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A wargame is a type of strategy game that realistically simulates warfare, as opposed to abstract strategy games such as chess. Wargaming may be played for recreation, to train military officers in the art of strategic thinking, or to study the nature of potential conflicts. Many wargames recreate specific historic battles, and can cover either whole wars, or any campaigns, battles, or lower-level engagements within them. Many simulate land combat, but there are wargames for naval and air combat as well.
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming in which military units are represented by miniature physical models on a model battlefield. The use of physical models to represent military units is in contrast to other tabletop wargames that use abstract pieces such as counters or blocks, or computer wargames which use virtual models. The primary benefit of using models is aesthetics, though in certain wargames the size and shape of the models can have practical consequences on how the match plays out. Miniature wargaming is generally a recreational form of wargaming because issues concerning scale can compromise realism, making it unsuitable for most serious military applications.
Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) was an American publisher of board wargames and related magazines, particularly its flagship Strategy & Tactics, in the 1970s and early 1980s. It produced an enormous number of games and introduced innovative practices, changing the course of the wargaming hobby in its bid to take control of the hobby away from then-dominant Avalon Hill. SPI ran out of cash in early 1982 when TSR called in a loan secured by SPI's assets. TSR began selling SPI's inventory in 1982, but later acquired the company's trademarks and copyrights in 1983 and continued a form of the operation until 1987.
The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so the 1979 awards were given at the 1980 Origins.
Warhammer is a tabletop miniature wargame with a medieval fantasy theme that simulates battles between armies from different factions. The game was created by Bryan Ansell, Richard Halliwell, and Rick Priestley; it was published by the Games Workshop company.
Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers.
A man-to-man wargame is a wargame 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. The game is designed so that a knowledge of military tactics, especially at the small unit or squad level, will facilitate successful gameplay. Man-to-man wargames offer an extreme challenge to the designer, as fewer variables or characteristics inherent in the units being simulated are directly quantifiable. Modern commercial board wargaming stayed away from man-to-man subjects for many years, though once the initial attempts were made to address the subject, it has evolved into a popular topic among wargamers.
Tactical wargames are a type of wargame that models military conflict at a tactical level, i.e. units range from individual vehicles and squads to platoons or companies. These units are rated based on types and ranges of individual weaponry. The first tactical wargames were played as miniatures, extended to board games, and they are now also enjoyed as video games.
Gettysburg is a board wargame produced by Avalon Hill which re-enacts the American Civil War battle of Gettysburg.
Hardtack is a set of rules for American Civil War miniature wargaming by Lou Zocchi. It was published as a thirty-page pamphlet by Guidon Games in 1971, with an introduction by Gary Gygax and artwork by Don Lowry.
CHARGE! is a miniature wargaming newsletter / fanzine published quarterly by the Johnny Reb Gaming Society, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. It is designed for gamers of the American Civil War period, and in particular, those who use the popular Johnny Reb 3 gaming system developed by John Hill.
John Evans Hill was an American designer of military wargames, as well as rules for miniature wargaming such as Johnny Reb 3. He was a member of the Wargaming Hall of Fame. Hill is most well known as the designer of the extremely popular Avalon Hill board game Squad Leader in 1977.
Enduring Valor: Gettysburg in Miniature is a series of two popular scenario books written for miniature wargaming the American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in regimental scale. It is based upon the Johnny Reb gaming rules developed by veteran game designer John Hill.
The Johnny Reb Gaming Society is a leading international society for the hobby of miniature wargaming of the American Civil War. Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, the non-profit society exists to promote regimental level miniature gaming of historical battles from the Civil War. From 2002-2013 it published a quarterly newsletter, Charge!, with scenarios, terrain building tips, painting guides, rules interpretations, biographies, and other articles of interest to ACW gamers.
Dana Lombardy is a game designer who has worked primarily on board games.
Fire and Fury is a miniatures wargame about the American Civil War.
Phoenix Games was an American game company that produced role-playing games and game supplements.
Blue & Gray: Four American Civil War Battles is a board wargame originally published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1975 that simulates four battles from the American Civil War.
References
- ↑ Lombardy, Dana (2007). "Johnny Reb". In Lowder, James (ed.). Hobby Games: The 100 Best . Green Ronin Publishing. pp. 157–160. ISBN 978-1-932442-96-0.
- ↑ "The 1983 Origins Awards". The Game Manufacturers Association. Archived from the original on 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
