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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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As you may have become aware wargames are currently the gaming genre I am most excited about. In 2011 the wargames I own have been getting played far more times than any other genre in my collection. In fact, as I look through the years new releases, there are very few non-wargames I am considering buying. In the coming weeks I hope to do a year in review post, there I will elaborate on the reasons why I’m not as interested in many of the new releases. In this post however, I wish discuss why I enjoy playing wargames.
My recent infatuation with wargames is largely due to me having met some new friends with a common interest in games like Twilight Struggle and Memoir 44. Ever since our first games night we have met up quite regularly and my new friends have introduced to a variety of other wargames of varying complexity and style; games like Successors, Hammer of the Scots, Manoeuver, Combat Commander, Sekigahara and Hannibal RvC just to name a few.
For me, I have found wargames to be a delight. I am enjoying being able to research the history, the people, the times and if the gameplay reflects the subject matter, (which it usually does) I enjoy being able to be completely immersed in the history. I have lately been spending many hours watching documentaries, listening to podcasts about history and reading about several historical periods.
In general I think games based on history can offer an experience unrivaled by a game based on fiction, wargame or not. This is dependent of course on how interested and informed you are about the historical period. The reason I feel this way is because history offers a theme for a game backed by almost endless information. As an example, if I want to learn more about Hannibal Barca because I am interested in the game Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage, there is no shortage of literature, theories and artworks about the subject. If I want to learn more about the universe of Twilight Imperium the information on the topic is obviously much more limited. That’s not to say there are not exceptions though, Arkham Horror may not be based on history but it is backed by a substantial amount of information in regards to the games theme. I dare say I could spend just as much time reading up on Cthulhu as Hannibal. Another added bonus of a historical setting for a game is that it can be great fun to see history repeat itself during play, but it can also be just as much fun to see an alternate ending begin to emerge and imagine what might have been. Imagine would the world be like today if Hannibal did take control of Rome? What would the world be like today if Julius Caesar died in Gaul, would the month of July still be called July?
It was Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage that first made me realize how knowing about the history of a game can make the game much more enjoyable. I had played Hannibal: RvC for the first time not really knowing who Hannibal was or what he had achieved. During my first play of the game I could see the gameplay itself had potential, but I felt it dragging at times and it just didn’t really click with me. I then went home and read up on Hannibal and watched a few youtube videos about his efforts in Italy. After being drawn in by the Carthaginian’s exploits, I was much more enthusiastic about the game.
In school (which for me was 11 years ago) I was never taught much about world history. I’ll admit though, even if I were taught it at school, at that point in my life I probably wouldn’t have found it very interesting anyway. So for me to be at the age I am which is 27, this sudden interest in history came as a bit of a shock to me. I would never have thought I would spend as much time as I have learning about events that happened up to 2000 years ago. I find it interesting how in my case it was because of gaming that I became interested in history in the first place. I also find it fascinating that it has become kind of like a snow ball effect, an interest in Hannibal lead to an interest in Julius Caesar, which then for me lead to an interest in the Crusades (and of course many other topics). The good thing about being a latecomer to the wargaming aspect of this hobby is that the wargaming range is now so extensive. For example, I wanted to buy a game about the Crusades after watching a documentary by the History Channel called Crescent & the Cross. I was surprised that there was a really good selection of games available that covered that topic. For those of you who are wondering which game ended up buying, I ended up choosing to go with Infidel by GMT. So it’s funny, It has now gone full-circle. My interest in games led to an interest in history, my interest in history led to an interest in more history, and then my interest in more history led back to gaming. I must say, I think I’ll be stuck in this cycle for some time too, but I’m certainly not complaining as I am having a blast.
Regards,
James.
www.castellireviews.com
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