Rules

 By Fire and Sword

By Fire and Sword is a historical wargame developed by the Wargamer Company from Poland. Designed to create a realistic, playable and dynamic wargame which recreates the 17th century wars fought by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against Turkey, Muscovy, Sweden, Crimean Khanate and Cossacks.

The period between 1640 and 1676, on which the game focuses, is a time of almost constant warfare waged by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on all fronts, in many cases with several enemies at the same time. 

By Fire and Sword is a comprehensive system including game rules, historical background for the forces of all the combatants, battle group creation rules and scenarios, but most of all a huge number of wargaming figures representing all the military formations of the warring parties.

The Deluge: Northern War 1655-1660 (Supplement for By Fire and Sword)

This supplement focuses on the events of the Northern War of 1655-1660 and introduces many changes and new elements into the game; principally introducing three new armies:

Transylvania: The army of prince Rákóczi, the ruler of Transylvania is coming from the South. Fast cavalry units are raiding Polish lands and the main forces of the prince are marching to meet their Swedish allies.

The Holy Roman Empire: The soldiers of this army have some old grudges to settle with the Swedes, defeats of the Thirty Years War are still fresh in their memory. Led by experienced generals, the imperial cuirassiers, knechts and dragoons come to aid the Commonwealth and Denmark.

Brandenburg: the Great Elector is playing a tricky political game by maneuvering between the warring parties. The Brandenburg-Prussian army is gathering precious experience on the battlefields of Poland, Prussia and Denmark.

Twilight of Divine Right: With Fire and Sword

This is a supplement to the Twilight of Divine Right rules. You will need to use in in conjunction with these rules to fully understand it. It includes the rules, amendments and additions to fight the battle and wars in Eastern Europe in this era.

The players can field Polish-Lithuanian, Russian, Swedish, Cossack, Crimean Khanate (Tatar), Ottoman and other smaller armies in the wars of this era. A series of wars in this era transformed the world and helped shape the modern world.

These rules are accompanied by three scenario books featuring battles across the period, see below. They are free if purchased along with one or more of the scenario books.

Scenario Book 1: The Rise of Sweden 1605-1629

This book covers the rise of Sweden before their intervention in the Thirty Years War in 1630. It covers the wars of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth with Sweden in 1600–1611 and with the Russians in 1609-1618. Also the later war with Sweden in1626 – 1629 when Gustaf II Adolf transformed the Swedish army. In addition there are some scenarios from the Commonwealth’s wars against the Ottomans in 1620 – 1621.

The booklet features 11 scenarios from 7 historical battles:

Kircholm, 1605 

Klushino, 1611 

Chochim, 1621 

Gniew, 1626 

Dirschau, 1627

Gorzno, 1629

Trzciana, 1629

Scenario Book 2: The Deluge, 1632-1660

This second book covers the battles during the period sometimes called the ‘Deluge’. The 'Deluge' period saw the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth attacked by many armies. The booklet concentrates on the war of 1648 -1657 against the Cossack rebellion under Khmelnytsky. Also the campaigns of 1655 – 1660 is against the Swedes. In addition the Russians war against the Commonwealth in the Smolensk War of 1632 – 1634 is also covered. The first war that Russia started to modernise it's army. It is common for allies to be present on one or both sides in these battles.

The booklet features 8 scenarios from 6 historical battles and campaigns:

Smolensk, 1633

Pyliavsti, 1648

Berestecko, 1651

Batoh, 1652

Zarnow, 1655 

Warsaw, 1656

Scenario Book 3: The Wars for the Ukraine, 1654-1676

The third scenario book concentrates on the shifting war for the control of the Ukraine in the later part of this era but which continue to this day started to exercise some control over the Ukraine. The Thirteen Years War of 1654 – 1667 featuring various combinations of Polish-Lithuanian, Russian, Cossack and Crimean Khanate (Tatar) forces. In addition some of the scenarios are from the Commonwealth's war against the Ottomans and Crimean Khanate as they renewed there attempts to dominate the Ukraine in 1672 -1676.

The booklet features 11 scenarios from 9 historical battles and campaigns:

Konotop, 1659 
Polonka, 1660
Chudow Campaign, 1660
1st Lubar, 14th September 1660 
2nd Lubar, 16th September 1660 
Slobodyszcze, 1660
Kanev, 1662
Chocim, 1673 
Zurawno, 1676