Mollwitz and Chotusitz: Battles of the First Silesian War

Mollwitz and Chotusitz: Battles of the First Silesian War is a game in Clash of Arms’ Battles from the Age of Reason series, covering the first two major battles of Frederick the Great’s military career.

The game presents the Prussian army before it became the feared instrument of the Seven Years’ War. At Mollwitz, Frederick’s infantry must advance across snowy ground against waiting Austrian forces, while the Austrians use their superior cavalry to disrupt, delay and threaten the Prussian attack. The battle also includes the famous possibility of Frederick leaving the field.

At Chotusitz on 17 May 1742, the Austrians again put Frederick under pressure, attacking before the full Prussian army can come into action. This creates a different challenge, with the Austrians taking the offensive and both sides needing to make the most of their strengths before the situation changes.

Both battles are smaller by BAR standards, each using a single map and fewer counters than many other games in the series. That makes this a particularly interesting entry for players who want the detail and period flavour of Battles from the Age of Reason in a more contained format.