Glory, an American Civil War game by GMT

A wargame is a game that simulates or represents a military operation. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which are also called conflict simulations. The somewhat similar, professional study of war is generally known as a military exercise or "war game," with the words war and game kept separate. Although there are occasional disagreements as to what qualifies as a wargame, the general consensus is that they are not only games about conflict or warfare, but that they must realistically simulate war to some degree. Depending on the style and scale of the game, such factors as flanking, supply, line of sight, terrain, and morale must be considered. For these reasons, games like chess and Risk are not generally considered wargames. Most wargames are historical or contemporary in nature, but science fiction and fantasy themes are also represented. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. ... War games may refer to: WarGames, a 1983 film directed by John Badham WarGames (game), a Colecovision video game War Game (book and film), Childrens book and animated short film The War Game, a 1965 BBC film for television The War Games, a Doctor Who serial War Games, a... Planning, calculating, or the giving or receiving of information. ... A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ... USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) kicks off Exercise Valiant Shield, the largest war games of the United States Navy since the Vietnam War. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... A simulation is an imitation of some real device or state of affairs. ... This article is about the Western board game. ... Risk is a commercial strategic board game, produced by Parker Brothers (now a division of Hasbro). ... History is often used as a generic term for information about the past, such as in geologic history of the Earth. When used as the name of a field of study, history refers to the study and interpretation of the record of human societies. ... Look up contemporary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ...

The wargaming hobby has its origins at the beginning of the 20th century, with the invention of miniatures games in which two or more players simulated a battle as a pastime. During the 1950s the first large scale, mass produced board games depicting military conflicts were published. These games were at the height of their popularity during the 1970s, and had become quite complex and technical by that time. Wargaming has changed dramatically over the years, from its roots in miniatures and board wargaming, to contemporary computer and computer assisted wargames. Light wargames with accessible rules and high quality plastic components, such as Memoir '44, have also become popular in recent years. Miniatures games are a form of wargame in which a battle is played out using small figures to represent the units involved. ... A board game is any game played with a premarked surface, with counters or pieces that are moved across the board. ... Memoir 44 is a light strategy board game, created by Richard Borg, for two to six players. ...

Overview

Like all games, wargames exist in a range of complexity. Some are fundamentally simple—often called "beer-and-pretzel" games—whereas others attempt to simulate a high level of historical realism. These latter games may produce long rulebooks that encompass a large variety of actions and details. These games often require a considerable study of the rules before they can be played. They also have a range of scales, from games that simulate individual soldiers, to ones that chart the course of an entire global or even galactic war. Combinatorial game theory has several ways of measuring game complexity. ... A rulebook is a book containing a list of rules. ... A world war is a war affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ...

Wargames are generally a representational art form. Generally, this is of a fairly concrete historical subject (such as the Battle of Gettysburg, one of several popular topics in the genre), but it can also be extended to non-historical ones as well. The Cold War provided fuel for many games that attempted to show what a non-nuclear (or, in a very few cases, nuclear) World War III would be like, moving from a re-creation to a predictive model in the process. Fantasy and science fiction subjects are sometimes not considered wargames because there is nothing in the real world to model, however, conflict in a self-consistent fictional world lends itself to exactly the same types of games and game designs as does military history. It is generally agreed that people know and understand the world and reality through the act of naming it; thus, through language and representations (Oxford English Dictionary, cited in Vukcevich 2002). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America Commanders George G. Meade Robert E. Lee Strength 93,921[1] 71,699[2] Casualties 23,055 (3,155 killed, 14,531 wounded, 5,369 captured/missing)[1] 23,231 (4,708 killed, 12,693 wounded, 5,830 captured/missing... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... A nuclear holocaust is often associated with World War III For other uses, see World War III (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A fictional universe is a cohesive fictional world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction. ...

Because of these attitudes, there are many games and types of games that may appear to be a wargame at first glance, but are not accepted as such by members of the hobby, and many that would be considered debatable. Risk could be considered a wargame, it uses an area map of the Earth, and is unabashedly about sending out armies to conquer the world. However, it has no readily-discernible timeframe, and combat is extremely abstract, leading many to not consider it as an actual wargame, or only tangentially as one. Risk is a commercial strategic board game, produced by Parker Brothers (now a division of Hasbro). ...

The highest percentage of war-themed games that are not wargames come from the video game industry. Most markedly real-time strategy games (such as Starcraft) deal with combat nearly exclusively, but the gameplay enhancing conventions of the genre also destroy realism. For example, in actual combat, vehicle armor is generally a binary proposition. Either the round penetrates and the vehicle is knocked out, or it does not and the vehicle is unaffected. RTS games make a habit of giving a vehicle a "health bar" that generally allows it to survive even powerful single shots, but each hit reduces its health by some amount, allowing a high volume of rifle fire to knock out a well armored tank. Other notable genre conventions include the construction of buildings and vehicles within the timeframe of a battle (i.e., hours, if not less) and a lack of any command and control, supply, or morale systems. “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... A real-time strategy (RTS) video game is one that is distinctly not turn-based. ... “Starcraft” redirects here. ...

A major determinant of the complexity and size of a wargame is how realistic it is intended to be. Some games constitute a serious study of the subject at hand, whereas others are intended to be light entertainment. In general, a more serious study will have longer, more detailed rules, more complexity, and more record keeping. More casual games may only bear a passing resemblance to the subject, although many still try to encourage the same types of decision making as the player's historical counterparts, and thereby bring forth the "feel" of the conflict. For other uses, see Realism (disambiguation). ...

Wargames tend to have a few fundamental problems. Notably, both player knowledge, and player action are much less limited than what would be available to the player's real-life counterparts. Some games have rules for command and control and fog of war, using various methods. These mechanisms can be cumbersome and onerous in board and miniature games. However, block wargames, which hide unit information in a manner comparable to the game of Stratego, can simulate fog of war conditions in a relatively playable way. The "edge of board problem" raises the issue of what to do at the artificial boundary of the physical edge of a board game, in contrast to real life where there is no "edge" and units off-board can have a tangible effect on a scenario. Computer wargames can more easily incorporate these features because the computer can conceal information from players and act as an impartial judge (even while playing one side). However, due to interface issues, these can still be found to as frustrating to the player as traditional methods. In the military: The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. ... The fog of war is a term used to describe the level of ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. ... This article is about the board game. ...

Science fiction author, H. G. Wells playing a "floor wargame" with toy soldiers

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

History of wargaming

Modern wargaming originated with the military need to study warfare and to 'reenact' old battles for instructional purposes. The stunning Prussian victory over the Second French Empire in the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 is sometimes partly credited to the training of Prussian officers with the game Kriegspiel, which was invented around 1811 and gained popularity with many officers in the Prussian army. These first wargames were played with dice which represented "friction", or the intrusion of less than ideal circumstances during a real war (including morale, weather, the fog of war, etc.), though this was usually replaced by an umpire who used his own combat experience to determine the results.^[1] For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Map of the French Second Empire Capital Paris Language(s) French Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1852-1870 Napoleon III Legislature Parliament  - Upper house Senate  - Lower house Corps législatif History  - French coup of 1851 December 2 1851  - Established 1852  - Disestablished September 4, 1870 Currency French Franc The Second French Empire or... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with south German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III Otto Von Bismarck, Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at the beginning of the war 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000 dead or wounded 284,000 captured 350,000 civilian... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Kriegspiel, from the German for wargame, was a system used for training officers in the Prussian army. ... For the US Federal Agent designation, see Special agent. ... Two standard six-sided pipped dice with rounded corners. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For the geological process, see Weathering or Erosion. ... The fog of war is a term used to describe the level of ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. ...

