Song of Drums and Shakos

About this board game

Song of Drums and Shakos is a fast-play Napoleonic skirmish game for 2–8 players, with a full game taking about 45 minutes. Based on the mechanics of Song of Blades and Heroes: Revised Edition, it is a stand-alone game that requires no other title to play.

Muster your squad, deploy your soldiers, and keep your musket loaded as you face the enemy. Fire volleys across the battlefield, then decide when the moment is right to fix bayonets and charge.

The rules use a simple, elegant system in which tactical decisions matter. A subtle command system involving Officers and NCOs gives you control over your force without bookkeeping, while an easy measuring system keeps play moving.

• Three scenarios are included.
• Build your squad with a point system.
• Choose from more than 160 profiles representing French, British, Prussian, Russian, and Austrian troops.
• Play with approximately 5–6 elite soldiers or up to 20 inexperienced soldiers in a standard game.
• Use single-based models at any scale.
• Play on a small table, including a 60 × 60 cm area for 15mm figures.

Song of Drums and Shakos represents the major troop types of the Napoleonic era and is designed for small actions rather than sprawling battles. Its compact play area, short playing time, and accessible rules make it an ideal introductory rule set for Napoleonic skirmishes.