| Date |
Title |
Article Summary |
| 9/3/2024 |
Armchair Dragoons Fall Assembly 11-13 October
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- Join the Dragoons for an event with "...multiple tables for wargaming events, plus a large table for all-day monster wargaming across extended sessions." |
| 4/29/2024 |
test spot date
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- test spot date |
| 4/4/2023 |
History of Wargaming
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- One of our Grognard members kindly submitted a scan of a fascinating early article about wargaming. The article is The History of Wargaming, by Martin Campion and Steven Patrick, and was in Strategy & Tactics, 1972, issue 33 used with permission from Decision Games. |
| 8/10/2022 |
Campaigning and fast play WWII tactical rules
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The rules provided by Matt are designed to allow the fast play needed to cover so much potential action, so that friends can complete their campaign in a day." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, checks out a fast play campaign system offered by Matt Irsik in Warning Order, which is a free, online wargames journal. Check out the action in Norm's test run through, and why he concludes that "…Matt has provided us with an engine that gets things moving and helps ensure that a campaign can be fought through relatively quickly to a conclusion." |
| 6/26/2022 |
Test ADM420.5 Text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- Test ADM420.5 Commentary future article |
| 6/22/2022 |
Poster: Pat L.
|
- |
| 5/26/2022 |
Poster: Pat L.
|
- |
| 5/26/2022 |
Poster: Pat L.
|
- |
| 5/26/2022 |
Poster: Pat L.
|
- |
| 5/26/2022 |
Test ADM410 Text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- |
| 5/26/2022 |
Test ADM410.12 Text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- Test ADM410.12 Commentary |
| 5/26/2022 |
Test ADM420.1 Text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- Test ADM420.1 Commentary |
| 5/25/2022 |
Test ADM410.13 Text new text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- Test ADM410.13 Commentary new text |
| 4/26/2022 |
Test ADM420.3 Text
Poster: Pat L.
|
- Test ADM420.3 Commentary |
| 4/1/2022 |
Reflections on gaming not-Ukraine
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...in our games the Russian military was far more adroit using [artillery] in a fluid battlespace than seems to be the case in Ukraine."
Rex Brynen, in PAXsims, reflects on some semi-recent "not Ukraine" modern wargame exercises, and what light those games shed, or didn't shed, regarding the reality of the current war. For example, in an influence operations exercise, "...what worked looked very much like what has worked for the Ukrainians in the current war, right down to heroic leaders and cute memes." |
| 3/11/2022 |
In The Sailor’s Bookshelf, James Stavridis Tackles a Deep Subject – The Sea. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...If you have any interest in the sea, the books on this list are bound to include several you will want to chase down." Ray Garbee reviews The Sailor's Bookshelf, Fifty Books to Know the Sea, by Adm. James Stavridis, USN (RET.). Check out why he is enthusiastic about a book that "…spans subjects and genres encompassing fiction, history, law, environmentalism and more!" |
| 3/2/2022 |
Never Give Up! Never Surrender! The Tin Can Sailors Have Their Finest Hour in ‘The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors’. Book Review
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "At times, the book certainly puts the ‘graphic’ into the graphic novel." Ray Garbee reviews The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary WWII Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour, a visual adaptation of what Ray considers to be the definitive book on the Battle off Samar in the Pacific theater of World War II. He makes clear that this is no lightweight comic book, but rather a powerful retelling of a "…battle should have been the big gun shootout the Navy’s battleship admirals had sought for years." |
| 2/22/2022 |
Interview with Javier Romero Designer of Santander ’37 from SNAFU Design
Poster: Mark D.
