18th Century Wars of Absolutism: Basic Campaign Rules

The book contains an introduction into 18th Century Warfare including both land campaigns and naval campaigns. The land campaigns include information on troop types, weapons, formations and battlefield tactics. The Naval includes information on the ships armament, naval strategies and fighting tactics.

The unique system of Decision Games is explained, which with the use of Programmed Events and Chance Events form the basis of the campaign rules which are included.

In the campaign modules the commanders are given historical objectives and the forces that were available to them. This book provides the rules to re-fight the campaign modules with the methods for troop manoeuvres being dependent upon their commander’s ability, weather and plain luck. Forces march along defined routes, must maintain a line of supply and set down depots. They suffer from sickness and desertions but occasionally receive reinforcements. The rules also include a system of bidding which accurately portrays the skirmishing and manoeuvring prior to a battle or withdrawal.

Troop strengths are always recorded in terms of Army Points (APs) or Naval Points (NPs). This book gives an in depth justification of the balance between APs NPs and VPs (Victory points) based on extensive research. The system greatly simplifies campaign logistics.

 Strategic Map Manoeuvre.
 Commanders’ Personalities.
 Programmed Events.
 Rules for Off table encounters for pre-battle scouting and rearguard actions.
 Rules for post battle pursuits and rearguard actions.
 Points system for evaluating Campaign Results.
 A unique system for determining battles by dice rolls.
 A unique system for determining dice rolls by telephone.

—description from the publisher