Wargaming

I have been interested in historical wargaming since I was 13 years old. I have always been interested in military history and military model making. Historical Miniature Wargaming is an excellent combination of the two. I was originally interested in WWII warplane models, making and painting everything from a Stuka to a Halifax bomber (in 1/72 scale). As my interest in wargaming developed I have put together models such as tanks, trucks, guns, and warships. I have also painted up many soldiers from the Zulu War period, Boer War and World War II. My WWI naval miniature collection consists of some British and German warships involved in smaller battles in WWI, and I have the French, Italian, and Austro-Hungarian navies involved in the Mediterranean in WWI. For those of you who don't know what historical miniature wargaming is, I am talking about miniature soldiers for example that stand less than an inch high or warships that are about an inch long. These miniatures are used to represent historical units in a historical recreated battle using rules, dice, and a measuring tape. My first miniature wargame that I played was a Zulu War game (Sword and the Flame ruleset). 

I have also been interested in board wargames. I have played hexagonal map wargames ranging from the Siege of Jerusalem (70 AD) to DDay (WWII). The most impressive game that I enjoy the most was the Longest Day Avalon Hill game. This covers the invasion of France by the Allies, between June 6, 1944 and August 1944. I recommend this game to anyone interested in this invasion/campaign or even WWII. I have played the campaign component of the game twice and found it very fascinating. Playing the full campaign is not for the faint at heart as it takes many hours to complete! (hmm which summer; was that?). 

In January 1997 I joined the Ottawa Miniatures Gamers, a club dedicated to playing historical battles using painted miniatures. The club met at the Canadian War Museum twice a month. I ran Zulu War, WWI naval, and WWII desert wargames at the club. I have kept myself busy painting soldiers and warships. I recommend anyone interested in military history or historical wargaming to drop by a Historical Miniature Wargaming club near you. If you are a solitaire or multi player historical wargamer I highly recommend joining a club of this sort or create one yourself. You don't need to know any wargaming rules or own any figures...all you have to do is show up and take a look at what is going on, and most likely you'll be able to join right into a game if you want. Another good way to check out the hobby is going to a convention where there is going to some miniature wargaming going on. Now that I am living in Metro Denver, Colorado, there is an excellent wargaming community here. I joined the Colorado Military Historians club in 2001 (I think), and was club Secretary from 2005 to 2012, and then voted back in again since 2019. I continue to try and make up new fun historic scenarios.

In 2012 I started my wargaming blog.

Here are some miniature wargames I've run (best , worst ):

Recommended Battles

• Battle of Mount Athos, 1:2400, It is Warm Work rules 
• Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 1:3000 & 1:700, Nimitz-Halsey rules. 
• Battle of Dumont's Mill, 1760, 28mm, Muskets and Tomahawks rules. 
• Battle of the Coral Sea, 1:3000 & 1:700, Nimitz-Halsey rules. 
• Battle of Spion Kop, 15mm, Bloody Big Battles. 
• Battle of Asal Uttar, Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, 10mm, Cold War Commander. 
• Boshin War, naval battles, 1:1200. Iron and Fire rules. 
• Korean War: Battle of Chail-li, 10mm. Cold War Commander. 
• Battle of Gogland, 1788 naval, Far Distant Ships rules, 1:2400. 
• Battle of Saint-Denis, 1837, 28mm, Rebels and Patriots rules. 
• Operation Pedestal, 1942, 1:3000 scale, Bomb Alley boardgame rules.
• Philippine-American War: 1st Colorado Volunteer Regiment skirmish engagements, 28mm.The Men Who Would Be Kings rules.
• Vietnam: Battle of Kontum, 10/12mm. Cold War Commander rules.
• WWII Arctic Convoy to Russia, 1:3000. Multiple rules.
• Battle of Riachuelo, 1:1200, Iron and Fire rules.
• War of 1812, 28mm, Musket and Tomahawks rules.
• First Battle of Gaza (1917), 10mm, Big Table Little Men rules with some custom rules. 
• WWII Normandy: Battle of Buron (July 8, 1944), 10/12mm. Blitzkrieg-Commander rules.  Blog Post
• Raid on Black Rock, War of 1812, 28mm, Skirmish. Chosen Men rules
• WWII Naval: Hypethetical battle, Operation Catapult, Sea Wars Fleet Actions rules, 1:2400.
• Vietnam: Battle of Ia Drang, 10/12mm. Cold War Commander rules.
• Battle of Flodden (1513), 15mm. Renaissance Principles of War rules.
• Battle of Henry Hill (First Bull Run), 15mm, Regimental Fire and Fury rules.
• Battle of Port Republic, Regimental Fire and Fury rules, 15mm
• Vietnam: Battle of Dai Do, Cold War Commander,12mm.
• Franco-Austrian War (1859): Battle of Magenta, Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• Anglo-Boer War: Battle of Magersfontein, Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• WWII Eastern Front: Battle of Korsun Pocket, Battle #1: Counterattack (Germans attempting to stop the encirclement), Blitzkrieg-Commander rules, 12mm.
• Korean War: Pusan Perimeter, North Korean 3rd Infantry Division vs US 1st Cavalry Division, Cold War Commander rules, 12mm.
• American Civil War: Battle of Olustee, Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• American Civil War Naval: Battle of Trent's Reach, Iron and Fire rules, 1:600. 
• WWII Naval: Operation Rosselsprung (Hypothetical), Sea Wars Fleet Actions rules, 1:2400.
• WWII Eastern Front: Tikhvin Campaign, Blitzkrieg-Commander rules, 12mm.
• French and Indian War: Battle of Sillery (Battle of Sainte-Foy), Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• WWII Naval: Battle off Cape Spartivento, Sea Wars Fleet Actions rules, 1:2400  
• ACW: Battle of Pleasant Hill, Fire and Fury rules, 15mm.
• ACW: Battle of Prairie Grove, Fire and Fury rules, 15mm.
• ACW: Battle of Cedar Mountain, Fire and Fury rules, 15mm.
• Sino-Japanese War (1894-95): Battle of Yalu, You My Fire When Ready Gridley rules, naval battle, 1:2400.
• War of 1812: Battle of Crysler's Farm, General de Brigade rules, 15mm. 

