Wargames
Richard Normington looks into the popularity of Wargames.
Wargames, according to H. G. Wells, were games 'for boys from twelve years to 150 and for that more intelligent sort of girl who likes boys' games and books'.
Wells was not the first father to annex the nursery floor. In the years since his publication of Little Wars in 1913, wargaming has steadily grown in popularity. As their popularity grows the way they are played has changed. You will not see lines of lead soldiers being shot at by model cannons; what you will see are finely painted troops doing battle with the aid of dice and complex charts and rules that are designed to cover every possible aspect of war, from the likelihood of a Hun pillaging to the effects of an AT round on a Challenger main battle tank. There are now dozens of clubs across the country and several shows and exhibitions are being put on annually. Their impact on the public should not be underestimated, as they see themselves as the 'popularisers' of history.
Wells was not the first father to annex the nursery floor. In the years since his publication of Little Wars in 1913, wargaming has steadily grown in popularity. As their popularity grows the way they are played has changed. You will not see lines of lead soldiers being shot at by model cannons; what you will see are finely painted troops doing battle with the aid of dice and complex charts and rules that are designed to cover every possible aspect of war, from the likelihood of a Hun pillaging to the effects of an AT round on a Challenger main battle tank. There are now dozens of clubs across the country and several shows and exhibitions are being put on annually. Their impact on the public should not be underestimated, as they see themselves as the 'popularisers' of history.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.