The first specific non-military wargame club was started in Oxford, England, in the 19th century.^{[citation needed]} Naval enthusiast and analyst Fred T. Jane came up with a set of rules for depicting naval actions with the use of model ships, or miniatures around 1898. The 1905/6 edition of Jane's Fighting Ships includes a revised edition for "The Naval War Game".^[2] This article is about the city of Oxford in England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... John Fredrick Thomas Jane, usually known as Fred T. Jane (August 6, 1865–March 8, 1916) was the founder editor of reference books on warships (All the Worlds Fighting Ships) and aircraft (All the Worlds Air-ships). ... Prisoner-of-war model at the Rosenborg Slot in Copenhagen. ... 15mm British Camel Corps and Heliograph Team from Peter Pig A miniature figure -- also known as a miniature or just a mini -- is a small figurine commonly used in role playing games (RPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons. ... Year 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Janes Fighting Ships is an annual reference book (also published online, on CD and microfiche) of information on all the worlds warships arranged by nation, including information on ships names, dimensions, armaments, silhouettes and photographs, etc. ...

H.G. Wells' books Floor Games (1911) and Little Wars (1913) were attempts to codify rules for fighting battles with toy soldiers (miniatures), and make them available to the general public. They were very simple games, and in some ways just provide a context for shooting spring-loaded toy cannons at toy soldiers, but "in his Appendix to Little Wars, Wells speaks of the changes required to convert his admittedly simplistic rules into a more rigorous Kriegspiel."^[3] However, Wells also states in his rules that combat "should be by actual gun and rifle fire and not by computation. Things should happen and not be decided," in opposition to the general nature of Kriegspiel play. Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946), better known as H. G. Wells, was an English writer best known for such science fiction novels as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon and The Island of Doctor Moreau. ... Little Wars; a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys games and books, written by the famous author H. G. Wells, was a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Little Wars; a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys games and books, written by the famous author H. G. Wells, was a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 54mm Toy Soldiers by Imperial Productions of New Zealand A toy soldier is a miniature figurine that represents a soldier. ...

In 1940 Fletcher Pratt's Naval War Game was published. This was a more arbitrary system than Jane's (but generally gave more realistic results), and was played by many clubs at that time.^[4] Jack Coggins was invited by Pratt to participate, and recalled that Pratt's game involved dozens of tiny wooden ships - built to a scale of about one inch to 50 feet - spread over the living room floor of his apartment. Their maneuvers and the results of their battles were calculated via a complex mathemetical formula, with scale distances marked off with tape measures. Although many of the rules were arbitrary, they were based on such deep knowledge of the history of naval strategy that Pratt was able to reproduce the 1939 destruction of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee with incredibly accurate results.^[5] Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Murray Fletcher Pratt (1897–1956) was a science fiction and fantasy writer; he was also well-known as a writer on naval history and on the American Civil War. ... Jack Banham Coggins (b. ...

All of these games were meant to be accessible to the general public, but actual play was made difficult owing to the expense of purchasing an army or navy's worth of miniatures. As leisure time and disposable income generally rose through the 20th Century, miniatures games slowly gained a following. Most gaming groups informally wrote and/or revised their own rules, which were never published. In 1955 Jack Scruby started producing miniatures using RTV rubber molds, which greatly reduced their expense, and he turned this into a business (Scruby Miniatures) in 1957 and started publishing War Game Digest.^[6] It, and its successors, put fellow miniatures enthusiasts in touch with each other, and provided a forum for ideas and locally-produced rules to be shared with the rest of the hobby. Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Jack Scruby is generally credited with creating the modern miniature wargaming hobby. ... RTV can mean: room temperature vulcanization, such as with silicone rubber, using a chemical instead of heat radio-television, such as with national broadcasting companies like RTV Belgium REDtv. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ...

Meanwhile, the first modern mass-market wargame, based on cardboard counters and maps, was designed and published by Charles S. Roberts in 1952. After nearly breaking even on Tactics, he decided to found the Avalon Hill Game Company as a publisher of intelligent games for adults, and is called "The father of board wargaming". The modern commercial board wargaming industry is considered to have begun with the publication of Tactics II in 1958, and the founding of The General Magazine by Avalon Hill in 1964. In 1961, AH published Roberts' Gettysburg, which is considered to be the first board wargame based entirely on a historical battle. D-Day and Chancellorsville, the first games to use a hexagonal mapboard, were also published that year. An example of a counter with a large amount of information, from the wargame Black Sea-Black Death by Last Stand Games. ... For other uses, see Map (disambiguation). ... Categories: Stub | Board game designers ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tactics is generally credited as being the first board wargame. ... Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. ... Tactics II Tactics II is a wargame designed by Charles S. Roberts and published by the Avalon Hill game company in 1958 and then re-released again in 1961 and 1972. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The General Magazine The General Magazine (variously called The Avalon Hill General, Avalon Hills General or simply The General) was first published in 1964, as a bi-monthly periodical devoted to supporting Avalon Hills line of wargames, with articles on game tactics, history, and industry news. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gettysburg is a board wargame produced by Avalon Hill which re-enacts the American Civil War battle of Gettysburg. ...

Avalon Hill had a very conservative publishing schedule, typically about two titles a year, and wargames were only about half their line. By the end of the 1960s, a number of small magazines dedicated to the hobby were springing up, along with new game companies. The most important of these were undoubtedly Strategy & Tactics, and the company founded to save it from failing: Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI). Under SPI, S&T started including a new game in every issue of the magazine, which along with the regular games SPI was publishing vastly increased the number of wargames available. see also 1950s in games, 1970 in games Games Released or Invented in the 1960s Hasbros Game of Life (1960) Blitzkrieg (1965) Guadalcanal (1966) Feudal (1967) Jutland (1967) 1914 (1968) Other events Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Strategy & Tactics (S&T) is a wargaming magazine now published by Decision Games, notable for its groundbreaking move of publishing a complete new wargame in each issue. ... Simulations Publications, Inc. ...

Chainmail fantasy miniatures wargame by TSR

Coupled with an aggressive advertising campaign, this caused a tremendous rise in the popularity of wargaming in the early 1970s, with a large number of new companies starting up. Two of these would last for some years: Game Designers' Workshop (GDW), and Tactical Studies Rules (TSR). TSR's fantasy miniatures game, Chainmail (1971) led to a new phenomenon that would become much bigger than its parent hobby, role-playing games. (For a better look at these developments see the history of role-playing games.) cover art This work is copyrighted. ... cover art This work is copyrighted. ... Game Designers Workshop (GDW) was a company that published many popular wargames, as well as role-playing games such as Traveller and Drang Nach Osten!. Founded in 1973, the company disbanded in 1996 after having suffered financial troubles for quite some time. ... TSR, Inc. ... Cover for the third edition of Chainmail (1975). ... This article is about traditional role-playing games. ... The history of role-playing games begins with an earlier tradition of role-playing, which combined with the rulesets of fantasy wargames in the 1970s to give rise to the modern role-playing game. ...

The seventies can be considered the 'Golden Age of Wargaming', with a large number of new companies publishing an even larger number of games throughout the decade, powered by an explosive rise in the number of people playing wargames. Avalon Hill's PanzerBlitz (1970), Panzer Leader (1974), and Squad Leader (1977) were particularly popular during this time, with their innovative geomorphic mapboard system. Wargames also diversified in subject, with the first science-fiction wargame appearing in 1974; and in size with both microgames such as Steve Jackson's Ogre, and "monster games" appearing during the decade. This article deals with the cultural and social aspects and trends of the 1970s. ... Box art Panzerblitz is a tactical-scale board wargame of tank, artillery, and infantry combat set in the Eastern Front of the Second World War. ... Panzer Leader is the sequel to Avalon Hills Panzerblitz game. ... Squad Leader game package. ... Geomorphic mapboards are game boards that can be configured in different ways and reused to create different playing surfaces. ... see also: 1973 in games, 1975 in games Games Released or Invented in 1974 Dungeons & Dragons Europa Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, won the Charles S. Roberts Award for Best Professional Game of 1974. ... A Microgame Microgames are simple video games created by the fictional company WarioWare, Inc. ... Ogre is a board wargame first released in 1977, as the first Metagaming Microgame by Steve Jackson. ...

