Copyright 2003 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
Young people had their start in wargaming thanks to that icon of 20th Century Warfare, the Tank. 90% of Wargamers begin in the modern era. For my generation, that was World War II, Korea and the Cold War. The mechanized warfare of those conflicts inspired young people to take up toy soldiers as a hobby, once they outgrew it as a toy.
Many of the experienced wargamers of today were introduced to the hobby by World War II games. Interest in the games was piqued in 1960, when Roco produced its HO scale tanks and Airfix made the first plastic HO / OO size soldiers. At every hobby shop where they were sold, boys showed up to buy all and sundry. In 1962, you could buy two Minitanks and one box of Airfix soldiers for a dollar. For boys, the "cheap way" to get two armies was to shop with a friend. Each bought one Allied tank and one German tank. Then one boy bought the Airfix Infantry, the other the Airfix German infantry. The bays would the swap out half the infantry, so they each had about 24 each of Allied and German infantry.
The miniature tanks and figures were a sensation. Almost immediately, new items were coming in. Airfix bolstered the line with 8th Army, German Afrika Korps, US Marines and the French Foreign Legion. Roco expanded its Minitanks line. Thanks to model railroad supplies, young hobbyists were able to build scenery for their armies. All it would take would be one catalytic event to turn junior hobbyists and toy soldier player into wargamers. That would be a set of realistic rules and an introduction to the hobby.
Almost every old hand in the hobby remembers the rule set that launched him into wargaming. Some were introduced by "War Games in Miniature" by Joseph Morschauser, written in 1962 in the US. Others came across "War Games: Battles and Manoeuvres with Model Soldiers" by Donald Featherstone, written in 1962 in Britain and quickly introduced into the United States. (Our crew came across the book by Featherstone somewhat later). For most, there was an interim period when the play with toy soldiers was subjected to home-made rules. However, once a real set of rules was on the scene, everything changed for the better.
Young people are impressed by anything large and loud, and tanks fit the bill. World War II games were the most popular with boys. Indeed, most such games with tanks degenerated into firepower duels and an arms race to amass the largest and most powerful heavy tanks. Nobody was interested in the little M3 light tank, but they all gathered an assortment of incongruous heavy armor such as US M103s, Soviet JS IIIs, German Jagdtigers and king Tigers, and British Conquerors. These unlikely assortments, interspersed with odd medium types like the Stug. 3 or Sherman, were set at one another with utter disregard of historical precedent. Boys can overlook the fact that Tiger Tanks were finished by 1945 and M1033s did not appear until the late 1950s. All they see is size, armor and the largest cannons blasting away across the miniature battlefield.
Maturity and common sense turned the blustering blasters of amrored warfare into balanced wargamers. As the boys learned more of history and as they gained a sense of strategy, they began to adopt a more realistic approach to modern armored warfare. Heavy tanks gave way to light and medium vehicles, and the infantry and artillery resumed their rightful place on the battlefield.
****
Modern games are based on the kinds of warfare that began in the 20th Century with the advent of mechanical vehicles and weapons technology. The staring point is the First World War. Games try to re-create the battles that raged from 1914 to 1918. They have to take into account the "modern" enhancements of the time: machine guns, high-explosive artillery, automobiles and the first combat aircraft. Then comes the great ground achievement, the tank.
Much larger is the interest in the Second World War. The wargamer can find models of almost every unit of troops and every military vehicle, in scales ranging from 1/300 all the way up to 1/32. There are few vehicles of that war that aren't available in several scales. One can find his need met in 1/300, 1/285, 1/160, 1/144, 1/100, 1/90, 1/87, 1/76, 1/72, 1/64, 1/50, 1/48, 1/35, and 1/32. World War II gaming spans the globe and the variety of environments and conditions. Choices range from the Desert of North Afrika to the Russian Steppes to the tropical islands of the South Pacific. The types of engagements also vary. One can have infantry skirmished, commando raids, massed tank fights or amphibious landings and airborne operations. The enemies and allies are also varied: United States, British, French, Polish, Soviet, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, German, Italian, Rumanian and others. Each choice brings a different flavor and different set of conditions to the battle.
A big draw for World War II gamers is the awesome variety of weaponry. The mass of tanks and armored vehicles and the panoply of aircraft afford gamers a neverending variety.of battles and scenarios. Many World War II gamers are model-builders, too. Thus, the gaming hobby and the miniature hobby blend, allowing double the satisfaction.
Gamers who choose the later 20th century have any number of conflicts. They can re-enact the guerilla campaigns from Malaya to Croatia, the "limited wars" of Vietnam and Afghanistan, or the pitched battles of the Middle East. There are many who play the large armored battles of the Arab / Israeli War and the Gulf. The Cold War is played out in those places. Indeed, some even play fantasy scenarios where the Cold War turns hot ,and Soviet divisions clash with those of the West.
Modern Wargaming is a rich field of great variety. It needs a balanced approach to offset its complexity and the tendency to get bogged down in rules. Nonetheless, the Modern Era remains the largest field of historical wargaming. It is the door through which many young people continue to enter the hobby, and it is a theme enjoyed by young and old, alike.
Alienstar Free Rules - downloadable game rules for several eras from Alienstar Publishing They have good rules for Modern Warfare.
Free Wargames Rules: A British site that has links to free wargames in all genre, including Modern. Covers all eras, too.
Jim Wallman's Free rules - He has some World War II rules among various others, including the popular Lionel Tarr's rules.
Hans und Panzer - Basic game of World War II armor and infantry. Great for 15mm to 30mm figures and vehicles. Available through our Milihistriot website.
Krunch-A-Commie - Takes off where hands-und-Panzer ends. Infantry and armored combat from 1947 to 1968. Includes vehicles for Korean War, Arab-Israeli Wars, ither Cold War conflicts. Available through our Milihistriot Website
History of the Wargames Research Group One of the leading sources for wargames rules for decades. Site also has a copy of their Infantry Action Rules 1925 - 1975
The Miniatures Page - http://theminiaturespage.com/ - everything for the miniature wargamer: message boards, forums, news, links, etc. This is a big site loaded with good things for the hobby.