By Bruce Graumlich and Shannon Womer
In 1977 the founder of Buzkrieger, at a Cincinnati gaming convention, observed Micro-Armour being played on the top of several large tables. Some way had to be discovered, he felt, to implement the best of board game geomorphics, the quality and detail of cast Micro-Armour vehicles, and the realism depicted with dioramas. After the initial presentation of six 2'x4' geomorphic, scenic terrain boards, interest mushroomed at an incredible rate. So much so, that every Friday night was slated as a gaming night at the founder's home in Kenwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. Within six months, attendance grew from two or three to well over thirty players and space soon became a premium. All WWII fronts were covered and played on the scenic boards. WWII seemed to be the focal point of interest with Buzz's group, as it was then called. Since this time, Buzkrieger Historical Miniature Reenactment Society has expanded to where it is the largest and most established organization of its type in the Cincinnati, Tri-State area operating in its own gaming site. At first Buzkrieger concentrated on the engagements of WWII, but has since expanded to now reenact just about all periods of military history. The periods predominantly covered at our bi-weekly meetings are as follows: Land Engagements: Modern conflicts (actual and hypothetical - NATO/Warsaw Pact); World War 11 (All fronts); World War 1; Arab-Israeli Conflicts; Napoleonics; American Civil War; Colonials (ie., The Zulu Wars); Ancients lie., Romans, Vikings, etc.). Naval Engagements: World War 11; World War 1; American Civil War; American Revolutionary War; Napoleonic; Ancient. Individual scenarios are not the only challenge for the members of Buzkrieger. Full campaigns have been reenacted. Those campaigns successfully run have included a World War 11 naval and a Napoleonic land and naval campaign. Buzkrieger is in no way limited to the periods listed. New periods and miniatures are always welcome and encouraged. The club and its members have over 23 three-dimensional terrain boards on which to play various scenarios. There is alsothe picturesque seascape board and the desert boards. These geomorphic modules can be interchanged to suit any scenario, and have become the trademark of Buzkrieger. The club also has thousands of hand painted, detailed miniatures including Micro-Armour, Napoleonics, Ancients, etc. In fact,wefeel that Buzkrieger's Napoleonics collection may be one ofthe best in the country. The objectives of Buzkrieger are:
2. To increase interest in historical wargaming 3. To increase the participation of Buzkrieger in local conventions and other activities connected with wargaming. 4. To develop a set of house rules for all wargaming periods that Buzkrieger reenacts. 5. To develop and maintain a balanced research library. Towards these ends, Buzkrieger has contacted many new individuals and organizations in an effortto expand their interest in historical miniature reenactment. The club now maintains a library of over five hundred volumes. At this time, there are several members who have written rule systems for eventual publication. These rules are considered the club's standard house rules. Buzkrieger is presently involved in the production of FALLCON '84, a gaming convention in Cincinnati. Buzkrieger has participated in years past, but this is ourfirst full production. Buzkrieger is always open to visitors and new members; more information on Buzkrieger or any Cincinnati game convention can be had by writing: Buzkrieger, P.O. Box 36360, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. More Dispatch Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. V #6 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1984 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |