A TIMELINE OF THE HISTORICAL MINIATURES WARGAMING HOBBY

1890

- Theo. Svensen reports in a 1963 issue ofTable Top Talk, that he played wargames with paper soldiers and shooting cannons as a child in the 1890's.

BEGINNING OF THE AGE OF WARGAMING

The Hobby is Published

1898

- "Stevenson at Play" by Lloyd Osbourne, Scribners Magazine tells of Robert Louis Stevenson’s wargames. First published account of gaming with miniature figures

1910 (?)

- The Great War Game. A set of 30mm hollow cast figures packaged with a rule book: War Games for Boy Scouts. Phil Dutre found a reference to this in The Great Book of Hollow-Cast Figures by Norman Joplin. The author says, "Probably made around 1910 by Hanks."

1913

- Little Wars by H. G. Wells: Considered first published wargame rules for miniature figures. For a picture of the first edition and much commentary, check Phil Dutre's site:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~phil/GM/LITTLEWARS/index.html

See some sample pages here: http://home.att.net/~cmior/title.html

1929

- Shambattle: How to Play with Toy Soldiers by Harry G. Dowdall and Joseph H. Glason. first wargame rules for miniatures published in United States. For lots of info on this book, check out Phil Dutre's site:

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~phil/GM/SHAMBATTLE/index.html

1930’s

- Captain Sach’s War Game, adopted as official rules by British Model Soldier Society.

 

1940

- Fletcher Pratt publishes rules for Naval Games

1952

- Jack Scruby (father of modern wargaming) enters the hobby playing games with 54mm figures

- Fred L. Patlel distributes mimeographed rules, "KREIG-SPEIL: A Wargame ! A Mimic Battle with Miniature Soldiers. Cover, Intro, Table of Contents

1953

- Thomas Company releases 20mm (HO scale) American Civil War figures

1955

- Jack Scruby molds first figures for wargaming in RTV rubber.

- Don Featherstone enters the hobby.

1956

- First U.S. (if not anywhere) Wargaming convention, organized by Jack Scruby in California. Fourteen people attended, all playing with 54mm figures.

1957

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND AGE OF WARGAMING

The Hobby is tied together by a newsletter

- Jack Scruby publishes War Game Digest to bring together informal network of some 40 gamers in U.S., Canada, and England (the original "Old Guard" of the hobby). Frank Tippets discusses moving figures into battle with trays, then taking them off when engaged, one issues deals with special troops - grenadiers, lights, and sappers. Charlie Sweet suggests particular rules for medieval period. WD was published 4 times a year for $4.00 per year. Early issues included copies of photos of games pasted on the pages. Original subscribers.

- Scruby Miniatures begins with 30mm figures at 15 cents.

- Swedish African Engineers (SAE) produce 30mm painted figure sets.

- Duke Seifreid plays giant Napoleonic game on 8 by 16 foot table with Scruby and original Duke 30mm figures

- Jack Scruby publishes "All About Wargames."

- Bob Bard (US) releases Making and Collecting Military Miniatures including a chapter on War Games including the activities of Charlie Sweet, H. G. Wells, and Herbert Sherlock.

1958

- Lional Tarr in U.K. begins solo game of German Invasion of USSR that continues for 10 years, (as recounted in Wargamer's Newsletter at a later date)

- John Greenwood in U.K. produces 20mm figures of various historical eras.

- War Game Digest has article on Morale in Wargames by Charles Grant. September

- Mechanics Illustrated has article on wargaming. September issue, any one have a copy?

- Readers Digest has cover showing a war game in progress. Jack Scruby notes in War Games Digest that this is the first time a national magazine has a war game on cover.

- Jack Scruby begins producing his own design lead figures in 30mm; War Game Warriors-15 cents each.

- Avalon Hill publishes first modern military board games: Tactics II and Gettysburg

1959

- Jack Scruby produces 20mm Greenwood figures under license in U.S.; also buys printing shop to handle magazine and catalog production.

- In War Game Digest, Gerry DeGer suggests use of written orders each turn during game.

1960

- Airfix Ltd. introduces soft plastic HO/OO figures in retail stores: British Guards, band, German and British WWII infantry.

- War Game Digest split into two editions with the U.K. version edited by Don Featherstone and Tony Bath. Two U.K. editions and two U.S. per year.

- Article in WD on content and structure in wargame battle reports or "game commentaries."

1961

- Jack Scruby publishes his "The Strategic-Tactical War Game"

- Don Featherstone appears on BBC and commercial television discussing wargames and organizes the first U.K. wargames convention in Southhampton.

- Diplomacy published

1962

- Jack Scruby and Don Featherstone stop joint publication of War Game Digest over difference of editorial policy. Don's article and the editors' exchange.

- Don Featherstone’s -War Games - published; first "modern" wargame book. I recently obtained a first edition of the book that belonged to Tony Bath. Click here Don's inscription.

- Joe Morschauser’s How to Play Wargames in Miniature published in U.S.

- Jack Scruby starts Table Top Talk, as he says, a promotional item for Scruby Miniatures. In No. 2 he states that he mailed out 400 copies. A ten fold growth since first issue of War Game Digest.

-Larry Brom and his cousin hold record for most wargames in one day and 30 mm figures cost 15 cents

- Don Featherstone begins monthly Wargamer’s’ Newsletter

- First report of a "Big" Wargame. Tom Bookwalter, Duke Seifried, Gary Locker, Dave Towell, Dave Glazier, John Chandler and others of "the Dayton War Game Gang" do Battle of La Fere with 8000 figures on June 29th.

