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.
