"Why little interest in Korean War?" Topic

Several gamer related reasons why the Korean War does not get the attention it should, including the following:

1) many gamers like to play on the German side. No Germans in Korea.

2) other players like to play the British. Unless you really know your history re Korea, you don't know about the British role there.

3) no naval battles, so there go the naval gamers.

4) the air war in Korea has plenty of gaming potential. Thus, the recent rise of air games at conventions using rules like Check Your 6, etc.

5) many gamers like big tank battles. Very few opportunities for tank vs. tank games set in Korea.

6) the U.S./U.N forces lost many of the early battles. Many gamers (including those in the U.S.) rarely like to play on the side that got overrun. How many players do you know who like to play the Texans at the Alamo or Custer at the Little Big Horn on a regular basis?

I've watched convention games set in Korea that did a good job of representing the ground combat and were fun to play. Any 1812 "Retreat from Moscow" or "The Happy Little Rearguard" game would easily convert into a retreat from the Chosin Reservoir game. You don't need a large number of figures for the NK/PRC side, either. Just recycle what you have like in a Zulu game.

As far as the supposed lack of movies for inspiration, this is only from those who don't know their war movies, at least beyond the usual suspects. Pork Chop Hill, MacArthur and The Bridges at Toko-Ri have all been mentioned. At least two of them are considered classics, but you have to go deeper into the period and look at black and white films like The Steel Helmet (written and directed by the late Sam Fuller who served in the Big Red One at Omaha Beach (and made the film of the same name)) and Men in War (also black and white) to get an idea of how Korea was treated on film. Both films were on TV recently during the Memorial Day war movie marathons on TCM and AMC.

Both films should be available from Belle & Blade.

Enjoy the movies and the games.

Two other Korean War black and white films to enjoy are "All The Young Men" and "Fixed Bayonets!" (also by Sam Fuller).

I worked with a veteran who fought in Korea. From the stories he tells, and my experience as a games master, I could create several interesting scenarios the people would enjoy playing. Small skirmish battles could be played in 25mm, while larger battles would be exciting to play in 15mm. End of WW II equipment would suffice. The only problem would be to find figures with vests. Many battles are static, but the Chinese breakthrough offers many mobile scenarios. It might be better to play Korea as a campaign, as well as independent battles.

47Ronin; are the many gamers who, 1) want to play on the German side the same as many gamers who 6) rarely like to play on the side that got overrun? 😉

Dear Pete,

FYI:

I've played Germans;

I've played the rearguard;

I've played German rearguards;

and I've been overrun.

Enjoy the games.

Korean War gaming forum:

link