Britain: Bones of Albion is the latest expansion for The Silver Bayonet, Joseph A. McCullough’s Napoleonic gothic horror skirmish game published by Osprey Games. On paper it is a tantalising prospect. The wars of Europe rumble on, but in the mists and moors of Britain ancient powers are stirring. An old druidic circle on Anglesey has awakened and threatens to plunge the land into chaos.
Silver Bayonet has always stood out for the way it blends Napoleonic history with the dark folklore of the world, and here that idea is carried into the haunted landscapes of Britain. Undead Dark Age warriors, Normans and Romans rise from the earth, while the Silver Bayonet units must confront these ancient horrors.
However, there are some frustrations. The scenarios themselves feel rather familiar, and they offer the expected mix of objectives and encounters but are not as tightly woven into the myths and legends of Britain as they could have been. The choice of mainland Britain as the setting for a supernatural crisis would probably not have been my next step. Certainly with the Iberian Peninsula and the invasion of Russia throwing up possibly better options. The book does not always fully exploit the possibilities of a campaign in Britain either. The absence of a druid option for the British faction is hard to ignore, given how central druidic magic is to the narrative. It feels like a missed opportunity.
The biggest disappointment, at least for me, is the lack of solo campaign support. The Silver Bayonet has been praised in the past for including ways to play alone or cooperatively, but Bones of Albion does not follow through on this front. This will make it less appealing for those who, like myself, often play without a regular group.
If you enjoy playing with others and you are keen on the idea of Britain as a setting for Napoleonic horror then Bones of Albion will provide you with plenty of inspiration and a suitably grim atmosphere. The scenarios are serviceable, the monsters are evocative and the book gives you the excuse to expand your collection with all manner of folkloric figures.
But if you are buying this expansion solely to play solo you may find yourself disappointed. For me that prevents it from being the essential purchase it could have been. Bones of Albion is still a solid addition to the line, and one that captures the imagination with its premise, but it never quite realises its full potential.
Personally, I would give this 6/10. The campaign has some nice touches but it lacks a solo campaign and the missions feel similar to previous versions.