|
- "We became familiar with the work of Javier Romero when we played his game Lion of Judah: The War for Ethiopia, 1935-1941 from Compass Games in 2017. A few months ago, I saw where Javier was designing a game on the Nationalist offensive into Santander in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and I immediately reached out to him and he was more than willing to talk with us." -- from Grant at The Players' Aid. |
| 2/4/2022 |
Top 5 Underrated War Games by Homo Ludens
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Looking at BGGs top 5 wargames, we all felt like some games in our collections had their shot at being at the top. I asked upstanding four guests to come up with their top 5 games that they think deserve more love. - The legendary Kai Jensen, whose design and development work is hugely influential in wargaming (Combat Commander series, Urban Sprawl, Downfall etc.) - Grant and Alex from the Players Aid, who for years have been leading content creators about wargames - Cory Graham, hardcore wargamer and upcoming designer part of the team behind Vijayanagara. Enjoy. |
| 2/4/2022 |
Up and Onwards …. Pocket Armies.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...I have been surprised at the degree of productivity that has followed with those other distractions gone." Norm Smith, in Battlefields and Warriors, gives us a peek at painting and prepping he has been working on this year. Lots of good insights and pictures. And, "If this momentum can be kept up, then the pocket armies should start to yield some interesting games soon." |
| 1/26/2022 |
My top anticipated wargames of 2022
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...how could I resist such a title?" Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, is enthusing about games he hopes to lay hands on this year. See if you agree with his six selections, like the one of which he says "…the core mechanics seem so innovative that I will need to check [out] this game." |
| 1/24/2022 |
The Straight Shooter of Savo Island – The Life of Vice Admiral Willis Lee Jr. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "His career reflects the transitional period between the big gun battlewagons of the First World War and the rise of carrier aviation." Ray Garbee reviews Battleship Commander: The Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr., by Paul Stillwell. Check out why Ray finds the book to be "…a good study in leadership…", and why, while ostensibly a guns and battleships guy, Lee refused to wear blinders: "Much as [with] William Halsey recognizing the airplane as the future, Lee recognized the potential for radar to transform his profession." |
| 1/23/2022 |
Wargamer - What Tribe Are You? (PDF)
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Wargamer -- What Tribe are You? A question for us all. Wouldn't life be easier if we really understood what designers, developers, raters, reviewers and potential opponents really want? The attached PDF is an attempt to sort through the various 'tribes' to which we subscribe. Please have a look and tell us: which tribe are you?
This article written and shared by Tim Smith. |
| 1/17/2022 |
Falkirk Muir 1746
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Note that this battle is not to be confused with the other Battle of Falkirk 448 years earlier; the one Mel Gibson lost." Jeff Berry, in his Obscure Battles blog, takes a look at the battle of Falkirk Muir. Jeff brings us his customary tongue-in-cheek insights on the historical origins and the battle itself, to include why "It may have been 57 years since James II (Charles's grandfather) had been chased out of Britain, but like that Scot I met years ago in The Duke of Kent, they weren't going to let it go." |
| 1/12/2022 |
Documenting Black Jack Pershing’s War. Book Review
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "It is an impressive achievement, and one that drives home just what a huge task General Pershing shouldered in 1917." Ray Garbee reviews Volume 1 of John J. Pershing and the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, 1917-1919, which details the challenges General Pershing met in preparing the U.S. Army for the European theater. Ray finds a book that delivers at the big picture level with "…a fascinating insight into leadership and management at what today would be termed the 'C' level suite…", as well as with interesting details, for example how "…British opinion suggested that the Americans would be best served by fully adopting British arms and ordnance in the spirit of simplifying the coalition's logistics." |
| 1/10/2022 |
Review: Barnhart, Can You Beat Churchill? Teaching History Through Simulations
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- Wargames in the ivory tower? "For me this sums up the clear-eyed analysis of the value of simulations in teaching...". Catherine Jones, in PAXsims, reviews Can You Beat Churchill? Teaching History Through Simulations from a professor's point of view. She also thinks the book takes on bigger picture concerns: "There is an excellent and very well considered discussion throughout the book of some of the most significant challenges for historical simulations: morals, ethics, and engagement." |
| 1/9/2022 |
Strategy Page - Special Operations: Russia and America Learn from Each Other
Poster: Mark D.
|
- The United States and Russia find themselves reviving Cold War tactics when it comes to using or defeating guerilla warfare. The Soviet Union, and communist movements it sponsored around the world for over half a century, adapted ancient irregular warfare to 20th century technology and politics. The Western World War II Allies, especially the U.S., and Britain, developed successful techniques to foster and support resistance movements in areas occupied by the Germans or Japanese... |
| 12/31/2021 |
Key's Game Emporium - Games for family, friends and more!