Simulations Canada was another major company formed in 1977, out of a frustration born of the policies of SPI, GDW, and Avalon Hill at avoiding the publication of unsolicited game designs.^[7]

The boom came to an end, and was followed by the usual bust in the early 1980s, most markedly with the acquisition of SPI by TSR in 1982. The hobby never truly recovered from this, and is today much smaller than it was during the seventies. Numerous factors have been implicated in the decline, including the rise of gaming alternatives (such as RPGs), the ever increasing complexity of wargames, and changing demographics and lifestyles.^[8] see also: 1981 in games, 1983 in games Games Released or Invented in 1982 Champions Storm Over Arnhem Game awards given in 1982 Spiel des Jahres: Enchanted Forest (German title is Sagaland) - Alex Randolph and Michel Matschoss, Ravensburger See also 1982 in video gaming Categories: | ...

During the 1980s, much of the market for wargames was dominated by roleplaying games. Then, when personal computers became available, gamers could simply "sit down and play" without learning masses of rules, clearing physical space, and finding and coordinating schedules with opponents. When collectible card games arrived in the 1990s, the gaming market became even more competitive. By this time, many wargame publishers were already long gone. Collectible card games (CCGs), also called trading card games (TCGs), are played using specially designed sets of cards. ...

Despite the decline, wargaming continues to survive in different forms. Advanced Squad Leader (1985) became a niche hobby in and of itself, and Axis and Allies (1984) was very popular with the mass market audience. In 1994 the first card-driven wargame, We the People, was published. Battle Cry (2000) and Memoir '44 (2004) proved that light wargames can still be commercially successful, as long as the rules are clear and accessible, and the components are high in quality. Block wargames, such as those published by Columbia Games remain quite popular. Finally, companies like GMT Games continue to survive and publish highly detailed, hex and counter wargames. Advanced Squad Leader 2nd Edition Rulebook Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) is a tactical-level board wargame that simulates actions of approximately company or battalion size in World War II. It is a detailed game system for two or more players (with solitaire play also possible). ... Axis and Allies redirects here. ... We the People is a board wargame about the American Revolution, published by Avalon Hill in 1994 and designed by Mark Herman. ... A board game based on the Civil War, designed by Richard Borg and published by Avalon Hill. ... Memoir 44 is a light strategy board game, created by Richard Borg, for two to six players. ... Columbia Games is a maker of board and roleplaying games including Harn and the block series (Wizard Kings and Wargames). ... GMT Games, probably the most prolific of the wargame companies in the 1990s and 2000s, was founded in 1990. ...

Miniature wargaming

Main article: Miniature wargaming

Miniature wargaming typically involves the use of 6-30 mm painted metal or plastic miniatures for units, and model scenery placed on a tabletop or floor as a playing surface, although other open areas such as gardens and sandboxes are sometimes used. Games with miniatures are sometimes called tabletop games, tabletop wargames, miniature wargames, or simply wargames. Miniatures games generally measure distance for movement and range with a string or tape measure. Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry, 1811, from the historical wargame Volley & Bayonet. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tabletop game is a general term used to refer to card games, board games, parlor games, role-playing games, miniature wargames, tile-based games and other games that are normally played on a table or other flat surface. ... Bavarian Napoleonic Infantry, 1811, from the historical wargame Volley & Bayonet. ...

Miniature wargamers generally prefer rule sets that can be used for any battle in a particular era or war, instead of a specific event, as is common in board wargames. Because armies and terrain can be combined in all possible ways, miniatures wargaming is generally more varied and flexible than other forms of wargaming. The preparation also tends to be more time consuming and expensive. Miniature wargamers typically enjoy painting miniatures and constructing terrain, and this is an important part of the hobby for them.

Because information cannot be displayed on a miniature figure as conveniently as on a cardboard counter, miniature wargames often lack the complexity and detail of some of the heavier board wargames.

The popularity of miniatures wargaming stayed relatively stable during the boom and bust of board wargames. Today, games such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle and the newer collectible miniatures games continue to recruit new interest into the oldest form of the wargaming hobby. It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... Collectible Miniatures Games or CMGs are a form of miniature wargaming that is also similar to Collectible Card Games (CCGs) — the primary difference being that while CCGs are card-based games, CMGs feature miniatures. ...

Board wargaming

In the United States, board wargames are often equated with the entire hobby of wargaming. In Europe, and especially Britain, they are a relatively minor part of the hobby. The genre is known for a number of common conventions that were developed early on, but these do not necessarily appear in all board wargames. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

The early history of board wargaming was dominated by Avalon Hill, even though other companies, such as SPI, left their own permanent marks on the industry. With the purchase of Avalon Hill by Hasbro, many wargamers long for 'the old Avalon Hill', and no one company is identified with the hobby as a whole. GMT and Decision Games are two of the more influential board wargame companies in existence today. Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is an American toy and game company. ...

The following components are common to many wargames:

• Map: The map shows the terrain over which the battle/war is fought, and generally comprises the bulk of the board for the game (with charts or administrative 'holding boxes' sometimes included on the board). Movement is regulated by the type of map that is used:
  • Hex maps are by far the most common in wargames, and allow reasonably realistic movement (some games, generally earlier ones, use squares instead of hexagons on the board).
  • Area maps would be the next most common, taking a more abstract approach that can show more 'natural' (or perhaps political) divisions easily, and is also often seen in simpler, mass-market games such as Risk.
  • Point to point is effectively a type of area movement, but typically defines the available routes by which movement is done in more detail.
  • geomorphic mapboards are used in tactical wargames to simulate terrain in different combinations.
• Counters: These are typically cardboard squares marked to represent armies, military units or individual military personnel, they generally include information on nationality (by color scheme), unit type (by symbol), and statistics such as movement or attack strength as a number or symbol, as well as a particular unit designation in historical games. Some variations on this theme are:
  • Double-sided counters are used in some games to show a unit in a disordered state, or in a weakened/damaged one in a step-reduction system.
  • Wooden blocks are used in block wargames. By standing the blocks on one side, these counters limit the enemy knowledge of friendly units (simulating fog of war) and can be rotated to a different side to show changes in strength in a more complex step-reduction system.
  • Plastic miniatures are used by some mass-market games. They generally display no information other than side and type (by color and shape).
  • Chits: These are a sub-class of counters used for random draws, or as informational markers.

Panzerblitz WWII wargame by Avalon Hill

• Dice: These are generally used to add the element of chance. Given that many military actions have been influenced or even decided by odd events, straight-forward strategy games such as chess and go may be considered too deterministic to represent real warfare.
• CRT: The combat results table was pioneered by Avalon Hill and is an extremely common feature of traditional boardgames. When two units are in combat, an odds ratio is calculated and one or more dice are rolled. The die-roll is cross-referenced on the table to determine the result.
• Cards: A relatively recent trend is card-driven games. These use cards that have events outside the area of the map or events outside the straightforward scope of the game play. Cards are also sometimes used to generate random number draws instead of or in combination with die rolls.
• Rulebook: Rules vary in complexity and depth from 1 page for some games to over 200 pages for others.
• Scenarios: Some wargames depict a single conflict, with only one starting point. More flexible systems use a separate scenario book, or cards, that define separate scenarios for the game, increasing replay value.

For other uses, see Map (disambiguation). ... A Hex map, or hexagonal map is often used in tactical board games. ... For other uses, see Square. ... A regular hexagon A hexagon (also known as sexagon) is a polygon with six edges and six vertices. ... Risk is a commercial strategic board game, produced by Parker Brothers (now a division of Hasbro). ... In board games, particularly wargames, area movement refers to a system regulating the movement of game pieces based on large geographic areas rather than by hexes or squares. ... Geomorphic mapboards are game boards that can be configured in different ways and reused to create different playing surfaces. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... An example of a counter with a large amount of information, from the wargame Black Sea-Black Death by Last Stand Games. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A military unit is an organisation within an armed force. ... This article is about a military rank. ... An example of a block, from the block wargame Crusader Rex by Columbia Games. ... The fog of war is a term used to describe the level of ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. ... Chits are a type of wargame counter that are generally not directly representational but used for the following purposes: Tracking, being placed on a numeric runner to indicate turn status, as in some rule variants for Squad Leader. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1673, 125 KB)Box art for the board wargame Panzerblitz, scanned by User:Stan Shebs This image is of a board game cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by the publisher of the board game. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x1673, 125 KB)Box art for the board wargame Panzerblitz, scanned by User:Stan Shebs This image is of a board game cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by the publisher of the board game. ... Two standard six-sided pipped dice with rounded corners. ... This article is about the Western board game. ... Go is a strategic board game for two players. ... A Combat results table or a CRT is used in wargaming to determine the outcome of a battle. ... Look up card in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A rulebook is a book containing a list of rules. ... A scenario (from the Italian, that which is pinned to the scenery) is a brief description of an event or a series of events. ...

