The Wargamer

Horse and Musket: Volume I, Frederick the Great Preview

Author:  Tim Coakley

Horse and Musket: Volume I is the latest installment in the successful Horse and Musket wargame series. This latest release represents a new start for Horse and Musket that we hope will excite fans of 18^th Century military history and especially those with interest in the Seven Year’s War. 

The Seven Years’ War was fought across the globe and called by some the first “World War” as virtually every major power participated, and the conflict extended from North America, where it is often referred to as the French and Indian War, to the Indian subcontinent.  In the center of events was Prussia, almost constantly at war and lead by the now legendary Frederick the Great.  While this war had far-reaching consequences for the New World, in Europe it was a much closer contest thanks to some remarkable victories by Frederick the Great and the Prussian army.

Horse and Musket: Volume I is an improved and expanded combination of the previously released games Prussian War Machine and Prussia’s Glory titles.  It is not just two solid wargames in one package, it also includes many new game features, a powerful new editor, and a complete graphics overhaul to this already acclaimed gaming system.

Through the classic turn-based hex-based system, gamers take command of a wide variety of historical units and leaders as they try to follow in Frederick’s footsteps across 10 of his famous battles, making for a whopping 40 scenarios in total.  Let’s go into some more detail on how the game works.

The System

The cornerstone of the Horse and Musket game system is a command and control system that models the disruption and chaos of battle in this period. More than a classic turn-based IGOUGO design, during each turn every leader makes an activation check. Those leaders who succeed in their check take their turn while those that fail wait for another opportunity to check. A variety of historical factors are involved in activation and as a result each turn can have its surprises. The order of leaders may change and players must learn to adapt their plans once battle begins.

The most senior commanders on each side play an important role in the Horse and Musket system.  History tells us that great battlefield commanders could choose the right moment to swing a battle from defeat to victory. In Horse and Musket: Volume I, commanders can improve their subordinates at certain points in the scenario.  Choosing when to lend them your support is critical, for the timely use of your command points can alter the course of the battle, and this combined with the activation system means that bold moves can unhinge your enemy’s line or your own, depending on how well you handle your forces.

Each turn represents fifteen minutes of real time, each hex is 150 yards across. Infantry units are battalions, cavalry are two to three squadrons per unit, and artillery batteries are four or more guns a unit. Leaders are represented individually and with units and leaders assigned to a historical hierarchy and order of battle for each side.

Game Features

• Horse and Musket: Volume I combines all 10 battles from its predecessors, Prussian War Machine and Prussia’s Glory, for a total of 40 individual scenarios.
• Fight the famous battles of this period: Chotusitz, Hochkirch, Hohenfriedeberg, Kolin, Prague, Lobositz, Mollwitz, Leuthen, Torgau, Soor.
• A New formation: The Defensive Formation for infantry units provides all around defence in rough terrain and built up areas.
• Faster game load times and streamlined computer processing power usage.
• Command a wide range of unit types, from light infantry and grenadiers, to hussars, dragoons, and three types of artillery.
• Expanded game formulas use a 1-100 scale along with 10 levels of unit effectiveness – your soldiers can represent the best of the best with a level 10 rating of “Elite Guard” or be reduced to useless pawns as the level 1 rating of “Rabble.”
• Brand new graphics including new units, terrain, and interface art that are all fully moddable.
• Improved interface features like larger hexes to get a better view of individual soldiers making up each unit in addition to customization options like setting the graphics color palette and font type for each scenario.
• In addition, there is a new display method for the Disruption/Morale/Rally Unit numbers making these factors very easy to quickly determine.

Game Editor Features

• A detailed and powerful editor is at every player’s disposal which includes the ability to edit maps, units, order of battle, and game data.
• All game data is accessible and can be saved in each unique scenario:

• Movement rates and costs
• Combat modifiers
• Morale modifiers

• Scenario components can be saved separately for easy use in multiple battles.
• Set the unit portrait for each individual regiment, battalion or battery.
• Support for up to 5 variable sounds per action

Graphically Speaking

Horse ‘n Musket: Volume I has undergone a substantial graphical overhaul. Vast portions of the game system have been reworked and improved including new units, terrain, interface art, and more. All of the eye candy found in Horse and Musket: Volume I is also fully moddable, so do-it-yourself gamers will have a huge range of possibilities to work with. Additionally, the art improvements have also been tuned to make the game easier to play. There are features like larger hexes to get a better view of individual soldiers making up each unit. There are new customization options like setting the graphics color palette and font type for each scenario. There is also a brand new display method for the Disruption/Morale/Rally Unit numbers making these factors very easy to quickly determine.

On the all-important terrain side of things, there have been plenty of improvements as well. The new terrain palette consists of a wider variety of types now, making Horse and Musket: Volume I easy to play and easier on the eyes.

• Overlays

            Clear

            Wooden Fort

            Vineyard

            Light Hardwoods

            Medium Softwoods

            Medium Hardwoods

            Village

            Swamp

            Town

            Field

            Water

            Soft Ground

            Rough Ground

            Stone Fort

            Brush

            Light Softwoods

            Heavy Softwoods

            Heavy Hardwoods

            Orchard

            Buildings

            Compound

            City

• Hexsides

            Elevation

            River

            Stream Ford

            Stream

            Stone Bridge

            Stonewall

            Embankment

            Hedge

            Wooden Bridge

            River Ford

            Pontoon Bridge

            High Wall

            Cliff

            Ditch

            Fence

            Treeline

The Best Feature of Them All

Horse and Musket: Volume I does not just mark the release of another solid wargame in a proven series, but it is more importantly the spark of revival in the Horse and Musket game system as a whole, which is good news for 18^th Century wargamers around the world.  The future of the series holds many more new features and improvements as we continue to update and improve the engine while staying true to the game mechanics that made Horse and Musket a success.

Fans of the Horse and Musket system will see much more coming from Boku, Double Shot Designs and Matrix Games in the future.  But for now, enjoy the latest installment to the Horse and Musket series – available soon from Matrix Games!