Charge!

Seven Years’ War Rules

Charge! – Seven Years’ War Rules, by Stuart A. Asquith and Alan Cook.

The Seven Years’ War has been the poor relations to the Napoleonic era in wargaming terms for a long time, yet it has just as much colour, and the conflict was even more widespread. This set of rules is an attempt to persuade the hardened Napoleonic buff to try an earlier period.

The rules contained in this booklet are not original to the compilers. In slightly varied form they first appeared in a now sadly out of print book called "Charge! – or how to play War Games", which was published by Morgan-Grampian Books Ltd. of London in 1967. We are deeply indebted to the publisher’s successors, Blackie & Sons of Glasgow, for their kind permission to publish theses rules, based on those in that excellent book.

The rules are designed for the Seven Years’ War in western Europe, but there are supplements to extend the coverage to other theaters, and indeed to other wars – namely the American Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.

It will be noted that the rules are free of the cumbersome reaction, casualty and morale charts usually found in recent wargame rules. In the opinion of the compilers, this produces wargames where rule-checking is reduced to a minimum and the spirit of the game is maintained.

One anomaly may be detected in the text in that there are rules covering light troops when generally these were not encountered until after the Seven Years’ War. However, there were exceptions – The Prussian Jägers and Austrian Grenzer for example – And the inclusion of such troops adds interest, panic and flavour to wargames.

There are no rules for the occupancy of buildings for it is found that this tends to stultify and channel wargames in this period, so buildings are simply treated as decorative obstacles.

The rules give a simple, enjoyable and fast-moving game, ideal for two or more amicable opponents. We sincerely hope you enjoy your wargaming using these rules, and we would be pleased to hear criticism, praise or suggestions. -- Stuart A. Asquith, Alan Cook

Contents

  • Title: Charge! – Seven Years’ War Rules
  • Period: Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763
  • Type: Tactical Miniature Wargame
  • Time Scale: none given
  • Ground Scale: ca. 1:400 (20 mm = ca. 8 m)
  • Troop Scale: 1 figure = 33 men
  • Basing: 20 × 20 mm for Infantry, 20 × 40 mm for Cavalry
  • Firing Ranges
    • Gun: 3 feet = 366 m
    • Musket: 6 inches = 61 m
    • Rifle: 9 inches = 91 m
  • Author: Brigadier Peter Young (retired)
  • Editor: Stuart A. Asquith, Alan Cook
  • Format: 24-page rule book
  • Language: English
  • Publisher: Athena Books, Doncaster, England
  • Published: 1979

Chapters

  • Foreword
  • Introduction
  • General Notes
    • Base Sizes
    • Figure Scales
    • Guard Units
    • Supernumeraries
    • Sequence of Play
  • Organisation
    • Staff
    • Line and Grenadier Battalions
    • Light Infantry Battalions
    • Cavalry Regiments
    • Artillery Battery
    • Engineer Battalions
    • Militia Battalions
  • Movement
    • Move Distances
    • Influence of Terrain on Movement
  • Artillery Firing
    • Conditions
    • Calculating Effect on Troops
    • Other Targets
    • Captured Guns
    • Spiked Guns
  • Musketry
    • Conditions for Line Infantry
    • Calculating Effect for Line Infantry
    • Conditions for Light Infantry in Open Order
    • Calculating Effect for Light Infantry
  • Charges
    • Conditions
    • Firing at Charging Troops
  • Melee
    • Types of Melee
    • Results of Melee
    • Rallying
  • Morale
    • Understrength Units
    • Penalties
    • Surrenders
  • Field Works
  • Supplement for Seven Years’ War in Canada
  • Supplement for 1745 Jacobite Rebellion
  • Supplement for American Revolution
  • Supplement for Napoleonic Wars
    • Horse Artillery
    • Riflemen
    • Howitzers
    • Reserve or Position Artillery
    • Guard Artillery
    • Lancers
    • Unit Organisations
  • National Organisation for Seven Years’ War
    • Britain
    • Hanover
    • Prussia
    • Austria
    • Russia
    • France
  • Further Reading

Wargame Rules