CQB is a set of free wargames rules from Oculus that are designed to simulate special ops and hostage rescue situations. Oculus writes:
CQB is designed as a skirmish system with emphasis on rapid play rather than as a
detailed simulation. The rules are designed for the players to take the role of the "good guys"
be they SWAT, SAS or Delta Force and the umpire to play the "forces of evil".
This release of CQB is intended for playtesting and does not contain the full complement
of background information or sample scenario that will feature in the final set. It is important
that we get feedback on these rules in order to develop them and so if you download them
please let us know what you think!
There was a time when -- judging from the shelves on my friendly local game shop -- when Wargames Research Group rules dominated the gaming world. They had sets that covered everything from ancient naval to modern armor. Here is their classic set of Infantry Action rules.
Jim Wallman has posted the Lionel Tarr Rules on his website. Jim explains that these were
written sometime around 1959, these are as published in Don Featherstone's original 1962 book 'War Games' - retyped and made available to nostalgic wargamers everywhere.
Airland War is the successor to Steve Lorenz' successful, commercially published Panzer War miniatures wargames rules. The rules simulate modern warfare using microarmor miniatures. You can now get Airland War as a free download.
Tom Hinshelwood has written 5.56mm, a set of modern skirmish rules. These free wargames rules are 1:1 scale, with cards used to activate individual characters. Success or failure in various actions is determined by rolling a d6 against various target numbers. There also are rules for vehicles.
This is from the stellar Wargames Journal site.
Ambush, a set of free modern wargames rules by Jeroba, covers guerilla warfare from 1960 to 2000. The scale is 1:12, with the basic element being a stand of 2-4 15mm figures; the author says it also could be played with 25mm figs by increasing distances and the like. The game has a nice initiative system that, like Crossfire, depends upon choosing the correct action at the correct time. The system is well written, with lots of illustrations throughout.
Games Workshop's Warhammer miniatures rules have been adapted to a wide variety of other periods. You can get the Warhammer 'Nam rules by joining the Yahoo Group.
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.