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Key’s Game Emporium has been in business for over 30 years. Originally a brick-and-mortar store, it now operates online only. Their website is designed to be “no-frills” to keep our costs to a minimum and offer our customers competitive prices on all our products. We do not sell or give-away our customer’s information for any purpose. |
| 12/27/2021 |
The 2021 Christmas Wargame Gazette (45 pages)
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The aim of the Gazette is just to give some wargaming distraction over the festive period, when the internet is typically quiet." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, is back with his 2021 Shenanigans Gazette, "...both a serious and a tongue-in-cheek look back at a wargaming year." Thanks Norm! |
| 12/15/2021 |
Four new mini folio titles
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...it was with the prospect of updated rules, that I ordered the new releases, which have arrived today." Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, discusses four new titles for the Decision Games' Musket & Saber rules that he has just purchased. Sounds like Norm plans on some playing and posting in the near future with these "…good solid four titles of interest." |
| 12/13/2021 |
Top 3 wargames suggestions for Christmas 2021 – Part 2 – all time classics
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...my idea is to recommend some of the all-time classics with which you will never go wrong – and which in most cases are readily available for order, be it on publisher websites or in retailer shops." Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, brings us more grognard Christmas ideas, this time focusing on the tried-and-true: "I have played all proposed positions multiple times and can vouch for each and every choice." |
| 12/3/2021 |
Feeding the Bear: a Closer Look at Russian Army Logistics and the Fait Accompli
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Moscow might want to undermine security in the Baltic states or Poland, for instance, but could the Russian government successfully carry out a large-scale invasion of those countries?" Lt. Col. Alex Vershinin, in War on the Rocks, takes a look at some scenarios recently gaining more attention, and takes the perspective of further analysis: "While the Russian army definitely has the combat power to achieve these scenarios, does Russia have the logistics force structure to support these operations?" |
| 12/1/2021 |
Jutland: The Latest Salvo. Book Review
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "When leadership demands results at any cost, you should not be surprised when that cost is unexpectedly high." Ray Garbee reviews Clash of Capital Ships: From the Yorkshire Raid to Jutland by Eric Dorn Brose, which covers World War I's British/German naval tensions and clash. Check out what Ray sees as "…an interesting assessment and one that gets to the heart of much of the lingering acrimony surrounding the battle and its aftermath." |
| 11/29/2021 |
Fighting in 13.5mm
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Having regard for the tooling costs of each sprue, that is a huge commitment to the product." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, discusses developments in 13.5 mm miniatures, a topic near to his heart as a "space strapped" gamer. The purveyor of this relatively new scale, Warlord Games, has recently "…announced a new period in the ‘Epic’ scale ….. Napoleonics! due for initial release in January 2022." |
| 11/28/2021 |
Top 3 Wargame Suggestions for Christmas 2021 - Centurion's Review
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Top 3 wargame suggestions for Christmas 2021 – Part 1 – New Releases. Christmas time is fast approaching so we all look for presents inspirations. Today the Centurion's Review is looking at three 2021 releases which can be wholeheartedly recommend. Enjoy the article! |
| 11/24/2021 |
Women in Gaming: Unanswered Questions
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Is there still a lack of female gamers in the industry? If so, why? The good folks at Game Cows make an attempt at addressing the subject... |
| 11/19/2021 |
Borodino 1812
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...it was definitely Pyrrhic as far as victories were concerned." Jeff Berry, in Obscure Battles, takes on Borodino, with his usual insightful analysis and wit. See how Jeff fleshes out his assertion that, "…it's on little decisions like this, based on wishful thinking or denial of reality, that ultimately chart history." |
| 11/10/2021 |
A Japanese Seaplane Could Be the Difference Maker for the US Military
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Where can the United States spend its finite defense dollars in ways that have disproportionate positive impact on its position in the Pacific?" David Alman, writing in War on the Rocks, explains why he thinks that seaplanes offer significant advantages to the US, particularly a Japanese model called the US-2. "Seaplanes could help the U.S. military solve several challenges in the Indo-Pacific, particularly the problems inherent to distributed operations." |
| 11/5/2021 |
CNAS: Wargaming Chinese seizure of Taiwanese islands
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...such a scenario could be a prelude or pathway to war involving China, Taiwan, and the United States." Rex Brynen, in PAXsims, offers excerpts from a Centre for New American Security wargame study of possible limited Chinese aggression against Taiwan. A gloomy option is "…the most salient lesson of the game." |
| 11/1/2021 |
Board Games of the Ancient World
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Really interesting article about "Board Games of the Ancient World", produced and shared by James McKee at Boards, Cards, Dice web site. Fascinating pictures, facts and other info about some of the earliest board games. Who knew King Tut was a Grognard? |
| 11/1/2021 |
From the Sea…To the Blue Water Beyond. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Strategy Shelved should be required reading for anyone looking to understand the importance of a clear strategic vision in setting national policy...". Ray Garbee reviews Strategy Shelved: The Collapse of Cold War Naval Strategic Planning, by Steven T. Wills. Ray finds it an insightful look at how the "…end of the Cold War was a ‘perfect storm’ that disrupted maritime strategy." |
| 10/8/2021 |
On the Origins of the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The discourse surrounding fleets deployed in support of a global empire is as valid today as it was at the start of the 20th Century." Ray Garbee reviews Genesis of the Grand Fleet: The Admiralty, Germany, and the Home Fleet, 1896–1914, by Christopher Buckey. Ray finds a book that offers solid insights "...as it details how the government – specifically the Admiralty – had to wrestle with Fredrick the Great’s maxim of 'He who defends everything, defends nothing'." |
| 9/17/2021 |
Confronting Chaos: a New Concept for Information Advantage
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...although American teams lose wargames all the time, this is, in fact, a very big deal." Chris Dougherty explains his concerns about how three decades of Pentagon war planning have "…assumed U.S. forces could achieve information dominance in a great-power conflict, akin to what the American military attained during the 1991 Gulf War. That assumption is fatally flawed." |
| 9/10/2021 |
The Return of Great Power Proxy Wars
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "If the United States fights with China or Russia, what type of war will it be?" Frank Hoffman and Andrew Orner, in War on the Rocks, make the argument that proxy wars are likely to again become a preferred tool of statecraft. "Proxy conflicts are, after all, the ultimate indirect approach." |
| 9/6/2021 |
WotR - Recruiting continues
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...the herald is such a splendid figure, that Lord Cobham insisted on him joining the ranks!" Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, gives us a figures and painting update for his Wars of the Roses collection. Check out more of Norm's excellent miniatures work. And perhaps there is some action coming: "…I hear there are rumblings in the Parish of Piggy Longton, something to do with the Bishop of Dungborough recruiting for The King - what could possibly go wrong there!" |
| 9/4/2021 |
10 Historical Facts About Avalon Hill
Poster: Pat L.
