My Changing Scales History

When I first started in the historical miniature wargaming hobby, I started with plastic 1:72 Zulu War figures and plastic 1:72mm WWII desert soldiers and model kits.  That is what I had access to at my local hobby stores.  I vaguely knew there was metal miniatures, but coming from a model maker background (planes, tanks, ships) I enjoyed assembling and painting them up and gaming on the table.  

Why am I still not gaming with that?  I lost interest in Zulu wargaming and left my 1:72 WWII desert at my parents when I moved out.  I instead discovered 10/12mm WWII which I felt looked better on a 6'x4'  table for the scenarios I wanted to do.  Maybe in the future I will buy into 20mm or 28mm for WWII skirmish.

1:2400 GHQ

I then started getting interest in WWI and WWII naval gaming and I bought 1:2400 GHQ and Panzerschiffe models.  I also bought 1:3000 WWI.  I found 1:2400 too crowded on the table, so I have been more focused on 1:3000.  GHQ ship miniatures look great, but it looks like the 1:3000 catalog of ships works better for me.

1:600 Tumbling Dice

The planes I use for naval battles keep getting bigger over time.  I started with multiple 1:2400 planes on a stand, then 1:1200 and now I'm going with a single 1:600 plane on a stand.  The single plane represents a squadron.  Lots of good choices in 1:600.

When it comes to scale, I think I have one regret.  I think it was 15mm War of 1812 miniatures.  At the time I think I was afraid of painting 28mm so went with 15mm.  I discovered that skirmishing 28mm War of 1812 worked better and I don't mind painting 28mm.  Nothing fancy with my 28mm painting.

I can see myself getting into 6mm scale.  Not sure with what period.  Maybe Crusades.

I'm sure we are all like this, changing scales all the time.  Maybe you have more impressive stories than I have.

How to Choose a Wargame Ruleset

A lot of times in the hobby, we have good discussions about a certain topic.  One topic that has come up is what Napoleonic ruleset would you recommend to someone.  I'm far from being a Napoleonic wargaming ruleset expert, but I think the question is applicable to any period.

I'm probably more versed in WWII so could make a more educated recommendation for that war, but my recommendation would be based on my WWII gaming interest and factors that are important to me.  Asking a set of questions to narrow down what rules would work best for the a rules recommendation is my recommended approach, rather than just blurting out your favorite rules.

Key questions/criteria to narrow down the choice:

• Skirmish, Moderate, or Corps sized battle rules?
• More simulation based or more game based?
• Game finishes in 1 hour, 4 hours, 16 hours?

What are some other questions/criteria ?

• Miniature scale you do NOT like gaming with? 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 28mm, etc.
• What scale do you do NOT enjoy painting? 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 28mm, etc.
• What are the players commanding? Squad, Company, Batallion/Regiment, Brigade, Division, Army, etc.
• Lots or low number of dice to role? lots, low, or does not matter.
• Lots or low number of charts?
• Large, medium or small ruleset?
• Prefer a ruleset from major wargaming company?  Yes, no, or does not matter.
• Random or set number of activations? Random, set, or does not matter.
• Ruleset has lots of online support?
• Ruleset is popular?
• Solo play suitability?
• Rulebook publishing quality (glossy, lots of photos, examples of play, etc).  High quality or does not matter.
• Ruleset size.  Lots of pages, a few pages, or does not matter.
• Ruleset is played by my friends.  A must or does not matter.
• Company makes ruleset and a line of figures for it.  A must or does not matter.
• Comes with army lists?  Yes, separate supplements is okay, or does not matter.
• Ruleset is still in publication?
• Price.
• Period focused or good for multiple periods?
• Works with any base size?
• Ground scale? 1" = 25 yds, 1" = 100 yrds, no scale defined or does not matter.
• Dice used.  D6, D10, D20, does not matter.
• Do I need to buy and paint up more miniatures for the rules?

I think some factors just do not get included.  They would make the ruleset an automatic purchase.

• A favorite author.
• A favorite game company or publisher.

I will say, you are will be limited if your only gaming friend will only play one ruleset.  Otherwise, I recommend trying out different rulesets.  No ruleset will be perfect, but I'm positive you will find a ruleset you and your friends will have fun with.

Example below of a decision tree starting at the top (Skirmish, Moderate/Large Battle?).  Very simplified, but just a small sample of what could be built.