""Skirmish Wargaming" by Donald Featherstone" Topic

I've looked at a few rules in my quest for a suitable set of rules for Napoleonic skirmish wargaming, but so far haven't found any that 'do it for me'.

However, in the library the other day I stumbled across an old copy of Donald Featherstone's book "Skirmish Wargaming". And I think I have found what I was looking for – a simple, no frills and fun-looking set of skirmish rules.

However, there is one question – on the last page of his basic rules, Featherstone briefly mentions when reaction tests should be done. Yet I could not find anywhere how to do a reaction test … was this overlooked in publication, or am I mis-reading something?

By the way, if you own a good copy of this book, you're sitting on a gold-mine – they're going for 100s of dollars on AbeBooks and Bookfinder!

I currently have a copy of Donald Featherstone's brilliant 'Solo Wargaming' for auction on Ebay. It still has 3 days running and has only attracted $21.50 AUD so far!!

I believe all Don Featherstone's books are now very highly sort after.

Anyway, anyone who is interested in this book, it's up for grabs on Ebay as we speak!!

skirmish wargaming is currently available as a softback reprint – about 15 quid from caliver amongst others.

Arteis (or others),

What made it seem "right" for you? Are you thinking of doing 1:1 skirmish gaming with them?

I played in a 54mm WWII scenario last year at Origins using "modified" Featherstone's rules. I don't know what rules we used nor how they were modified, but i enjoyed the game immenseley. The guy running the scenario refereed the game and each one of us players got to control only one figure. It was good fun and i hope to play it again this year.

Here is a link to the full set of rules of which the Featherstone rules are a simplified extract.

PDF link

This should have the rules for reaction tests. Also Courier VII #5 has an article on reaction tests for use with these rules. I'm not certain if these rules have been incorporated into the downloaded rules. Hope this helps.

"Featherstone briefly mentions when reaction tests should be done. Yet I could not find anywhere how to do a reaction test "

I don't think there are any reaction *tests*: reaction is automatic, and results in the negative modifiers listed in one of the tables. To a modern readership, it might be clearer to say that under the listed circumstances the combatant is "shaken" next round, so takes those modifiers. There are no rules for routing or ducking back, or anything like that, for the reasons set out in the book's introduction.

The word "erupts" occurs quite a lot in the picture captions!