|
- David Lent, aka “The Centurion”, provides this quick list of factoids concerning the Avalon Hill Game Company, the first of the great hex and counter war game companies. |
| 8/20/2021 |
Wrong, wrong, and wrong again
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...games and game-models that are lauded for their innovation and perspicacity, whose designers are profiled in the Washington Post, whose hobby games potentially influence real-world decision-making, can still get it wrong." Prufrock takes a square look at what the current debacle in Afghanistan tells us about the limits of our hobby (or for some, vocation): "It's not a nice pill to swallow." |
| 8/13/2021 |
ETO Series: August 2021 Update
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...great game development is the art of subtracting, not adding...". Alan Emrich gives us a progress update on Frank Chadwick's ETO Project. Check out the team's progress in rules, component/graphics and other areas with the system. "Much of the ETO playtesting this summer has been focused inward with the development team working on different extended examples of play." |
| 8/11/2021 |
Resentment, Rebellion and Retribution: The Second Anglo-Sikh War 1848-1849. Book Review
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Going far beyond the official histories, Singh provides insights into the perceptions, goals and thought processes of the participants...". Ray Garbee reviews The Second Anglo-Sikh War 1848-1849, by Amarpal Singh. Check out why, while Ray has one significant quibble, he still finds it to be a very readable, valuable book. One which provides another interesting insight: "The battle narratives demonstrate that the British military juggernaut was far from infallible and show that several battles were indeed close-run affairs." |
| 8/5/2021 |
Time for a New Approach to Defense Strategy
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "U.S. rivalries with Russia and China [...] will not be determined by the outcome of the regional contingencies over which U.S. defense plans now obsess." Michael Mazarr offers some very big picture ideas about how to rationalize US defense objectives and strategies: "…today, U.S. defense planners are working heroically to prop up a zombie strategy that represents the worst of both worlds, neither safeguarding Americans from the things that most directly and urgently imperil their well-being nor assuring victory in distant wars." |
| 8/2/2021 |
The American Revolution, Naval Power, and the 21st Century
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The Battle of Valcour Island was not the battle the Royal Navy officers and their army counterparts had prepared for." BJ Armstrong reviews Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty, by Jack Kelly, which covers how the struggle for Lake Champlain impacted the early Revolutionary war. Check out BJ's strong case for why we should "…remember that the American War for Independence was a naval war.", and why key considerations of the campaign remain important in our own century. |
| 7/28/2021 |
Shevardino 1812
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...strategically, Bagration's tactical 'mistake' may have actually saved the Russian army, and ultimately Russia." Jeff Berry, in his Obscure Battles blog, brings us another insightful review, this time looking at Shevardino, the prelude to Borodino. As always, Jeff examines questions that may not have gotten enough historical consideration, for example, the fact that "…this was still summer, and Napoleon's force was already far below normal attrition numbers for other campaigns." |
| 7/24/2021 |
In Memoriam: John Tiller
Poster: Pat L.
|
- John Tiller played a significant role as a war game designer who brought hex and counter war games to the computer screen. Mitch Reed traces Tiller’s career from the 1990’s onward with illustrated examples from Tiller’s creations. Tiller’s games are available from Matrix, Slitherine, HPS Simulations, and John Tiller Software. |
| 7/18/2021 |
Interview with designer Hermann Luttmann about his upcoming cooperative game The Plum Island Horror
Poster: Harvey M.
|
- Rob's Tabletop World interviews Designer: Hermann Luttmann about his upcoming 1-4 player, cooperative game design for GMT Games covering a little-known government island facility just off of Long Island New York, known for its highly secretive controversial infectious disease research. The Plum Island Horror is a throwback to old-fashioned 1950s horror movies and asks the question, "what could go wrong?!". |
| 6/25/2021 |
Interview with Andrew Rourke Designer of Coalitions from PHALANX Currently on Kickstarter
Poster: Harvey M.
