Empire (miniatures game)
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Empire is a set of rules for Napoleonic Era miniatures wargames. The first of five editions was published in 1975.
In 1975, Scott Bowden and Ken Ray wrote Empire, a 58-page softcover book of rules concerning miniatures wargames that was published by Arlington Reproduction. Unlike other wargames of its era, Empire did not focus on one battle or even a series of battles. Instead, the authors sought to set out general rules for miniatures that could be used to enact any battle of the Napoleonic Era.
Content included rules on leader ratings, and troop types, and was the first to also include rules for frontage, range, and maneuverability.[1]
Bowden founded Emperor's Press to produce more miniatures games, and over the years published a number of revised editions of "Empire":
- Second edition, 1977. A 100-page softcover book by Bowden with a plastic binding comb
- Third edition, 1981. A boxed set containing a 176-page rulebook co-authored by Bowden and Jim Getz. New maneuvering rules and concepts such as "Telescoping Time" were introduced.[2]
- Fourth edition, 1989, also co-authored by Bowden and Getz, added more rules concerning tactical reactions to enemy moves.
- Fifth edition, 1990, also by Bowden and Getz, was published in a binder format.
In 1984, Emperor's Press also published Empire Campaign System, a separate game system by Kip Trexel that was designed to add a strategic operational element to the third edition rules.
The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society states that "Empire was the dominant miniatures wargaming rules system during the 1980's, and many original Empire traits are still evident in both historical and non-historical miniature game designs today."[1] A 1979 article in Boys' Life about war games recommended Empire as a good place to start learning about the hobby of Napoleonic Era miniatures games.[3]
