"Empire 7" Topic

Any news ?

Me too
Any News?

Last I know, Scott is still working on his expanded 1815 Campaign series of 5 volumes as well as Empire 7. I believe he is currently on volume 3 of the series and still working as well on Empire 7. It is my understanding Scott intends to release them at the same time.

Hopefully, and probably would get both

I found this update on Scott Bowden's Facebook page…

First, the books. There are three very sizable projects. These are—-1) Napoleon The Hundred Days Epoch:The Emperor, His Return and the 1815 French Armies…in five volumes…co-authored with Peter Cross who lives near Brisbane. First three volumes are written and production begun for releases projected to take place in late 2025. Website currently under construction. It's a massive project with lavish color, maps, original commissions of art, and much more. It contains the most detailed account of Murat's 1815 campaign every to appear in English—and details will emerge relatively soon.
—-2) Robert E. Lee at War: The Mind and Method of a Great American Soldier. Another series in five volumes of which the first two are available. Lavish illustrations and maps. Color on every page.However, because of the change of publisher, the series is being reconfigured and the first three or four volumes will be released simultaneously. Hope these are out in 2026, but we'll see.
—-3 Armies at Waterloo: Greatly Expanded Edition (not title, but you get the idea)… projected to be co-authored with Peter Cross. Going to include a lot of archival material omitted from the original (space issues in the 1983 version). New maps, much new information (really) and a lot of new and original analysis. Looking at 2027 release to follow on the heels of the Hundred Days Epoch fifth volume that is entirely devoted to the Imperial Guard and the Armče du Nord. Should be exciting.
Then , in addition to the books, I have been writing and developing EMPIRE 7 for a long time. Intend on having an extensive section on website about the new edition that includes multiple scales (1:120…1:60…1:30…1:20…and 1:10), etc.
If plans go accordingly, there will be play testing in Australia when I visit. Don't know yet when that will happen, but I have begun preliminary planning.

Any news is great news when it comes to this topic.

I shock any Napoleonic player at conventions I still play III at home, sadly solo. But do put up a game and it can be 3 weeks long because I can leave it up and get back whenever I want.
7 comes I am all in

I use a mix of Empire III, V and R&E (fire tables) but await a look at 7 when its published

Does anyone have any news as to whether 7 will be published in 2026 and if so where it can be purchased from?

Hi,

Just a very quick update on E7.

Work on this massive project continues on a daily basis, usually after the time spent at real job and after a few hours at real job are devoted to book projects. There are so many aspects of E7 that are different/improved/etc., that it is not practicable to start listing here, but will take a stab at a couple of them. As mentioned in previous posts, there are different scales for various tastes, including what is called "traditional EMPIRE" (1:60 ration)…see previous mention in this thread.

Regardless of scale, the 7th Edition has incorporated about an additional 30 years of research, as well as hopefully made possible a rewarding gaming experience for reflecting desired command levels, plus separate booklets (plural) on organization, ratings, combat capabilities, and much more. One very small sample/example…all infantry formations can utilize tirailleurs…so, if you want your "Penal Battalion" to employ tirailleurs, go ahead. All units have tirailleur ratings that reflect their combat effectiveness as well as the tirailleurs' ability to be effectively recalled back onto the formed parent battalion/unit if the player so decides in order to fight again as part of that formed unit. (Recall if you will Barclay de Tolly's famous order prior to Borodino instructing/forbidding the Russian jager regiments of his First Army of the West from deploying tirailleurs that day---there were obvious reasons for that decision outside training capabilities.)

Similarly, senior leadership ratings (no longer in descriptive terms but using in a different metric) and how orders become activated and implemented have been significantly changed/improved, whereby delays are easily tracked in terms of portions of an hour.

Since work on this massive project is far advanced, playtesting for different scales/command levels is well underway as well. One of my current favorite tasks is holding the "EMPIRE for Beginners" games. I figure that if someone who knows nothing or next to nothing about the Napoleonic period can grasp the beginners rules and have fun (yes, the rules are and always will be tied to time, distance and scale), then the doorway gets opened for years of enjoyment.

Thanks for your time and good will.

Regards,

Scott Bowden

Thank you for the update. I hate when real life gets in the way of important stuff like this but I think we all understand.<g> Can't wait to see them.

Sincerely,
Dale Williams