Dominion of Otto von Bismarck has been published

He’s done it again! It is less than a month since the DOMINION OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was published and now Steve Parker has published another 'Dominion of ...' set of rules, this time the DOMINION OF OTTO VON BISMARCK.

The rules have a similar structure and game mechanisms to those in the previous editions in this series but include some period-specific rules to make them suitable for solo wargamers who want to refight mid to late nineteenth century European battles.

As usual, the armies 'cost' 12 points and most units 'cost' 2 points each.

Units fall into one of the following categories:

• Line Infantry: Infantry that fight in a linear formation and rely on firepower to defeat their opponents.
• Column Infantry: Infantry that fight in assault columns and rely on numbers to overpower their opponents.
• Cavalry: Cavalry were used to scout ahead of their main force, to harass a defeated opponent, and to mount well-timed charges that was intended to break an opponent's resistance.
• Artillery: Includes all types artillery.

Units can be given attributes that reflect particular tactical advantages and/or unit quality. These are:

• Defence advantage (D): Troops in fortifications, behind a river, uphill of their opponents, or who are particularly difficult to defeat have a defensive advantage. This advantage adds 1 point to the 'cost' of a unit.
• Attack advantage (E): Elite or veteran units or units armed with superior weapons may have an attack advantage. This advantage adds 1 point to the 'cost' of a unit.
• Unreliable disadvantage (UR): Troops who are poorly trained, inexperienced, or understrength, may be regarded as unreliable. This disadvantage reduces the 'cost' of a unit by 1 point.

Examples of typical units include:

• Infantry reinforcements – unreliable Column Infantry (cost 1 point)
• French infantry armed with Chassepot rifles – Line Infantry (cost 2 points)
• Prussian infantry armed with needle guns fighting the above French – Column Infantry (cost 2 points)
• Prussian infantry armed with needle guns fighting the Austrians – elite Line Infantry (cost 3 points)
• Prussian massed artillery – elite Artillery (cost 3 points)

A typical pair of armies (in this case for the Battle of the Alma, which is the battle used in the rules as an exemplar) are:

• Russian:
• 2 x Cavalry (mainly Hussars) (2 points each = 4 points)
• 3 x Column Infantry (2 points each = 6 points)
• 1 x Artillery (2 points)
• Total – 12 points
• Allies (Turks and British):
• 2 x Cavalry (British Light and Heavy Brigades) (2 points each = 4 points)
• 3 x unreliable fortified Column Infantry (Turkish infantry in defences) (2 points each = 6 points)
• 1 x Line Infantry (93rd Highlanders) (2 points)
• Total = 12 points

The combat rules include specific sections that cover unreliable units, infantry vs. infantry, cavalry vs. cavalry, cavalry vs. infantry, fighting artillery, outflanking attacks, rallying, and terrain.

The rules also include army lists and dispositions for twenty-four battles:

• Crimean War:
• The Alma (1854)
• Balaclava (1854)
• Inkerman (1854)
• Eupatoria (1855)
• Chernaya River (1855)
• Sevastopol (1855)
• Second Italian War of Independence:
• Palestro (1859)
• Magenta (1859)
• Solferino (1859)
• Garibaldi’s Expedition of the Thousand:
• Calatafimi (1860)
• Volturno (1860)
• Second Schleswig War:
• Dybbøl (1864)
• Als (1864)
• Third Italian War of Independence:
• Custoza (1866)
• Austro-Prussian War:
• Langensalza (1866)
• Trautenau (1866)
• Königgrätz (Sadowa) (1866)
• Franco-Prussian War:
• Wissembourg (1870)
• Wörth (1870)
• Spicheren (1870)
• Mars-la-Tour (1870)
• Gravelotte (1870)
• Sedan (1870)
• Coulmiers (1870)

These rules will allow me to use my collection of Belle Époque figures and I hope to refight some of the battles featured on this list … particularly the Battles of Dybbøl and Als.

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The DOMINION OF OTTO VON BISMARCK rules were written by Steve Parker and published in 2025 by Orc Publishing. They can be bought in PDF format from Wargame Vault for $5.90/£4.40.