With Men Such as These

More AWI Scenarios for Busy People

by Craig Martelle

by Stenhouse Game Productions, P.O. Box 92, McLean VA 22101 or e-mail stenhousegames@hotmail.com.

Robert Haworth, Chief Designer of Stenhouse Games comes through again with a very clear-cut set of 6 scenarios, and these aren't in other scenario books. Here's what we have: Hubbardton, Klock's Field, Greenspring (Historical Variant), Butts Hill (Rhode Island), Second Springfield, and Barren Hill (Historical Variant). At the end of the scenario book is a section dedicated to notes on play (with designer notes) and a final chart with a breakdown of each scenario by number of figures needed. Very quick and useful. As a publisher, I understand quite well that if scenarios are this well laid out, then historical miniature gamers are more inclined to explore the period.

Even I, who has never played in an AWI game, am seriously considering the era. Of course, my first stop was to the David Barnes reviews in the past three years worth of MWAN magazines. I like to see the line drawings in conjunction with the write up. Anyway, back to With Men Such as These… This is a superb scenario book. Looking at Barren Hill, for example, Robert outlines how this is one of the only times during the AWI that the Patriots had the smaller, but better force. For the British, there are 146 foot figures, 4 mounted, 2 Commanders, and 2 guns. The Colonists have 104 figures, 2 Commanders, and one gun. The setup includes starting locations for all with a reinforcement schedule (British only - Patriots have what they have). The special Rules cover specifics to keep play even, as well as the assumption that BG Grey executed his original orders, which forces the Patriots into a more even battle.

Although some may call this a historical inaccuracy and that the battle should be fought more as it was, Robert states right up front that he has done this and the reasons for it. I concur whole-heartedly with Robert and believe it balances the scenario. He explains thoroughly in the Historical Outcome section (as lengthy as the scenario itself) what happened with each commander and each phase of the battle and how they affected other events.

With Men Such as These is more than a scenario book, it is a historical treatise on the war that formed our country. Robert demonstrates his ability to not only conduct the research of history, but to understand what it all means and then, most importantly, put it down on paper in a format that teaches history and gives us the ability to refight the battles on the tabletop. Again, WELL DONE!! Highly Recommended, whether you are an AWI fan or not.

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