High Crusade is a simple set of wargames rules, designed to allow you to play Science Fiction wargames with either 15mm or 25mm scale miniatures. Designed as an ideal starting point for newcomers to the hobby before moving on to more complex and detailed sets of rules, we hope that the simple mechanisms of the rules themselves will prove flexible enough for even experienced gamers to enjoy the odd game or two, and flexible enough for them to tinker with to their hearts content. To any newcomer to the hobby who is interested in finding out more about wargaming, we would suggest a visit to either a book shop or the local library to order either of the following books; Beginners' Guide to Wargaming by Bruce Quarrie (published by PSL Ltd.) or Guide to Wargaming by Stuart Asquith (published by Argus Books). Whilst both tend to concentrate on historical wargames periods such as World War Two or the Napoleonic Wars, they still provide a good introduction to matters that are common to all wargames from 3000 BC to 3000 AD, such as figures scales, terrain, painting etc.
These rules have been based in the futuristic Ion Age universe designed by Mac Coxhead to compliment his company's 15mm and 25mm SF figure ranges, and we'd like to thank Mac for allowing us to do this. However should you wish to use another companies figures or use a different background, feel free - you do not have to use just one company's figures with a particular set of rules (even if they say you do!). At the end of the day a 25mm metal soldier from Company A performs just as well as one from Company B on your battlefield, and you may find that figures from companies like Alternative Armies Ltd are just as good (if not better) than those supplied by other companies, and probably a lot cheaper to boot.
The Ion Age universe is one that is currently torn apart by war. On one side we have the Free Companies, a renegade human confederation of over a hundred worlds that has split from the larger Imperial Commonwealth. On the other are the mysterious Shia Khan. The Khan control a large empire that has just expanded towards the Free Companies and comprises of a number of subject alien races including some humans. Khan military theory is geared towards using specialist fighting races in individual environments, and some of these races are colloquially known to the Free Companies by the names of mythical beasts from Earth's folklore, hence the appearance of such Khan forces known as Orcs or Goblins.
© Wessex Games 1994, 2000