Card wargaming

Card games were once believed as not generally well suited for wargames. Because of their nature, cards are well suited for abstract games, as opposed to the simulation aspects of wargames. Even when nominally about the same subject (such as the game War), traditional card games could not be considered a wargame in even the broadest sense. This does not mean there are no card wargames however. // For the game on The Price Is Right, see Card Game (pricing game). ... War is a card game for two players. ...

This all changed with the introduction of "We The People" designed by Mark Herman in 1993. This first of what has become known as a Card Driven Game (CDG) brought cards front and center into traditional wargaming. It is currently the strongest segment in the wargaming hobby. Cards in CDGs are used as the engine of movement, while bringing uncertainty, ala real conflict, into the wargame equation. The cards are particularly good in simulating Strategic Political-Military conflict as their ability to more vividly portray historical narrative offers more opportunities for the designer to bring the audience into the simulation. Other notable card driven wargames (CDGs) are Hannibal (Punic Wars), For The People (American Civil War), Paths of Glory (World War I), Wilderness War (French and Indian War), Twilight Struggle (Cold War), and Empire of the Sun (World War II in the Pacific).

The first card wargame would probably be Nuclear War, a 'tongue-in-cheek game of the end of the world', first published in 1966 and still published today by Flying Buffalo. It does not simulate how any actual nuclear exchange would happen, but it is still structured unlike most card games because of the way it deals with its subject. Nuclear War is a card game designed by Douglas Malewicki, and originally published in 1966. ... Flying Buffalo Incorporated (FBI) is a company based in Scottsdale, Arizona that offers roleplaying games, gaming materials, and play-by-mail gaming services. ...

In the late 1970s Battleline Publications (a board wargame company) produced two card games, Naval War and Armor Supremacy. The first was fairly popular in wargaming circles, and is a light system of naval combat, though again not depicting any 'real' situation (players may operate ships from opposing navies side-by-side). Armor Supremacy was not as successful, but is a look at the constant design and development of new types of tanks during World War II. Battleline Publications was a board wargame company founded by Steven Peek in 1973. ...

The most successful card wargame (as a card game and as a wargame) prior to 1993 would almost certainly be Up Front, a card game about tactical combat in World War II published by Avalon Hill in 1983. The abstractness is harnessed in the game by having the deck produce random terrain, and chances to fire, and the like, simulating uncertainty as to the local conditions (nature of the terrain, etc). Up Front is a World War II card-based wargame. ...

More recently the Card Driven Games (CDGs) genre is dominating the sales and internet tournament scene.

Computer wargaming

As in all aspects of modern life, personal computers have had a profound impact on wargaming. Computers allow gamers separated by many miles to play a game. They also handle many of the tedious aspects of wargaming, such as highly technical rules and record keeping. Finally, with the development of artificial intelligence, computers can actually serve as opponents, and thus provide opportunities for solitaire gaming. AI redirects here. ...

Play-by-Mail (PBM)

Main article: Play-by-mail game

Due to the scarcity of opponents for some people, wargaming has a tradition of people playing games by sending lists of moves, or orders, to each other through the mail. This meant that it was not so strange for the first use of computers with wargaming to be a computer-moderated game where people mailed in orders, the computer determined the outcome, and the results were then mailed back to all the players. Play-by-mail games are games, of any type, played through postal mail or e-mail. ...

The first of these was Nuclear Destruction, by the Flying Buffalo company in 1970. The most popular game of this type would be their later game, Starweb from 1976. This type of game enjoyed a burst of popularity for a few years, with several competing companies and games springing up. Today, Flying Buffalo is the only one still offering computer-moderated games of this type. Flying Buffalo Incorporated (FBI) is a company based in Scottsdale, Arizona that offers roleplaying games, gaming materials, and play-by-mail gaming services. ... Starweb is a play-by-mail game of strategy and diplomacy invented in 1976 by Rick Loomis. ...

Warcraft, a popular series of real-time strategy games

A cropped screenshot from Warcraft 3. ... A cropped screenshot from Warcraft 3. ...

Computer wargames

See also: Video game genres#Strategy

The computer gaming industry generally evolved with minimal reference to board games, so the term "wargame" is not traditionally used in the context of computer games. However, the wargaming community saw the possibilities of computer gaming early and made attempts to break into the market, notably Avalon Hill's Microcomputer Games line, which lasted from 1980 to 1987 and covered a variety of topics, including simple adaptations of some of their wargames. Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ...

Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) and Strategic Studies Group (SSG) were computer game companies that specialized in games that borrowed from board and miniature wargames. They enjoyed a certain popularity throughout much of the 1980s and into the 1990s. TalonSoft started in 1995 with a similar focus, until purchased and later closed down by Take-Two Interactive in 2002. Strategic Simulations, Inc. ... Strategic Studies Group is a software development company that makes strategy wargames. ... Talonsoft is a Baltimore Maryland game software company founded by Norm Koger & Jim Rose. ... Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. ...

Many contemporary computer strategy games can be considered wargames, in the sense that they are a simulation of warfare on some level. The mechanics and language have little in common with board and miniature games, but the general subject matter is popular. That said, most war-themed computer and video games are generally not considered wargames by the board gaming hobby. Considering that computer games regularly include much more detail than the most complex board or miniature games could ever have, this may seem counter-intuitive, but most computer 'wargames' are not nearly as realistic as their boardgame counterparts.

The popular direction of the current market is towards real-time strategy games exemplified by Starcraft and others. It should be noted that these games are "strategic" in the gaming sense, but "tactical" in the military sense. These are generally high-action games that include a number of conveniences that enhance gameplay, but ignore reality. For example, in actual combat, vehicle armor is generally a binary proposition. Either the round penetrates and the vehicle is knocked out, or it does not and the vehicle is unaffected. RTS games make a habit of giving a vehicle a "health bar" that generally allows it to survive even powerful single shots, but each hit reduces its health by some amount, allowing a high volume of rifle fire to knock out a well armored tank. Other notable genre conventions include the construction of buildings and vehicles within the timeframe of a battle (i.e., hours, if not less) and a lack of any command and control or morale systems. These factors reduce the game's status as a conflict simulation, or true wargame. A real-time strategy (RTS) video game is one that is distinctly not turn-based. ... “Starcraft” redirects here. ...

On the other hand, many of these games do include fog of war, in which a player cannot see what is going on beyond a certain distance from his units. This is a feature often talked about by wargamers, but often impractical to implement outside of a computer. Also, the newer real-time tactical games do away with many of the artificial elements (e.g. health bars) that undercut the reality in RTS games. The fog of war is a term used to describe the level of ambiguity in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. ... A destroyer patrols local space around its attached carrier in Nexus: The Jupiter Incident. ...

Computerized version of the Avalon Hill classic, Squad Leader

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (835x545, 121 KB) Summary Screenshot Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (835x545, 121 KB) Summary Screenshot Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

E-mail and wargaming

Since e-mail is faster than the standard postal service, the rise of the Internet saw a shift of people playing board wargames from play-by-mail (PBM) to play-by-email (PBEM) or play-by-web (PBW). The mechanics were the same, merely the medium was faster.

At this time, turn-based strategy computer games still had a decent amount of popularity, and many started explicitly supporting the sending of saved-game files through email (instead of needing to find the file to send to the opponent by hand). As with all types of video games, the rise in home networking solutions and Internet access has also meant that networked games are now common and easy to set up. A turn-based game, also known as turn-based strategy (TBS), is a game where the game flow is partitioned into well-defined and visible parts, called turns or rounds. ...

