Dogfight! is a set of free wargames rules from Don Gelwwe. The rules have a bit of a different flavor from most of the genre. Don writes:
These rules are an attempt to create for players a different experience in gaming WW1 aerial combat. They are meant to confront players with broader tactical decisions that reach beyond the immediate specific-maneuver-choices of a moment within a battle to deal with what is (or will be) happening within the scope of the engagement as a whole. The demands placed on players emphasize these larger decision-making aspects of a pilot’s energies rather than the common, traditional focus on flying of most other rules. By removing the need for the player to micro-manage the piloting of the aircraft (these rules assume that the little fellow in the model already knows how to do that…), gametime can be devoted to deciding what to do rather than how. Instead of choosing which specific maneuver to use to position one’s aircraft in a particular way, players will choose amongst tactical objectives (such as “attack that enemy” or “be over there”) and then decide on the risk-level undertaken to achieve that goal. The success of an effort (attack, defense, movement, observation, etc…) is determined by dice rolls that are influenced by the pilot / aircraft quality as well as the level of risk (which reflects the difficulty of the task attempted).
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.
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