"Any other microgaming books?" Topic

Microgaming as defined by 1 hour wargames, "the portable wargame" etc. ?

Anything else like it in book form?

Multi-genre, very small figure count, small tables, short games.

Books only for this one, not PDF.

Another 'Portable Wargame' book is in the pipeline.

Well, that's exciting :-)

Hmm. I think if I were organizing my wargame books that way, I'd stick an early copy of DBA not too far from One Hour Wargames and Portable Wargames. It doesn't tick the multi-genre box, but it gets three out of four. And the line between rules and books on wargaming is hazy sometimes. Consider Bruce Weigle's 1879 and its terrain-making section, or Peter Young's Charge! with its embedded rules.
Still don't have a card table horse & musket set-up I'm altogether happy with, but I keep working at it.

Now that you mention it, DBA probably does tick the boxes.

If DBA counts then HotT definitely would, covering fantasy, ancient/medieval/myffic historicals if you squint, and some SF.

Has some lovely army write-ups, too.

I assume you are talking about non-skirmish gaming. Lot's of skirmish games tick the boxes of small tables, low figure count, and multi-genre.

But, those are also wargames rules rather than books about wargaming.

I tend to see it as sort of a spectrum. You've got rules, stand and figure sizes, and number of players, and everyone's tolerance is different. Lion Rampant/Dragon Rampant run about 50 figures a side, and play out on a 4x6 board in 28mm, so on paper, I could reduce to 15mm and play on a 2x3--but I need either individually-mounted 15mm castings (Lion) or strength markers (Dragon.) Some players would be comfortable with those calls, but others would not. And "quick play" depends a lot on who's playing.

Of course, you can get really specific in your requirements: "maximum board size 3x3; minimum base dimensions 1" x 1/2", maximum number of maneuver units 12; no rosters." That sort of thing.

For myself, I figure a "fast play" game is six units per side which can change formation and take damage or 12 units which can't. It's not a bad rule of thumb.

That's about as good a rule of thumb as any.

I suppose the length of the rules is a factor as well.

There's a clear gap between, say, DBA or 1HW and something like Lion Rampant as far as what the rules deliver and what the players expect, but quantifying that? Good luck.

Technically a box, but there is a book inside it — Airfix Battles is quick and fun!

Also technically single-genre — WW2, NWE — but very adaptable for the full war and a bit earlier and later in the Tank Age.

link

Tusk covers big-game hunting from Prehistoric up through Victorian and Sci-Fi. Hardcopies available through Irregular Miniatures [go to their 15mm menu, the rules are listed at the bottom of the Tusk miniatures section).
irregularminiatures.co.uk

PDF also available at Wargames Vault:
link

Tusk is one of my favourite small wargames. I have built a couple of 2x2 sceniced boards specifically for the Tusk scenarios.

For me a "small" game is played on a 5x3 foot table or less, usually less.

Fast play is up to about two hours.

No more than a dozen "units" a side.

Morschauser's book: link

I've heard about but haven't read Tin Soldiers in Action
link
Available from Caliver Books link

Appreciate the suggestions mates.

As an aside the Portable book just arrived today. Lulu took their sweet time.
It's pretty cool though.