Seven Years War
in Miniature

Ken Bunger Comments

by Larry Iron

The advantage of being an editor is that one can review the reviewer. Right off, I'd like to plead for further comments or criticisms on any set of rules in our period. I particularly ask other authors to write to explain, praise or disavow their own rules. The editor and I would very much like to get a civilized dialogue going in reference to wargame rules and tactics of this period with other readers.

To be fair and maintain my well-known objectivity (with regard to my own rules for whatever wargaming period), I will abstain from commenting at length on the Swiss watchlike rule mechanisms and superb Eighteenth century flavor contained in TRICORN, and will only mention that Larry's problem with the morale rule section was resolved sometime ago through an errata sheet. TRICORNE is available with errata sheet and four quick reference charts from your author at 4404 Crestline Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68134 for $3.95 plus $1.00 postage or three one- pound notes if you're from the UK.

As I mentioned, the rules inadvertently left out the sentence which stated that if more than one morale check is called for simultaneously only one check is taken. Also routs only occur if morale disasterously fails when being charged, being under small arms or canister fire at less than long range, or being under half-strength. Otherwise routs are considered "fall back disorganized" moves.

The rules distinction between skirmisher and unformed troop formations attempt to distinguish between the true jaeger and the grenadier or frei corps units. A similar rule exists in some popular recent Napoleonic rules drawing the distinction between skirmish and semi- skirmish formations. Many veteran units were able to operate in rough terrain or built-up areas in a loose formation ("unformed") without loss of morale or discipline.

The Prussian fret-corps would often use this loose style of fighting with no morale loss as their morale was pretty poor to begin with. Most French light corps also operated unformed as it made pillaging much easier. Unformed and skirmish formations in relatively open terrain are penalized in my morale rules. One other note is that all troops may operate unformed, but will take a severe disorganized morale penalty unless they are trained in that sort of thing (grenadiers) or don't know any better (f rei-corps types).

As for the WRG rules, I stand second to none in my admiration of their ancient and Gush's pike and shot rules. However, I think they ruined their 1685 -1845 rules with the needlessly cumbersome alternating move- countermove system and an all to predictable melee rule. The melee circumstances and number of elements can almost always be computed well before a melee leaving very little to chance, and melees were very chancy episodes indeed. The rules are much better suited to the Napoleonic period in my opinion, although I know the authors are very keen Seven Years War gamers.

I understand that army lists are a general guide useful for the novice, so I won't criticize the one at the end of the WRG rules (I have the same problem with the small list in my own rules). Some comments on the list are that generally guard troops weren't any better, and in the Prussian case worse, than veteran line troops. British light dragoons and Prussian hussars were both able to skirmish or ride over somebody in close formation. I don't see any historical basis at all in the difference between the French four old regiments and other line. Prussian "free battalions" certainly fought in formed line (albeit not very well).

As for FREDERICK THE GREAT, I won't criticize any author who once thanked me for some rules ideas from my first edition of TRICORNE, published in 1973. I like the arms list idea in the rules. A couple obvious discrepancies are that Hanoverians (except for the foot guards) used one battalion regiments and that the numbers of companies per battalion are totally irrelevant to the field tactics of this or the Napoleonic period for that matter. Also, the colors or standards, while expensive, were not "revered" until a much later period. Certainly no morale penalty should accompany their loss.

The Rules

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