Cari amici,
Oggi voglio fare una breve introduzione al wargame e cercare di spiegare di cosa si tratta.
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| H. G. Wells gioca con gli amici a "Piccole Guerre" - 1913 |
La guerra è stata oggetto di giochi fin dall’antichità, si pensi alla dama o agli scacchi, giochi di logica, abilità e strategia. Il filone è arrivato fino ai tempi nostri, attraverso giochi da tavolo a volte molto semplici e stilizzati come il Risiko.
Nelle corti europee del XVII secolo si cominciarono a diffondere splendidi soldatini con cui far giocare i rampolli delle famiglie reali, in previsione dei loro compiti di comando in età adulta.
Da bambino, il futuro zar Pietro “il grande”, arrivò al punto di utilizzare soldati veri per i suoi giochi di guerra!
In Prussia, agli inizi dell’800, nacquero i cosiddetti Kriegspiel, i primi veri giochi di guerra che simulavano le operazioni sul campo di battaglia, allo scopo di addestrare gli ufficiali di stato maggiore e di preparare piani di battaglia.
Il Kriegspiel era giocato usando mappe militari e le unità erano blocchi di legno colorato, un arbitro controllava che i giocatori rispettassero le regole.
Spesso il gioco si svolgeva in tre stanze diverse: in una c’erano l’arbitro e i suoi aiutanti, nelle altre due le squadre di giocatori avversari e si comunicava solo attraverso messaggi scritti e trasmessi da staffette.
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| Ufficiali dello stato maggiore praticano un Kriegspiel |
Ai primi del ‘900, in Inghilterra, il famoso scrittore H. G. Wells fu il primo vero creatore del wargame, attraverso la pubblicazione del libro “Little Wars” – “Piccole Guerre”.
Il libro raccolse le regole per giocare a soldatini sul pavimento di casa, unendo alcuni aspetti del Kriegspiel, con altri dei giochi per bambini, utilizzando soldatini di stagno e rendendo il gioco molto più semplice e ludico.
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| H. G. Wells, famoso scrittore di fantascienza tra cui "La guerra dei mondi" |
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"Piccole Guerre" di H. G. Wells
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Negli anni ’60 e ’70 l’idea originale di Wells si trasformò in regole più realistiche e complesse, con lo scopo di simulare le battaglie storiche, grazie all’impegno di numerosi giocatori, soprattutto anglosassoni, tra cui Bruce Quarrie.
Spesso i regolamenti erano così difficili, da impegnare decine di giocatori, e numerosi giorni di gioco, perché si pretendeva di ricreare tutti gli aspetti reali della guerra.
Dagli anni ’90 in poi si diffusero giochi molto più semplici come ad esempio il “DBA” e il “DBM” di Phill Barker che favorirono la diffusione di questo hobby.
Oggi esiste un’infinità di giochi e simulazioni di tutti i tipi:
Wargames tridimensionali storici.
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| L'Armata francese avanza prima della battaglia (Scenario in 28 mm per Black Powder) |
Si gioca usando soldatini dipinti in scala: 40 mm, 28 mm (la più diffusa), 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm e perfino 2 mm.
Per giocare è indispensabile un tavolo abbastanza grande, un regolamento di gioco, l’uso di dadi di vario tipo per decidere l’esito degli scontri e un righello per misurare le distanze.
I periodi storici più popolari sono naturalmente l’epoca napoleonica e la seconda guerra mondiale (WWII), ma anche l’antichità e il medioevo.
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| Battaglia di Maida 1806 (Scenario storico in 28 mm per il regolamento Corpo d'Armata) |
Wargames tridimensionali fantasy.
Nasce in Gran Bretagna negli anni ’90, ispirato alla letteratura fantasy è più giocato dai giovani e dai ragazzi. Tra i regolamenti più diffusi c’è “Warhammer” della Games Workshop che produce anche soldatini e materiali di gioco.
Wargame su mappa (Boardgames).