1963

-War Game Digest ceases publication.

- Jack Scruby’s Table Top Talk becomes a regular subscription magazine at $2.00 per year.

- Gardner Fox complains in Wargamer’s Newsletter that ancient and medieval figures are in short supply.

- Don Featherstone’s Tackle Model Soldiers this Way published

- Fred Vietmeyer reports basing his figures on historical tables of organization rather than having all units of all nationalities on bases with the same number of figures.

- New Jersey gamers propose "infectious morale," troops being passed by units falling back must check their own morale

- Second "Big" wargame reported in Dayton, Ohio. This time with 15 players including Duke Seifried, Ted Haskill, Stan Glazier, and Fred Vietmeyer. 8,000 figures on four 6’ by 12’ tables.

- Jack Scruby requires cash in advance for payment of orders. The transition of wargaming from a business hobby to a hobby business. Also Scruby Miniatures produces Erikkson figures under license. 50/50 tin/lead alloy replaces type metal.

1964

- First wargames convention on U.S. east coast sponsored by the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, in Philadelphia’s Essex Hotel, 80 people attend. Agenda included demonstration games from 1pm to 4pm, then discussion session, cocktails and dinner, followed by films and a pipe band concert until closing at 9pm.

- Graham Biddle suggests use of points for picking armies which are then unbalanced in numbers but balanced in points.

- Fred Vietmeyer introduces the concept of unbalanced equality for Napoleonics. Each nationality has some positive aspects and some negative ones.

- Jack Scruby publishes his Fire and Charge rule booklet.

- Testors "Dull Coat" arrives on hobby market. How many millions of wargame figures have been sprayed with this?

- U.K. wargames convention sponsored by Hinton Hunt which also enters the figure market with 20mm figures, larger than U.S. 20mm figs and so begins the great "mm (millemeter) Race." The Hinton Hunt figures led Jack Scruby to make matching figures which he called 25mm.

- John Chandler publishes first rules for a specific period, with historical details: Miniature Wargames du temps de Napoleon. "Complete approach to Napoleonic wargaming. Simultaneous action , man for man concept, over 40 photos, sketches, illustrations. $7.50 post paid."

1965

Sports Illustrated publishes article on wargaming - "A Little War Can Be a Lot of Fun." Features Charlie Sweet and Gerry DeGre. Later CBS TV coverage by Mike Wallace and Walter Cronkite. Wargaming comes "out of the closet."

- Slingshot published by U.K. Society of Ancients, edited by Tony Bath. First historical specialized organization and journal for gamers. Page 1 Page 2

- Jack Scruby suggest combat points based on equipment and type

- Alberken Figures, U.K. (predecessor of Miniature Figurines) 20mm figures leads Jack Scruby to comment on the variable size of U.K. vs. U.S. "20mm" figures.

- Doug Johnson founds and edits Bulletin of Colonial Wargame Society, later Savage and Soldier , first special magazine totally devoted to era gaming.

- Pat Condray translates Le Kreigspiel into English.

- Aram Bakshian calls for positive as well as negative morale. That is plus factors as well as negative ones, predecessor of "uncontrolled advance."

- Fred Vietmeyer releases battalion level Napoleonic organization charts.

- Jack Scruby makes first "25mm" figures, first colonial and then Napoleonic. 15/16ths of an inch high. 15cents for foot, 30 cents for cavalry. First shown at the 150th Anniversary of Waterloo Convention in London.

- Wellsian Society formed to further the cause of H.G. Wells games with 54mm figures.

- Table Top Talk pays $2 per page for articles.

- Lional Tarr advocates over and under ranging for artillery hits: 5/6 overshoot, 3/4 on target, 1/2 undershoot, then use template to measure hit area.

- George Bradford forms the Miniature AFV Collector’s Association

- First wargames cartoon drawn by Jerry Eberling, published in Table Top Talk.

D. Featherstone, Naval War Games (UK)

1966

- Don Featherstone offers Airfix Trophy to championship club at U.K. national convention. He produces eight historical rule booklets: Ancient, Medieval, 1750, Napoleonic, U.S. Civil War, Colonial (Victorian), 1917, 1944. Also, his book, Naval War Games, is published.

- Jack Scruby complains the Viet Nam war is driving the price of tin "sky high" and "it seems fair certain that metal soldiers are going to cost more while this war is going on." (Table Top Talk, January). His price for 30mm foot is 18 cents (one cent more than when he first started in 1958!). Also, he is accepting special request figures on commission. Scruby Miniatures is 10 years old. He describes a game with a roster variable combat strength.

- Dave Ballard presents rules for game based on historical performance statistics , movement scaled to real time, and sighting vision checks.

- Joe Morschauser describes a skirmish game with individual figures.

- Leo Cronin first to suggest in print, fantasy gaming, in particular a "mythical war game" based on the Fellowship of the Ring. In Wargamers Newsletter

- Fred Vietmeyer introduces idea of historically balanced armies; privately publishes first edition of Column, Line and Square for Napoleonic games.

- Michael Korn’s Modern War in Miniature published. Is this the first rules for role playing? The rules are for World War 2

- Terry Griner discusses pre-set written orders for units and couriers to carry changes to units.

- Ted Suren begins Willie Figures, connoisseur 30mm figures.

- Charles Stadden begins range of 30mm figures that can be used for wargames.

