If you are looking for a set of rules that will enable you to play out large scale battles in a short period of time and give a fun game, then this set is for you. The basic idea is to have figures mounted on a 3" square base and the scale of figure is irrelevant. The smaller the scale, the more figures are mounted and a better scenic effect results. Each base represents a brigade (cavalry or infantry) with regiments, skirmishers, and artillery, being mounted on bases 3'' X 1-1/2". Movement is in inches and is reminiscent of the early days of wargaming. Another "throw back" to the past is the casualty determination. Depending on circumstances and type of unit (whether it has moved or not/ infantry or cavalry, etc.), you throw a set number of D6 and, usually, a score of 6 indicates a hit. Each base has a listed value of strength and morale points e.g. an Infantry stand could be 3-5, the first being the strength and the latter the morale. For each hit on the unit a strength point is lost. When listing your units into Divisions you will allocate an exhaustion level, based on a proportion of the total strength points of all of the units. When all losses within the Division equal the exhaustion level then the Division becomes non-effective. There are no lists of plusses and minuses to be gone through when calculating casualties and, when considering morale, the factors involved will soon be remembered. Morale can make your brigade disordered or rout. If it is disordered and comes into conflict, then any opponents are allowed saving throws. For all their simplicity, the rules are very effective and give a good result. I use 2mm armies and have converted base sizes to 30mm square and reduced all distances accordingly. They are fast and furious giving a very quick result which means that the average soloist can have a reasonably large battle in an evening. In a way they could be seen as a DBM for the Horse and Musket period. Within the rule book are amendments for all periods from Malborough through to the Franco-Prussian War and there are some 9 scenarios to help you get started. The rules are published by Games Design Workshop. I can recommend them as an excellent set of rules. Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior #113 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1996 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com