Other Battles

• Zeppelins, 1:1800, Zeppelin Raider rules. 
• WWII Normandy: Canadians vs Germans, Bloody Buron, June 7, 1944, Blitzkrieg-Commander rules, 12mm.
• WWII Naval: Battle off Samar, Sea Wars Fleet Actions rules, 1:2400. 
• Russo-Japanese War Naval: Battle of Yellow Sea (only main battleship engagement), You My Fire When Ready Gridley 2 rules, Houston's Ships 1:1000.
• Crimean War: Battle of Balaclava, Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• Napoleonic: Battle of Talavera, Napoleonic Principles of War rules, 15mm.  
• Zulu war (1879) battles, British vs Zulus, modified version 1 Sword and the Flame rules, 20mm.
• Anglo-Boer War: Battle of Colenso, Principles of War rules, 15mm.
• WWII Desert battles, Germans/Italians vs British, Rapid Fire rules, 20mm.
• Battle of Coronel, WWI Naval, British vs Germans, modified Seekrieg IV rules, 1:2400. 
• WWI Naval: Battle of Falkland Islands, British vs Germans, modified Seekrieg IV rules, 1:2400.
• WWI Naval: Hypothetical battle, Austro-Hungarians vs Italians and/or French in Mediterranean, 1:3000.
• WWI Naval: Battle of Jutland, Battlecruiser action, modified Seekrieg IV rules, 1:2400. I don't recommend this scenario for Seekrieg.
• Battle of Cape Esperance, 1:2400, Naval Thunder rules.  
  
  

Other Wargaming Topics:

Upcoming battles (works in progress, i.e. painting)

• Battle of Midway, 1:3000 & 1:700, Nimitz-Halsey rules.
• Battle of the Windmill (1838), 28mm, Muskets and Tomahawks rules

Scenario Testing

• Eisenhower rules: Relief of Stalingrad, Velikiye Luki, Moscow

On Hold

• Battle of Istabulat (WWI Mesopotamia), 10mm, Trial by Fire rules.
• Battle of Las Cruces (Nicaragua, 1928), 28mm, Price of Glory rules.
• Russo-Polish War, 15mm, ? rules.
• Samurai, 6mm or 10mm, Commands and Colors: Samurai Battles.
• Jacobites: Battle of Prestonpans, 15mm, Commands and Colors: Jacobite Rising.  Not sure what other rules at the moment.
• WWII: New Guinea, Dec 18, 1942. Blitzkrieg Commander rules, 10mm.