-D. Featherstone, Air War Games

1967

- Bob Beattie, after playing with toy soldiers for 17 years, is introduced to organized wargaming through Column, Line and Square by Bob Cory, Collaborator with F. Vietmeyer in the Midwest Wargames Confederation (successor of the old Dayton gang), and Scruby Miniatures :)

- David Chandler’s Campaigns of Napoleon published, the Napoleonic wargamers "bible."

- Bill Holmes begins "Deltorama", first wargame construction service.

- Lamming Miniatures begins range of U.K. style 20mm figures

- John Cape suggests game event probabilities based on 100 using numbered chips.

- U.K. Horse and Musket Society founded and publishes The Bayonet

- Les Higgins Miniatures (U.K.) begins with 20mm English Civil War figures

- Jack Scruby introduces 1" figures - Second Empire range

- Neville Dickinson acquires Alberkin Figures and renames company: Miniature Figurines.

- Jack Scruby ceases Table Top Talk and publishes Miniature Parade, a magazine for "advanced gamers."

- The Trumpeter and The Canadian Wargamer begin

- Command Post in California releases 30mm figures

- Peter Young and J.P. Lawford (U.K.) Charge! or How to Play War Games

Christopher Wagner begins Strategy and Tactics magazine that has both boardgame and miniatures articles

1968

- Pat Condray publishes first "over the counter" U.S. wargame magazine: The Armchair General.

- Dick Higgs designs for Miniature Figurines (MiniFigs) first big 25mm figs, "S-range"

- Miniature Warfare, U.K.’s second general wargame magazine. Don Featherstone says, "there will be no sniping from me."

- Henry Bodenstedt presents his "Battle Game" rules in The Armchair General, miniature rules for a specific battle.

- Angriff, World War II rules for micro and HO scale -- Z and M Publications, first edition

- Gary Gygax begins the GenCon conventions

- David Geisz suggests rules for fighting games of the American Revolution.

- Charles Grant begins wargame series in Meccano Magazine in U.K.

- Fred Vietmeyer releases 2nd edition of privately printed Column, Line and Square -- $15 then, now original copies have gone at auction for $100.

- Ray Johnson writes " Wargamers Corner" for Strategy and Tactics

- Ed Miller writes "Wargamers Corner" for The Guidon

- Bob Wall devises a diceless tournament miniatures game for 5th annual Miniataure Figure Collectors of America Wargames Convention. (Picture taken following year, shows NEWA members playing at a meeting)

- Dick Bryant introduced to wargaming by Bob Beattie; they form New England Wargamers Association and begin Newsletter (later Bulletin) of NEWA, later to become The Courier (see below).

1969

- First issue of the Newsletter of the New England Wargamers Association, beginning of what was to become The Courier. page 1 page 2

- Wargames Research Group founded by Phil Barker and Bob O’Brien, publish first edition of Ancient Rules with general orders for units and casualties per figure so figures stay on the table, also reaction tests so troops can get out of command control.

- NEWA demonstrate first skirmish wargame, with each figure representing one person, at MFCA gaming convention. Game is Irish Rebellion, 1920-21 by Leo Cronin, wins Best in Show award.

- Don Houghton’s "At the Colonel’s Table" (in Wargamer’s Newsletter) - the all time best wargame battle report.

- David Wesley, Midwest Military Simulation Association, runs first fantasy role-playing game.

- First printed reference to MiniFigs’s S-range figures being 25mm instead of 20mm.

- U.K. Guild of Model Soldier Manufacturers formed, with the purpose, according to Don Featherstone in January Wargamer’s Newsletter, to put Miniature Figurines out of business. The politics of the hobby begin. Guild members will not advertise in WN nor will Miniature Warfare take MiniFig ads.

- Jack Scruby ceases publication of Miniature Parade.

- The Courier begins publication as independent magazine instead of organ of NEWA; with Dick Bryant as first editor (Bob Beattie has moved to Michigan. He wanted to call it The Volley but was outvoted:( )

 

Henry Harris releases How to Go Collecting Model Soldiers with a chapter on wargames by Don Featherstone, and a picture of him demonstrating a game.

- D. Featherstone, Advanced War Games

- Terry Wise (U.K.), Introduction to Battle Gaming

1970

- NEWA display first large scale fantasy miniatures game, Middle Earth, at MFCA gaming convention. Wins Best in Show.

- Scruby miniatures joins Ambrite Industries, tries to streamline production and lower prices with "ready-cast" line, 15 cents for 15mm infantry.

- Pat Condray publishes The Wargame - musket period warfare rules.

- Wargamer’s Newsletter announces availability of 20 sided dice and has article on electronic random number generator..

- Douglas Miniatures (Canada) -- 25mm Crimean and Napoleonic figures

- Waterloo - the "wargame movie"

- Les Higgins (U.K.)-- 20mm Marlborough figures

- SEGOM (France) -- 30mm hard plastic Napoleonics

- Steve Curtis, Ian Colwill, and Mike Blake (U.K.), Western Gunfight Wargame Rules

- Bugle and Guidon (U.S.) -- 30mm Custer’s Last Stand figures

- Jack Scruby has heart attack, slows down designing a bit, but his article on Unit Efficiency appears in The Armchair General (TAG).

- Airfix introduces Napolonic figures.

- Neville Dickenson’s rules on English Civil War appear in TAG.

- McEwen Miniatures (U.S.) -- 25mm Napoleonic artillery

- Miniature Figurines casts riders with saddlery so games can use same horses for different units.

