Empire (miniatures game)

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.

Instead, the authors sought to set out general rules for miniatures that could be used to enact any battle of the Napoleonic Era.

[1] Bowden founded Emperor's Press to produce more miniatures games, and over the years published a number of revised editions of "Empire": 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.

Many rules writers overlook the issue of national characteristics [...] So, if in doubt about the training and morale status of a particular Napoleonic troop type, regiment, or elite company [...] Empire is the quickest, most valuable and reliable source."

The reviewer warned that the 176-page rulebook would require "a serious investment of time and thought" but concluded that "Empire is the right choice for students of military history interested in a realistic simulation of Napoleonic warfare at the grand-tactical and tactical level.