Steel Bonnets: Skirmish Rules for 16th Century Border Reivers

From the introduction of the rules set: "Fraser's book The Steel Bonnets gives a good history of the cattle raids back and forth across the Anglo-Scottish border during Elizabeth's reign. Having visited Hexham, capital of the Middle March last year, and toured the first purpose-built gaol in England, my interest in the Border Reivers was rekindled and I devised the following game.

"Being both a wargamer and a role player I was interested in developing a fast, easy set of rules suitable for a skirmish encounter while instilling a sense of proprietary interest on the part of the players with their figures. Too often, I find, tabletop generals are willing to sacrifice their regiments with gleeful abandon, heedless of the actual cost. Role playing games generate a notion of investment and caution, with characters developed over a series of adventures. Steel Bonnets attempts to recreate the care and concern a reiver patriarch would feel for his sons and gillies when they are on raid."

Scale: One turn equals one minute; one figure equals one man; half an inch equals one yard. 20mm or 25mm figures are recommended.

Although a miniatures game, figures have individual characteristics and skills that develop over time.

This simple system includes rules for Spotting and Victory Point, as well as everything need for combat. Includes four scenarios: The Cattle Raid, Black Mail, Government Raid, & Gaol Break.

Rules set appear in Wargames Illustrated #78 (March 1994)