- P. Dunn, Sea Battle Games

- C. Grant, Battle: Practical Wargaming

- D. Featherstone, Wargames Campaings

1971

- Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren release Chainmail, rules for medieval miniatures, first with rules for a fantasy game. Gary writes in Wargamer's Newsletter that he will write rules fo fantasy games with 20mm hobits and 70mm giants.

- Mike Reese and Leon Tucker's Tractics for modern warfare is first to us 20-sided dice.

- Don Houghton makes first mention of a science fiction game, in Wargamer's Newsletter. "What rules might apply for a regiment of Daleks or a squadron of mounted Cybermen?"

- Airfix releases Astronaut figures, prompts Don Featherstone to ask, "Do we have the scope for Space Wargames?"

- Wargames Research Group releases rules 1750-1850

- Smaller armor scale begins with 1/150 AFV models

- Duke Seifried's Der Kreigspielers Napoleonic figures are first bagged figures released for retail distribution.

- Peter Guilder designs Hinchliffe Figures, first release is 25mm Napoleonics

- Jack Scruby publishes encore edition of War Game Digest, Vol. 7 No. 1. Last Scruby gaming publication.

- Knight’s Battles for Wargamers book series launched, U.K. The Alma 1854, H. Harris; Borodino 1812, E. Holmes; Saratoga 1777, J. Sweetman

-Charles Grant The Wargame (UK)

1972

- Peter Laing, U.K., invents the 15mm wargaming figure.

- Jack Scruby offers 9mm/N-gague figures as an alternative to Micro Scale 1/300.

- Peter Guilder, U.K., designs lead 25mm (20mm) World War II figures and equipment

- Phil Barker writes Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome, first reference and uniform book directed at wargamers. MiniFigs later releases figures based on book - the PB Range.

- Dick Higgs, MiniFigs designer, produces 5mm figures -- Napoleonics and Modern. He also does the first commercial fantasy range -- Middle Earth

- Ray Seton, U.K. sets up Warrior Miniatures

- Les Higgins dies but work taken over by Phoenix Model Development

- Jim Oden begins Miniature Figurines, U.S.A., importing MiniFigs to U.S.

- Hardtack, first U.S. published American Civil War rules

- Alex Collet, U.K., produces hard plastic Springwood Models -- 25mm Napoleonics

- Stan Johansen, U.S., forms miniatures company, 30mm figures.

- Steve Curtis, Ian Colwill, and Mike Blake add Colonial Skirmish Wargame Rules to their publication list.

- Atlantic Figures produce HO/OO soft plastic figures in Italy.

- John Mansfield initiates The Signal in Canada.

- Military Modelling first published

- Miniature Figurines advertises as 25mm as opposed to 20mm

- Jacklex, U.K., offers 20mm U.S. Civil War figures, later Victorian Colonial

D. Featherstone, Solo War Gaming (UK)

- Terence Wise, Battles for Wargamers series begins, The 2nd Punic War, The Roman Civil Wars, World War II: The Western Desert (1973) (UK)

- D, Featherstone, Wargames Through the Ages, Vol. 1 3000BC-1500AD (UK) Note how dates correspond to WRG Rules.

1973

- Wargamers' Digest begun by Gene McCoy, " A digest of some of the best military thinking down through the ages, amplified by reports on current war gaming going on around the country, with an analysis of the military actions involved" Pays $25 per article.

- Wargames Handbook published by Z and M Publications

- Tony Bath, Setting up a Wargames Campaign (UK)

- Tank Battles in Miniature series begins with Western Desert Campaign, 1940-1942, D. Featherstone

- D. Featherstone, Solo Wargaming

1974

- Dungeons and Dragons reviewed in The Courier. Conclusion: "...concept and imagination involved is stunning. However, much more work ... is necessary before the game is managable. ... I do not suggest these to the average wargamer."

-David Nash Wargames (UK) in the Hamlyn all-colour paperback series. TOC

- Alien Space by Lou Zocchi, first tactical spaceship game

- McEwan releases 25mm science fiction/fantasy figures and Star Guard science fiction miniatures rules

- Wargamers Digest article on Panzerblitz with micro armor

- Heritage Models founded by Jim Oden from Miniature Figurines USA, inc. (Dallas) begins casting Hinchlife figures under license

- Archive Miniatures founded, release 15mm Napoleonics and 25mm ancients

- C-in-C offers 1/285 armor

- Custom Cast founded by Duke Seigfried--25mm Fantastiques (fantasy figures)

- C. Grant, The Ancient War Game, (UK)

- C.F. Wesencraft, Practical Wargaming (UK)

- D. Featherstone, War Games Through the Ages, Vol. 2 1420-1783 (UK)

1975

- Phil Barker, Airfix Guide No. 9: Ancient Wargaming (UK)

- D. Featherstone, Wargaming Ancient and Medieval Periods (UK)

- Unpainted plastic Elastolin figures imported by Continental Hobbies

- Column, Line , And Square Battle Manual by Jud Baumann and Fred Vietmeyer

- Miniature Figurines releases Pirates of the Spanish Main

- Boot Hill, first U.S. gunfight rules by TSR with counters but can be played with miniatures

- George Gush, Renaissance Armies (U.K.)

