I have seen a large number of letters in Wargamer's Newsletter that have attempted to explain "The American Scene", yet9 I must conjecture that these expostulations have not fully told the story of Wargaming in America. While I question my own credentials to discuss this topic I feel that as President of the largest U.S. Wargaming Club I should venture an opinion. In the U.S. the problem is one of communication ' Wargamers join that hobby because they are (1) military historian-s72-T-persons enjoying intellectual competition, or (3) are military buffs. These three groups interco-operate in the three major realms of (1) boardgaming (2) miniatures and (3) Diplomatic Political games. But lines of communication, among these fac ets, are far more developed and active in the broad grouping of persons who ascribe to the boardgaming credo, than among any others. Clubs that actively carry on miniature wargaming of the iiapoleonic, Feudal, American Civil War or Modern eras are more insular in nature. Boardgaming, because of mass availability, low cost, and the mystique of commanding entire ARMIES has portrayed itself as America's chief contribution to wargaming. And, as paradoxical as it may seem, these groups have difficulty communicating, much less understanding, each othersmode of expression. It is to this task that the large National clubs, such as the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF WARGAMING, have addressed themselves. The problem is both vexing and frustrating but large National Conventions and large general interest publications are the step toward an inter co-operation that may produce AN American Scene. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 119 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1971 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com