By: Frank Chadwick Publisher: Heliograph, Inc. Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Heliograph, Inc. Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: September 10, 2001
Product Description: This long awaited reprint combines a good, solid set of 19th-century miniatures rules with the Victorian Science Fiction elements of Space: 1889 ®. While allowing for the addition of land juggernauts, combat tripods, and aerial flyers, the rules work just was well for a rag-tag British column fighting its way through the passes of the Northwest Frontier. Soldier's Companion covers the wealth of period military equipment and extensively details the major armies of Earth, Mars, Venus, and Luna.
A wealth of Victorian fact and fantasy I have to confess that even though I have owned several of the Space 1889 books, as well as, several game sets and pieces, I've never actually played it. That's the marvelous thing about Space 1889, it is such a rich fantasy environment that you don't have to play it to enjoy it. Just running all the scenarios, characters, and details through your imagination can be satisfying in itself. There is also enough concentrated information on 19th military and colonial life that it is a rich resource for constructing your own independent stories.
First of all, the entire role-playing series is based upon Thomas Edison discovering a way to navigate the ether currents in the late 19th century, making space travel possible for the Victorians. This causes a rush by the imperial powers of Europe to establish possessions on Luna, Venus, Mars, and Mercury. While the United States has no official imperial ambitions, it also establishes a diplomatic, scientific, and trading presence on the new worlds.
The elaborate detail of these books is amazing. You learn so much about 19th century military organization, uniforms, weaponry (both regulars and colonial forces.) All the major powers of Europe, North and South America, and Asia are covered along with native peoples such as the Dervishes, Arabs, Abyssinians, Boers, Zulus, Sudanese, American Indians, Khmers, Afghans, etc. Then the fictional alien races such as the humanoids of Mars, the lizard men of Venus, and the selenites of Luna are covered in equal detail.
This book is actually divided into five sections: I. The Rules of War (miniature rules), II. The Road to War (specific campaign rules), III. The Sinews of War (military equipment, including aerial and naval vessels), IV. Army Lists (order of battle for all armies in the solar system), V. Charts and Miscellaneous (charts, designer's notes, and an excellent bibliography for further research.)
If you enjoy the Soldier's Companion, then you will also want to obtain Conklin's Atlas of the Worlds, which gives maps and facts about all the geography, flora, fauna, civilizations, and colonial possessions on Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Luna.
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