So you want to design a Wargame?

[Strela]

For those of you who may have missed it...

Here are the direct links to each of the entries for the 'So you want to design a Wargame' blog series;


1.   So you want to design a Wargame? http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/02/so-you-want-to-design-a-wargame/

2.   The German Order of Battle at Maleme, Crete http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/09/the-german-order-of-battle-at-maleme-crete/

3.   The Allied Order of Battle at Maleme, Crete http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/16/the-allied-order-of-battle-at-maleme-crete/

4.   Mapping Maleme, Crete http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/23/mapping-maleme-crete/

5.   Unit Imagery for Maleme, Crete http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/30/unit-imagery-for-maleme-crete/

6.   Vehicle Graphics for Maleme, Crete and Beyond http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/10/07/vehicle-graphics-for-maleme-crete-and-beyond/

7.   Map Graphics for Maleme, Crete http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/10/16/map-graphics-for-maleme-crete/

8.   Scenario Creation for Maleme, Crete (Part One) http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/10/21/scenario-creation-for-maleme-crete-part-one/

9.   Scenario Creation for Maleme, Crete (Part Two) http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/10/29/scenario-creation-for-maleme-crete-part-two/

10.   Scenario Creation for Maleme, Crete (The Final Part) http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/11/07/scenario-creation-for-maleme-crete-the-final-part/


Now to see what is coming next... http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/11/11/wrapping-up-maleme-coming-soon/


David

[JudgeDredd]

^ now that is interesting.

Thanks for the links 

[rocketman]

Great stuff coming up  :bd:
I've been longing to get back to the Normandy game awaiting the update.

[ArizonaTank]

For those of you who may have missed it...

Here are the direct links to each of the entries for the 'So you want to design a Wargame' blog series;


1.   So you want to design a Wargame? http://www.wargamedesignstudio.com/2016/09/02/so-you-want-to-design-a-wargame/

Good stuff!  Anyone who has done any wargaming research knows that most of the books out there on any particular battle or campaign, are not necessarily helpful.  As your 1st article suggests, you need those rare resources that provide detailed TOEs, topographical maps, doctrine / deployment and data for both sides; mostly you will need a small stack of books to get all of this.  Even a vaunted series like the US Army Official History of WWII, is often lacking (mostly because of its focus on just one side). 

Of course a related note is the "dirty secret" of wargame design.  As you go further back in history, the availability of detailed, accurate data becomes less and less. Any game set pre-18th century is probably 70-90% guesswork.  For example, while I love GMTs Great Battles of History series (ancient battles), most scenarios are just made up ('Chariots of Fire,' dealing with Bronze Age battles is almost pure fantasy). This is no swipe at the designers, they often have very little to work with.  Designers have to deal with sketchy and contradictory ancient sources (how many troops did Xerxes have at Thermopylea? estimates are all over the place), and the fact that we often don't know exactly where the battle was fought.  Still they are wonderful games to play....I just have no illusion that they are "accurate history." 

[Boggit]

This is great news. I can't wait for the next release of the series. The France 1940 one is particularly cool. I hope there are other early Blitzkrieg battles linked to it like some Norwegian, Dutch and Polish battles. :bd: