| Wargaming is essentially playing with toy soldiers. | | | | with which you can use them, which we have already |
| Games are played using painted metal or plastic | | | | touched on. In addition to this miniature wargames also |
| models, typically using 6-30 mm, to represent the units | | | | need a playing surface, terrain, dice and a tape |
| involved and model scenery placed is placed on a | | | | measure (or other measuring device). |
| tabletop or floor to represent the battlefield. | | | | The Miniatures: The models used in these games |
| Miniature wargaming is really a combination of two | | | | come in three main sizes, or scales, these are 25mm, |
| different hobbies. On one hand it is a tactical game, | | | | 15mm and 6mm. The size refers to the approximate |
| where one player will attempt to out wit their opponent | | | | height of the average (human - in the case of sci-fi |
| through superior strategy. On the other hand it is a | | | | and fantasy games) model. |
| creative hobby, wargamers will often spend far, far | | | | The Playing Surface: Miniature wargames are usually |
| longer painting their units than playing games with them. | | | | played on a table top, usually 6' x 4' (180cm x 120cm), |
| A major attraction of this type of game is the large | | | | sometimes larger, very large games may be played on |
| degree of freedom found in miniature wargames | | | | the floor (just watch where you put your feet). |
| when compared to traditional board games or | | | | Terrain: Model terrain is placed on the table. Woods, |
| computer games. The appearance of units and the | | | | roads, buildings, hills, rivers etc affect how the |
| terrain fought over is not dictated by a game designer | | | | miniatures move and fight. Depending on what the |
| but by the players themselves. | | | | terrain a miniature is currently in it might slow down |
| How does it work? | | | | movement, increase the ability to defend, reduce the |
| There are many different sets of miniature wargaming | | | | ability to attack etc. Terrain can also block movement |
| rules. There rules for all periods ranging from the dawn | | | | of miniatures over the table top, or can stop units |
| of civilization to the present day, as well as for science | | | | shooting at each other (assuming they are armed with |
| fiction and fantasy settings. The three most popular | | | | missile weapons). |
| rules at the moment are Warhammer 40K (a science | | | | Dice: The dice are needed as all miniature wargames |
| fiction game produced by Games Workshop), | | | | rely, to a greater or lesser extent, on chance. Dice rolls |
| Warhammer Fantasy Battle (a fantasy game | | | | are made to decide the outcome of most combat |
| produced by Games Workshop) and Flame of War (a | | | | actions and sometimes even to determine troop |
| World War II historical game produced by Battlefront). | | | | behavior. It is the use of dice and the introduction of an |
| Miniature wargames are usually turn based like chess, | | | | element of chance makes the game a little less |
| each player taking turns to move and attack with their | | | | predictable and forces the player to plan for things not |
| units. Different models (soldiers) will have different | | | | going as expected. |
| abilities depending on the unit they represent. They | | | | Tape Measure: It is important to be able to measure |
| move at different speeds, have different combat | | | | distances in miniature wargames. Distances need to |
| abilities and have different strengths and weaknesses. | | | | be measured to work out how far models can move |
| The objective is to use your units strengths against | | | | and, if they have missile weapons like guns or bows |
| your opponent's units weaknesses. Your opponent will | | | | and arrows, how far they can shoot and so on. The |
| of course be attempting to do the same to you! | | | | distances that miniatures can move and shoot is |
| One of the major challenges facing wargames | | | | dictated by the scale of the game being played, a |
| designers is ensuring that games are balanced; that | | | | 6mm game will generally have shorter movement and |
| one player doesn't have an unfair advantage over | | | | shooting distances than a 25mm game. |
| their opponent. In order to ensure that opposing armies | | | | But, err.... Why? |
| are evenly matched it is common for each unit type or | | | | But why bother with all this? Well, because it fun. |
| piece of equipment to have a points value within a set | | | | Miniature wargaming is a diverse hobby with elements |
| of rules. The total number of points that may be | | | | that appeal to a wide range of people. There are |
| "spent" on troops is then decided before the start of a | | | | those that spend most of their time painting or building |
| game. | | | | models, then there are others that just enjoy playing |
| What do I need to play a miniature wargame? | | | | games, most wargamers enjoy a bit of both. It's a |
| The rules and gameplay of miniature wargames vary | | | | hobby you can enjoy on your own, modeling, or with |
| massively from games system to games system. | | | | others, the games themselves. |
| They tend to always have a few things in common | | | | However possibly the best thing about miniature |
| however; for one, similar equipment is usually needed | | | | wargaming is that it gives players the opportunity to |
| to play a miniature based wargame. Firstly, of course, | | | | get together with people they share a common |
| there are the miniatures themselves and a set of rules | | | | interest with and have fun. |