Corporal John is a set of free wargames rules for gaming the Wars of Marlboro—a period that I’ve always wanted to get into. Here’s what the authors say:
The Corporal John ruleset was written especially for the North London Wargames Group’s Blenheim display game of 2000.
The combat mechanism is element v. element, and provided that your basing can be broken down into definable elements they will work perfectly well.
The sub-title of these rules is “the Wars of Marlborough”. However, since they cater for pike-armed infantry and pistol cavalry they could be used for the English Civil War, the Thirty Years War and the Great Northern War. These rules were originally written for 10 mm figures, but there are conversions for 15 mm and 25 mm figures as well. The rules also cater for platoon firing and firing by ranks.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.
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