Banish All Their Fears Bayonet & Musket Series Vol I

Banish All Their Fears

The inaugural volume of the Bayonet & Musket series from GMT Games, designed by David Fox and Ben Hull, developed by Mike Welker, with map art by Charlie Kibler, counter art by Dariusz Buraczewski, and art direction by Justin Martinez. The game was published in 2023 and carries a weight of 4.0 in complexity.

Preface – “The British Grenadiers”

“Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules,
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these,
But of all the world’s great heroes,
There’s none that can compare,
With a tow, row row row, row row row,
To the British Grenadiers.

None of these ancient heroes ne’er saw a cannon ball,
Nor knew the force of powder to slay their foes with all,
But our brave boys do know it and banish all their fears,
Sing tow, row row row, row row row,
For the British Grenadiers.”

— The British Grenadiers, traditional lyrics

Historical Background & Battles

Neerwinden (July 29, 1693) – War of the League of Augsburg
Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, King William III’s Allied army opts to hold a breastwork line anchored by fortified villages rather than retreat across the river—facing a determined French force under the Duke of Luxembourg.

Blenheim (August 13, 1704) – War of the Spanish Succession
Marlborough leads his Allied army into Bavaria, confronting a combined French–Bavarian force near Blenheim on the Danube. A dramatic infantry assault unfolds when General Rowe, after signaling forward motion by striking his sword on the pales, leads a silent advance. A deadly French volley follows; Rowe falls mortally wounded, and the surviving soldiers struggle through the defenses in fierce combat.

Technological Revolution & Series Scope

The adoption of the flintlock musket and socket bayonet revolutionized European warfare. By the 1670s, flintlocks began replacing matchlocks, and bayonets rendered the pike obsolete—changing battlefield dynamics forever.

The Bayonet & Musket series covers the Wars of the League of Augsburg (1688–1697) and the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1714). It highlights how the growth of large national armies—with German mercenaries and leaders like Louis XIV, the Dukes of Luxembourg and Berwick, Prince Eugene, and the Duke of Marlborough—changed the face of early 18th-century warfare.

Game Mechanics & Scale

• Larger armies, brigade-focused scale: Brigades are the key maneuver unit; units are battalions (infantry) or regiments (cavalry), with emphasis on fresh reserves to exploit battlefield opportunities.
• Streamlined combat: Most fights resolve in just 1–2 die rolls with conclusive outcomes.
• The game continues GMT’s tradition of historically accurate maps and Orders of Battle.

Game Scale Details:

• 1 hex = 200–220 yards / 190–210 meters
• 1 turn = 20 minutes
• Infantry units = battalions (500–600 men)
• Cavalry units = 2–3 squadrons (250–350 men)
• Artillery = batteries (8–10 guns)
• Complexity: Moderate
• Solitaire suitability: Medium (no hidden movement, no reaction movement)
• Action sequence: alternating brigade orders (Charge, March, Dress Ranks)

Components

• Rulebook
• Playbook
• Double-sided map (34" × 22")
• Five double-sided countersheets
• Double-sided command display
• Four player aid cards
• Single-sided time card
• Two 10-sided dice