UNIVERSAL RULES:
Piquet (PK)

This rules system is intended to provide a "new and refreshing approach to gaming." The Core Rules can be combined with any of a wide variety of historical supplements in order to provide a complete game for almost any historical period.

Central to the concept behind this game system is the notion that a rigid sequence of play can never represent the chaos of a real battlefield. Instead, Piquet (pronounced pee-KAY) centers around the Sequence Deck and the use of Impulse Pips.

Essentially, both players dice for possession of a pool of Impulse Pips (also called Impetus Points). Each pip can be spent to allow one unit or command group to perform one action. However, the only action allowed is that declared on the current Sequence Card. A pip can also be spent to draw the next card in the Sequence Deck.

The Sequence Cards control when movement and combat take place, as well as morale checks and leadership tests. Each player has his own deck, which is customized depending upon the nature of his army and leaders - for instance, great leaders get the equivalent of "wild cards" in their deck, while poor leaders are saddled with "do nothing" or "lose pips" cards.

Armies can be built on a point basis, on a "standard formula" basis, or from historical orders of battle. Modified dierolls determine quality ratings for leaders and units. A draw of Army Characterization cards determine an army's Morale Chip total, and may grant Stratagems (unique pre-battle events) or special qualities (for instance, extra movement for cavalry, or a combat bonus for missle weapons).

Combat is determined by a simple comparison of opposing die rolls, with the margin determining the number of figures lost. Units are assigned various dice for different operations, so that - for instance - a unit with more firepower might have a 12-sided firepower die rather than a 4-sided die. Modifiers apply due to circumstances.

Morale tests are required by two types of cards, and are either unit-specific (for units that suffered casualties) or army-wide. Cavalry units may also force opposing units to test morale. Units which fail a morale check may become disordered or routed, and routed units may or may not be recoverable.

The Piquet core rules are not a stand-alone product - they require the use of one of the period supplements. The Core Rules come in an envelope which contains:

• 84-page Master Rules for Wargaming booklet
  
• two identical reference cards (one red, one blue)
  
• two identical sheets of markers (one yellow, one green - must be cut out)
  
• deck of Army Characterization cards
  
• Impulse display
  
• two metal "hands" for the Impulse display
• command caliber (measuring device)
• dice (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 20-sided)