Shearwood, Mark Waking the Bear. A Guide to Wargaming the Great Northern and Turkish Wars 1700-1721

The Great Northern War (GNW) has seen a resurgence in recent years within the wargames community, however, there has not been a general (non-rules specific) guide to the conflict until know. This book gives the reader a general understanding of the historical background to the conflict and to the main combatants. In addition to Russia and Sweden, the armies of Denmark, Hanover and Holstein, Ottoman Empire, Saxony, Poland, Prussia are covered, as well as the involvement of the Cossack nations. The book looks at naval landings, siege warfare as well as the more traditional battles, with this focus on lesser known battles instead of the more traditional battles of Narva and Poltava. Battle reports primarily are focused on small evening games utilising a small number of units and therefore achievable by the majority of wargamers. Options are included to turn a number of these into larger multi-player games. While the majority of the GNW occurred in and around the Baltic states, the book also covers events on Russias southern borders with the Ottoman Empire and there are gaming suggestions for the continuation of the conflict on Russias eastern border with China. Utilising almost 100 unit and individual figure photographs from several renowned collections, the book contains a large amount of detail readily accessible to the reader, while incorporating the latest research into the period from internationally renowned academics, historians and wargamers.

The battle scenarios described are mostly battles that can be fought by wargamers in one evening and require slightly smaller armies. Options are included to turn some of them into larger multiplayer games. While most of the Great Northern War took place in and around the Baltic states, the book also covers events on Russia's southern borders, where the Ottoman Empire comes into play, and there are game suggestions for continuing the conflict on Russia's eastern border with China. The book uses almost 100 colour photographs to show painted units and individual figures from several renowned collections. It contains a wealth of information that will be of interest to history buffs and wargamers alike. Volume 3 of the "Helion Wargames" series.