Frequently Asked Questions What is wargaming? What periods or settings do you wargame? Why do you do it? How do you actually conduct a wargame? Do you play music or sound effects while you wargame?

• What is wargaming?

  Wargaming is playing out the strategic and tactical aspects of war as a game. Most commonly it involves battlefield tactics. Wargames can take a number of forms. For example:

  • computer games
  • committee games
  • pen and paper games
  • miniatures games
  • live action games
  • abstract games

  My main interest by far is miniatures games, i.e. wargames which use models on a table covered with model terrain. Take a look at the Historical Gallery and Games Workshop Gallery and you'll see what I mean.

  There are many variations even then. For example, in the Games Workshop gallery there are photographs of a game of Space Hulk in progress, which is a board game with miniatures. This is an example of a type of game which is a cross between traditional board games and traditional miniatures wargames.

  Another example of a type of wargame which crosses the boundaries is the excellent Time Commanders TV series. This game is played by a team of four people (two generals and two "lieutenants") against a behind-the-scenes general who plays the opposing army in a historically realistic manner. The actual mechanics of combat are handled by a so-called "real-time strategy" computer game. The generals use counters on a terrain map as an aid to planning and controlling the battle, just like a real command centre.

• What periods or settings do you wargame?

  Just about everything and anything! From the earliest civilisations of man through to the hypothetical far future. Wargaming "periods" fall into two main groups: Historical and Non-Historical. The difference is that history is infinitely rich with detail and interest, but suffers from being just too realistic. What I mean is that when you immerse yourself in a historical period of warfare then it can have the effect of nullifying the whole pleasure of playing games with miniatures. Models getting shot at and blown up is entertaining, but the historical prototype is numbing in its horror. Believe me, all periods of history are equally brutal and uncompromising.

  By comparison, fantasy/science fiction wargaming is unrestricted fun. Not only that, but you can design the game system around your requirements rather than having to make an accurate simulation of history.

• Why do you do it?

  I love it, always have done and I can't explain why. I have been interested in wargaming since about age 10, which is just about the earliest a person can manage the complexity. (Actually, my son has a small model collection which he mainly built and painted himself at age 7, but he uses them as toys rather than as game pieces).

• How do you actually conduct a wargame?

  This is the most common question I get from people outside the hobby. A miniatures wargame is simply a game played with pieces (the model soldiers) to a set of rules. One difference with board games that most people are familiar with is that you can use the same pieces to play different games to different rules. To me that seems obvious. The pieces represent real things in miniature, whereas the rules are one particular way of modelling their behaviour. One set of rules might emphasise command and control, another troop morale. One set might be for small scale actions (what we call skirmishes), another for large battles.
  
  Most games use either alternate play (one player takes a turn, then another) or else simultaneous play (both players move at the same time). In practise there are many variations on these. Games design is something I could write a book on, there's not enough space here (hey, maybe one day I will). Take a look at the Downloads page for examples of rulesets.

  Alternatively, pop into WHSmiths and pick up a copy of Wargames Illustrated, Miniature Wargames or White Dwarf.

• Do you play music or sound effects while you wargame?

  This is in my opinion a bizarre question, but it was asked of me recently by a work colleague. I guess what he had in mind was that I would be playing some sort of "atmospheric" sounds like trumpets or cannon fire. Er, no.

Is your question answered? If not, drop me a line!