"Referees in wargaming, how common was it really?" Topic

In some circles there's a perception that every wargame from the 1950s to 1970s had a referee. Is that really true?

Having a referee seemed like it was true for at least one large group that had multiple ongoing campaigns going. Though they seem to have been unusually large.

Referees were certainly mentioned in Featherstone's books and in some newsletters and even rules sets as an aside as a thing to do or try. Reading letters from players and battle reports, the impression is that these were aspirational for most, with more people lucky to even find an opponent, never mind a third person to referee.

Educate me please, was this common from 1950 to 1970s? Was it aspirational? Was it something that was more of a convention thing? Did it happen occasionally or all the time? Please be clear if this is your direct experience or not. Thank!

We call that person a "game master." Most times he does not play, but sometimes does both play and referee.

Jim

We never called him a referee, and there was rarely or never such thing as a convention, but usually there was an acknowledged expert in the rules, who might or might not be a player. (If he played, it was usually in a subordinate capacity.) In the "formal" games, questions went to the author of the rules or to the two CinCs. (In later years, as the author grew more meticulous, "settle it by die roll, or I'll ask Fred" was not an uncommon threat. No one wanted the game delayed long enough for an expert opinion.)

I personally was the referee at convention games from about 2006 to 2020, and may be again. And I've played at many convention games with a referee.

As Col. Campbell noted, the referee is often called the game master and does not usually play.

Whenever there was an Ancient tournament that I played in, there was a referee. WRG

Direct experience of the UK in the 1970s, an "umpire" was normal for competition games, but not for normal games.

From 1970 until 2026 I have seen umpires at competition meetings.
The usual number is 1 one umpire and 8-24 contestants.
An umpire became invaluable when playing any competition using the WRG ancient rule set.

Friends who have played in fantasy game competitions also had/wanted the services of an umpire.
A good umpire can really help the games along with encouragement , explanation and good grace.
Bad umpires comment of player tactics, models and abilities.
Good ones for game days/ competitions yes please.

No umpires who say "if you cannot agree just roll a D6 to decide"

Through all of those 50+ years I would say that one in 50 games had an umpire at hand.

martin

Yes, "umpire". Both at Shows & garage games we sometimes use one.

An umpire, if they know a new rule set well, can be very helpful introducing the rules to players.

If the scenario has unexpected occurrences – a reserve force entering mid game etc – only a disinterested participant can organise this properly.

It is a bit of an imposition to be cast as umpire rather than moving your wee figures around but there is satisfaction when the game goes well under your benevolent supervision.

When I started gaming in the late seventies/early eighties at a local hobby shop some games had refs, some didn't. Now that our group plays in my basement I sometimes ref when there are unforeseen events baked into a scenario

Playing games at a convention usually the person giving the game becomes the game master because the rules might be new to some or everyone because he might have wrote the rules or made some adjustments to a purchased set of rules.

I wrote my own age of sail rules for 15mm ships based on every other set of rules that I had previously played. I ran many games to see if I needed to tweak anything and my rules were pretty straight forward; All the players were new to these rules. So, I was the Game Master for these games.

I'd say maybe half our games involve a non-playing GM or referee. There is some rules guidance but a lot of scenario setting and introducing elements that spice up the game.