Battle Commander: Volume I is a new wargame system designed by Carl Paradis and published by Sound of Drums GmbH. Its intent is to replay historical 18th and 19th century battles with a fresh framework focused on two key aspects: command decisions and playability. Volume I covers six early Napoleonic battles from the Italian campaigns of 1796-1800 – Lonato, Castiglione, Arcole, Rivoli, Montebello, and Marengo – presented in chronological order, with future volumes planned to trace the entire Napoleonic Wars through to its conclusion.
The most distinctive feature of the system is a cube-pull activation mechanism that governs all game phases – movement, combat, rallying, card draws – replacing dice entirely and creating a interesting experience driven by event cards. The production is truly deluxe: three double-sided mounted map boards, painted wooden pieces without stickers, large scenario setup cards, and a 3D army mat.
If you want to learn more about the game from the designer interview, check here: Interview with Carl Paradis, designer of Battle Commander by Sound of Drums.
Below I am presenting the game components, giving also a quick overview of the rules and key design features:
Have fun with the material!