Wargaming Ephemera,

I am a collector. 

There, I've admitted it. I am constantly on the lookout for anything that concerns wargaming from the very beginning. Posters, old magazines, images, basically anything that records the progress of a hobby that I've devoted virtually all my life to. I now see it as my legacy to wargaming. I'm certain my armies will be given away or sold and will fail to tell my story and the many hours Ive spent enjoying the hobby. But books, failed wargaming magazines, old newspaper articles, etc will tell a story for the odd [very odd] person who wants to research the very start of wargaming. To read about the people who began from scratch [literally] and created the vibrant hobby we now have.

 So when I saw this programme for sale, I had to possess it. The programme was the first outing for Marcus Hinton's, BATTLE COMMEMORATION UNIT, a grand-sounding name for him and a few friends.

 But what friends: Brigadier Peter Young, David Chandler and Professor Christopher Duffy.  

Imagine being able to contact them, go for a pint with them and, best of all, push toy soldiers around a wargames table. I actually wasn't aware that a refight of the Battle of Leipzig had taken place in 1973 at the National Army Museum. I've tried researching the event that took place on 19th October 1973, but I couldn't find any images of the event, which was disappointing. I cannot imagine there are no photographs of the weekend, especially given the people involved.

The programme makes no mention of who actually created the wargame, but I hope it was Peter Gilder but given he is not mentioned Im doubting that was the case. Leipzig was the one wargame I never created in my 6mm days. I did have ALL the armies ie every brigade, etc but somehow I never staged the damned thing even though I had made all the terrain boards. Somehow I just didn't have the will to organise what would have been a very big wargaming event. So I sold all the armies and gave away all the boards. 

As a programme, it is actually very good, with lots of uniform detail and, of course, a decent brief description of the battle. But then look at the participants. 

So the programme will be carefully stored away and hopefully will become a small testament to wargaming and the pioneers. I dread to think what my wife will say when she has to shift through ALL the wargaming stuff Ive accrued. I would identify it as my legacy; my wife will only see tat.

But each to their own.

 

Scourage of Princes.

 

Although Ive posted infrequently, it hasnt meant that I haven't been wargaming. In fact John and I have managed to fight a battle at least once a week. Usually it will be Midgard, Pillage, Hail Ceasar etc.

 However, several weeks ago, John insisted we try out a set of rules he had secretly purchased from Amazon. He wanted to use the Warlord Games Epic armies for the Thirty Years War, well, how can you refuse the offer to fight for the Imperialists? John has always been interested in new wargaming rule sets and he has never failed in his selection. He was right again

The rules were Sam Mustafa's latest rule offering, SCOURGE OF PRINCES. Ive always been impressed by Mr. Mustafas rules [ great surname by the way] and really enjoyed his Blucher ruleset until I sold all my Napoleonic armies. 

And his latest? I love them. They captured the period brilliantly. The ideas incorporated in the games make for loads of tactical problems. They make you think before you decide to move anything. A mistake could cost you dearly. I think the nearest other ruleset is the excellent Sword and Spear rules. 

Victory is obtained by destroying your enemies 'key units'. In the case of the 30-years war that means infantry regiments and some special cavalry regiments, but as you lose any unit, you also lose a die, which is a command die you will need to order units to do something. 

 Oh, and don't roll a one in your command dice because that is also excluded in your move. The fewer dice means there is less chance to get your units to actually do something. Frustrating? Definitely. 

Fun? Certainly. Highly recommended.

The rules are available via Amazon and the Scourage of Princes site.

Scourge of Princes is a tabletop game of battles in the Renaissance, from the late 15th through the mid-17th centuries.

Choose an army from this long and colorful period: from Ireland to Persia, from Spain to Muscovy. Perhaps your tastes run to the exotically colorful pikemen of the Italian Wars? Or the stalwart Dutch rebels under Maurice of Nassau? Or the irresistible war machine of Suleiman the Magnificent? Or the valiant Swedes of Gustavus Adolphus? Or the solid redcoats of the New Model Army? Build your force and test your soldiers against an array of opponents.

Scourge of Princes is played with miniature figures. In addition to this rulebook, you will need models or counters in order to play. All other game information is provided free on the HONOUR website: sammustafa.com.

The basic Scourge of Princes game can be played by two or more players in 2-3 hours.

The advanced rules introduce personalities, additional tactics, a campaign system, and can accommodate as many players and be as large as your imagination permits.