Whilst packing away, after leading my miniature warriors to an inglorious defeat on the tabletop last Wednesday evening, it occurred to me that the two wargames I have recently played have probably been as contrasting as they can be. The former was a ten-player Black Powder game, taking place on a 12’ x 5’ table, groaning under the weight of over 1,000 figures. The latter was a 3’ x 3’ Stargrave skirmish, in which two of us had no more than ten figures each. As well as their striking differences, both games also had similarities: 28mm figures, great looking terrain, and, crucially, fun friends to game with. At this point, I could end my ‘exploits’ by saying something dull like “isn’t it great that our hobby is so varied!” but what actually struck me was something more pointed; one of the games was much more of a ‘game’ that the other …. If you look at the photos of the first game I played in (below), you will see a fabulous looking American Civil War battle in action. See the sweeping vista before you, gloriously painted figures as far as the eye can see (or over 12 feet, at least), moving across fantastic terrain in a scene reminiscent of an authentic Civil War battlefield (if viewed from a drone). Surely this is what wargaming is all about, surely this is the pinnacle, surely the tabletop wasn’t packed with so many figures that the people involved spent most of their time chatting rather than playing a game that never satisfactorily concluded because it became an exercise in crawling attrition …. Groaning under the weight of great looking figures. What a spectacle! Sarcasm aside it was a great spectacle, and I did have a good time on the two evenings I spent ‘playing’ this epic ACW encounter to its un-conclusion. But the ‘good time’ was really had despite the game in front of me and because of the social aspect of being with friends and having a fab tabletop to look at. Despite its rayguns and psychic power silliness, playing Stargrave brought much more gameplay fun. Room for manoeuvre made for strategic player engagement and quick thinking was required to counter my opponent’s moves in an attempt to try and win rather than just to try and get into contact. Some of my crew (Trent Miniatures). Great looking, great playing. Both games offered something completely different, both were enjoyable in their own way, but one was a spectacle whilst the other was gameable. Ultimately, if there is a lesson to be learned here, it is quite simple and obvious - filling your table full of miniatures and the room full of players
