Document Text Contents
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18th Century Wargames Rules
UNITS AND FORMATIONS
a) Close Order Infantry. Units consist of four bases, and may adopt one of the following
formations:
1. Line. Comprising one rank of four bases.
2. Column. Comprising four ranks of one base.
3. Single Base Formation. When units are reduced to a single base, they may only adopt
line formation.
b) Light Infantry. Units consist of four bases. They deploy in skirmish order (two ranks of two
bases).
c) Indians. Units consist of four bases. They deploy in two ranks of two bases.
d) Heavy Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Dragoons and Tribal Cavalry. Units consist of four bases.
They deploy in two ranks of two bases.
e) Artillery. Units consist of a gun and four crew on a single base. Guns are either limbered
(denoted by turning the barrel away from the enemy) or deployed (barrel facing the
enemy).
HOW TO WIN
Victory is achieved when the vanquished army is reduced to two remaining units. For every
Close Order Infantry unit exiting the table on the enemy side, the enemy immediately removes
two units. All three units count as eliminated.
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
Each side follows this sequence every turn:
1. The charge sequence
2. Movement
3. Firing
4. Hand-to-hand combat.
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piracy at the time. Regular infantry units and marines were deployed to defend port facilities in
the Americas and to attack pirate strongholds if and when they were discovered. Any 18th
century wargame army may be used to portray this struggle for colonial gains. Pirates fought
as skirmishers who may be pitted against sailors, marines, and naval landing parties. Regular
infantry skirmishers and rifles may appear in skirmish scenarios involving two of the major
powers and their privateering allies operating in the Americas.
PIRATE ARMY
Unit Type Number per army
Pirates Foot (Warband, Average) 2-6
Pirate Shot (Shot (musket), Average) 2-3
Sharpshooters (Light Infantry (musket), Average) 0-1
Artillery 0-1
Special Rules
Pirate List. This covers the piratical activity by French, English and Dutch entrepreneurs
after the establishment of permanent bases in the West Indies. Buccaneers several times
gathered large forces to attack the coastal cities of Spanish America.
Foot. These are armed with cutlasses, pistols and / or half-pikes.
Sharpshooters. These are treated as Marksmen allowing units to re-roll one missed shot.
Command Level (Optional). This army is rated as Average.
BRITISH ARMY
Unit Type Number per army
Line Infantry (Close Order Infantry, Average) 2-5
Piquets (Light Infantry, Average) 0-1
Dragoons (Light Cavalry, Levy, Carbine) 0-2
Artillery 0-2
Special Rules
Discipline and Drill: British Close Order Infantry units never test morale when the first
base is lost, they automatically pass.
Command Level (Optional). This army is rated as Average.
18th Century Wargames Rules
UNITS AND FORMATIONS
a) Close Order Infantry. Units consist of four bases, and may adopt one of the following
formations:
1. Line. Comprising one rank of four bases.
2. Column. Comprising four ranks of one base.
3. Single Base Formation. When units are reduced to a single base, they may only adopt
line formation.
b) Light Infantry. Units consist of four bases. They deploy in skirmish order (two ranks of two
bases).
c) Indians. Units consist of four bases. They deploy in two ranks of two bases.
d) Heavy Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Dragoons and Tribal Cavalry. Units consist of four bases.
They deploy in two ranks of two bases.
e) Artillery. Units consist of a gun and four crew on a single base. Guns are either limbered
(denoted by turning the barrel away from the enemy) or deployed (barrel facing the
enemy).
HOW TO WIN
Victory is achieved when the vanquished army is reduced to two remaining units. For every
Close Order Infantry unit exiting the table on the enemy side, the enemy immediately removes
two units. All three units count as eliminated.
SEQUENCE OF PLAY
Each side follows this sequence every turn:
1. The charge sequence
2. Movement
3. Firing
4. Hand-to-hand combat.
Page 24
piracy at the time. Regular infantry units and marines were deployed to defend port facilities in
the Americas and to attack pirate strongholds if and when they were discovered. Any 18th
century wargame army may be used to portray this struggle for colonial gains. Pirates fought
as skirmishers who may be pitted against sailors, marines, and naval landing parties. Regular
infantry skirmishers and rifles may appear in skirmish scenarios involving two of the major
powers and their privateering allies operating in the Americas.
PIRATE ARMY
Unit Type Number per army
Pirates Foot (Warband, Average) 2-6
Pirate Shot (Shot (musket), Average) 2-3
Sharpshooters (Light Infantry (musket), Average) 0-1
Artillery 0-1
Special Rules
Pirate List. This covers the piratical activity by French, English and Dutch entrepreneurs
after the establishment of permanent bases in the West Indies. Buccaneers several times
gathered large forces to attack the coastal cities of Spanish America.
Foot. These are armed with cutlasses, pistols and / or half-pikes.
Sharpshooters. These are treated as Marksmen allowing units to re-roll one missed shot.
Command Level (Optional). This army is rated as Average.
BRITISH ARMY
Unit Type Number per army
Line Infantry (Close Order Infantry, Average) 2-5
Piquets (Light Infantry, Average) 0-1
Dragoons (Light Cavalry, Levy, Carbine) 0-2
Artillery 0-2
Special Rules
Discipline and Drill: British Close Order Infantry units never test morale when the first
base is lost, they automatically pass.
Command Level (Optional). This army is rated as Average.