|
- With 2021 marking the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death on May 5, 1821, there have been quite a few new Napoleonic wargames that have released/gone to Kickstarter over the past 6 months or so. Napoleon 1815 from Shakos Games, Napoleon’s Imperium from Compass Games, Napoleon Returns 1815 from Worthington Publishing and Coalition! The Napoleonic Wars, 1805-1815 also from Compass Games. Well, PHALANX is also getting into the act with a game of their own on the subject called Coalitions designed by Andrew Rourke that hit Kickstarter this month. The game looks really fascinating and is being touted as a game of diplomatic and military maneuvering in Napoleonic Europe for 1-6 players. I wanted to get a better feel for the design and reached out to Andrew to get a look inside the game and he was more than interested in sharing. |
| 6/25/2021 |
History Behind the Cards – A Look at Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India, 1290-1398 from GMT Games – Card #6 A New Calculus
Poster: Harvey M.
|
- In Fall 2020, there was a game design contest held called Consim Game Jam where designers had to repurpose a COIN Series game and it’s components and make a new playable game in about 48 hours! The game that won the competition was called Vijayanagara: The Deccan Empires of Medieval India, 1290-1398. The game is an asymmetric 1-3 player game depicting the epic, century-long rise and fall of medieval kingdoms in India over two dynastic periods. |
| 6/14/2021 |
WW1 board games: the best World War I tabletop games
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Disclaimers dealt with, let’s go over the top, shall we?" Bill Gray discusses his favorite (currently available) World War I games. Bill has apparently played all the scalings, including one where the "…entire package includes 16 maps and 5600 counters (no, really)." |
| 6/4/2021 |
Homo Ludens - Wargame Book Club #1 - Simulating War - Philip Sabin
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Fred Serval tries a different format for his Homo Ludens web site. In this first episode of the Wargame Bookclub, we will discuss Philip Sabin's Book: Simulating War. An exquisite panel: Natalia Wojtowicz (Wargaming Experiences - @Wojtowicz_N), Riccardo Masini (Le guerre di carta 2.0 - @RMasini_WLOG), David Thompson (Undaunted Normandy - @djackthompson), Cory Graham (Vijayanagara - @Chaosgoat) |
| 5/31/2021 |
Perry Miniatures: New 1806 Napoleonic Prussian Fusiliers
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Perry Miniatures: New 1806 Prussian Fusiliers - We have four codes of Fusiliers available now; there will be a pack of Fusilier Schützen which is next in line with the first of the cavalry.Prussian Army of 1806. Highlighted on the "Wargame News and Terrain" site. |
| 5/28/2021 |
Bosworth 1485, Percy attacks!
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...by sword, by bill, with righteous conviction and by virtue true we shall suffer our enemy to kneel before their King this day." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, indulges in a bit of battle of Bosworth "what if" for a miniatures engagement. Lots of photos of Norm's excellent miniatures in a tight fight where "Both sides are starting to feel the losses, the Stanleys are close to having to take their first break test, while Percy’s men are clearly tiring…"! |
| 5/26/2021 |
Slingshot 336
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...the idiosyncracies of Slingshot are the idiosyncracies of the membership...". Prufrock explains his satisfaction that Slingshot, the journal of the Society of Ancients, just keeps on chugging. Despite the onslaught of a number of recent trends, "…Slingshot still holds true to its original amateur, collective ideals. Now into its 336th edition, long may that continue!" |
| 5/17/2021 |
28mm Wars of the Roses Pocket Armies additions
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- Norm is "...trying to build the Lancastsrian and Yorkist armies equitably, so that they can give some games while the collection grows...". Check out the Battlefields & Warriors blog to see more of Norm's excellent miniatures work, along with some accompanying historical tidbits. Lots of swords, billhooks, and a tank…! |
| 5/5/2021 |
“Taranto And Naval Air Warfare in The Mediterranean, 1940-1945”. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...an engaging story of the pilots of the Fleet Air Arm that conveys how, to paraphrase Churchill, so many owed so much to so few." Ray Garbee reviews Taranto And Naval Air Warfare in The Mediterranean, 1940-1945, by David Hobbs. Check out why Ray feels the book is a combination of engaging narrative history, along with tactical insights about "…the evolution in aircraft carrier battlespace management, that is: detection, fighter direction and airstrike management." |
| 5/2/2021 |
Alea Magazine is Back!