Computer-assisted wargaming

In recent years, programs have been developed for computer-assisted gaming as regards to wargaming. Two different categories can be distinguished: local computer assisted wargames and remote computer assisted wargames. Computer-assisted gaming (or CAG) refers to games which are at least partially computerized, but which are actively regulated by a human referee. ...

Local computer assisted wargames are mostly not designed toward recreating the battlefield inside computer memory, but simply employing the computer to track unit status and to resolve combat. Flow of play is simple: each turn, the units come up in a random order. When a unit comes up, the commander specifies an order and if offensive action is being taken, a target, along with details about distance. The results of the order, base move distance and effect to target, are reported, and the unit is moved on the tabletop. All distance relationships are tracked on the tabletop. All record-keeping is tracked by the computer. Examples of these systems are 'Active Armor WWII' and more recently 'Panzer Combat II', which is a voice-enabled computer-assisted miniature wargame of World War II ground combat.

Panzer Combat II voice-enabled computer-assisted miniature wargame

Remote computer assisted wargames can be considered as extensions to the concept of PBEM gaming, however the presentation and actual capabilities are completely different. They have been designed to replicate the look and feel of existing board or miniatures wargames on the computer. The map and counters are presented to the user who can then manipulate these, more-or-less as if he were playing the physical game, and send a saved file off to his opponent, who can review what has been done without having to duplicate everything on his physical set-up of the game, and respond. Some allow for both players to get on-line and see each other's moves in real-time. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 729 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (909 × 748 pixel, file size: 128 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Made myself, http://sourceforge. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 729 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (909 × 748 pixel, file size: 128 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Made myself, http://sourceforge. ...

These systems are generally set up so that while one can play the game, the program has no knowledge of the rules, and cannot enforce them. The human players must have a knowledge of the rules themselves. The idea is to promote the playing of the games (by making play against a remote opponent easier), while supporting the industry (and reducing copyright issues) by ensuring that the players have access to the actual physical game. Not to be confused with copywriting. ...

The three main programs that can be used to play a number of games each are Aide de Camp, Cyberboard, and Vassal. All of these date from the mid- to late-'90s and have their own followings. Aide de Camp is available for purchase, while the other two are offered free. Vassal is in turn an outgrowth of the VASL (Virtual ASL) project, and uses Java, making it accessible to any computer that can run a modern JVM, while the other two are Microsoft Windows programs. “Java language” redirects here. ... A Java virtual machine or JVM is a virtual machine that runs Java byte code. ... “Windows” redirects here. ...

Star Fleet Battles module for wargaming in space

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 445 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (700 × 942 pixel, file size: 504 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover art for Star Fleet Battles Module Y1: The Early Years. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 445 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (700 × 942 pixel, file size: 504 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover art for Star Fleet Battles Module Y1: The Early Years. ...

Types of wargaming

While wargaming is a genre itself, it can be categorized into a number of sub-genres. The most obvious division is by the categories given above. i.e., miniatures, board, computer, etc. This is so obvious, in fact, that most people verbally (and mentally) skip over it. A person might discuss (depending on context) 'board games' or 'wargames' and assume the other element without feeling any need to state 'board wargames'.

Beyond this, there are a few other characteristics that are used to define wargames. Another element that tends to be assumed is the environment, or type of warfare (land, naval, air) depicted, at least if the subject matter is land warfare (a game on naval or air warfare will specify such if not immediately obvious). The most common genres that categories are explicitly based on is the period or era of the game, and then the scale of the game. This is a list of named time periods defined in various fields of study. ... Spatial scale provides a shorthand form for discussing relative lengths, areas, distances and sizes. ...

Environment

• Land - Land warfare is the oldest of all types of warfare, and is what the vast majority of all wargames of any type concentrate on.
• Sea - Navies are nearly as old as organized warfare, and naval wargames go all the way back to the beginnings of the hobby.
• Air - Air combat is relatively recent, and while there are tactical games dealing with it, there are relatively few dealing with just the air war of a larger conflict. Air wargaming is therefore something of a niche aspect of wargaming in a similar manner to naval, but is currently enjoyng a spate of new releases.
• Combined arms - Dealing with multiple elements complicates the model of the simulation side of a wargame, so games dealing with more than one element tend to be strategic in nature, where all aspects are abstracted to a greater degree.
• Space - While this can include studies of actual near-future possibilities, in wargaming, this almost universally refers to subjects that are purely in the realm of science fiction.

War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of lethal violence between combatants or upon civilians. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift. ... Air wargaming, like naval wargaming, is a niche specialism within the wider miniatures wargaming hobby. ... Combined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different arms of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects. ... Space warfare is combat that takes place in outer space. ...

Historical period

All periods of history have their wargaming enthusiasts. Historical games are generally by these periods:

• Ancient history (Greeks, Romans, etc.)
• Middle Ages (pre-gunpowder)
• Early gunpowder
• Early modern war (American Civil War)
• Napoleonic Era
• World War I
• World War II
• Modern war (Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq War, etc.)

Wargames can also be used to simulate fictional situations: “Ancient” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The Napoleonic Era is a period in the History of France and Europe. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Combatants United Nations:  Republic of Korea,  Australia,  Belgium,  Luxembourg,  Canada,  Colombia,  Ethiopia,  France,  Greece,  Luxembourg,  Netherlands,  New Zealand,  Philippines,  South Africa,  Thailand,  Turkey,  United Kingdom,  United States Medical staff:  Denmark,  Australia,  Italy,  Norway,  Sweden Communist states:  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,  Peoples Republic of China,  Soviet Union Commanders... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ...

• Hypothetical (World War III)
• Alternate history (fantasy or science-fiction "what if" worlds, such as SteamPunk, Gothic Horror, and fantasy Napoleonic)
• Futuristic / Science Fiction war (including space marines, spaceships and directed-energy weapons etc.)
• Fantasy war (including magic, magical creatures and monsters, enchanted items, heroes, fantasy terrain, fantasy constructions, etc.)

Wargames do not necessarily have to involve traditional concepts of warfare and battles and games can enact typical film genres such as gang battles, crime and law enforcement. Similarly martial arts or even non-combat situations and adventures can be gamed where there are other objectives that require strategy combined with the elements of chance (dice/cards etc) to be achieved. A nuclear holocaust is often associated with World War III For other uses, see World War III (disambiguation). ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Space Marines are fictional soldiers that operate in outer space. ... The Space Shuttle Discovery as seen from the International Space Station. ... Directed-energy weapon refers to a type of weapon that emits energy in a particular direction by a means other than a projectile. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ...

Tank! tactical, hex-and-counter wargame from SPI

Image File history File linksMetadata Spitankgame. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Spitankgame. ...

Unit or map scale

• Grand strategy — focus is on a war or series of wars, often over a long period of time. Individual units, even armies, may not be represented; instead, attention is given to theaters of operation. All of the resources of the nations involved may be mobilized as part of a long-term struggle. The simulation typically involves political and economic as well as military conflict. At the most extreme end of this is the branch of strategy games in which the player assumes the role of the government of an entire nation-state and in which not conducting war is a possibility. Due to its complexity, this is rarely seen outside of computer games.

• Strategic — military units are typically division, corps, or army-sized, and they are rated based upon raw strength. At this scale, economic production and diplomacy are significant. The simulation typically involves all branches, and often the entire forces of the nations involved, and covers entire wars or long campaigns

• Operational — units are typically battalion to divisional size, and are rated based on their average overall strengths and weaknesses. Weather and logistics are significant. The simulation typically focuses on one branch of the military forces, with others somewhat abstracted, and usually covers a single campaign.

• Tactical wargames — units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. The simulation almost always focuses on a single branch, occasionally with others abstracted, and usually covers a single battle or part of a large battle.

• Skirmish — units represent individual soldiers, with possible tracking of wounds and ammunition. The simulation usually covers a small firefight. Also known as "Man-to-Man" scale, the first such games in the modern era of board wargames include Patrol and Sniper!. Early role-playing game were derived from skirmish wargames, and many are still played as such.