- D. Featherstone, Skirmish War Gaming (UK)

- D. Featherstone, War Games Through the Ages, Vol. 3 1792 - 1879 (UK)

- Miniature Figurines fantasy range, Sword And Sorcery

- G H Q releases 1/1200 hundred sailing ship figures

- Superior Models releases 1/2400 ship models

- J. E. B. -- U.S. Civil War rules by Scotty Bowden

- Arnold Hendricks, Sword and Spear and Ancient Warfare

- Jack Scruby enters fantasy field

- Full scale war gaming rules for live "Game of the Rings"

- Grenadier Figures, (U.S.), 25mm figures

- Panzer Warfare first rules designed for 1/300 scaled games

- The Strategic Review Journal published by TS R

- Earth Of Olde, Heritage 25mm scale of fantasy figures

- First ORIGINS convention in Baltimore: National Gaming Convention

- Background Books for Wargamers and Modellers set published: The Battle of Fontenoy, C. Grant; The Battle of Salamis, R. Nelson; The Battle of Waterloo, B. Hurren

- Barry Carter, Naval Wargames (UK)

1976

- Garrison releases fantasy line

- Custom Cast releases 25mm Greek and Persian line--Thermopolites

- Stalk-- the miniatures board game

- Miniature Figurines releases 15mm U. S. Civil War figures cast on strips

- Arnold Hendricks publishes War In The Americas

- Valiant Miniatures releases 1/2400 scale sailing ships

- Fantasy Unlimited publishes--Legion, Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age, and Gladiators

- Blue Light Manual, U.S. Civil war rules

- The McCoy " standard unit " for World War Two games published in War Gamers Digest

- Battleline publishers Rally Round The Flag, Ship O ' the line, and Fighter Pilot

- Gloria Micelli, first woman to win a war game figure painting contest

- D. Featherstone, War Games Through the Ages, Vol. 4 1861-1945 (UK)

-G H Q releases modern armored fighting vehicles

- Custom Cast introduces 15mm World War Two Panzertroops

- Miniature Figurines offers 15mm Tricorn range

- Scotty Bowden publishes Redcoat

- 1776 published

-TSR publishes Little Wars under editorship of Timothy Kask, picking up the for The Courier which terminates

1977

- First U.S. WRG ancients tournament organized by Dick Bryant at M F C A convention

- Universal Soldier rules published by RAFM Co.

- Die Kaiserzeit--25 mm World War I figures

- Origins III in New York City

- Miniature Figurines releases official " Dungeons And Dragons " 25 mm figures

- Scotty Bowden publishes the original version of the Empire rules for Napoleonic warfare

- Old Guard introduces 25mm figures for The Empire Of The Petal Throne

- Stone Mountain Miniatures--25mm American revolution figures

- Systems Analysis T A C-50--Mitre, Mustache, and Musket (1740's); Valeur Et Discipline (Napoleonic); and Kepi and Pickelhaub (1845-1880)

- Z and M Publications releases War Gamers Guide To Ancient Combat

- Merger of Custom Cast and Heritage Models

- Battle magazine becomes Battle for Wargamers and Terry Wise begins Observation Post column

- D. Featherstone, Wargaming Pike and Shot (UK)

1978

- Origins IV at the University of Michigan (Bob Beattie puts on first Column, Line, and Square game at national convention)

- John Niblett (U.K.) offers 20mm English Civil War figures

- LittleWars magazine--"Scalplock" Miniatures Rules for American Indian Fighting in Early America"

- Wargamers Digest has rules for tactical air support

- Ral Partha introduces 15mm North African "Desert Rats" figures

- British television has 6 half-hour weekly programs on war gaming hosted by Edward Woodward

1979

BEGINNING OF THE THIRD AGE OF WARGAMING

The Age of the Glossy Magazine

-Dick Bryant brings back The Courier

- PennCon - Jay Hadley organizes first national all historical minatures convention

- C. Grant War Game Tactics (UK)

1980

- Bruce Quarrie (ed.) PSL Guide to Wargaming (UK) Chapters written by many prominent UK gamers: B. Quarrie, Phil Baker, Ian Heath, George Gush, Stuart Asquith, Terry Wise and Ted Herbert.
- Paul Hauge, Sea Battles in Miniature (UK)
- Ian Heath, A Wargamers' Guide to the Crusades (UK)

1981

- Wally Simon proposes formation of a national historical miniatures organization.

The following is a list of all those wargames books published between 1957 and 1975, a period that corresponds with the popularity of most of the 20mm figures featured on this site. Rules and magazines published during the same period will be listed separately. Books are listed chronologically by year and alphabetically thereafter by author. UK publishers except where stated.

1957

1. Making And Collecting Military Miniatures (including a chapter on wargaming). Bob Bard (Robert McBride Co. New York)

1959

1. All About Wargames. Jack Scruby (US, mimeographed)

1962

1. War Games. Donald F Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
2. How To Play Wargames In Miniature. Joseph Morschauser (Walker and Co, New York)

1963

1. Tackle Model Soldiers This Way. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)

1965

1. Naval Wargames. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)

1966

1. Air Wargames. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
2. Modern War In Miniature. Michael Korns (privately published - in US?)