Poster: Mark D.
|
- After years without publishing new issues, Alea magazine is back! The latest issue (#36) was published in March of 2021. We hope everyone will support this outstanding publication once again... |
| 4/28/2021 |
Reinforcements for the Bosworth Project and early WWII
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "Fortunately I seem to have a ‘mud on tracks obsession’, so that should fix it!" Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, discusses miniatures work, and shares photos of some very nice results. "Anyway, that’s it, I’m worn out now! all that modelling, I’ve used up an entire years motivation in just a few days :-)" |
| 4/26/2021 |
Maldon: Something to Mull Over
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The preliminary challenges, insults, and actual fighting between 'champions' on the causeway resulted in a slight advantage for the Saxons." Chris Hahn, in his No Painting Required blog, brings us replays of the Viking versus Anglo-Saxon battle of Maldon in 991 A.D. Chris provides some interesting background to his various stagings, along with plenty of action: "…the Vikings crashed into the Saxons, having pushed through their own skirmishing archers, scattering them to the winds." |
| 4/22/2021 |
The Players Aid Interviews David McDonough
Poster: Mark D.
|
- Interview with David McDonough Designer of Dawn’s Early Light: The War of 1812 from Compass Games. Produced and shared by The Players' Aid site. |
| 4/19/2021 |
ACW rule comparisons
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "The scene is one of using the fire and charge rules from each system to have a Confederate regiment try and capture the higher ground." Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, tries out an apples to apples comparison of four miniatures rule systems. Norm brings a definite scientific approach to his "experiment", with his objective being the best gaming experience (even if that may be not-so-analytical, but eminently understandable!). Norm "…enjoyed all four situations, with each bringing a different thing to the party." |
| 4/16/2021 |
From Biplanes to Ballistic Missiles — The Career of General Thomas S. Power. “To Rule the Skies: General Thomas S. Power and the Rise of Strategic Air Command in the Cold War”. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
|
- "...the more engaging part of the narrative is centered on Power’s efforts to transform the United States Air Force into a true aerospace force." Ray Garbee reviews To Rule the Skies: General Thomas S. Power and the Rise of Strategic Air Command in the Cold War, by Brent D. Ziarnick. Ray finds an often engaging and insightful book about General Power's efforts, which may have been ahead of their time, but are more relevant now. "How Power sought to do this is the stuff of a pulp science fiction fan’s dreams." |
| 4/15/2021 |
Interview with Sergio Shiavi Designer of Give Us Victories: The Chancellorsville Campaign from Dissimula Edizioni Currently on Kickstarter
Poster: Harvey M.
|
- A few years ago, Sergio Shiavi broke onto the scene with his new company called Dissimula Edizioni with their first Kickstarter called Radetsky’s March: The Hundred Hours Campaign and that game was then followed a few years later by From Salerno to Rome: World War II – The Italian Campaign, 1943-1944. Now comes the third game to Kickstarter which is a look at the American Civil War and the Chancellorsville Campaign involving the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Joseph Hooker and the Armey of Northern Virginia commanded by Robert E. Lee and is called Give Us Victories: The Chancellorsville Campaign. The Players Aid reached out to Sergio and he was more than willing to give us an inside look at the design. |
| 4/12/2021 |
Wargaming in Rome
Poster: Harvey M.
|
- Homo Ludens provides their perspective of wargaming overseas in Rome with this interesting video blog |
| 3/29/2021 |
1471 - A rendezvous and ambush at Piggy Longton
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "Neighbouring Lord Trebian, not known for either patience or caution, planned to move swiftly and attack...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, brings us another one of his nicely crafted fictitious engagements in Dungborough. Join Norm for a well told tale, accompanied by photos of his splendid miniatures intensifying the action: "…as push, shove and hack continues, the long spear gain the upper hand at this critical point on the battlefield…"! |
| 3/26/2021 |
The Eagle and the Sun Duel at Okinawa in “Rain of Steel: Mitscher’s Task Force 58, Ugaki’s Thunder Gods, and the Kamikaze War Off Okinawa”. Book Review.
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "Rain of Steel is an indispensable reference for understanding the Okinawa campaign." Ray Garbee reviews
Rain of Steel: Mitscher’s Task Force 58, Ugaki’s Thunder Gods, and the Kamikaze War Off Okinawa, by Stephen L. Moore. Check out why Ray feels the book covers the topic well at all levels, and how it "…shines by illuminating the experiences of the individual sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen." |
| 3/18/2021 |
Interview with Bill Byrne Developer for Great Battles of the American Civil War Volume VIII Into the Woods: The Battle of Shiloh from GMT Games
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Players Aid interviews Bill Byrne about the latest offering from GMT Games on the battle of Shiloh called Into the Woods, in the Great Battles of the American Civil War Series. |
| 3/16/2021 |
History Behind the Cards – A Look at Red Flag Over Paris from GMT Games with Designer Fred Serval – Card #8 Adolphe Thiers
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Players Aid delves into the history of the event cards in the upcoming game Red Flag over Paris from GMT Games. |
| 3/8/2021 |
Interview with Hugh O’Donnell, designer of The Troubles – Shadow War in Northern Ireland 1964-1998, coming to Kickstarter in March
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Troubles by Compass Games is a COIN inspired, multi-faction treatment of the over 30-year’s conflict in Norther Ireland. The Boardgames Chronicle interviews Hugh O’Donnell, designer of this soon-to-hit the Kickstarter game. |
| 3/3/2021 |
Designer Deep Dive: Bruce Maxwell Air & Armor
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Big Board interviews designer Bruce Maxwell and his upcoming design remaking a legacy West End Games' title, Air & Armor to be published by Compass Games. |
| 3/3/2021 |
Is It a Wargame? It Doesn’t Matter: Rigorous Wargames Versus Effective Wargaming
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...how do we balance sufficiently rigorous design with a playable and impactful wargaming experience?" Jeremy Sepinsky, writing in War on the Rocks, a blog site focused on "…foreign policy and national security issues through a realist lens…", discusses balance and other issues in wargame design. He provides an interesting answer, fed in part by his contention that "Wargaming is a malleable, multifaceted shapeshifter that becomes exactly what you need it to be." |
| 3/1/2021 |
A Bosworth Project update and interpreting history!
