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