1967

1. Charge! Or How To Play Wargames. Brigadier Peter Young and Colonel James Lawford (Morgan Grampian)

1969

1. Advanced Wargames. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
2. Discovering Wargames. John Tunstill (Shire Publications)
3. Introduction To Battle Gaming. Terry Wise (Model and Allied Publications (MAP)

1970

1. Sea Battles. Pat Dunn (MAP)
2. War Game Campaigns. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
3. Battles With Model Soldiers. DF Featherstone (David & Charles)
4. Battle! Practical Wargaming. Charles Grant (MAP)

1971

1. The War Game. C. Grant (A & C Black)
2. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — First Bull Run 1861. Peter Davies & John H Cooper (Charles Knight & Co)
3. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Chancellorsville 1863. JH Cooper
4. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Alma 1854. Henry Harris
5. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Borodino 1812. ER Holmes
6. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Saratoga 1777. J Sweetman

1972

1. Wargames Through The Ages. Volume One 3000BC-1500AD. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
2. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Minden 1759. HN Cole (Charles Knight & Co)
3. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Poitiers 1356. DF Featherstone (Charles Knight & Co)
4. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers - Dettingen 1743. Michael Orr (Charles Knight &Co
5. Battles For Wargamers — The American Civil War 1862. T Wise (Bellona/MAP)
6. Battles For Wargamers — WW2 The Western Desert. T Wise (Bellona/MAP)
7. Battles For Wargamers — The 2nd Punic War. T Wise (Bellona/MAP)
8. The War Game. P Young (ed.) (Cassell)

1973

1. Setting Up A Wargames Campaign. Tony Bath (Wargames Research Group)
2. Battle Notes For Wargamers. DF Featherstone (David & Charles)
3. Solo Wargaming. DF Featherstone (Kaye & Ward)
4. Discovering English Civil Wargaming. George Gush, P Purton and R Stephenson (ed. J Tunstill) (Shire Publications)
5. Tank Battles In Miniature. Volume One — The Western Desert 1940-42. DF Featherstone (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
6. Discovering Modelling for Wargamers. Dennis Teague (Shire Publications)
7. Battles For Wargamers. World War II — Tunisia. T. Wise (Bellona/MAP)
8. Knight’s Battles For Wargamers — Vittoria. Col. J. Lawford

1974

1. Wargames Through The Ages. Volume Two 1420-1783. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul)
2. The Ancient Wargame. C Grant (A&C Black)
3. Napoleonic Wargaming. C Grant (MAP)
4. The Napoleonic Wargame. George W. Jeffrey (Almark)
5. Wargames. David Nash (Hamlyn)
6. How To Win Wargames. Mike Philpott & Bob Thompson (self-published UK)
7. Napoleonic Wargaming. Airfix Magazine Guide 4. Bruce Quarrie (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
8. Practical Wargaming. Charles Wesencraft (Elmfield Press)
9. Battles For Wargamers. Peninsular War 1813. T. Wise (Bellona/MAP)
10. Battle For Wargamers. Roman Civil Wars 49-45BC. T. Wise (Bellona/MAP)

1975

1. Ancient Wargaming. Airfix Magazine Guide 9. Phil Barker (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
2. Skirmish Wargaming. DF Featherstone (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
3. Wargames Through The Ages. Volume Three 1792-1859. DF Featherstone (Stanley Paul) (Volume Four 1861-1945 published 1976)
4. Wargaming Ancient And Medieval Periods. DF Featherstone (David & Charles)
5. Tank Battles In Miniature. Volume Two —Russian Campaign 1941-45. B. Quarrie (Patrick Stephens Ltd)
6. An Introduction To Wargaming. John Sandars (Pelham Books)
7. With Pike And Musket. C. Wesencraft (Elmfield Press)
8. Background Books For Wargamers and Modellers Series (William Luscombe):
Fontenoy. C Grant Salamis. Richard Nelson Waterloo. BJ Hurren

 

The rules listed below are all the commercially available sets we have been able to trace. We have divided the rules into UK, French (yes, French) and North American publications, grouped them by publishers/designers and listed alphabetically. We have not included naval, mechanised warfare or fantasy sets. Where possible we’ve tried to give some basic information about the format of the rules. If you’ve used or still use any of the sets please feel free to drop us a line with your thoughts.

UK Rules

Aberdeen Wargames Society

1. Napoleonic Rules (advertised in Wargamers Newsletter 1975)

ADC Publications

1. Advanced Ancient Wargame Rules (published in Birmingham 1974)

Written by DJ Constable, AR Aldridge and DJ Head. 28 pages. Figure scale 1:20. Ground scale 1 inch = 10 yards. Quite WRG-ish in appearance.

Bayonet Publications

Published in Margate by Hamish Fraser editor of Bayonet, the Journal of the Horse & Musket Society. No copyright date is given but they seem to date from c.1970-72

1. World War One
2. The English Civil War (by Mike Wall). 22 pages, 12 of which are rules, the rest being details on organization. No figure scale given but suggested unit size of 42 men per infantry regiment indicates 1:20 or thereabouts.
3. Napoleonic (Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society (TWWS). Complete with templates for canister cones.
4. The Crimean War
5. ACW (TWWS). 23 pages plus several more featuring casualty graphs, canister burst charts and a template for an artillery burst "spider" (splendid!). No figure scale given. 1mm = 1 yard.

Birmingham Wargames Society

1. 1500-1660 (issued c.1974)
2. Early Medieval (issued c.1974)

BMSS

Written bt Ed Smith and used at the National Wargame Convention of 1967 the rules were advertised for general sale in Slingshot

1. Medieval and Ancient Wargame Rules

Cass/Connett

The rules of veteran wargamer Archie Cass appear to have been the orginal Society of Ancients set and first appeared in printed form c.1965. They were distributed through the SoA and later superseded by Tony Bath's rules, which in turn gave way to WRG.