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "There has long been controversy about the site...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, discusses his progress towards creating a scenario covering the battle of Bosworth in 1485, "…one of the UK’s most significant battles on home soil…". Norm covers ongoing research about the battle, the miniatures he's developing for the scenario and the rules he intends to use, all working towards a day he can call "…a Bosworth day!" |
| 2/26/2021 |
Operation Market Garden Comparing BG Gavin’s Leadership With Today’s Principles of Mission Command
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...his successful leadership was possible due to a mastery of certain Mission Command principles." Douglas Ritter takes a look at how General James Gavin handled command of the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden. With an interesting review of Gavin's background and planning, Ritter shows how he "…identified and balanced the risks to his Paratroopers with the risk to his mission and, despite major setbacks, lead the 82nd to accomplishing all of its objectives." |
| 2/25/2021 |
Interview with Robin David Designer of Judean Hammer from Catastrophe Games Coming to Kickstarter February 23rd
Poster: Harvey M.
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- Interview with Robin David Designer of Judean Hammer from a new game publishing company called Catastrophe Games. The new design simulates the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Greeks in Judea in 167BC, a topic not covered in any other wargame to my knowledge.. |
| 2/24/2021 |
Victrix 12mm World War II
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "Curiosity got the better of me...". Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, decides to check out new 12mm WWII hard plastic miniatures by Victrix. Norm provides pictures of his excellent results as he delves into the question "So what does Victrix bring to the party?" |
| 1/27/2021 |
Armchair Dragoons Digital Convention - Bruce Maxwell NATO Designer Interview
Poster: Harvey M.
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- Join Moe and Bruce as they talk about NATO: The Cold War Goes Hot, the upcoming title from Compass Games. This is not a simple reprint, but a whole new take on the original game. Learn about all of the design changes and the decisions behind them. |
| 1/26/2021 |
Interview with Grant Wylie Designer of Tarawa 1943 from Worthington Publishing Currently on Kickstarter
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Players Aid interviews Grant Wylie from Worthington Publishing about the new WW II Pacific War solitaire design, Tarawa 1943,. now on Kickstarter. |
| 1/24/2021 |
Waddington’s Board Game Archive
Poster: Pat L.
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- Sonia and Andrew Reynolds maintain an inventory of board games produced by Waddington’s in their Board Game and Jigsaw Puzzle World blog. Wargames on the list include GHQ, Campaign, The Game of Nations, Battle of the Little Big Horn, and Camelot. |
| 1/22/2021 |
Airpower Over Gallipoli: 1915-1916.
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...an indispensable reference guide to air operations over Gallipoli." Ray Garbee reviews Airpower Over Gallipoli: 1915-1916, an exhaustively researched book covering a little addressed topic. Beyond just a factual treasure trove, Ray finds the book to be a good "…narrative of how a small group of intrepid aviators faced adversity with strength and ingenuity to innovate against a series of never-ending obstacles." |
| 1/6/2021 |
Interview with John Poniske Designer of Flanks of Gettysburg from Compass Games
Poster: Harvey M.
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- John Poniske is a prolific designer and we have enjoyed several of his games including Revolution Road from Compass Games, Plains Indian Wars from GMT Games (as yet unreleased but nearing completion), Bleeding Kansas from Decision Games, Hearts and Minds from Worthington Games and Maori Wars: The New Zealand Land Wars 1845-1872 from Legion Wargames. The Players Aid talk to him about his design philosophy and his upcoming game, Flanks of Gettysburg to be published by Compass Games. |
| 1/6/2021 |
Warlord Epic ACW - painting and comparing
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...this post is going to look at what it might mean to my wargames table...". Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, checks out a sample of the new Epic Battles: American Civil War miniatures from Warlord Games. Check out why Norm feels he can give the product "…a big thumbs up, another area of choice for the customer and in our relatively small hobby…". |
| 1/4/2021 |
A Brief History of Naval Wargames
Poster: Pat L.
