The Original Celebrated
Curiously Small Wargame

or That Is Absurdly Small

By Ken Van Pelt

It begins as all exciting challenges begin; someone, jokingly, suggests a preposterous challenge and the matter is not put to rest because once peer pressure influences your actions, you are at the mercy of your friends. I wasn't serious when I suggested gaming in 2mm scale wargames, it was merely a topic of conversation gamers have from time to time. The challenge occured when our club was visiting the Branson Free Mini Con. We were invited to play a Napoleonics game in 6mm scale. The game was great and the terrain was fantastic. The scale was just very small by our clubs standard of gaming in 54mm.

Doug and I were joking about the scale when I suggested that a complete wargame could be put inside an Altoids Mint Tin. This is where the trouble began. Doug took me serious. The challenge was on! The objective: Fit a complete wargame (Rules, Dice, Figures, Terrain, etc.) inside of an Altoids Mint Tin. These small mint boxes measure about 2x3 inches. This is an open invitation to any readers as a club project or convention event, participation is voluntary. Judging criteria is as follows: There will be ten points available in each of ten categories. The game will therefore receive a rating from 10-100. Highest score is declared the winner of some really small prize to be determined later.

The categories are: 1. Completeness: Rules, Dice, Figures, Terrain. 2. Rules. 3. Figures. 4. Terrain. 5. Concept of game. 6. Scope of the games action. 7. Craftsmanship. 8. Humor. 9. Historical Portrayal 10. Outside box art.

The Lion's Den club is working on this for presentation at our end of the year Christmas party. I will keep you informed of the entries received, and the results of our (small) imaginations.

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