"Archives" Topic

Do you collect classic books on war games. I don't mean the modern 100/100 glossy pewter porn dreck or anything published past 1995, but the classic, and general, books on games like Featherstone, Shaw, Young etc, old wargamers newsletters, Couriers. How many of you have been the inheritor of other gamers files, notes, battle reports and he like. That's become one of my main interests now. Also collecting old distinctive board games. How many have read "Playing at the World" by Jon Peterson.

Yes.

I have a quite complete collection of wargaming authors from the 60s and 70s, original books (lots of Featherstone, Grant, but also Morschauer, etc.). I only started wargaming during the late eighties, so that means I did spend quite some efforts on 2nd hand sites etc. Oldest are original Floor Games and Little Wars, which did cost me roughly 150 euros each 15 years ago.

These days, I usually buy reprints from John Curry (History of Wargaming project).

As for old material, I would love to own more, but I am perfectly happy to look at scanned copies such as the Vintage Wargaming blog.

I try to collect old magazines though. See also my effort of indexing wargaming magazines: link

As for boardgames: no – they take up too much space. I do have some games from the 70s I keep as emotional memorabilia (e.g. a few games my late father gave me as a present from his trips abroad), but definitely not everything.

Playing at the World? Yes, absolutely! Must-read for anyone interested in the history of wargaming.

I try to keep these books too. Playing at the World is a keeper, about time to re-read it. The Grant Scenario books get pulled out the most frequently

I don't mean the modern 100/100 glossy pewter porn dreck or anything published past 1995

Tell us how you really feel Otto and this time don't be bashful.

I collect the reprints. It started as a fascination or curiosity of these old games but now that is what I play. I've bought many of these old works from John Curry and have even bought a few compilation books for him. One had Lionel Tarr's rules as well as several articles on the subject. Great stuff!

I collect rule books.

I don't buy magazines, never have. Frankly that's part of the hobby I don't get – collecting every issue of the Courier or whatever. But then by the time I got in to the hobby most of the magazines were already dead/dying.

Dear Phil

OOOOOOHHHHHH!!! FLATS!!!!!!!! You beat me Phil, I don't have any of them painted. Did you paint them, they look great. They are the ultimate toy soldiers.

I have lots of old books on war games, all the greats, as well as Shambattle and Floor games, and many others. Bob Bards Making and collecting Military Miniautures and a lot of so-so books by Featherstone. What I find interesting about all of them are the pictures of fairly clunky minis, but nevertheless great games made with them. Whats amazing to me is the simplicity and even crudeness of the rules, but how serviceable they were. I also love them for the pictures of how games looked in "the time of the titans." Not all of the old books were great. Some of the stuff Featherstone put out was simply god-awful. But the point is a snapshot of the history of the hobby, and more how things were done.

I collect board games too, and what I onsider "significant" means they have different schemes or means of pitching the game, portraying it in a certain way. There is of course Tactics II bu also SPI's Freedom in the Galaxy, Cosmic Encounter, The Barbie game, and a host of other odd ball games from the past. All of these I use for dredging for ideas. By the Way, did you all know that Stratego is a rip off of an old Chinese game called "The Jungle Game?" See Faulkner's Games Ancient and Oriental.

Peterson's book is great. We all think that the "Olympian Gods" of the hobby were wonderfully good natured high minded people. Reading about the feuds and spats is like someone sitting you down and telling your family history was not at all as rosy as they told you.

No,old stuff sucks

Don't collect but have "The Wargame" by C.S. Grant.

Yes – I have….a lot of old wargaming books. At a guess about 50 volumes. Might be more. Hang on, I'll go and count them.