SCWaRes – pronounced “squares” – began life as a simple set of ‘fast play’ rules for use with teenagers who had never played a traditional figure wargame before. The design parameters were: To have a turn sequence that kept the players involved throughout each turn; To have simple morale systems that dealt with unit and formation morale; To reduce the measuring of movement and weapon ranges to zero; To have simple systems for resolving fire combat and close combat; To include an element of uncertainty into the outcome of each game To produce a game that could be played to a conclusion in about an hour.
Even if you don’t like the science fiction game, Warhammer turns out to be a pretty flexible system for playing other periods. Plus, it has the advantage of familiar mechanics and a built-in player base. So given that, its not surprising that it’s been extended to practically every period you can think of. Here’s a variant of Warhmamer 40K for colonial games in darkest Africa.
Sahibs and Sepoys is a set of free miniatures rules for the Indian Mutiny of 1857 - 1858. Author Alan Hamilton writes:
These skirmish rules are intended for the small actions which were typical of the Indian Mutiny. Thus individual characteristics are very important. The basic Unit is that commanded by a named character who is usually of Lieutenant, Captain or equivalent rank.
The suggested figure scale for rank and file is about 1:6 to 1:10 with 1:8 a good average. This scale is not used for named characters who are 1:1. This is justified in the attitude of the period. They are, therefore, cast in a heroic mould. The unit strength was calculated inbayonets or sabres the officers, sergeants, drummers and so on being extra to this establishment. Thus a company at its full strength of 100 bayonets would be an Officer, drummer, sergeant or strong man (optional) and 8 to 18 rank and file; cavalry squadrons similarly have an Officer, bugler and 4 to 9 rank and file. The Rank and File can include a proportion of Corporals, Naiks etc.
Bob Corderey offers a set of free set of colonial miniatures rules called Redcoats and Natives. They are designed to fight small colonial battles with 15mm figures.
The Perfect Captain’s Battle Finder is a set of 64 cards—done in the usual high quality graphics—that you use to generate terrain for your miniature wargames battles. There also are rules for using the cards to create linear campaigns, and maneuver campaigns using the downloadable force counters, order and control markers. There are even revenue and siege rules.
Truly innovative stuff, and something that I’m going to use almost immediately.
BLAZE OF GLORY is a miniature based, Wild West Skirmish war game. It is intended to be a fast and enjoyable game, with quick learn rules, so that both experienced wargamers and novices may get to grips with it as soon as possible. It is a quasi-historical game, aiming to capture the atmosphere of the movies and popular imagery, rather than give an accurate simulation of Wild West life (Which let’s face it, must have been pretty grim) However there is room for historical research, many of the games we have played are based on real events that occurred in a number of places in Colorado during the 1860/70s. There is something here for all gamers, so go on don your spurs, load your six shooter, give a rousing ‘Yippee Ky-ay!’ and give it a go.
Miniature Wargaming is part of the "adventure games" hobby, which includes r ole p laying and board games. Wargamers recreate battles on the tabletop with toy soldiers, like a more complicated game of chess. Models range in height from 6mm to 28mm tall, with 15mm and 25mm being the most popular. There also is a growing interest in toy soldiers and military models, such as the 1/32 and 1/35 scale plastic soldiers from Conte, and Marx.
The most popular miniature wargames are fantasy and science fiction based, such as Warhammer, Warhammer 40K, Warmachine and The Lord of the Rings. World War II games such as Flames of War and Axis and Allies are new favorites. Other favorite historical periods include Napoleonics, the American Civil War, and ancients, such as Romans or Greeks. Other gamers enjoy miniature naval wargames, recreating battles like Trafalgar, Jutland and the Coral Sea.
Hobbyists research historical periods and paint their tiny soldiers in accurate uniforms. Others develop "historically realistic" rules sets or build scale battlefield terrain using model railroad techniques.
For pictures, visit the gallery.
Some of the bigger hobby companies are Games Workshop, which produces Warhammer, Wargames Foundry and Old Glory Miniatures. Wizards of the Coast produces several lines of pre-painted miniatures games, such as the Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures games, and a historical game with pre-painted miniatures: The new Axis and Allies game. Wizkids produces a fantasy collectable miniatures game, such as the Mage Knight and Heroclick fantasy games, the science fiction games MechWarrior and Rocketmen, as well as the quasi-historical Pirates of the Spanish Main.