Tanzanica is a set of free wargames rules for Darkest Africa adventures by Brett Abbott. The rules actually are a variant of Games Workshop's Mordheim miniatures rules, which are themselves free at the Games Workshop living rules archive. Mordheim is a neat set of rules for the kind of game where each player controls a small group of characters, with one uber-character and several flunkies.
Rorke's Drift has captured the imagination as one of the greatest stands in history. Thousands of brave Zulu warriors versus a handful of stalwart British soldiers. What's not to like? The battle is a staple for colonial wargamers. Steve Winter has these free wargames rules for Rorke's Drift.
Bob Cordery's Bundok and Bayonet free colonial wargames rules are available here. They are a clean, well-written set that use a card activation system. Two things I really like about these rules: 1) that you check morale before moving 2) a bucketsful of dice mechanism for combat.
Since the publication of the seminal "The Sword and The Flame" miniatures rules, wargames set in the Sudan have been a gamers' staple. Steve Winter has written a set of campaign rules for the Sudan: Fire and Sword in the Sudan
These aren't exactly free wargames rules, but if you already own a set of Warhammer 40K, this is worth checking out. Jervis Johnson has provided this page of colonial amendments to Warhammer 40K. These also would be a good way to introduce fantasy and science fiction wargamers to historical miniatures games.
Warhammer Colonials!
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.
