The Total Beginners Guide to Wargaming Rules

I talk about why getting to grips with historical wargaming rules can be hard for beginners, explain the different 'levels' of systems available, and go over some of the really basic and common principles in almost all rule types... ...because when you see a game in play, and even when you ask, it's really hard to figure out WHAT IS GOING ON.

[niceguysi]

The 1st game I played when I was 13 or so was a WWII game using cheap plastic toy soldiers and we made up our own rules.
1. Ten men each.
2. Movement: 15cm running or 7cm walking. No shooting if running. Otherwise can shoot then move or move then shoot.
3. Shooting: Throw 1 d6 per shooter. Hit on 4, 5, 6 if no cover; 5, 6 soft cover (behind a bush or partially visible); 6 if more than 60cm away.
4. Damage: 4, 5 shook up, slight wound; 6 dead and removed.
5. If shook up or slight wound soldier laid on side, if half or more men shook up miss a turn. After that no longer shaken/wounded.
6. Grenades: each player has 3 dice representing grenades; can be thrown when enemy with 15cm. Evens everyone shook up; 6, same but one man dead and removed.
There were four of us and the senario was one player's men were trapped behind a building and his teammate had come to "extract" them. The opposing two players tried to prevent this. If the player with his men behind the building managed to get at least one man "off the board" (i.e. escape) they won. We played on my friend's bedroom floor with anything we could find as "terrain". This was 30yrs ago and one of my greatest wargaming memories.

[davidtuck]

As a wargamer for over 50 years, thank you for trying to bring new people into our fascinating hobby. It's got me to battlefields in Europe and the USA, got me published and got me the best group of friends anyone can have. And finally got me a whole lot of fun and laughter!

[captainnolan]

As a 50 years plus wargamer I thought you did a good job introducing the topic to the complete beginner. I would say that some of the 1960's rule sets, like those of Donald Featherstone, Charles Grant or Joseph Morchauser rules are a bit easier for a beginner than Lion Rampant; but they are not too difficult for someone to start with. Joseph Morschauser's - How to Play War Games in Miniature A forgotten wargaming pioneer Early Wargames Vol 3. Donald Featherstone's - War Games. Charles Grant - Napoleonic wargaming. If you have any questions you want answered, I would be pleased to respond.

[houstonburkhead]

Oh wow. This I understand. Thank you so much for this video.

[scabbarae]

I've been wargaming for probably 20 years and I still enjoyed this video.

[warhammerworld]

Thank you! I have already played a few games but this was still entertaining! I have just finished playing a game with these rules. They are very simple and have began expanding on them.
1. Cavalry Moves 10 inches.
2. Infantry and Archers 8 inches.
3. When bases touch, combat begins.
4. Roll 2 dice, and whoever is higher wins.
5. The loser removes their figure.
When combat happened, we paired each figure off.
It was very quick-paces and fun.
Bye!!!
👍🏻

[grahamsteed]

Have looked everywhere for a basic explanation of how to get into the mystery of war gaming, plenty of rules but no totally stripped down common sense entry level until now.Thank you on behalf of probably hundreds of first time gamers who haven’t a clue how to start in this hobby, would like to see more basic explanation probably about how to play skirmishes in the ECW period. Thanks again on behalf of the new recruits 👍

[alexgramm]

From Massachusetts..Very good. Start simple yet a basic complexity in general engagement. Recently I have been building on Rev. War Brits and Continental Swoppets that I had from 1980 Britains of course. Have a Featherstone book and am getting back into hobby. Great fun. Once rules are absorbed a goodly pace is possible. Anyway thank you I enjoyed it and think this type of hands on basic tutorial is very useful.

[tonymontenigro]

Thank you for the video, it was great! Been wargaming since 1970 and you cut right to the core of it, Very well done sir! I am an official fan of yours now, It is great to see someone out there promoting and generating interest in this fine hobby, I have sent this video link to friends that want to try wargaming but cannot understand the basics of the rules so thank you again. Please keep up the good work!

[AnthonyPanics]

I think this helps me understand the genre better. I want to try out wargaming at some point but I'm intimidated by the miniatures hobby and worried about the cumbersome rules. Knowing how simple it can be is really helpful for me who just wants a fast and fun game. Thanks for making this vid!

[MedievalWargamer]

Brilliant and very entertaining! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[sportjunk]

Nice explanation, sometimes even the "simpler" Osprey books can be hard to understand if you are a "solo" player, no one to ask. I've got a free download game lined up, so another good cheap introduction to Table Top gaming. You got a sub from me.

[kipperbassbox]

Thanks for this, explained very well and easily understood. I look forward to finishing my model railway layout scenics and incorporating into a gaming surface

[j]

Great vid, wish I had seen this when I first started looking into wargaming.
That said, I got drawn into it for collecting and crafting first, gaming second. Thanks for the share 😀

[patrickbarnes]

first 30 seconds of the video were hilarious lol :) good job

[johnmclennan]

A good introduction as to why this is a niche hobby... ;-) Even trying to simplify things down to a basic level when explaining this hobby is far more difficult than we appreciate.

[josephjones]

20 years later, he actually explains something

[altarboi]

I love the authenticity here. I can’t wait to see your channel grow!

[custerkiller]

Thank You! But what about artillery for other time periods?

[owbnid]

Excellent introduction to the hobby Chris.