"Can you give me some information on war games, please?" "Where can I find some rules to play war games with?" My mail is flooded with these two requests, and they are difficult questions to answer. So far as I know there is only one publication devoted to war games. That is the War Game Digest, of which I am editor and publisher. Yet, actually, this publication is often beyond the comprehension of the beginner who has not experienced the thrill and fun of miniature battles. There is left only the famous book, Little Wars by H. G. Wells, but the rules as laid down by the well known person are rather too simple for most players. There is no hard and fast set of war game rules that everyone could play by. Every war game general makes up his own game, and only very basic moves and rules tie the whole thing together in what can be classed as war games. Even players using the same basic rules may have variation thereof, so that it can be said there are no two games really alike. This is probably the reason no one has ever attempted to write a discussion on war games for the beginner. Yet, I felt that some effort should be made to get the newcomer started. Actually, I am probably the last person who should attempt to do this, for I make war game soldiers commercially, and I produce the War Game Digest, and naturally I am more biased than others might be who are pure hobbyists. The reader therefore, must excuse all commercial aspects that may appear in this publication, There are many reasons why you and I like war games. And we have centuries of history behind us, and better men than we will ever be who have loved it also. There is no use covering this phase of the war game, for Bob Bard does it very well in his wonderful book, Making and Collecting Military Miniature . However, one of the interesting outcomes of war games is the vast amount of military history and information the "general" will read. And the frustrated writer will get much pleasure in writing reams of battle reports, battle plans, rules, ideas and "front line news releases," which eventually will fill many volumes! Thus, war games are not only fun to play, but the by-products are just as enjoyable. I claim miniature battle is of tremendous therapeutic value in our fast, modern day existence, and is as good a form of relaxation (and almost as strenuous!) as tennis, golf, or swimming. To most experienced war gamers, this booklet will be of no use whatsoever, since most of it will be old hat to them. And the beginner, who associates with the old timers, may be confused by many of the terms that are bandied about. Thus, as a starter, let's define certain terms, to help you get straightened out. You can turn back to this section as you read this pamphlet so that you may understand what is going on. Definitions Movement, Troop movement, or Game move - means the actual moving of the lead soldiers on the table during one player's turn. Foot move or Infantry move - is the length of movement allowed an infantry soldier. The "foot" does not mean 12 inches in length, but is used to denote a Foot Soldier. Cavalry move - the length of movement allowed a horseman. Usually twice the length move of a foot soldier Range - pertains to the maximum length of range of a musket, rifle, or cannon may fire. Opposing soldiers within such range may be "killed" - those outside the range cannot be killed. Combat - means the actual fighting that goes on between troops within combat range of one another. Judging the combat - is the measuring for range, and determining of casualties by the two players of their lead soldiers who are within combat range. Base line - this is an imaginary line across the table top along the back edge of your side of the table, This is generally an infantry move out, and is the normal starting position of troops when the war game begins. Commanding general, or Commander - this is the miniature that represents the leader of your forces on the table. Melee - a hand-to-hand fight between opposing soldiers. Volley - rifle fire of groups of soldiers against each other. Converting - means changing a miniature from one position to another by rebuilding it or changing a miniature from one type of soldier to another. Battle report - a write up of a miniature battle. Usually these reports are written as a historical battle, rather than as a log of the moves of each player. Morale factor - determining by a throw of dice whether troops will move into combat or determining a winner of combat after a melee or volley. More All About Wargames Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Troops Chapter 3: Converting and Painting Chapter 4: Wargame Set Up Chapter 5: Army Organization Chapter 6: Basic Rules Chapter 7: Campaigns Back to MWAN #106 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum 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