Molto diffuso negli anni ’70 e ’80, ha vissuto recentemente un periodo di crisi, ma è ancora molto giocato. Si tratta di veri e propri giochi da tavolo, scatole contenenti mappe colorate (di solito con griglia esagonale) e pedine di cartoncino al posto dei soldatini.
Wargame su computer (Videogames).
Sono in continua espansione e vanno dalla riproduzione al computer di boardgames, a giochi strategici e tattici in tempo reale, puoi comandare interi eserciti o combattere da solo contro tutti.
Rivivere la Storia (Re-enactment).
Non è un wargame, ma è collegato a questo hobby, consiste nel rivivere alcuni episodi della Storia riproducendo l’abbigliamento e i modi di vita del passato, ad esempio una sfilata storica o la ricostruzione della battaglia di Waterloo con figuranti che indossano costumi storici e usano riproduzioni di armi dell’epoca. Unisce lo spirito d’avventura (dormire in tenda) alla passione per la ricerca storica. I re-enactors hanno certamente una bella faccia tosta perché non provano imbarazzo a girare in calza maglia o vestiti come Napoleone, grandi!
Spero che questa brevissima introduzione sia stata chiara e abbastanza completa, naturalmente oggi internet permette a chiunque di saperne di più, visitando i numerosi siti web dedicati al wargame.
Nel prossimo post parlerò più dettagliatamente del Wargame tridimensionale storico.
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| La battaglia di Lodi, 1796 (diorama dell'Associazione Wargame "Le Grenadier" di Roma) |
Dear friends,
Today I want to do a brief introduction to wargaming and try to explain what it is.
The war has been the subject of games since ancient times, think of checkers or chess, logic games, skill and strategy. The trend has reached our times, through games sometimes very simple and stylized as the Risk.
European courts in the seventeenth century began to spread splendid soldiers with which to play the scions of royal families, in anticipation of their control tasks in adulthood.As a child, the future Czar Peter "the Great", went so far as to use real soldiers for his war games!
In Prussia, in early 800, the so-called Kriegspiel were born, the first real war games that simulated operations on the battlefield in order to train staff officers and to prepare battle plans.The Kriegspiel was played using maps and military units were blocks of colored wood, a referee controlled the players respected the rules.Often the game was played in three different rooms: there was a referee and his assistants, in the other two teams from opposing players and communicated only through written and broadcast by couriers.
In early 900, in England, the famous writer H. G. Wells was the first true creator of the wargame, through the publication of the book "Little Wars" - "Small Wars".The book picked up the rules for playing soldiers on the floor of the house, combining some aspects of Kriegspiel, with other games for children, using tin soldiers, and making the game much more simple and fun.
In the '60s and '70s the original idea of Wells became more realistic and complex rules, in order to simulate historical battles, thanks to the efforts of many players, especially Anglo-Saxon, including Bruce Quarrie.Often the regulations were so difficult to be committed dozens of players, and several days of play, because he claimed to recreate all aspects of real war.
From the '90s onward spread much more simple games such as "DBA" and "DBM" by Phil Barker, who favored the spread of this hobby.Today there is plenty of games and simulations of all types:
Three-dimensional historical wargames.
It is played using miniatures paintings in scale: 40 mm, 28 mm (the most common), 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm, and even 2 mm.To play it is essential to a table large enough, a regulation game, the use of various types of dice to decide the outcome of battles and a ruler to measure distances.The most popular historical periods are of course the Napoleonic era and World War II (WWII), but also the antiquity and Middle Ages.
Three-dimensional fantasy wargames.
Born in Britain in the '90s, inspired by the fantasy literature is played by young boys. Among the regulations is the most popular "Warhammer" Games Workshop, which also produces toy soldiers and play materials.
Wargame of the map (Boardgames).
Very popular in the '70s and '80s, has recently experienced a period of crisis, but it is still played. These are real games, boxes containing colored maps (usually with a hexagonal grid) and pieces of cardboard instead of soldiers.Wargames Computer (Games)They are growing and they range from the computer to play boardgames, games in strategic and tactical real-time, you command armies or fight alone against everyone.
