Polemos English Civil War

Price per set of rules £15.00

During the middle years of the seventeenth century, the British Isles underwent a period of huge change, catastrophic wars and campaigns, political revolution, social upheaval political experimentation and religious ferment. It was a period when the famous and the infamous made their entries into the history books leaving their legacy and their legends. Names such as Ralph Hopton, William Waller, Prince Rupert, Thomas Fairfax, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Newcastle, Owen Roe O’Neill, The Earl of Montrose and Duke of Argyll can still evoke fierce loyalties and harsh criticism even today. The characters of those chief protagonists, King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell, are still considered, analysed and argued over by successive generations of historians.

There is little surprise therefore that the English Civil War has always been a firm favourite for wargamers.

Polemos: English Civil War is unashamedly aimed at large scale actions. It is quite possible to stage, play and complete actions the size of Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby in an evening.

Polemos War of Spanish Succession

Price per set of rules £15.00

First of the great dynastic struggles of the eighteenth century, the War of Spanish Succession involved most of Europe. A state which did not back up its policies with troops in this period probably supplied them as mercenaries to those which did.

Central to the causes of conflict were the expansionist ambitions of Louis XIV, King of France, which were opposed by a series of shifting alliances. Towering over the period is the figure of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, and his close ally Prince Eugene of Savoy.

This is the classic campaigning period. Each year, the armies marched across Europe is a colossal chess game on a board constricted by river barriers and studded with fortresses. These manoeuvres culminated in great set-piece battles, including Marlborough’s ‘big four’: Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

The War of Spanish Succession has much to recommend it to wargamers; uniforms were colourful (but are simple to paint.) and manoeuvres were bold and forceful. Standing armies were in their relative infancy at this time, and the period saw the founding of traditions which were to last the centuries.

Polemos War of Spanish Succession is specifically aimed at enabling the wargamer to fight large scale actions; actual battles, rather than small scale skirmishes. Systems for firing, melee and morale are straightforward and easy to learn, but allow your troops to emulate the tactics used by their historical counterparts. For instance, troops using the platoon firing system have improved close range factors, while others using fire by ranks are allowed to be more aggressive.

Polemos Great Northern War

Price per set of rules £15.00

The early years of the eighteenth century were a time of great, and long lasting, changes in Eastern Europe. It saw two former ‘Great’ powers decline; for Sweden it was a cataclysmic experience as they were reduced to a small or medium power. While Poland-Lithuania started on the path that would lead to extinction later in the century. It saw two medium sized powers, Denmark and Saxony, fail in their bid to gain, or regain, ‘Great’ powers status. It saw two powers rise; for Brandenburg-Prussia it was an important stepping stone to Great power status later in the century. While for Russia went from being ‘an obscure barbarous nation’ to a Great power thanks to its victories

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Warfare in this area and period saw many competing tactical ideas. The latest tactics from Western Europe competing with traditional Eastern European tactics, as well as more recent local innovations. It saw stunning victories against the odds victories such as Narva in 1700, and catastrophic defeats such as Poltava in 1709. Battles came in many different varieties. Some were assault on fortified positions, some were assault river crossing, some were joint land – amphibious actions, etc.

Polemos: Great Northern War is aimed at gaming large scale actions from this time. It is quite possible to stage, play and complete actions in an evening and even the largest action should be relatively easy to play. The emphasis is on the Great Northern War but other actions from this period can also be fought. The wars against the Ottoman Empire, the Polish Civil War and other actions in the period 1695 to 1725 may also be fought. You can be Peter the Great of Russia and face the cream of what was probably the best army in the world of this period – Charles XII Swedish army. Perhaps instead you could as Peter battle the Ottomans on the river Prut.

Polemos Napoleonic

Price includes both sets - £15.00

If ever there is an historical period that can lay claim to be THE classic subject for wargamers, then surely it must be those early years of the nineteenth century when Europe was gripped by the power of Napoleon Bonaparte, self-crowned Emperor of France and her conquered territories. A sublime hero to some, a tyrannical despot to others, Napoleon is a man who can still inspire great passions and emotions amongst his supporters and detractors alike.

The Emperor of France demonstrated his mastery of warfare in a period where the infantry were armed with smooth bore muzzle-loading muskets and the mounted arm could indulge in dashing charges with cold steel in hand. The armies were vast and the scale of the battles epic.

There was a great deal of variety in the size of Napoleonic battles. the French army that fought at Wagram was ten times the size of that which fought at Vimiero. It is a lot to ask of any single;e set of rules to cope with such diversity.

Polemos Napoleonic Wars is therefore produced as two sets of rules in one book. The first set, General De Division will allow the wargamer to fight battles with armies of up to corps size. The second set, Marechel de L'Empire will allow the wargamer to refight the BIG battles of the period, so he can emulate Bonaparte at Borodino, Wellington at Waterloo or Blucher at Leipzig.

The same wargames figures may be used in both sets of rules, as the basing system is universal; only the nominal scale will differ.

Polemos:Napoleonic Wars is aimed at enabling the wargamer to fight large scale actions; actual battles, rather than small scale skirmishes. Systems for firing, melee and morale are straightforward and easy to learn, but allow your troops to emulate the tactics used by their historical counterparts.

Polemos Napoleonic Companion

£15.00

The Polemos Napoleonic Companion is the perfect partner to the main rules booklet. It provides the opportunity to expand the range of actions and armies outlined in the rules by providing more scenarios and army generators. There is also a section on extending the available action by playing campaigns, complete with a sample campaign scenario and map.

Chris Grice has also added a really useful section with the 'Jargon Buster' which sets out to explain in plain language all those awkward, confusing and impenetrable terms that crop up. It may well be fine for a wargamer who has been playing Napoleonics for the past half century to talk about 'Cacadores', 'Depot Battalions' and 'Carabiniers', but it can be both confusing and off-putting to the newcomer. The final section of the Companion gives you a listing of the composition of the armed forces of all the major nations and most of the minor ones of the wars. This can be really useful for planning new armies and projects.

Polemos American War Rules

Price includes both sets - £15.00

Wargames rules designed to bring out the best in your 6mm armies! Quick to play, easy to use but with a command system designed to make you think. For more details, >>>click here>>>

A 'classic' wargames period, Polemos ACW Warsallows you to play the epic clashes of the American Civil War at two levels of action. In On They Came, forces up to Corps strengtf for medium sized actions or for playing sections of a larger action in more detail. In, Crisis of Allegiance, you can handle multiple corps for the recreating the huge battles of the period.

Polemos Franco Prussian War Rules

Price includes both sets £15.00

Wargames rules designed to bring out the best in your 6mm armies! Quick to play, easy to use but with a command system designed to make you think. For more details, >>>click here>>>

Polemos FPW Wars is divided into two complete rules sets. The first, Commandant de Bataille, is for smaller actions or for playing sections of a larger action in more detail. The second, Kommandant der Armee, allows you to command large forces and play games on a truely Epic scale!