"The Historical Bug" Topic

I think I've been re-infected with the Historical Bug. When I first got into this hobby, my plan was to do 15mm SF, and accordingly, I bought a pile of figures, terrain, rules, paints, etc.

I don't know if it was my fear of painting, but I soon caught Ooh Shiny Disease, and started researching a project in 28mm FIW skirmish.

The more I read about the history of the era, however, the more interested I became in learning about European tactics of the era. If the North American tactics were so new and so different, what exactly were they different from.

I read – a lot – of military history as a kid, and even afterwards, but never the excellent and in-depth kind of stuff I'm reading now, the Christopher Duffy and the Brent Nosworthy.

To understand small unit tactics I started with Force on Force (and Tomorrow's War). That got me intrigued about the origin of some of those tactics, which led me (back) to the French and Indian War. Which got me interested in European linear warfare in general, and especially the career of Frederick the Great.

I'm more interested in reading history and rules right now than I am in modeling or painting. I'm even planning on using (unpainted!) proxies, like Risk figures and Legos, to test out several rulesets, before I commit any more resources to miniatures or terrain.

Interesting how even when I was planning a sci fi campaign I was reading so much about historical battles. Also interesting to note just how addictive history can be, as most of my "historical era" gaming will probably end up being Imagi-Nations or some version of Sci Fi in the long run.

I just can't put down the Christopher Duffy books, unless it's to pick up something equally enthralling about a similar subject. Even to plan an imaginary campaign, by imaginary armies, led by imaginary commanders of imaginary nations.

History is fun and a great source for inspiration for other wargames. I dare say, why not buy some 10mm and 6mm minis and build some small armies? They paint fast , require little space and will give you some historical armies to push around :P

What about using these to begin with…

link

I get what you're saying here, I often pick up rules sets just to read through them and have, in the past, used squares of plastic with masking tape on them with the unit identifier written on the tape to play through the rules.

Great suggestions for proxie units.
+1 Junior General site.

Warfare in the Age of Reason is a rule set that is right in your wheelhouse.

Also Brent Oman's Field of Battle 2 covers 1700-1900 and will let you try different historical periods by tweaking the same basic rules. Uses cards to provide friction to your battle.

Thanks for the recommendation for FoB2, I'll check it out.

The one ruleset for the era that I do already own happens to be WitAoR and both supplements (haven't read them yet).

I just picked up King of the Battlefield. My plan is to add Volley & Bayonet (and the SYW supplements) and Might and Reason to my rules shelf, along with the library's copy of Black Powder (might read it over the winter).

I'm just finishing Anatomy of Victory (it had to go back to the library but I need to own a copy anyway I see). In the interim, I started Duffy's The Military Life of Frederick the Great. I just ordered The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, as well.

I bought Risk. I bought Legos. I bought colored tape. I bought foam shapes. I have Monopoly houses. I've got a nice pile of aged and venerable Ospreys on the night stand. I think I'm ready to deploy some battalions. 8)