'Little Wars' 100 Years On.

[mongers]

This might interest and repel others here for the wrong reasons.

It is a century since HG Wells published the first proper set of rules for hobby war games. There's a hardcore of gamers who are still playing by his code.

Pine tips are stuck in the grass to represent trees. Roads are laid out with trails of compost.

This is the Battle of Gettysburg, with Union soldiers on one side and Confederates on the other. But the soldiers of this new Gettysburg are 54mm (2in) tall and mostly made of plastic.

The battle is taking place between a group of enthusiasts in a garden at Sandhurst military academy under the rules of Little Wars, devised by HG Wells in 1913.

War was then looming in Europe and Little Wars was both an expression of Wells's passion for toy soldiers and to his fears over the coming slaughter. The science fiction author even believed that war games could change attitudes.

"You only have to play at Little Wars three or four times to realise just what a blundering thing Great War must be," wrote Wells.

.....

Rest of article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22777029

[Ed Anger]

I'd replace the cavalry with my daughters My little ponies, but they'd be eaten by my son's dinosaurs. Rawr.

[Malthus]

I'd replace the cavalry with my daughters My little ponies, but they'd be eaten by my son's dinosaurs. Rawr.

Sounds like one of Timmay's alt-histories. 

[MadImmortalMan]

There is an awesome shop full of miniatures next to Buckingham Palace at the guard barracks. They sell only that. South side of the park I think.


Edit: Google-fu says it's this one.

[Neil]

Toy soldiers?  Miniature battleships are better.

[citizen k]

There is an awesome shop full of miniatures next to Buckingham Palace at the guard barracks. They sell only that. South side of the park I think.


Edit: Google-fu says it's this one.

Cool.



Baluch Light Infantry Indian Officer and 4 Sepoys

[grumbler]

Why anyone would still use Little Wars as a rules set baffles me.  It is a great little book (available at Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3691/3691-h/3691-h.htm) but a terrible set of "rules."  Pretty much any alternative would be better.

[grumbler]

Cool.



Baluch Light Infantry Indian Officer and 4 Sepoys

"Cool" 'till you look at the prices! 

[The Brain]

Did he ever grow up?