An unusual choice for a pike and shot set of rules, DSSS specifically addresses itself to the Thirty Years War, a series of connected conflicts pitching various armies against each other often based on religious views. Bloody, interminable, and virtually ignored by most gamers, gamers are more often drawn to the English Civil War or the escapades of French musketeers.

Rules were written by Douglas Hubbard in 1993 and play tested at the 1993 HMGS convention. Ground scale is 1” = 40 yds., figure scale 1 = 50, turns = 30-45 minutes. The rules were written for 15mm figures with an infantry base size of 1” x .75” with 3 figures.

A handy sequence of play is offered on the inside front cover broken down into a move/fire phase with players dicing for initiative and conducting a series of rounds until all units are done or mutual consent from players. This is followed by a brief leader phase and a detailed close combat phase. A turn ends with a command control phase.

There is a brief outline of unit organization as well as a list of possible formations including column, line, square, and wedge with excellent illustrations for guidance.

The book ends with a selection of extras including army lists for Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Holy Roman Empire, Bavaria, Saxony, Bohemia, Spain, and France. There are 3 cavalry heavy scenarios including Lutzen, Jankov, and a hypothetical battle, Anfangsthal. There is page of designer notes and a bibliography which for some reason misses some pretty important works, notably C.V. Wedgwood’s book The Thirty Years War.