PRINCIPLES OF WAR by Tom Penn

are a nicely printed 8" X 11.5" 88 page rule booklet with a quick reference card published by the Victorian Military Society. These rules cover modern and colonial wars from Waterloo to World War I. Provision is made for basing 25mm, 15 and 6mm figures, but isn't critical. The basic unit is the battalion but the author suggests companies can be used for smaller actions. I think units could represent brigades for the multi-corp 1859 Franco-Austrian and 1866 Seven Weeks War battles.

A DBM ancient/medieval rules command system variant is used by rolling different types of dice (six and four-sided plus average dice) based on of ficer quality for command points that are spent to move and rally units. A unit has a strength value that is used for morale checks and combat. There is no figure removal for casualties. Instead, the unit's strength value is tracked on a roster sheet. Both fire and melee combat is done by multiplying a unit's strength based on weapon type and rolling on a chart for defender strength loss. Morale checks are simple; roll a 2-sided die equal to or under the unit's strength to pass.

Although the rules run 88 pages, only about 25 pages are actual rules. There are a lot of examples and illustrations in these pages. The rest of the book has army lists (even for colonial expeditions with random forces) and weapon descriptions.

We tried a small 1859 Franco-Austrian war meeting engagement and had very few questions. A most enjoyable game. The rules are just like the ad states: no long list of factors, easy to use and quick play. The author sells laminated army lists and publishes a cheap nice newsletter with rule questions and a scenario in each issue. The author also plans on publishing army list books for various periods. These highly recommended rules are available from ON MILITARY MATTERS, 55 Taylor Terrace, Hopewell, NJ 08525 for $ 18 plus $3.50 for postage and handling.

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