TabletopWars.com | Board Games, Card Games, Dice Games, Miniature Games, RPG, and More in the Philippines - Why You Should Try Wargames and What You're Possibly Missing Out On (Part I)

It has happened to us gamers one time or another. There you were, hunkered down with your favorite group, pushing wooden cubes and passing money back & forth as you played and enjoyed meaty euros... or perhaps you were positioning your plastic figures and tossing around your seemingly alarming number of dice...

Then, while waiting for your turn... you perchance look sideways and see some guys moving and flipping a bunch of cardboard counters on a colorful (sometimes not so colorful) map, looking thru their charts and wading thru rulebooks.

Now, admit it... at one point, you've thought to yourself: "I wonder what they're doing? Is it any fun playing that? Seems to be so much work. I wonder how much time a single game takes? I wonder what it'd be like to try a game of it?"

Then you go ahead and do your turn (because its finally your chance to move and show your brilliant plan of efficiency OR perhaps its because its your turn to take a stab at the inrushing monster) and you forget about what you saw and you forget the fleeting thoughts that passed thru your head.

Well, I'm here to answer the questions you might've forgotten:

-- I wonder what they're doing? = They're playing a wargame.
-- Is it any fun playing that? = Yes, and rewarding as well.
-- Seems to be so much work. = Yes, but so is everything else when you're first starting out.
-- I wonder how much time a single game takes? = Not as long as you'd think.
-- I wonder what it'd be like to try a game of it? = Short answer? A revelation.

Before I continue, let me just say that I love and play my fair share of euros and AT games. In fact, a fair chunk of my collection is made up of said games. What I'm about to say is not meant to limit or squash your interests (nor is it meant to demean it), but merely a suggestion on how to expand and further enjoy/immerse yourself in our great hobby. I'm just attempting to show that there need not be a sub-divide... that wargaming, like euros and AT games, is also great gaming and deserves to be a part of your regular gaming diet.

Some legends to remember as we push on. AT = Ameritrash. Euros = Eurogames and/or Economic games. Also, I'd like to apologize as early as now if my thoughts seem scattered... there just seems to be so many things to be said, and I dunno where to end or begin.

What exactly is a wargame? Wikipedia defines it as a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as a military exercise or war game.

Using this definition, one can come up with a broad pool of games, that can technically be considered a wargame. Popular examples (at least those more renowned within our gaming circles) include: A Game of Thrones, Battles of Westeros and War of the Ring. This means, that most gamers have already had a taste of wargaming. So why are people so adamant at times to not play wargames?

Because when we think wargames, what often comes to mind is the traditional hex-and-counter games we sometimes see other people play. We think cardboard counters (and lots of 'em) and sprawling maps. Nevermind the flavor, nevermind the theme... all we can think about is wading thru counters and manipulating them over tiny hexes.

And here is where I think the first roadblock begins. The first hurdle that needs to be overcome is the idea of what a wargame is. A wargame need not exactly be hexes and counters (though hex-and-counter games are also very good -- we'll get to that). A lot of newer wargames integrate mechanics that can sometimes be found in euros or AT games (and vice versa for that matter).

This is where we will take our first segue. I'll list a couple of wargames that I think are beginner friendly and don't utilize the traditional hexes and counters. The games I will mention hold a special place in my heart as they are some of the first wargames I ever played.

The first wargame I'll talk about is Hammer of the Scots. If you've seen Braveheart, then this is pretty much the game version of it as this game bring the rebellion of William Wallace to life. If you haven't seen Braveheart... go see it. This is the first wargame I ever played. It utilizes wooden blocks as opposed to cardboard counters, and uses areas (the map is divided into manageable sections) instead of hexes. Its very fun to play and quite easy to learn/teach. Plus, if you like and/or are used to the fantasy genre, this is a good place to start before moving on to guns and mortars.

I think that block wargames are a good stepping stone for someone who's used to euros or AT. The spread is easier to understand because of better visibility and fewer units. The combat is also easier to comprehend as you don't have to consult charts and tables. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that a lot of block wargames are simpler and easier to understand than a lot of AT games currently in the market.

Other examples of block wargames suitable for newcomers include: Julius Ceasar, Quebec 1759, Richard III, War of 1812, etc.

The second game I'll be talking about is Sword of Rome. The game recreates the vicious struggles among the peoples of Italy and Sicily in 4th and 3rd Centuries BC. Sword of Rome is a card-driven wargame. Card-driven wargames typically use cards to represent events that happened during the game's era/time span. The cards used usually are multi-purpose... they can be used as events, action points or as support during battles. The cards also help you focus your strategy/tactics, as you are somehow limited by what you draw. It also uses a point-to-point type of movement, instead of the traditional hexes. This means that its pretty straightforward how to get from point A to point B.

The point-to-point movement used in most card-driven games is great, as it helps prevent the paralyzing effect some big sprawling maps have. Also, the use of cards help ease the transition as most gamers are used to utilizing cards and maximizing what they draw. Also, most gamers are now used to cards having multiple uses.

Other notable examples of card-driven wargames suitable for newcomers include: Wellington, Twilight Struggle, Washington's War, etc.

The next hurdle that needs to be overcome is this: wargames also need not necessarily take up an entire day. Some of us (or at least I once did) have a notion that playing a single wargame would take up at least a day. While there are some wargames that do take that long (some take even longer), there are also a lot of wargames available nowadays that only take around an hour or two to finish. In fact, most wargames can go as long (or as short) as you want it to go.

And this is where I end for now... wow, I've said a lot haven't I? Thank you for reading this far. In the second part of my article, I'll discuss the time needed to play wargames and also move on the third hurdle that needs to be overcome. I'll be posting the next article within the next two weeks.

Now, I realize I have left a lot of things unsaid. This is because I'd like our other, more notable and esteemed wargamers to chip in if possible and help fill-in the blanks. So please, chip in, let the ideas flow. I refuse to believe that wargamers are a dying breed... I'd like to think that wargamers are simply waiting to be born/converted.

I've tried to use more simple terms as well, to ensure that the reader doesn't necessarily need to have a boardgame background to understand what my twisted mind is trying to express.

Also, and I will reiterate this in every article I write... there're a lot of seasoned wargamers (heck even newbie wargamers like me) who're more than happy to teach you how to play. Don't hesitate to approach them and talk to 'em.

Lastly, I'd like to make a request. If you'd like to see the follow-up to this article, I'd appreciate it greatly if you'd say so. Its not easy trying to put down into words what I'm trying to express. So if this article moves you, or at the very least even remotely tempts you to try a wargame, please lemme know as encouragements do help the writer's juices flow.

Until the next article!