"What Does It Take To Be A Good Wargame Player?" Topic

Obviously there are many types of Wargames that probably or varying degrees of complexity that require altogether different kind of attributes but is there a common set of skills that sets one apart from the rest of the herd?

What are the qualities that makes a really good war-game player?

A great sense of humor!

Luck, humility, an open knowledge base.

I'[m going to follow this thread avidly. Maybe I can pick up some tips.

signed: Ochoin (a mediocre gamer at best).

Same things it takes to be a good person.

To be able to loose well and often – you will always be invited back !!!

A good sense of humor,some humility, and a desire for all players to have a good time.

If I knew that I'd win more games.

Good at math

Interesting question the answer(s)to which I surely
do not know….

When I GM a game, I want a player to have fun, to be helpful to others, to be focused on my game, and to try and play in accordance with the scenario victory conditions.

Brian

Manners.
Correction, good manners.

crooked dice

Easy going personality and good ability to remember the rules.

This thread is disappointing. I was hoping for some arcane tips eg "sacrifice your First Born before rolling the dice".

Looks like I stay mediocre.

Know the rules and understand math. Sorry to say that knowledge of history has nothing to do with winning a game. Every single aspect of the game can be broken down to mathematical probabilities. It may look like a Napoleonic army but it is just a bunch of shapes with mathematical properties. For any wargame you could substitute red and blue wood blocks to represent your soldiers of any era. He who knows the rules the best has the advantage.

How's about getting your first born to roll the dice for you?

Good sportsmanship and fair play. Without that the rest doesn't matter.

Never show people your dice rolls… ;)

Someone who can make it fun, even when your forces are being crushed.

Dave Crowwell has it.

Agree with Dave! There's no excuse for bad manners

Another up vote for Dave, but I'd add patience to that list.

Like a chess player, to be able to plan several moves in advance.
To control yourself. Use patience and know when to be aggressive and when to be defensive.

An ability to lose gracefully.

Good hygiene

Not interrupting your opponent when he's making a mistake

Play good wargames.

"You ask, 'What is our aim?' I can answer in one word 'Victory!' Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be: for without victory there is no survival."

Winston Churchill

To be able to loose well and often – you will always be invited back !!!

Particularly if you are a Yeoman of England.

Insert Conan quote here …

To move this on it depends what you are playing. If its a simulation that works you need to understand the tactics of the real world. Even then it can be hard for some to turn that into practice.
The ability to plan and know when to stick to it.

None of this counts if it's just a game with excessive random elements.