Grand strategy is military strategy considered at the level of the movement and use of an entire nation state or empires resources. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... A corps (plural same as singular; a word that migrated from the French language, pronounced IPA: (cor), but originating in the Latin corpus, corporis meaning body) is either a large military unit or formation, an administrative grouping of troops within an army with a common function (such as artillery or... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Face-to-face trading interactions on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor. ... This article is about negotiations. ... For other uses, see Nation (disambiguation). ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... For the geological process, see Weathering or Erosion. ... Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In the military sciences, a military campaign encompasses related military operations, usually conducted by a defense or fighting force, directed at gaining a particular desired state of affairs, usually within geographical and temporal limitations. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... The Trikke is a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) Automobiles are among the most commonly used engine powered vehicles. ... In the fire service a Squad is a Engine Company with a compliment of rescue tools. ... Platoon of the German Bundeswehr. ... Standard NATO code for a friendly infantry company. ... This article is about a military rank. ... Superficial bullet wounds In medicine, a wound is a type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). ... Ammunition, often referred to as ammo, is a generic term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... Generally, a battle is an instance of combat in warfare between two or more parties wherein each group will seek to defeat the others. ... Man-to-Man wargames are wargames in which units generally represent single individuals or weapons systems, and are rated not only on weaponry but may also be rated on such facets as morale, perception, skill-at-arms, etc. ... Patrol was a board wargame released in the early 1970s as a companion to Sniper! in 1974 by Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Sniper! (properly spelled with an exclamation mark at the end) was a board game originally released in 1973. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ...

Notable wargamers

Founders

• H.G. Wells - Pioneer in miniature wargaming, author of Little Wars.
• Jack Scruby - After H.G. Wells, he did the most to make miniature wargaming a respectable hobby. He also popularized miniatures wargaming with a cheaper production process for miniature figures, publishing the first miniature wargaming magazine, the War Game Digest, and community building. Jack Scruby, an American, is the true heir of H.G. Wells and thus is the father of the modern miniature wargaming hobby.
• Don Featherstone - Known in the UK as the "co-father" of modern miniature wargaming.
• Phil Dunn - founder of the Naval Wargames Society, the only international organisation of naval wargaming to date, and author of "Sea Battle Games"
• Charles S. Roberts - Known as the "Father of modern board wargaming", designed the first modern wargame, as well as the company most identified with modern wargames (Avalon Hill).

Charles S. Roberts, founder of Avalon Hill

Designers/Developers

• Richard Berg - Designer of Terrible Swift Sword, and worked at SPI.
• Larry Bond - Designer of Harpoon, and best selling author
• Frank Chadwick - Founder of Game Designers Workshop, one of the first major competitors to Avalon Hill, and himself a prolific wargame designer and innovator.
• Jim Dunnigan - considered "The Dean of Modern Wargaming", founder of SPI and the most prolific print wargame designer in history. His designs included many firsts in wargaming, including the first tactical wargames.
• Charles Grant - Author of The Wargame.
• Gary Gygax - Designer of several miniatures and board wargames who went on to create and publish Dungeons & Dragons.
• Larry Harris - Designer of Axis and Allies, Conquest of the Empire, and other games in the Axis and Allies Series.
• Mark Herman - Member of the "Hall of Fame" and Designer of We The People the first Card Driven Wargame, worked originally at SPI and was the CEO of VG. Most recent designs are For The People and Empire of the Sun both of which won the Charles S. Roberts Award for best game in their category.
• John Hill - Designer of Squad Leader, Johnny Reb, and other well-received designs.
• David Manley - author of "Iron and Fire", "Fox Two" and other air and naval rules systems, editor of the Naval Wargames Society journal "Battlefleet"
• Curt Schilling - Founded Multi-Man Publishing to keep Advanced Squad Leader and other Avalon Hill titles alive after the company was dissolved. Funded ASL publications and conventions out of his own pocket.
• Redmond Simonsen - Co-founder of SPI and introduced many advanced graphics design elements to wargame designs.

Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946), better known as H. G. Wells, was an English writer best known for such science fiction novels as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon and The Island of Doctor Moreau. ... Little Wars; a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys games and books, written by the famous author H. G. Wells, was a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers. ... Jack Scruby is generally credited with creating the modern miniature wargaming hobby. ... Donald Featherstone is a British author of books on wargaming and military history. ... Phil Dunn was one of the leading UK naval wargamers of the 1960s and was the founder of the Naval Wargames Society. ... The Naval Wargames Society and its members are interested in all forms and scales of maritime wargaming, and have been so for over the last 30 years. ... Categories: Stub | Board game designers ... Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. ... The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... Prolific wargame designer and winner of the Charles S. Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. ... Terrible Swift Sword: The Three Days of Gettysburg (often abbreviated as TSS) is a classic grand tactical, regimental level board game depicting the Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War. ... Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Larry Bond (1952 - ) lives with his wife Jeanne and daughters Katie and Julia in Virginia outside Washington DC. He is the designer of the Harpoon and Command at Sea gaming systems and several supplements for the games. ... Harpoon is a realistic air and naval combat simulation computer game based upon Larry Bonds miniatures game of the same name. ... Frank Chadwick is a games designer. ... James F. Dunnigan (born 1943) is an author and wargame designer currently living in New York City, notable for his matter-of-fact approach to military analysis. ... Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... Charles Grant was a game industry author who helped popularize the hobby of tabletop wargaming. ... Ernest Gary Gygax, 2004 Ernest Gary Gygax (born July 27, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois) is best known as the author of the well known fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), co-created with Dave Arneson and co-published with Don Kaye in 1974 under the company Tactical Studies... “D&D” redirects here. ... A game designer most famous for creating the game Axis & Allies. ... Axis and Allies redirects here. ... Walhalla temple, Germany A hall of fame (sometimes HOF) is a type of museum established for any a field of endeavour to honour individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field. ... Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Current Avalon Hill logo. ... John Hill is a prolific American designer of military wargames, as well as rules for miniature wargaming such as Johnny Reb 3. ... Squad Leader game package. ... David Manley a UK based waragmer and one of the leading members of the naval wargaming hobby. ... The Naval Wargames Society and its members are interested in all forms and scales of maritime wargaming, and have been so for over the last 30 years. ... Curtis Montague (Curt) Schilling (born November 14, 1966 in Anchorage, Alaska) is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. ... Advanced Squad Leader 2nd Edition Rulebook Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) is a tactical-level board wargame that simulates actions of approximately company or battalion size in World War II. It is a detailed game system for two or more players (with solitaire play also possible). ... Redmond Askel Simonsen (June 18, 1942–March 10, 2005) was an American graphic artist and game designer best known for his work at the board wargame company Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Simulations Publications, Inc. ...

Notable wargames

Board wargames

While a comprehensive list will show the variety of titles, the following games are notable for the reasons indicated: This is a list of board wargames by genre. ...