Future scenario ideas

• Battle of Santa Cruz, 1:3000 & 1:700, Nimitz-Halsey rules
• Battle of Eccles Hill, 1870, 28mm, Muskets and Tomahawks rules?
• Louisburg amphibious landing, 1758, 28mm, Muskets and Tomahawks rules
• ACW, 28mm, Rebels and Patriots or Muskets and Tomahawks rules.
• WWI in Middle East or Mesopotamia, 10mm, Trial by Fire or Rebels and Patriots rules?
• Crimean War: Battle of Tchernaya, 15mm, Bloody Big Battles.
• Battle of Navarino, 1:2400, It is Warm Work rules
• RCW: Battle of Toulgas, 15mm, Trial by Fire rules?
• British Airborne (June 1944), 10/12mm. Blitzkrieg-Commander rules.
• WWII: Operation Winter Storm, Blitzkrieg Commander rules, 12mm.
• Franco-Austrian War (1859): Battle of Solferino, 15mm, Bloody Big Battles.
• Franco-Austrian War (1859): Battle of San Martino, 15mm, Bloody Big Battles.
• Aztec-Conquistador, 25mm.  Not sure which rules.
• Battle of LaColle Mill, 1814. Muskets and Tomahawks rules, 28mm Knuckleduster.
• Riel Rebellion, 25mm, The Men Who Would Be Kings rules.
• RJW naval, 1:3000 or 1:6000 campaign.
• Crusades, 10mm, To the Strongest!

My Wargame Rules Ratings ( Excellent  Bad )

• Blitzkrieg Commander / Cold War Commander.
• Fire and Fury.
• It is Warm Work 
• Muskets and Tomahawks. 2nd ed. 
• Bloody Big Battles. 
• Trial by Fire. 
• Square Bashing. 
• Regimental Fire and Fury.
• The Men Who Would Be Kings.
• Rebels and Patriots. 
• Iron and Fire (1850-1880 naval).
• Field of Battle. 
• General de Brigade.
• The Sword and the Flame.
• AK47 (2nd edition).

My Retired Rules Ratings

• Principles of War (Colonial). 
• Principles of War (18th Century). 
• Principles of War (Renaissance). 
• Chosen Men - Fat (Napoleonic Skirmish). 
• DBN. 
• Johnny Reb. 
• Principles of War (Napoleonic). 
• Zouave. 
• Piquet. 

Miniatures

• Naval
• Napoleonic: 1:2400 Tumbling Dice Miniatures.
• Boshin War: 1:1200 Spithead Miniatures
• War of the Triple Alliance: 1:1200: Spithead Miniatures
• WWI Naval 1:2400: GHQ with some Panzerschiffe.
• WWI Naval 1:3000: Navwar.
• WWI Naval 1:6000: Figurehead.
• WWII Naval 1:2400: GHQ with some Panzerschiffe.
• WWII Naval 1:3000 NAVWAR, DAVCO, North Head Miniatures, Mick Yarrow
• RJW Naval 1:1000: Houston's Ships.
• War of Triple Alliance Naval 1:1200: Pithead Miniatures.
• ACW Naval 1:600: Thoroughbred Figures.
• Land
• Philippine-American War, 28mm: 1898 Miniaturas.
• WWI, 10mm: Pendraken
• Vietnam, 10/12mm: Minifigs, Pendraken.
• Franco-Austrian War 1859 15mm: Minifigs and Friekorps.
• Anglo-Boer War 15mm: Irregular Miniatures with some Minifigs.
• ACW 15mm: Variety of manufacturers borrowed from friends.
• Crimean War 15mm: Minifigs.
• Korean War 10/12mm: Minifigs, Pendraken
• Zulu War 20mm plastic: ESCI. I don't recommend plastic.
• War of 1812 28mm: Knuckleduster, 15mm: Falcon Figures from Quartermaster.
• WWII land 10/12mm: Minifig, Pendraken.
• FIW 28mm: AW Miniatures
• FIW 15mm: Variety of manufacturers borrowed from a friend.
• WWII land 20mm: Wide variety of plastic kits.
• RCW/Russo-Polish War, 15mm, Minifig, Peter Pig.

Terrain Tutorials

• 28mm Rice Paddies: https://elderswargaming.blogspot.com/2018/10/rice-paddy-tutorial.html
• 10mm Palm trees: elderswargaming.blogspot.com/2017/10/10mm-palm-trees-tutorial.html
• 10mm Elephant grass: elderswargaming.blogspot.com/2013/05/elephant-grass-terrain-for-10mm.html

I will be adding more pictures from battles which I have played and other information for those of you who wargame. Contact me if you would like some information from any of the battles listed above. I may or may not still have the info.  Contact Info