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- Kyle Mizokami gives a brief history behind the US Navy’s use of war games on the US Naval Institute’s News page. These games have played an important role in US Navy strategy and tactics. “After the war, Admiral Nimitz was to remark, “The war with Japan had been reenacted in the game rooms at the Naval War College by so many people and in so many different ways, that nothing that happened during the war was a surprise . . . absolutely nothing except the kamikaze tactics toward the end of the war; we had not visualized these.”…” |
| 1/1/2021 |
Marengo 1800
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...Marengo, the putative victory that cemented Napoleon's hold on power." Jeff Berry, in his Obscure Battles blog, brings us another one of his exquisite battle illuminations. This time, an engagement with a role on the path of power: "Bonaparte realized that if he were to retain his dictatorial powers, he had to deliver victory and a satisfactory end to the war." |
| 12/23/2020 |
Interview with Wolfgang Klein Designer of Assault – Red Horizon 41 from Assault! Games Currently on Kickstarter
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Players Aid interviews new designer Wolfgang Klein (no relation to Alexander Klein) and discusses his upcoming Kickstarter for a tactical level wargame focused on Operation Barbarossa during World War II from June through December 1941, Assault – Red Horizon 41. |
| 12/18/2020 |
Opening action at Henry Hill 1861
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "It is a wargamers delight." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, draws from the book 'We Shall Meet Again’ The first battle of Manassas, by JoANNA M. McDonald to create a tabletop scenario. Join Norm as he gives us a first play AAR, and check out why he concludes that "…the game did feel like an early 1861 engagement and passed a pleasant hour." |
| 12/14/2020 |
Interview with Mark Holt Walker Designer of The Long Road from Flying Pig Games Currently on Kickstarter
Poster: Harvey M.
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- Mark Walker from Flying Pigs Games and, designer of the upcoming game,The Long RoadThe Players Aid about his design. |
| 12/13/2020 |
Top 3 wargames suggestions for Christmas 2020 – Part 2 – all time classics
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Boardgames Chronicle wishes everyone happy holidays with their suggestions for wargame gifts that should be under everyone's Christmas tree. |
| 12/13/2020 |
An Interview with Dana Lombardy
Poster: Harvey M.
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- Dana Lombardy spends some time with Harold discussing his career and his latest project: MacGowan & Lombardy's THE GREAT WAR fast-playing card game.
Available on Kickstarter: |
| 12/11/2020 |
Best 3 Games with…Blocks!
Poster: Harvey M.
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- The Boardgames Chronicle states, "The allure to me of this genre of wargames is the Fog of War aspect that you get from not knowing exactly what you are attacking or are being attacked by until that moment when you reveal the units. This creates some really tough decisions about how to attack and where and will lead to some gaffs form time to time as you end up going full bore realizing after the fact that you overcommitted because they only had smaller value blocks and now you are out of position to follow this move up on the battlefield.". They present the 3 games they love best with blocks! |
| 11/25/2020 |
1471 - Stand firm, save the Treasury!
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "Lord Darcy is hoping that his archers will do most of the work this day...". Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, gets to the action with his latest Dungborough encounter. Whose hands will the collected tax prize fall into, the Lancastrians or the Yorkists? As Norm puts it, "The situation is tightly balanced, with several points of crisis and no certainty of which way it will go - I like that about this system." |
| 11/22/2020 |
Strategy Talk - Dunnigan Deals With Monsters And Politics
Poster: Mark D.
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- Strategy Talk speaks to Jim Dunnigan about reader feedback in Strategy and Tactics. The discussion moves on to the monster games of SPI. We round things off with a discussion of several of Jim’s early political games including ‘Up against the Wall Mother F!#&@%’ and ‘Chicago, Chicago’. |
| 11/18/2020 |
Preparing for war! Dungborough 1471
Poster: Doug Holt
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- "...indecent haste suggests that the Yorkists are quite close." Norm Smith, in his Battlefields & Warriors blog, sets the stage for an upcoming engagement in his fictitious Dungborough battle site! Enjoy all the photos of Norm's excellent miniatures work, and get ready to hang on to your seat, as the defenders "...will fight to the last, rather than see their hard earned taxes stolen by the rebels." |
| 11/1/2020 |
Recent Board Games Submitted to the National Library of Finland
Poster: Pat L.
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- The National Library of Finland has been cataloguing and maintaining a repository of Finnish games including Finnish War Games. Click these additional links to see: Maps of War Games at the National Library posted by Kari Hintsala(wait for the page to fully load to so you can translate it to English); and a short conversation posted by Board Game Barrage.com. |