Obviously this works in both directions: wargaming a particular battle or war can encourage us to visit the relevant battlefields; a battlefield visit can prompt us to buy the armies and fight the battle.
I raise this because last month I had my first proper visit to the Battle of the Bulge – a week based in Bastogne and touring the museums and key points of interest. A brief report is on the BBBBlog:
link
This has definitely stimulated the wargamer brain and I am sure I will tinker with some Bulge scenarios in the near future, hopefully get something on the table early in the New Year.
My previous serious battlefield tour a year ago worked the other way round. I'd spent a couple of years researching and writing a scenario for the ACW siege of Petersburg, finally cracked and had great games with it, then actually got to walk the ground afterwards. Again, write-up here:
link
The Bulge tour was enlightening simply to appreciate the scale of the campaign and get a sense of the terrain. Scenario research will follow. The Petersburg one was more intense and in-depth because I already knew so much, so was able to dig deeper.
I'd be interested to hear about other TMPers' experiences and impressions from battlefield tours, plus which games have inspired or been inspired by what trips.
paints some fast cats.
