The Reviewing Stand

Sword and the Flame
(3rd Ed.) Colonial Rules

Greenfield

by Tom Desmond


Greenfield Hobby Distributors has finally done what many of us had hoped would occur, combined and reissued this venerable set of rules for the colonial period. The revised rules , which come in a boxed set, incorporate most of the changes that were printed over the years in both the Supplement and The Courier. This includes phased cavalry movement and modifications for the Boxer Rebellion, Foreign Legion and French and Indian War. All in all the revision is nicely done although the now familiar color cover graces the box rather than the rules themselves.

The boxed set includes the rules as well as eight sets of charts which I'll discuss later, 90 soft plastic 1/72 British and Zulu figures, a D6 and D20 die and a deck of playing cards. The charts include basic and optional movement and firing charts for The Sword and Flame game as well as the Foreign Legion, French and Indian War, Boxer Rebellion and a chart with unit factors. The revision includes the organization and uniform information and some photos or games. There is also a a bibliography of books, periodicals and films on the colonial period. While it might be considered a starter set, gamers will quickly learn that you need significantly more figures and dice in order to play even a small game.

One cannot overlook the fact that Greenfield has done a great service in getting these rules back on the shelves. The only thing that is missing are the modifications for the Indian Mutiny and the special rules for Dervishes and gunboats. While this is a small thing, it would have been nice to have it all in one book. Priced at $ 29.95, the third edition of The Sword and Flame is available from your local hobby shop or direct from Greenfield Hobby Distributors, Inc 32660 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48092.

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