Reliving History (Re-enactment).
It is not a wargame, but is connected to this hobby, is to relive some scenes from the history playing dress and ways of life of the past, such as a parade or reconstruction of the historic battle of Waterloo with figures that wear costumes and use reproductions weapons of the era. Combining the spirit of adventure (sleeping in a tent) with a passion for historical research. The re-enactors have certainly a nerve because they aren't embarrassed to turn in stocking knit or dressed as Napoleon, great!
I hope this brief introduction has been clear and fairly complete, of course, today the Internet allows anyone to find out more, visit the numerous websites dedicated to wargames.
In the next post I will speak in more detail the three-dimensional historical wargaming.
Today I want to do a brief introduction to wargaming and try to explain what it is.
The war has been the subject of games since ancient times, think of checkers or chess, logic games, skill and strategy. The trend has reached our times, through games sometimes very simple and stylized as the Risk.
European courts in the seventeenth century began to spread splendid soldiers with which to play the scions of royal families, in anticipation of their control tasks in adulthood.As a child, the future Czar Peter "the Great", went so far as to use real soldiers for his war games!
In Prussia, in early 800, the so-called Kriegspiel were born, the first real war games that simulated operations on the battlefield in order to train staff officers and to prepare battle plans.The Kriegspiel was played using maps and military units were blocks of colored wood, a referee controlled the players respected the rules.Often the game was played in three different rooms: there was a referee and his assistants, in the other two teams from opposing players and communicated only through written and broadcast by couriers.
In early 900, in England, the famous writer H. G. Wells was the first true creator of the wargame, through the publication of the book "Little Wars" - "Small Wars".The book picked up the rules for playing soldiers on the floor of the house, combining some aspects of Kriegspiel, with other games for children, using tin soldiers, and making the game much more simple and fun.
In the '60s and '70s the original idea of Wells became more realistic and complex rules, in order to simulate historical battles, thanks to the efforts of many players, especially Anglo-Saxon, including Bruce Quarrie.Often the regulations were so difficult to be committed dozens of players, and several days of play, because he claimed to recreate all aspects of real war.
From the '90s onward spread much more simple games such as "DBA" and "DBM" by Phil Barker, who favored the spread of this hobby.Today there is plenty of games and simulations of all types:
Three-dimensional historical wargames.
It is played using miniatures paintings in scale: 40 mm, 28 mm (the most common), 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm, and even 2 mm.To play it is essential to a table large enough, a regulation game, the use of various types of dice to decide the outcome of battles and a ruler to measure distances.The most popular historical periods are of course the Napoleonic era and World War II (WWII), but also the antiquity and Middle Ages.
Three-dimensional fantasy wargames.
Born in Britain in the '90s, inspired by the fantasy literature is played by young boys. Among the regulations is the most popular "Warhammer" Games Workshop, which also produces toy soldiers and play materials.
Wargame of the map (Boardgames).
Very popular in the '70s and '80s, has recently experienced a period of crisis, but it is still played. These are real games, boxes containing colored maps (usually with a hexagonal grid) and pieces of cardboard instead of soldiers.Wargames Computer (Games)They are growing and they range from the computer to play boardgames, games in strategic and tactical real-time, you command armies or fight alone against everyone.
Reliving History (Re-enactment).
It is not a wargame, but is connected to this hobby, is to relive some scenes from the history playing dress and ways of life of the past, such as a parade or reconstruction of the historic battle of Waterloo with figures that wear costumes and use reproductions weapons of the era. Combining the spirit of adventure (sleeping in a tent) with a passion for historical research. The re-enactors have certainly a nerve because they aren't embarrassed to turn in stocking knit or dressed as Napoleon, great!
I hope this brief introduction has been clear and fairly complete, of course, today the Internet allows anyone to find out more, visit the numerous websites dedicated to wargames.
In the next post I will speak in more detail the three-dimensional historical wargaming.
