Official Manuals
Musket & Pike — User Manual
The general user manual for WDS Musket & Pike, covering the main game system, interface, play modes, units, movement, combat, PBEM, menus, dialogs, and hot keys.
Manual last updated: 23 April 2026.
Library
Reading for the Age of Reason.
A small collection of books, references, and useful links for eighteenth-century warfare.
Library
Documents, downloads, and useful linksClub Guides
PBEM Quick Start Guide
A concise guide for arranging, playing, and reporting club PBEM battles in WDS Musket & Pike, including multiplayer by email, commanders, turn handling, and period-style communication.
The full guide is available as a downloadable PDF.
Historical Documents
Frederick the Great — Instructions for His Generals
Primary material related to eighteenth-century command, military culture, and the art of leadership in the Age of Reason.
Edited by Age of Reason Kriegspiel and offered as a free download.
Miscellany
Musket & Pike Historical Play Guide
Recommended optional rules, historical play guidelines, and gentlemen’s agreements for club battles.
Prepared for Age of Reason Kriegspiel as a practical guide for new and experienced officers.
Miscellany
The Military Experience in the Age of Reason
Christopher Duffy’s classic study remains a useful companion to the military world behind the games.
Game Resources
Future downloads may include player aids, installation notes, approved club files, and selected material for WDS Musket & Pike games.
All game resources are provided for private use by club members. Please make backup copies of your original game files before installing any modification.
External Links
Useful external references for supported titles, updates, and further reading.
Age of Reason Kriegspiel is an independent players’ club and is not affiliated with Wargame Design Studio.
National Rank Equivalents
Functional equivalence, not literal equivalenceThe club uses a Prussian-inspired promotion ladder as its common reference, but each army displays its own equivalent rank titles. These equivalents are functional rather than literal: eighteenth-century armies did not share a single uniform ladder of promotion.
This is the fairest and most practical method for club play. All officers advance under the same rules, while Prussian, Austrian, British, French, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, and American officers retain historically flavoured titles.
| Points | Prussia | Austria | Great Britain | France | Russia | Sweden | Spain | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Fähnrich | Fähnrich | Ensign | Sous-lieutenant | Praporshchik | Fänrik | Alférez | Ensign |
| 100 | Sekondeleutnant | Unterleutnant | Second Lieutenant | Lieutenant en second | Podporuchik | Underlöjtnant | Subteniente | Second Lieutenant |
| 250 | Premierleutnant | Oberleutnant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant en premier | Poruchik | Löjtnant | Teniente | First Lieutenant |
| 500 | Stabskapitän | Stabshauptmann | Captain-Lieutenant | Capitaine en second | Shtabs-kapitan | Stabskapten | Capitán graduado | Captain-Lieutenant |
| 1,000 | Hauptmann | Hauptmann | Captain | Capitaine | Kapitan | Kapten | Capitán | Captain |
| 2,000 | Major | Major | Major | Major | Major | Major | Sargento mayor / Mayor | Major |
| 3,500 | Oberstleutnant | Oberstleutnant | Lieutenant Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Podpolkovnik | Överstelöjtnant | Teniente coronel | Lieutenant Colonel |
| 5,500 | Oberst | Oberst | Colonel | Colonel | Polkovnik | Överste | Coronel | Colonel |
| 8,000 | Generalmajor | Generalmajor | Major General | Brigadier des armées du Roi | Brigadir / General-mayor | Generalmajor | Brigadier | Brigadier General |
| 12,000 | Generalleutnant | Feldmarschallleutnant | Lieutenant General | Maréchal de camp | General-poruchik | Generallöjtnant | Mariscal de campo | Major General |
| 18,000 | General der Infanterie / Kavallerie | Feldzeugmeister / General der Kavallerie | General | Lieutenant général | General-anshef | General | Teniente general | General |
| 25,000 | Generalfeldmarschall | Feldmarschall | Field Marshal | Maréchal de France | General-feldmarshal | Fältmarskalk | Capitán general | Commander-in-Chief |