Warlord Games Comes Out with Thirty Years War Box Sets

Posted by Ranillon on 22. October 2010 20:24

Just so we here at 40KOrigins labs can occasionally talk about products from makers besides GW here are some pictures of the new range of historical Thirty Years War box sets/models from Warlord Games.  In truth, they are just the same as the English Civil War sets we've already been talking about, but with a few different metal models and historically accurate paper flags.  Point is that you can use a Pike and Shotte army in a ECW and Thirty Years War setting -- using the same Warhammer Historical rules, of course.

Just for those who don't know -- the Thirty Years War took place primarily in what is now Germany (at the time it was a huge collection of different sized states bound together by a common culture and nominal loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire) between Catholic and Protestant sides.  While religion did obviously play a big role behind the conflict it was also a struggle to see who would be the dominant political force in the area -- Would the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor (a.k.a. ruler of Austria) grab back true control of Germany or would Germany remain a collection of competing small nations?  The conflict took approximately thirty years (hence the name) and was devastating to many parts of the region.

Click to Biggie Size Images

Yes, what you just read is correct -- during the 17th Century Sweden was one of the great powers of Europe and stayed that way until the early 18th century when Russia took their place.  It was the intervention of Sweden under the King Gustav II Adolf the Great during a critical part of the war that saved the Protestant side from defeat.

The primary force on the Catholic side was the Holy Roman Empire -- whose power was based around the Emperor's direct control of Austria and related territories.

Again, Click to See Bigger

It should be noted that over the course of the war most every power in Europe got involved in one way or the other, although to what degree could vary greatly.  Nor did a nation's participation necessarily match their religious preference.  For instance, even as the French crushed organized Protestantism in their own country (although arguably mostly to secure absolute rule of the king) they primarily fought against Austria in order to limit its power.

See, that is why I like historical gaming -- it allows you an excuse to learn about vitally important periods of time -- events that lead directly to the world we live in now -- which you'd otherwise never know about!