1. Cass/Connett Ancient Rules

The Confederate High Command

Presumably the British Branch (members included Marcus Hinton)

1. American Civil War (c.1974). By B Chalkley, RG White and DA Chandler. Published by Skytrex. 33 pages including casualty tables. Figure scale 1:33. Ground scale 1mm = 1 yard. Includes details of how to make shell burst circles in three sizes, a canister cone and a shrapnel spider.

Decalset

1. Wars of the Roses (c.1973). By Ed Smith. 20 pages including play sheets. Figure scale 1:25. Ground scale 1mm = 1yard

Drillbook Publications

1. 1) The Age of Marlborough — European Warfare 1700-1720. Distributed by Micro-Mold c.1975.

Trevor Halsall

1. Rules For Napoleonic Wargames. First issued in 1968 and sold at the 1969 UK National Wargames Convention in Worthing. Distributed through Apex Crafts Leicester.
2. Revised edition of the above Rules For Wargamers. Napoleonic Warfare (with AM Roth). Published by Leicester Micro-models in 1972.
3. Colonial Wars (1974)
4. Gladiatorial Combat (Leicester Micro-models 1975)
5. American Civil war (LMM 1975)

Bill Lamming

Figure designer and manufacturer wrote rules with TH Houltby

1. Medieval Campaign and Battle Rules. One-to-One rules (c.1975). 15 pages.

London Wargames Section

Published by the London Wargames Section. Miniature Warfare contributors such as John Tunstill, Bish Iwazsko, Carl Reavley etc had a heavy input into these rules, which were used at a number of national conventions during the late-1960s.

1. Ancient & Medieval (1968) — rules dropped by 1974 presumably because of popularity of WRG.
2. Napoleonic c. 1813 (issued 1970). Probably an amended version of the original British Model Soldier Society Napoleonic rules issued in 1966 for the UK National Convention.
3. American Civil War 1863 (by John Tunstill c.1970). 20 pages. Figure scale 1:33. Ground scale 1mm = 1yard. Partly based on Captain Livermore’s American Kriegspiel rules.
4. Ancient Rules Roman supplement.
5. Samurai (by Sid and Ken Smith). Issued c.1974. Early one figure equals one man skirmish set. 18 pages.

Dave Millward

Millward was the founder of the Pike & Shot Society. These rules were published by Routier.

1. Rules For Period 1500-1660 (With Nigel Jackson and Paul Kay). Issued 1972
2. God’s Acre. Feudal 1000-1300 (issued 1975). 34 pages. Figure scale 1:20. Ground scale 1inch = 10yards.
3. Condottieri. Medieval 1300-1500 (issued 1975)
4. Musketeer. Pike and Shot (issued 1975)

Reed Rules

Rules designed by Stephen and Julian Reed of Sussex.

1. Napoleonic 1796-1815. Issued 1970
2. Medieval Skirmish Rules (c.1975)
3. War of the Spanish Succession in 15mm (c.1975)

Shire Publications. Rules For Wargames

By Arthur Taylor. The same size and format as the "Discovering…" series. Covers ECW, Marlburian, Napoleonic, ACW, Mechanised, naval and air warfare. Published 1971. A very simple set of rules that do not include morale. Fight it out to the last man just like in the old days.

Skirmish Wargames

Written and published by Bristol gamers Mike Blake, Ian Colwill and Steve Curtis. Still in use and damn fine too, in our opinion.

1. Western Gunfight Rules (First edition 1970. Second Edition 1971)
2. The Colonial Skirmish Wargame Rules 1850-1900 (With Ted Herbert) (1972)

South London Warlords

1. 19^th Century Warfare (c.1973)

Steve Tulk

1. Napoleonic Wargame Rules (c.1973)

Wargamer’s Newsletter

Rules published by Don Featherstone. They adhere closely to Featherstone’s tenants of simplicity. Re-issued as a collection by Athena Books in the 1980s.

1. Ancient Wargames 1000BC to AD 900. Tony Bath.
2. Medieval Period. Tony Bath
3. 1750 Period in Europe and North America. Tony Bath
4. Napoleonic Wargames. Don Featherstone
5. American Civil War. Don Featherstone
6. Late 19^th Century Warfare including colonial battle with natives. Don Featherstone
7. 1917 Period In German South West Africa. Don Featherstone.

Wargames Research Group

Began life as the Ancient Wargames Research Group and then branched out. Phil Barker, Ed Smith and Bob O’Brien launched the first set of Ancient rules at the Worthing National Convention in 1969 and they quickly became the standard set for the period.

1. WRG Rules For The Ancient Period 1,000BC to 1,000AD. 1st to 4th edition (1969, 70, 71, 73). The first two editions are in Imperial measurements but the set went metric from 3rd edition meaning the first base size alteration in wargame history. There was a medieval supplement that was issued around 1970. The first set of army lists was published in 1977.
2. WRG Rules For The Period 1750-1850 (first published 1971)

French Rules

Societe de Collectioneurs de Figurines Historiques

1. Le Kriegspiel. These rules were written by Pierre Foure and published in Paris in 1964. Pat Condray of Maryland published an English translation later in that same year. The English language edition ran to 36 pages. No details of period or style, but we’d love to hear about them in any language.

Canadian & US Rules

Bowden & Ray

Well-known Texan gamers Scotty Bowden and Ken Ray produced a series of rules c.1974

1. JEB. ACW rules. The second edition appeared in 1975. First edition described as "the most popular ACW set ever released" in 1974 adverts.
2. Minutemen: Don’t Tread On Me. American War of Independence rules
3. Coeur De Lion. The Crusades 1000-1300
4. Empire. Grand tactical Napoleonic rules. Issued 1975. 57 big pages including army lists. Ground scale 1 inch = 40 yards. Figure scale 1:60. Illustrated with nice pictures of Hinton Hunt figures.

