Computers and wargaming have developed stronger links over the last five to ten years. Most of this has been in the computerizing of traditional board game type simulation of military conflict. In this regard, the computer is well suited for simulating an opposing general, especially if you want to play solo games. With the advent of the "internet," computers can now deliver much more to the gamer. Wargaming can now be a truly international affair with someone in Brisbane, Australia communicating with others throughout the world via news groups; one can research information about wargaming or military history from the steadily growing number of "web sites."

I have become a fledgling wargaming "surfie", touching on only a small percentage of information. What follows is a brief summary of what I have discovered so far.

To get started, you will need a computer running Windows 3.1 or 95. Alternatively, a Macintosh computer can be used. A modem is also needed to connect to a "service provider." The cost for these varies, but should be around four or five hundred dollars for a fast (28 800bps) internal or external model. Connection to a service provider also varies, with some charging a flat rate and others charging by the hour. Finally, a second telephone line is a good idea, especially if you don't want to tie up your existing one for hours as you explore "the net." Finally, a "web browser" is required to "navigate" through the internet.

In my case, I use Netscape Navigator, with Microsoft recently releasing its own called Internet Explorer. The first point I would recommend stopping at is the rec.games.miniatures. historical.news group. This is a general discussion venue where people can "post" questions or points of view. Others throughout the world can respond to what has been said. Some of the "discussions" can be quite heated, but the best part of a news group is the large number of people that will read your question or whatever. The response time is only as long as it takes someone to type in a response. I posted a "flyer" for out group and within a day or so, was contacted by a keen ACW gamer here in Brisbane.

The other area that are potentially useful to wargamers are the many "web-sites" devoted to wargaming topics. These sites have "links" to other sites of related interest. To track these sites down in the first place, look for addresses in various gaming magazines. A web site address normally looks something like this: http://www. eden.com/html

This address is the site for the Miniatures Page: A WWW magazine. Once you arrive at this site, it allows you to "browse" through information head at the site, communicate with the administrator of the site, or explore other links to related sites. Any site can be "book-marked" and returned to later. Files can be printed, or saved and looked at later. Truly, this is an amazing medium. The following are some interesting sites I have found:

http://www.erinet.com/bp/sywassoc.html (Seven Years War Association)
http://www.magweb.com/ (Magazine Web)
http://www.cwc.lsu.edu (U.S. Civil War Center)
http://tetrad.stanford.edu/hm/HorseNMusket.html (Horse and Musket Wargaming)
http://www.eden.com/~tmp/ (The Miniatures Page: A WWW magazine)
http://rs6.loc.gov.cwphome.html (Selected Civil War Photographs)

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