• Diplomacy - (1954) a classic multi-player game from the "golden age" of wargames in which strategy is exercised off the game board as well as on it.
• Tactics II (Avalon Hill, 1958) - the wargame that launched Avalon Hill.
• Risk (Parker Brothers, 1959) - Widely accepted as the first mainstream wargame.
• Gettysburg (Avalon Hill, 1961) - the first modern era wargame intended to model an actual historical event, published after the success of Tactics II, which was a non-representative strategic game.
• Tactical Game 3 (Strategy & Tactics Magazine game, 1969); re-released as PanzerBlitz by Avalon Hill in 1970. The very first tactical wargame. The game pioneered the use of "geomorphic mapboards" and PanzerBlitz was a game system rather than just a game in that forces could be used to depict any number of actual tactical situations rather than one specific scenario. Pioneered several ground-breaking features, such as use of various types of weapons fire to reflect battlefield conditions. Also created new level of realism in reflecting tactical armored vehicles.
• Sniper! (SPI, 1973) - along with Patrol, the first Man to Man wargames where game pieces depicted a single soldier. An adaptation of Sniper! also became one of the first multi-player computer wargames.
• Wooden Ships and Iron Men (Battleline Publications, 1974) - the definitive game of Age of Sail warfare for many years, and later successful games on the genre are 'fixed' versions of the original, as opposed to whole new designs.
• Rise and Decline of the Third Reich (Avalon Hill, 1974) - The first serious attempt to model WWII in Europe in its entirety, including (in a limited way) the economic and industrial production of the nations involved. It has seen numerous versions and editions, and is currently available as John Prados' Third Reich from Avalanche Press, and as a far more complex descendant game, A World at War, published by GMT Games.
• Squad Leader (Avalon Hill, 1977) and Advanced Squad Leader (1985) have become the most prolific series of wargames, including 3 add-on modules for the former, and 12 for the latter, with additional Historical modules and Deluxe modules also having been released. ASL also sets the record for sheer volume of playing components, with thousands of official counters and 60+ "geomorphic mapboards" not counting Deluxe and Historical maps.
• Star Fleet Battles - (Task Force Games, 1978) one of the older still actively played wargames today, it is also one of the few successful tactical space combat systems that does not rely on miniatures.
• Storm Over Arnhem (Avalon Hill, 1981) - pioneered the use of "point to point" or "area movement" in tactical wargames.
• Axis and Allies - (Nova Games, 1981) the most successful of Milton Bradley's (1984) 'GameMaster' line in an attempt to bring wargaming into the mainstream by appealing to non-wargamers through simplicity and attractive components.
• Ambush! - (Victory Games, 1983) the first solitaire board wargame depicting man to man combat, in which each game piece represented a single person.
• We the People - (Avalon Hill, 1994) this game started the Card-Driven wargame movement, which is very influential in current wargame design.

Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. ... Tactics II Tactics II is a wargame designed by Charles S. Roberts and published by the Avalon Hill game company in 1958 and then re-released again in 1961 and 1972. ... Risk is a commercial strategic board game, produced by Parker Brothers (now a division of Hasbro). ... Gettysburg is a board wargame produced by Avalon Hill which re-enacts the American Civil War battle of Gettysburg. ... Tactics II Tactics II is a wargame designed by Charles S. Roberts and published by the Avalon Hill game company in 1958 and then re-released again in 1961 and 1972. ... Strategy & Tactics (S&T) is a wargaming magazine now published by Decision Games, notable for its groundbreaking move of publishing a complete new wargame in each issue. ... Box art Panzerblitz is a tactical-scale board wargame of tank, artillery, and infantry combat set in the Eastern Front of the Second World War. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... Geomorphic mapboards are game boards that can be configured in different ways and reused to create different playing surfaces. ... Sniper! (properly spelled with an exclamation mark at the end) was a board game originally released in 1973. ... Patrol was a board wargame released in the early 1970s as a companion to Sniper! in 1974 by Simulations Publications, Inc. ... Man-to-Man wargames are wargames in which units generally represent single individuals or weapons systems, and are rated not only on weaponry but may also be rated on such facets as morale, perception, skill-at-arms, etc. ... Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a naval board wargame in which the players simulate combat by sailing ships of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. ... Battleline Publications was a board wargame company founded by Steven Peek in 1973. ... Avalon Hill 3rd Edition cover Rise and Decline of the Third Reich or more commonly Third Reich is a classic grand strategy wargame covering the European theater of World War II designed by Don Greenwood and John Prados, and released in 1974 by Avalon Hill. ... Avalanche Press is an American company that publishes board wargames and has published some role-playing game supplements. ... GMT Games, probably the most prolific of the wargame companies in the 1990s and 2000s, was founded in 1990. ... Squad Leader game package. ... Advanced Squad Leader 2nd Edition Rulebook Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) is a tactical-level board wargame that simulates actions of approximately company or battalion size in World War II. It is a detailed game system for two or more players (with solitaire play also possible). ... Geomorphic mapboards are game boards that can be configured in different ways and reused to create different playing surfaces. ... Star Fleet Battles is a tactical strategy board game set in the Star Fleet Universe originally created in 1979 by Stephen V. Cole; it has since been updated many times. ... Task Force Games was a game company from 1979 until it filed bankruptcy in 1999. ... // Overview Storm Over Arnhem (1981) is a board war-game designed by Courtney F. Allen, published by The Avalon Hill game company, and depicts the battle for Arnhem bridge over the Lower Rhine river during operation Market Garden in World War II. This battle was fought between elements of the... In board games, particularly wargames, area movement refers to a system regulating the movement of game pieces based on large geographic areas rather than by hexes or squares. ... Axis and Allies redirects here. ... Ambush! is a wargame developed by Avalon Hill. ... Board wargames in the modern, commercial sense have generally concentrated on gameplay designed for two or more participants. ... Man-to-Man wargames are wargames in which units generally represent single individuals or weapons systems, and are rated not only on weaponry but may also be rated on such facets as morale, perception, skill-at-arms, etc. ... We the People is a board wargame about the American Revolution, published by Avalon Hill in 1994 and designed by Mark Herman. ...

Miniature wargames

• Rules for the Jane Naval War Game (S. Low, Marston, 1898) - The first published miniature wargame. A 26 page rule set limited to naval miniature battles. It came in a crate measuring 4 ft. X 4 ft. X 2 ft. Written by Fred Jane. As only a handful of these games survive, they are highly collectible.
• Little Wars (H.G. Wells, 1913) - The first popular published wargame rules. Includes the common miniature wargaming mechanics of dice rolling, range, line of sight, and moving in alternate turns. This game earned Wells the title "The Father of Miniature Wargaming".
• Miniature Wargames du temps de Napoleon (John Chandler, 1964) - First period-specific historical miniature wargame. Also the first in a long line of Napoleonic miniature wargames.
• Chainmail (Guidon Games, 1971) - An extension and distillation of rules previously published in various periodicals. Major elements of this game were adopted by the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, Chainmail used two six-sided dice to resolve combat. Previous fantasy miniature wargames had been written, but this was the first one published. Drawing on the popularity of Lord of the Rings, this game featured the novelties of combat magic and fantastic creatures as combatants.
• Warhammer Fantasy Battle (Games Workshop, 1983) - An internationally successful fantasy miniature wargame. The First Edition rules introduced innovative open unit design rules, however later editions eliminated the option to build custom units and make use of standard army lists mandatory. Warhammer was one of the first newly-developed miniature wargames to enjoy popularity after role-playing games came to market in 1974.
• Warhammer 40,000 (Games Workshop, 1987) - A futuristic wargame featuring rival armies with different fighting styles. This wargame has very conceptual artwork suggesting a post-apocalyptic neo-gothic universe gone awry. Arguably the most profitable miniature wargame ever, it has popularized competitive tournament gameplay in large, international events sanctioned by Games Workshop.
• De Bellis Antiquitatis (Wargames Research Group, 1990) - Radically minimalist rules differentiate this game from other notable miniature wargames. A number of systems have been strongly influenced by DBA.
• Mage Knight (WizKids Inc., 2001) - Innovative game popularizing the combat dial, pre-painted plastic miniatures, and the collectible miniatures games. Mage Knight has inspired numerous collectible, skirmish miniature wargames.
• Heroscape (Milton Bradley Company, 2004) - An inexpensive, simple wargame that has been successfully mass marketed to both younger wargamers and adults. As miniature wargaming is often an expensive hobby, Heroscape and the collectible miniatures games have opened the miniature wargaming hobby to a new demographic.
• BrikWars is a wargame that uses Lego bricks as miniatures and scenery and is steadily growing in popularity mostly due to how loose the rules are, anything could happen.