John C Candler

1. Miniature Wargames Du Temps De Napoleon. Issued 1964. No figure scale is given but 20 figures form and infantry battalion so about 1:33. No ground scale either but infantry in line advance 3 inches per turn. A famous early set of rules that were self-published by the author in Ohio and presented in their own rather nice dark green ring binder so that additional sheets and amendments could be added. Nicely illustrated with photos of 30mm Scruby figures. 66 pages of rules including some for naval actions plus another 50 on history and generalship. There’s even an address book at the back listing all the wargamers the author knew of. The author proposed that other rule sets would follow but sadly none ever did.

Pat Condray

The editor of Armchair General

1. The Wargame. Horse and musket rules. Issued 1970.

Der Kriegspieler

Figure manufacturer best known for its (ahem!) "modified" Hinton Hunt Napoleoniques range issued two rule sets compiled by Duke Siefert and others in the early-1970s

1. Frappe! "A Miniature Wargame Of Tactical Manoeuvre In The Napoleonic Era". Written by Ray Johnson. The Wargamers’ Library Volume One. Ground scale Figure scale 1:10 no ground scale given. Illustrated with pictures of Kriegspieler figures. Designed to be played on a hexed terrain board. 31 pages of rules plus appendices on armies, accessories etc. According to a review in The Courier in Frappe the 12pdr has a range of 9 feet and hussars charge 48 inches. A big table clearly required!
2. Napoleonique "A Miniature Wargame Of Strategical-Tactical Manoeuvre In The Napoleonic Era". (This set was re-issued as "Napoleonique Encore" in the 1990s)

Fantasy Games Unlimited

1. Gladiators. Skirmish rules by Hugh McGowan c.1975

Richard Hill

1. Bullets & Bayonets. Napoleonic set produced c.1972. Used at West Point, apparently.

Robert W. Jones.

1. La Jeu De La Guerre. Issued c.1972.

Milgamex

1. Ancient Warfare (1975)

Designed and written by Arthur Hendrick, play tested by the New England Wargamers Association. Battles from earliest times to 1400. Also includes Middle Earth (but we’ll draw a veil over that). Figure scale 1:50. 39 pages including 5 of army lists.

Panzerfaust Publications

1. Grand Army. By Don Lowry and Pete Rice. Rules for big ACW and Napoleonic battles using 9mm or 15mm figures. 1975.

Fred J Platel

1. Kriegspiel: A wargame! A mimic battle with miniature soldiers. Issued in 1952. Sadly we have no other details.

Jack Scruby

Pioneer gamer, figure designer and manufacturer and publisher of various wargame magazines including The War Game Digest

1. Rules For A Strategic-Tactical Wargame. First issued 1961. 12 page rule booklet promising "a new depth" to miniature battles. Doesn’t seem to have been period specific.
2. Fire & Charge. Horse and musket rules. First issued in 1964.

Systems Analysis

1. Joue, Feu, Chargez. Napoleonic Rules by DA Starr c. 1975.

Tactical Studies Rules

Published in Canada. TSR were behind Dungeons & Dragons but began in the real world.

1. Chainmail (Gary Gygax and Jeff Peren). Medieval skirmish rules issued in 1971. Introduced a fantasy element to later editions and the rest is history. Unfortunately.
2. Cavaliers & Roundheads (Gary Gygax and Jeff Peren). ECW rules (published c.1973). 36 pages including uniform details and drawings. Figure scale 1:20.
3. Tricolor (Rick Crane). Napoleonic Rules. C. 1974. 50 pages (about half is taken up with organization details for various armies and units). Figure ratio 1:20. Ground scale 1 foot = 150 yards. Unit sizes the same as In The Grand Manner.
4. Boot Hill. Man-to-Man action in the Old West (c.1974)
5. Classic Warfare. Rules for Ancient Warfare from the Pharoahs to Charlemagne (c.1975). By Gary Gygax. Nicely laid out and illustrated set featuring 23 pages of rules and an equal number on army lists and national characteristics.

Fred Vietmeyer

Prominent US gamer and member of the Mid-Western Napoleonic Confederation.

1. Column, Line and Square. Napoleonic rules. First published 1966.
2. The Column, Line and Square Battle Manual. Written with Judson Baum and issued in 1974

In a 1971 survey The Courier found Column, Line and Square to be the most popular rule set in the US.

The War Room

Rules For the Conduct of the Napoleonic Wargame. Issued c.1973 by company in Kansas City "employing a system for comparing morale plus casualty production probability". Large format. 24 pages.

Z&M Rules

Published in Milwaukee c.1975 and sold through the Terminal Hobby Shop.

1. The Wargamer’s Handbook (contained 20/25mm rules for Ancient, Medieval, AWI, Napoleonic, ACW and "introductory" WW2). By R. Zimmerman (No, not Bob Dylan, surely?).
2. Wargamer’s Guide to The English Civil War. William Protz, jnr. 50 pages of rules and background information.

Lou Zocchi.

US gamer and hobby store owner. Also issued a number of fantasy and sci-fi sets including Alien Space.

1. Hard Tack. ACW rules published by Lowry Hobbies in 1971. Said to be the first US ACW set, which is hard to believe.