About This Game

War of the Austrian Succession

Fight across the battlefields of eighteenth-century Europe in War of the Austrian Succession, a detailed tactical wargame covering the major campaigns, battles, and theaters of the vast dynastic conflict that reshaped the balance of power in Europe.

From Mollwitz and Chotusitz to Dettingen, Fontenoy, Rocoux, Lauffeld, and Culloden, War of the Austrian Succession places you in command of the armies that fought for crowns, territory, dynastic survival, and continental dominance. What began as a succession crisis following the death of Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI quickly expanded into a sprawling European war involving Austria, Prussia, France, Britain, Bavaria, Spain, Sardinia, the Dutch Republic, Jacobite rebels, and countless allied states and auxiliary formations.

Take command in War of the Austrian Succession, where detailed tactical maps and historically grounded orders of battle place you in control of armies fighting across snow-covered plains, fortified cities, mountain passes, rivers, villages, and sprawling continental battlefields. Every battle is shaped by the realities of eighteenth-century warfare: rigid linear tactics, cavalry shock action, artillery deployment, militia reliability, command limitations, fatigue, terrain, morale, and the growing importance of light troops and maneuver warfare.

Command the Armies of Europe

Recreate the major campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession from multiple perspectives across Europe.

Lead the armies of Austria and the Pragmatic Allies, including:

• Austrian line infantry

• Grenadiers

• Croats and light troops

• Hussars

• Cuirassiers and dragoons

• British infantry

• Dutch and Hanoverian contingents

• Sardinian forces

Or take command of the Bourbon and anti-Habsburg coalitions, including:

• Prussian infantry and cavalry

• French line and guard regiments

• Maison du Roi cavalry

• Irish Brigade troops

• Bavarian forces

• Spanish and Neapolitan armies

• Jacobite Highland clans

The historically accurate Order of Battle reflects the diverse armies and military systems of the era. Prussian infantry delivers unmatched discipline and firepower, Austrian cavalry and light troops excel in maneuver warfare, French armies field enormous and colorful forces supported by elite guards and cavalry, while Jacobite armies rely on speed, aggression, and the shock of the Highland Charge.

Multiple Theaters of War

War of the Austrian Succession covers the major fronts and campaigns fought across Europe during the conflict.

• Fight in Central Europe during the Silesian Wars, where Friedrich II of Prussia challenged Habsburg dominance and transformed the reputation of the Prussian army through victories at Mollwitz, Hohenfriedberg, and Kesselsdorf.

• Battle across Flanders and the Low Countries, where massive French and Allied armies clashed in some of the largest field battles of the century at Dettingen, Fontenoy, Rocoux, and Lauffeld.

• Campaign through Italy, where Austrian, Spanish, French, Sardinian, and Neapolitan armies fought brutal battles across rivers, fortresses, and mountain terrain.

• Join the Jacobite Rising of 1745, where Charles Edward Stuart and his Highland army advanced deep into Britain before meeting final defeat at Culloden.

Linear Warfare in the Age of Frederick and Saxe

The War of the Austrian Succession was fought during a period of military transition where discipline, drill, firepower, cavalry maneuver, and battlefield command determined victory.

Fight across battlefields where:

• Linear formations and volley fire dominate combat

• Heavy cavalry charges can decide battles

• Light troops and hussars excel at reconnaissance and harassment

• Grenadiers and guards provide elite assault forces

• Weather, visibility, and terrain shape tactical decisions

• Artillery positioning becomes critical to battlefield success

• Militia troops may overwhelm opponents

The game models the differences between disciplined Prussian infantry, Austrian light forces, French cavalry-heavy armies, British and Allied contingents, Spanish and Italian formations, Bavarian troops, and the unique tactics of the Jacobite Highland clans.

85 Detailed Scenarios

War of the Austrian Succession includes 85 standalone scenarios covering engagements of all sizes, including:

• Tutorial scenarios

• Major historical battles

• Smaller skirmishes and frontier actions

• Historical and hypothetical variants

• Specialized versions for both head-to-head play and play against the AI

The game covers famous and lesser-known actions from across the war, including:

• Mollwitz

• Prague

• Chotusitz

• Sahay

• Campo Santo

• Simbach

• Dettingen

• 1st and 2nd Velletri

• Madonna dell’Olmo

• Habelschwerdt

• Fontenoy

• Hohenfriedberg

• Soor

• Hennersdorf

• Kesselsdorf

• Rocoux

• Lauffeld

• Assietta

• And from the Jacobite Rising of 1745:

• Prestonpans

• Clifton

• Inverurie

• Falkirk Muir

• Culloden

Three Campaigns

Three dedicated campaigns containing 43 additional scenarios allow players to follow the war through connected operations and strategic decisions across Europe.

Experience the conflict as more than isolated battles, with campaign play linking together the major theaters and phases of the war.

Extensive Maps and Eighteenth-Century Detail

A wide range of historically accurate maps are included, covering the major battlefields, fortresses, cities, mountain passes, and frontier regions fought over during the war.

The game also includes extensive 3D unit graphics representing the major armies involved, including Austrian, Prussian, French, British, Bavarian, Spanish, Jacobite, and allied forces.

Design notes, campaign notes, and a bibliography provide additional historical background on the production of the game and the sources used by the design team.

Powerful Editing Tools

Customize and expand your experience with a full suite of editors, including:

Campaign editor

Scenario editor

Sub-map editor

Use these tools to modify existing content, create new engagements, or subdivide larger maps into smaller battlefield segments for custom scenario design.

Multiple Ways to Play

Multiple play options include:

Play against the computer AI

Play-By-Email

LAN and live Internet play

Two-player Hot Seat mode