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 Strategic Campaigns Hub

"Operational Map Warfare & Narrative Campaign Logs"

Welcome to the campaign headquarters. While tactical battles test the discipline of regiments on the tabletop, campaigns provide the vital context—the why behind every clash of bayonets.

This page tracks grand operational campaigns where attrition, manoeuvre, supply lines, and strategic positioning dictate when and where armies meet.

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 without getting bogged down in endless bookkeeping.

The Operational Engine: Soldier King (GDW)

To manage the operational layer without getting bogged down in endless bookkeeping, these campaigns utilise Game Designers' Workshop's classic Soldier King (1982).

Soldier King provides an elegant, card-driven strategic map layer set in an XVIII Century-inspired theatre. It handles the high-level decisions of statecraft and military strategy:

  • Strategic Movement: Army counters manoeuvre across provinces, mountain passes, and river crossings on the operational map.
  • Supply & Attrition: Lines of communication must be maintained; isolated armies risk starvation and march casualties before ever firing a shot.
  • Battle Generation: Whenever hostile army counters occupy the same province, movement pauses and the engagement transitions directly to the tabletop in 6mm using Black Powder / Last Argument of Kings.
  • Casualty Carry-Over: Tabletop victories and losses directly impact campaign counters, reinforcing regiments or forcing strategic retreats across the map.

Integrating Solo Campaign Mechanics

Because this campaign is fought solo, the operational engine is paired with solo campaign systems (drawing on mechanisms from William Silvester and custom card-driven AI event tables).

The card mechanics of Soldier King introduce the unpredictable "fog of war"—simulating delayed intelligence, sudden political shifts, and uncooperative coalition allies without bias.

(For a deeper look into the specific rules, solo mechanisms, and card adaptations used off the tabletop, visit The Solitary Commander hub).

Active Campaign: The War of the Crown (Soldier King)

Campaign Setting: A multi-faction struggle across Central European-style provinces for territorial dominance and imperial prestige.

Participating Factions & Armies

  • The Royalist Forces (Prussia / Baccus 6mm): Drilling and discipline, relying on swift interior lines.
  • The Imperial Coalition (Austria / Baccus 6mm): Heavy artillery, stubborn line infantry, and Grenzer light screening forces.
  • The Allied Forces (Saxony & Coalition Partners): Holding key fortress positions and vital mountain passes.

Campaign Log & Turn Index

Strategic Phase 1: Opening Moves & Mobilisation

  • Campaign Introduction & Map Setup [Read Post]: Setting up the Soldier King board, defining force limits, and assigning 6mm order of battle equivalents to map counters.
  • Turn 1: Spring Mobilisation [Pending]: Initial march orders, border crossings, and cavalry scouting reports.

Strategic Phase 2: Border Battles & Sieges

  • Turn 2: The Clash at the Pass [Pending]: Generates Tabletop Battle #1.

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