...borrowed from the Battle
Group Boston web site
Historical Miniatures Wargames require three important things:
an historical theme, miniature figures accurately representing the
combatants, and a model that is based on testable, researchable historical
precedent. An exception to this are historical hypothetical which look at
decision points in history and explore the path not taken and future
hypothetical which look at future trends in equipment and doctrine.
These miniature figures are
used on a table top set up with appropriate terrain (not too unlike a
model railroad setup). The games are played with charts and dice; the
charts describe what can happen in a given situation, the dice determine
what actually happens. In some games the dice have a major effect, in
others not as much. Other methods of determining results are possible,
such as cards or computers, but the essence remains - underneath all of
the numbers is a model of the universe that is based on research.
Is chess, then, an example
of historical miniatures?
This is a good question. The
answer is soundly no, however chess does have some things in common. The
chess pieces appear as things from knights and fortresses to all
manner of political manifestations (bishops, the queen, etc.) However they
do not represent those things. In chess these are simply abstract
pieces. The squares of the board do not represent yards or miles. In fact
the Rook, representing a fortress, moves! In a historical miniature battle
the terrain would not be a flat field of checks, it would have woods and
fields, fences and buildings, bogs, rivers, and other assorted features.
Movement would be governed by tools such as rulers and dice. The goal is
to represent the elements of a battle and to model their interaction as
realistically as possible. Abstraction is a trade off for realism. Chess
is a fully abstract game. Actual war is full realism. Historical Miniature
Wargames try to make a balance between the abstract and reality. When the
government creates wargames they go for as much realism as possible, with
giant databases and hundreds of input points. Commercial wargames, and
most club wargames seek yet another compromise - playability.
Playability is the ease at
which the game is understood, the pace at which the turns pass, and the
conclusiveness of the end game. If you are new to the hobby then you are
lucky for the last 10 years has seen a definite swing away from
abstraction on one hand and ultra realism on the other to fast, playable
games. In general the end results are usually on target.
Do I have to use painted
miniatures?
I got asked this by one
enterprising fellow. The answer is a qualified no. Qualified in the sense
that it is generally a sign you have knuckle dragging ancestry if you
suggest playing a game without painted miniatures. Off the cuff, very
informal, lets-test-this-system-out games are sometimes played without
painted miniatures. Our club sponsors Small Games Clinics just for this
purpose. I have even played with cardboard representations just to get the
feel of a new system. However, part of the reason for this type of gaming
is painting the miniatures. The aesthetic of finely painted figures,
whether they are historical or fantasy is something not to be taken
lightly. Some clubs have an abundance of figures and if you find yourself
lucky to be in one, getting the figures to play with is not very
difficult.
Are historical miniature
wargamers just a bunch of grumpy old men with militia leanings?
Not at all. Militias are
conservative folks interested in gun ownership rights and government
conspiracies. Wargamers are folks interested in history, painting figures,
building terrain, and complex charts. Militias drink cheap beer and like
to run around in the woods wearing cammies, while wargamers roll dice,
indoors, and make jokes about Napoleon.
We all have a deep interest in historical
periods and like to use wargaming as a way of exploring those battles we
read about. We even do some non-historical stuff. Mainly Sci-Fi, but also
some fantasy gaming as well. You'd be hard pressed to not find a crowd
willing to play a game of "Robo-Rally" or "Starship
Command".
Historical Miniatures
Wargaming covers a milieu of interests. It's a hobby because it covers the
gaming aspects, the model and terrain building aspects, and the historical
research aspects. Few are good at all three, but a club lets members use
each others strengths.
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