A Gentleman's War, or Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets

Author: Howard Whitehouse.

A Gentleman’s War’ is a simple game involving toy soldiers of the classic style. It is a relaxed and relaxing game, where enough depends on the turn of a card and the roll of a handful of dice to say that our disasters are pure chance, but enough cunning decision-making to claim our victories as acts of brilliant generalship.

Our model soldiers are very brave, obedient, and generally do what we want them to. Players are expected to behave in a friendly manner, and conduct themselves as gentlemen (or ladies, as is appropriate). There are lots of six-sided dice, saving rolls, proper distances in inches, and a general sense that there ought to be salmon-and-cucumber sandwiches and tea, or
beer.

“I’d have played this on Samoa, if I hadn’t been dying of tuberculosis” – Robert Louis Stevenson

“If I’d known I could have this much fun with toy soldiers, I’d never have become a real one”– Field Marshal Helmuth Von Moltke

“Can we gamble for money?” – the entire general staff of the Austro-Hungarian army

“No spring loaded cannons at all?” – H. G. Wells