For those of you bored with the Franco Prussian War or the American Civil War, can I recommend the War of the Pacific (1879 - 1884) also known as the "10 Cent War" fought between the nations of Chile, Peru & Bolivia? It was fought over the rights to mine nitrates and guano in the Atacama desert and was precipitated by political instability in Bolivia. (The Bolivian President at the time, Hilarion Daza, was an army general with the most gold braid on his uniform of anyone in history. Tells you all you need to know). It has all the modern weapons associated with the late 19th centurty, but with none of the military competence associated with either the FPW or ACW (the Bolivians formed square in the presence of cavalry). The armies broadly speaking wore European uniforms with kepis and the occasional pickelhaube, and utilised the Gatling Gun and the Krupps field gun. All of these things are avaialble from the marvellous Mr Berry's store of goodies on this site.

And luckily, there's a new set of rules written specifically for the conflict, now avaialble. They're called "It's Getting a Bit Chile" and you can get them from Amazon. There's a bit more about them over on this page on my blog, and you can follow developments over at Wargaming for Grown Ups. Okay, so the current post is about WW1, but just look back a couple of posts to find the good stuff. The rules include a brief history of the war, orbats and a painting guide and a one page QRS on the back cover.

I can promise you a unique set of rules, with simple, clear and original mechanisms that you can pinch for your own rules in other periods.

What do you think, new year, new period?

Trebian

(I've published another set called "To Ur is Human" for Sumerian warfare, but I can't stretch any of Pete's figures to fit the forces of Sumer and Akkad, although some users are working on using them for Egyptians and Hittites as the "Fear Test" mechanism in them is good for simulating chariots and their effect on infantry, and who am I to argue?).

Hi,

Tht's a really good idea and We saw recently on the excellent blog of Our Friend Vincent some pictures of futur figures from Perry... yes it is 28mm, but this is not Our Purpose, We just see beautifull and original uniforms !

See yourself HERE!

The Perry figures are not for this war. They are for the War of the Triple alliance, which features Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uraguay, takes place on the Atlantic side of South America and was 15 years earlier. It was fought for different reasons in different terrain and with different tactics. So, apart from having notihng in common with the 1879 War, except some of the troops involved in both wore kepis, it's basically the same.

Too bad, the uniforms were super cool!

:-(

The uniforms in the 10 Cent War are even better. Honestly. The Bolivian army has uniform colours based on its flag, with units in red, yellow and green. The Peruvians have a sort of standard uniform, then chuck in units dressed in black frock coats. The Chileans have regiments that wore pickelhaubes. The Bolivian presidential guard dressed as French style cuirassiers. The rule book has a uniform guide in it to make your life easier.

So, it isn't "too bad" at all. It'll be sad if people ignore the 10 Cent War just becauise the Perry twins haven't coem across it yet.

That's sond good!

We have many project on The Imperial Table... but We keep this one for futur!

Thanks for information... We will follow this post!

:-)

A bit more info L'Empereur: the battles of Tacna, Chorillos and Miraflores are available as download scenarios from the Bloody Big Battles' Groups Io site, and uniforms are also covered in Osprey Men-at-Arms book The Pacific War; and even more thoroughly in Uniforms of the Pacific War by Patricio Greve Moller and Claudio Fernandez Cerda, available in hardback from Caliver in the UK. (a bit expensive, but very thorough by two Chileans).

@dourpuritan: "It's Getting a Bit Chile" have a scenario for the Battle of Dolores in them. The books you list, plus some more are in the bibliography (gotta have a bibliography. Once a history student, always a history student). I put in enough background and included a painting guide so you had a one stop shop to start the period. That's a point made in the two reviews that have popped up on Amazon, where the rules are for sale.

Thanks Dourpuritan! Always "top of the news"! ;-)

Trebian, I bought your rules ! :-)

So between Isandlwana and this period We discover... what to choose!?!

So many zulus... and so many beautifull uniforms!

The Zulu Wars will cut down on the variety of paints needed, but I think the Pacific War edges it with the multiplicity of uniforms, both sides using European styles of fighting and the naval ironclad warfare as well - a fully rounded all arms bash.