See also List of miniature wargames. Little Wars; a game for boys from twelve years of age to one hundred and fifty and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys games and books, written by the famous author H. G. Wells, was a set of rules for playing with toy soldiers. ... Cover for the third edition of Chainmail (1975). ... Guidon Games produced board games and rulebooks for wargaming with miniatures, and in doing so influenced Tactical Studies Rules (later TSR, Inc. ... “D&D” redirects here. ... Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ... It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... For the defunct company, see Game Designers Workshop. ... Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K, WH40K, W40K or just 40K) is a science fantasy game produced by Games Workshop. ... De Bellis Antiquitatis or DBA is a fast play set of rules for the hobby of historical miniature wargaming, particularly medieval and ancient wargaming in the period 3000 BC to 1485 AD. These rules allow entire armies to be represented by less than 50 figures. ... The Wargames Research Group (WRG) publish wargaming rules. ... Mage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. ... WizKids, Inc. ... Collectible Miniatures Games or CMGs are a form of miniature wargaming that is also similar to Collectible Card Games (CCGs) — the primary difference being that while CCGs are card-based games, CMGs feature miniatures. ... Heroscape (sometimes HeroScape) is an expandable turn-based miniature wargaming system manufactured by Milton Bradley Company, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. ... For the Oakland Athletics outfielder, see Milton Bradley (baseball player) The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1860. ... Collectible Miniatures Games or CMGs are a form of miniature wargaming that is also similar to Collectible Card Games (CCGs) — the primary difference being that while CCGs are card-based games, CMGs feature miniatures. ... BrikWars is a wargaming system for use with LEGO bricks or similar building blocks and figurines. ... For other uses, see Lego (disambiguation). ... Miniature wargames are a form of wargaming designed to incorporate miniatures or figurines into play, which was invented at the beginning of the 19th century in Prussia. ...

Computer wargames

• Panzer General - (Strategic Simulations, Inc., 1994) - probably the most widely popular computer game that is recognizably a traditional wargame. It spawned several sequels, some of which explored different subject matter.
• Steel Panthers - (Strategic Simulations, Inc., 1995) - an early tactical wargame on the same scale as Squad Leader, which led to two sequels, and a complete revision of the title for free release.
• Close Combat - (Microsoft, 1996) - not the first wargame to break out from hexes, and still presented in a 2-dimensional format, Close Combat nonetheless uniquely addressed factors such as individual morale and reluctance to carry out orders. The original title led to 5 very successful sequels for the general public, as well as being developed into a training tool for military use only. Close Combat stemmed from an early attempt to translate the Squad Leader boardgame to the computer.
• Combat Mission - (Big Time Software, 2000) - not the first 3D tactical wargame (titles such as Muzzle Velocity preceded it), but a groundbreaking game series featuring simultaneous order resolution, complete orders of battle for numerous nationalities, with three titles based on the original game engine. As of 2006, a campaign layer is in testing as well as a revised game engine to be released before 2007. CM's genesis was also as a failed attempt by Avalon Hill to translate Squad Leader to the computer.

Panzer General is a World War II computer wargame published by Strategic Simulations in 1994. ... Strategic Simulations, Inc. ... Steel Panthers is a complex, tactical-level turn-based computerized wargame series for the PC with World War II and modern warfare settings. ... Squad Leader game package. ... A screenshot from a typical Close Combat battle Close Combat is the name of a series of tactical real-time (RTT) computer games by Atomic Games. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... Squad Leader game package. ... Combat Mission is the name of two series of computer games simulating tactical battles. ... Muzzle Velocity was a computer tactical wargame released by digi4fun in 1997. ... Squad Leader game package. ...

Unique Game Systems

• Ace of Aces - (Nova Games, 1980) - this flip-book system has long been considered one of the best simulations of aerial dogfighting.
• BattleTech - (FASA, 1984) - initially printed as a board game, it primarily exists as a set miniatures rules today.
• Car Wars - (Steve Jackson Games, 1982) - initially printed as a board game, it quickly evolved to work as a mix of both.
• Up Front - (Avalon Hill, 1983) - the most popular of the very small class of card wargames.

Ace of Aces Handy Rotary Series Ace of Aces is also the title of a 1987 flight-simulation game. ... BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise, launched by FASA Corporation and currently owned by WizKids. ... This article is about the role-playing game company. ... Car Wars is a combat board game developed by Steve Jackson Games. ... Steve Jackson Games (SJG) is a game company that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games. ... Up Front is a World War II card-based wargame. ...

Books About Wargaming

James F. Dunnigan, The Complete Wargames Handbook: How to Play, Design, and Find Them, Quill 1992. ISBN 0-688-10368-5 This is available online at http://www.hyw.com/Books/WargamesHandbook/Contents.htm (verified August 2007).

Jon Freeman, The Complete Book of Wargames, Simon and Schuster 1980. ISBN 0-671-25374-3

Nicholas Palmer, The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming, Arthur Baker Limited London 1977. ISBN 0-213-16646-1

Nicholas Palmer, The Best of Board Wargaming, Hippocrene Books, Inc. New York, NY 1980. ISBN 0-882-54525-6

Phil Dunn, Sea Battle Games, MAP 1980, ISBN 0-853-44042-5

References

Greg Costikyan, also known as Designer X, is an American game designer and science fiction writer. ... Ron Miller with his Hugo Award Ron Miller (b. ... The Wargamer was founded by Keith Poulter and published six times a year by World Wide Wargames (3W). ...

See also

• List of wargame publishers
• Nation-simulation game
• Simulation game
• Tabletop game
• Tactical wargame
• Role-playing game
• Video games
• International Wargames Federation
• Game Manufacturers Association
• Origins Game Fair

List of wargame publishers is an index of commercial companies that publish wargames. ... A nation-simulation game is a type of simulation game which simulates all or part of one or more nations. ... A screenshot from The Sims: Deluxe Edition. ... Tabletop game is a general term used to refer to card games, board games, parlor games, role-playing games, miniature wargames, tile-based games and other games that are normally played on a table or other flat surface. ... Tactical wargames are wargames in which units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies, and are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... The International Wargames Federation, which was founded by the Derby Wargames Club and the South African Wargames Union in 1991. ... The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is a non-profit trade association based in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to the advancement of the hobby games industry. ... Origins Game Fair is one of North Americas most prominent annual gaming conventions, second in size only to Gen Con. ...

External links

• ConsimWorld.com
• Board Game Players Association, noncommercial group manages the Avaloncon convention and other board wargame events
• Web-Grognards has a listing of most every game and publisher, usually with reviews, extra scenarios, after action reports, etc.
• The Wargamer War & strategy games website, tabletop, miniature, and computer.
• The Complete Wargames Handbook on-line, by James F. Dunnigan.
• Panzer Combat II, A free Computer-assisted or Card-played World War II Wargame.
• Tom's Spaceship Miniature/Game List, an attempt to list all games and miniatures used in games that deal with spaceships.
• World War Two Wargame Rules, a site that is free index of 1/72nd World War II, wargame rules.
• The Miniatures Page, a tabletop wargaming site providing daily hobby news, manufacturers and other directories, forums, etc.
• You And Whose Army Wargames Club Directory, Worldwide Store Directory, Weapon Dictionary
• The Naval Wargames Society the home page for the Naval Wargames Society.
• Wargame Developments, an international group of wargamers dedicated to the development of new ideas and concepts.
• Morne Plaine play-by-web. The French "rendez-vous" of Napoleonic wargame.
• Point2Point - Podcast
• Major General Tremorden Rederring's Colonial-era Wargames Page David Helber's site on miniatures colonial wargaming.
• FreeWarGamer: Free Computer War and Strategy Games A directory of free computer wargames.
• Colonial Wargaming - Bob Cordery's colonial wargaming website, which includes free colonial wargames rules, battle reports, and a large section on Victorian and Edwardian Military Miscellany.
• The Universal General - Rudi Geuden's wargaming website. It includes links to lots of free, downloadable wargames rules as well as information about Tony Bath's famous Hyboria campaign and Rudi's own Afriboria colonial campaigns and battles.
• Homefront Wargame Center - largest information website about Wargaming in German (with a smaller English section)
• The Wargamers Market The internet's specialist wargaming, strategy and painted miniatures auction site.
• Zone of Influence - wargame studies blog.
• The Solowargaming Show - The Solowargaming Show is a podcast devoted to exploring the hobby of miniature wargaming from a solo wargaming perspective.