"Reenactor Experience versus War Game Rules" Topic

Are there any other historical reenactors out there that have used their experience in modifying wargame rules? It became obvious to me that many rule writers have no experience in fundamental aspects of maneuver, formation changes, and combat. An example would be the Fire and Fury rules. After a melee, both sides would become disordered but in the F&F rules the victor is considered in good order for the following turn. There are other examples I've noted that required some house rule modifications to bring more realism to the game.

I highly admire historical re-enactors for any period, but to be frank, doubt if any of their skills and training would be of any more value than just reading a good personal account if available (for the ACW for example) or a training manual (again for the ACW).

One thing to maneuver in very small groups, not under fire, no one dying or being torn apart at your side, trying to hear over the sounds of thousands of weapons, artillery, what not, hungry and thirsty, compared to an actual battle experience.

Rules attempt to capture the "larger" picture, seen by a 300 foot general, using gaming rules written by someone who has done the research hopefully, to get it somewhat close to reality and still be a worthwhile and fun experience.

Dan

+1 Dan

I think the only thing that reeancting can give a potential rule writer is an appreciation at a very simplistic level of what it takes to get a body of troops from point a to point b. I state this as a former reenactor.

I think one also can get a sense of how fatigue which is often over looked, all be it that many living history folk may not be in the best of shape to begin with.

Dan, I'm afraid I have to strongly disagree with you. For a private in the ranks you might be correct, but at higher ranks and responsibilities, I believe the lessons learned can be very valuable. My graduate school advisor Dr. Russell Weigley agreed and told me the combination of my book studies with my practical experience in the field gave me a unique and extremely valuable perspective that few historians could hope to match.

Now I would be the first to agree that reenactments are not the real thing. No one is shooting at us and there is no fear of death (although injuries are a very real concern). But trying to control a large body of reenactors under simulated battlefield conditions with noise, smoke, and confusion is as close to the real thing as you can ever get. I've commanded companies, battalions, and brigades of troops and compared my own experiences with those I've read about in books and they seem very close to me.

And when it comes to training manuals, reading about a thing and actually doing that thing are not the same. The manuals are not written all that clearly and until you actually try to do the maneuvers with live people it is very easy to misunderstand how it all works. A number of well-respected historians have fallen into error that way.

But back to the original question, I believe that rules writers could learn a great deal from reenactors. If nothing else we can tell them what is and is not possible when moving troops. Many, many sets of rules have no clue. They make nearly impossible things simple and then make simple things much more difficult. I see that again and again.

On the other hand, a game is just a game and supposed to be fun. Trying to make a game too realistic may take away the fun. Years ago I had created a 'formation change matrix' which distilled the 'School of the Battalion' down to a few handy sheets which showed how a battalion could go from one formation or orientation to another, using the proper commands. It was very useful for training officers and NCOs. A friend of mine who was a game designer saw it and declared that it would be the perfect basis for a set of miniatures rules. I gave him permission to use my matrix and he created his rules. They worked, and they were realistic, but sadly they weren't all that much fun. The players got too bogged down in the movement rules. So it has to be a balance.

I think there another thing which has influence me and that is how I paint: when you see a group of a fighters a quarter mile away you don't see a lot of detail and the brightest of uniforms and armor can seem muted.