 2nd edition cover | |
| Author | James F. Dunnigan |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Wargaming |
| Publisher | William Morrow and Company |
Publication date | 1980, 1992, 2000 |
| Media type | |
The Complete Wargames Handbook is a book about playing and designing wargames by James F. Dunnigan, published in 1980 by William Morrow and Company.
While still in college in the 1960s, Jim Dunnigan became involved in wargaming, and subsequently designed Jutland , which Avalon Hill published in 1967. This was the first of many wargames that Dunnigan designed, including 1914 (1968), PanzerBlitz (1970), and Sniper! (1973). Dunnigan also founded his own wargames company, initially known as Poultron Press, soon renamed Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI). [1] : 98
In 1980, as wargame publishers turned to computer-based games, Dunnigan wrote The Complete Wargames Handbook, a book about wargaming, including information about how to play, design, and find copies of wargames. [2]
The book is divided into nine chapters, preceded by an introduction and followed by appendices and a bibliography. The chapters cover:
The book was originally published by William Morrow & Company in 1980. This was translated into Japanese and published by Hobby Japan in 1982. Morrow published a second edition in 1992. A third edition in paperback was published in 2000 by iUniverse. [3]
In the September 1980 edition of The Space Gamer (No. 31), Nick Schuessler commented that "Wargames Handbook might make an interesting Christmas present for the friend or relative who has exhibited a passing interest in your hobby." [2]
In the August–September 1980 edition of Different Worlds (Issue #9), Lynn Willis thought that Dunnigan's basic thesis was that wargaming is simple. However, noting the 272 pages "interspersed with 50–60 charts, maps, and rules excerpts", Willis commented, "I am not sure how well simplicity can be proved by a complex execution which implicitly disowns its rationale. It strikes me strange, somehow, like ending the Miss Nude USA contest with a swimsuit competition." Willis also thought that the book superficially skimmed over its topics, and Dunnigan failed to provide deep insights into his experiences. Willis concluded, "What we get are not [Dunnigan's] insights which have so dramatically revitalized gaming, nor the knowledge and experience given in return to Dunnigan, but a watery book which anyone acquainted with the field might have written." [4]
The Tactical Wargamer website noted that the bibliographies "range in usefulness", and that there is "little discussion of tactical-level games." [5]
In a summary about a workshop held by Military Operations Research Society to design "seminar wargames" (used by the military for planning strategies), Dunnigan's book was quoted extensively regarding developing manual rules for a wargame. But it was noted that in the case of blind testing of the wargame suggested by Dunnigan, it "may not be feasible in seminar war games where the judgement of the facilitator is so crucial in determining how player activity will govern outcomes (i.e., where there are no written rules for adjudication)." [6]
A wargame is a strategy game in which two or more players command opposing armed forces in a simulation of some military operation. 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 re-create 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.
James F. Dunnigan is an author, military-political analyst, Defense and State Department consultant, and wargame designer currently living in New York City.
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.
Moves was a wargaming magazine originally published by SPI, which also published manual wargames. Their flagship magazine Strategy & Tactics (S&T), was a military history magazine featuring a new wargame in each issue. While S&T was devoted to historical articles, Moves focused on the play of the games. Each issue carried articles dealing with strategies for different wargames, tactical tips, and many variants and scenarios for existing games. As time passed, reviews of new games also became an important feature. While the majority of the articles dealt with SPI games, the magazine was open to and published many articles on games by other companies.
PanzerBlitz is a tactical-scale board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1970 that simulates armored combat set on the Eastern Front of World War II. The game, which was the most popular board wargame of the 1970s, is notable for being the first true board-based tactical-level, commercially available conflict simulation wargame. It also pioneered several concepts that would become industry standards.
Jutland is a naval board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1967 that simulates the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea during World War I. Upon its release, Jutland was commended for its gameplay and mechanics, but criticism surrounded the complex rules and playing time.
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. This was the second game produced by Roberts following the success of his first game, Tactics.
Sniper!, subtitled "House-to-House Fighting in World War II", is a two-player board wargame about man-to-man combat in urban environments during WWII, originally released in 1973 by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI). After TSR purchased SPI in 1982, TSR released an expanded edition of Sniper! in 1986, and followed up that up with releases of various "companion games" and a videogame.
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.
Tactics is a board wargame published in 1954 by Avalon Hill as the company's first product. Although primitive by modern standards, it and its sequel, Tactics II, signalled the birth of modern board wargaming for the commercial market. Tactics is generally credited as being the first commercially successful board wargame.
Terrible Swift Sword: Battle of Gettysburg Game is a grand tactical regimental level board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1976 that simulates the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. A second edition was published by TSR in 1986.
Redmond Aksel Simonsen was an American graphic artist and game designer best known for his work at the board wargame company Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in the 1970s and early 1980s. Simonsen was considered an innovator in game information graphics, and is credited with creating the term "game designer".
Panzergruppe Guderian is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in 1976 that simulates the 1941 Battle of Smolensk during World War II.
A board wargame is a wargame with a set playing surface or board, as opposed to being played on a computer or in a more free-form playing area as in miniatures games. The modern, commercial wargaming hobby developed in 1954 following the publication and commercial success of Tactics. The board wargaming hobby continues to enjoy a sizeable following, with a number of game publishers and gaming conventions dedicated to the hobby both in the English-speaking world and further afield.
The Complete Book of Wargames by Jon Freeman and the editors of Consumer Guide was published in 1980 by Simon & Schuster under the Fireside imprint.
Fifth Corps, subtitled "The Soviet Breakthrough at Fulda", is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) in 1980 that simulates a hypothetical invasion of West Germany by Warsaw Pact forces. The game is the first in the Central Front series of games.
Kriegspiel is a board wargame published by Avalon Hill in 1970 that simulates a hypothetical war between two nations. Although the simple game sold well to new players, it received negative reviews by more experienced gamers.
Napoleon at Waterloo is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1971 that simulates the Battle of Waterloo. The game, which features simple rules, was designed as an introduction to board wargaming, and was given as a free gift with each subscription to SPI's Strategy & Tactics magazine.
Tannenberg is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1969 that simulates the Battle of Tannenberg on World War I's Eastern Front. The game was created by game designer Jim Dunnigan as a companion piece for Avalon Hill's Western Front wargame 1914, also designed by Dunnigan. Although Tannenberg could be played as a standalone game, rules were included to combine it and 1914 into a two-front wargame. Nine years later, Tannenberg was completely revised and republished as a free pull-out game in SPI's house magazine Strategy & Tactics to promote SPI's upcoming release of The Great War in the East. The second edition was also sold as a standalone game.
War in the Pacific, subtitled "The Campaign Against Imperial Japan, 1941–45", is a large and complex strategic board wargame published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI) in 1978 that simulates the Pacific Campaign during World War II. Critics gave the game positive reviews, praising its use of logistics and "fog of war", and its well-written rules.