Limits of Glory

This series of games aims to explore the relationship between ‘Skill and Luck’ in the development of general officers in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic period.

Often throughout history the outcome of a military campaign has been considered the result of an individual commanders personality or skill. On the other hand, success or otherwise in war is sometimes taken to be the outcome of luck, with less credit being given to the decision makers. Strength of character, expertise, talent and determination can be mistaken for luck; but luck can also be mistaken for those virtues. It is said that people make their own luck and the more you practise the luckier you become. A lucky general might not have been so if he had not created the situation where a lucky outcome was possible.

In Limits of Glory all the influential commanders from a campaign are assessed on the skill they exhibited and how much luck they are considered to have benefited from during the campaign. These combined factors are converted into a Glory rating for each commander and Glory allows them to influence the outcome of situations during the game. Some commanders may have high ratings due to their skills and some because of their luck, the best may have both, while others, due to mediocrity, may languish with little hope.

Playing the Limits of Glory series requires mitigation of difficult situations with the well judged use of individual commanders’ Glory, but beware, there are limits to glory and luck always runs out!