hobby & Industry

My journey to 6mm Enlightenment wargaming has been shaped by years of active involvement in community publishing, web development, and miniature manufacturing:

  • 10mm Wargaming (News & Personal Hubs): For many years, I ran 10mm-wargaming.com as a dedicated news hub for all things 10mm scale, alongside my personal project site, 10mm-wargaming.co.uk (no longer active), which documented my own 10mm painting, terrain, and battles.
  • Wargames Directory: To help bridge the gap between manufacturers and the community, I launched Wargames Directory—a central platform for hosting company press releases, new product announcements, and trade news across the hobby.
  • East Front Miniatures: Together with my wife, we acquired and operated East Front Miniatures, managing the casting, commercial distribution, and range management of historical metal miniatures.

The Vision: Why 6mm?

Wargaming in 6mm (specifically using figures from Baccus 6mm) provides a perspective that larger scales simply cannot match. At this scale, a battlefield truly feels like a theatre of war. Battalions stand in rigid, two-deep lines of musketry, full army corps manoeuvre across realistic landscapes, and artillery batteries deploy with authentic grand-tactical frontages.

Every unit in my collection is painted and based to strict universal standards, brought to life through the incredible brushwork of Robert Jackson (Mersey Wargames).

The Table & The Approach

  • Tactical Battles: Standard line engagements are fought using Black Powder / Last Argument of Kings (adapted with A Dark and Bloody Ground for North American skirmishing).
  • Operational Campaigns: Strategic movement, supply, and fog-of-war are managed on the campaign map using GDW's classic 1982 game Soldier King.
  • Solo Focus: Operating from a permanent workshop table, my games run on an asynchronous, solo schedule. This setup allows for deep narrative exploration, historical accuracy, and flexible play that accommodates daily energy levels without the pressure of fixed club dates.

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