King of the Battlefield

Wargames Rules: King of the Battlefield King of the Battlefield, written by Ian Godwin, offers an engaging set of eighteenth-century wargames rules designed specifically to reflect the tactical nuances of warfare during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. The rules place a strong emphasis on grand tactical command, formation control, and the devastating effect of disciplined line infantry fire. The mechanics manage linear tactics and cavalry charges with precision while keeping gameplay fluid and accessible. It serves as an excellent system for refighting historical engagements, allowing players to recreate the complex drill and command friction typical of mid-18th-century battlefields without getting bogged down in overly complex tables. Published by: Ian Godwin What do you think? I would love to hear your opinion on these rules! Do you use them for the Seven Years War? How do you find they handle the 6mm scale? Please leave your thoughts in...
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The Silesian Wars 1740-1763 Project Hub

"The Chronicles of the King and the Empress: Prussia vs. Austria (1740–1763)"

Welcome, fellow commander. This page serves as the master headquarters for my wargaming project documenting the 23-year struggle between Frederick the Great's Prussia and Maria Theresa's Habsburg Empire. From the sudden invasion of Silesia in 1740 through to the final peace of 1763, this hub tracks the complete Austro-Prussian duel across all three Silesian Wars.

The 6mm Vision

To capture the true "grand scale" of linear warfare, I have chosen Baccus 6mm figures as the heart of this project. The unique scale of 6mm allows for a level of magnification that larger scales simply cannot match; it enables us to see the sweeping movements of entire army corps and the vast, rigid lines of musketry as they were meant to be seen. In this project, a battalion looks like a battalion, and a battlefield feels like a theatre of war.

Tactical & Campaign Engines

The tactical engine for these engagements is the Black Powder / Last Argument of Kings ruleset. These rules strike the balance between playable tabletop mechanics and the distinctive period flavour of 18th-century warfare—where command friction and the "thin blue line" are everything.

To give these tabletop battles true strategic weight, I use the 1982 GDW (Game Designers' Workshop) game Soldier King as my operational campaign engine. Soldier King handles grand strategy, army movement, supply lines, and fog-of-war on a provincial map layer. Whenever opposing army counters clash on the board map, the action transitions directly to the tabletop in 6mm to decide the victor.

Technical Standards & Basing

To accurately represent the combined arms of the era while prioritising visual spectacle and ease of play, all regiments adhere to these strict basing conventions:

  • Infantry Regiment: 24 Figures | 60mm x 30mm base | Two ranks of 12
  • Cavalry Regiment: 12 Figures | 40mm x 50mm base | Two ranks of 6
  • Army Artillery 3 Guns & 12 Crew | 60mm x 40mm base
  • Regimental Artillery 2 Guns & 8 Crew | 40mm x 40mm base
  • Battalion Artillery 1 Guns & 4 Crew | 30mm x 30mm base
  • Brigade Commanders: 2 Mounted Figures | 30mm x 30mm base
  • Overall Commander: 3 Mounted Figures | 40mm x 40mm base

Participating Armies

  • Prussian Army
  • Austrian Imperial Army
  • Saxon Army

All 6mm figures for this project are commissioned and painted by Robert Jackson (Mersey Wargames).

Campaign & Battle Index

1. First Silesian War (1740–1742) — War of the Austrian Succession

The opening gambit: Frederick’s sudden invasion and the Prussian infantry’s baptism of fire.

  • Mollwitz (10 April 1741): The first major test of the Prussian military machine.
  • Chotusitz (17 May 1742): The decisive engagement securing Silesia.

2. Second Silesian War (1744–1745) — War of the Austrian Succession

The struggle for supremacy featuring cavalry reforms and the rise of Austrian light troops.

  • Siege of Prague (September 1744): The successful Prussian investment of the Bohemian capital before the difficult retreat.
  • Habelschwerdt (14 February 1745): A sharp winter engagement demonstrating the ferocity of early-war skirmishing.
  • Hohenfriedberg (4 June 1745): Frederick’s tactical masterpiece and the debut of the Bayreuth Dragoons.
  • Soor (30 September 1745): A desperate struggle against the odds in broken terrain, proving Prussian resilience.
  • Hennersdorf (23 November 1745): A brilliant cavalry action that caught the Saxon-Austrian forces by surprise.
  • Kesselsdorf (15 December 1745): The Old Dessauer's final victory, securing the peace treaty through brute infantry force.

3. Third Silesian War (1756–1763) — Seven Years' War: Austro-Prussian Theater

The high-water mark of linear tactics, desperate manoeuvres, and total defence.

  • Lobositz (1 October 1756): The opening battle of the war. A foggy morning encounter that shocked the Prussians with a resurgent Austrian spirit. [Pending]
  • Prague & Kolin (May – June 1757): The zenith of Prussian aggression followed by Frederick's first catastrophic defeat at the hands of Daun.
  • Leuthen (5 December 1757): Frederick's oblique order tactical masterpiece against Prince Charles of Lorraine.
  • Hochkirch (14 October 1758): The Austrian night surprise that nearly ended the Prussian cause.
  • Liegnitz & Torgau (August – November 1760): Desperate victories that kept Prussia in the war through pure military tenacity.
  • Burkersdorf (21 July 1762): The final major manoeuvre that secured the status quo and led to the Peace of Hubertusburg.

Research & Primary Sources

Historical accuracy, orders of battle, and uniforms are grounded in key academic research and primary source accounts:

Wargaming Manufacturers

A tailored list of 6mm figure and terrain manufacturers providing ranges specifically suited for the Austro-Prussian and Saxon theatres of the Silesian Wars:

  • Baccus 6mm (UK): Extensive core ranges for Prussian, Austrian, and Saxon infantry, cavalry, artillery, and general officers, alongside complementary 6mm resin European buildings.
  • Battlescale (UK): High-quality 6mm resin Central European buildings and fortifications.
  • Irregular Miniatures (UK): Dedicated 18th-century European ranges including specific Prussian, Austrian, and Saxon army options.
  • Heroics & Ros (UK): Historic 6mm lines offering comprehensive 18th-century European military forces.
  • Henry Turner Miniatures (UK): Highly detailed 6mm 3D-printable STL files and physical prints tailored for Seven Years' War and Mid-18th Century European armies.
  • Timecast (UK): Fine 6mm resin Central European town and village buildings, farmsteads, and churches ideal for Silesian, Bohemian, and Saxon battlefields.
  • Total Battle Miniatures (UK): Dedicated 6mm resin European terrain, village sets, and tile systems for 18th-century linear battlefields.
  • Perfect Six Miniatures Manufacturers of 6mm scale miniatures, terrain, and wargaming accessories

Wargaming Rules

A curated index of tabletop rulesets spanning classic linear warfare systems, grand-tactical engines, and fast-play mechanics for 18th-century battles:

Scenario Books

Essential historical scenario guides, terrain maps, and orbats for setting up refights on the tabletop:

Movies

Cinematic visual references and historical feature films depicting the Central European campaigns, Prussian tactical developments, and major field battles of the Silesian Wars:

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