The Monjoie! rules were developed for a participation game at the Jersey Wargames Society
Siege 1999 weekend. They are intended to allow the players
to take the part of Roland and his men fighting a desperate rearguard action. The rules emulate
the style of the Song of Roland with the focus being on the key characters rather than
the rank and file men. Each player takes the part of one or two of the heroes and the umpire
of the waves of Saracens.
Players should bear in mind that the Song of Roland was essentially
early Medieval propaganda. The Song bears little resemblance to the historic encounter
at Rencevals. However, the game is intended to simulate the action as it would have been imagined
by those hearing the Song before a battle or to encourage them to go on crusade.
Accordingly a certain willing suspension of disbelief is required!
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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