Early war-game books

[Derek Clark]

I was reading some nostalgic thoughts of Stuart Asquith’s from about 10 years ago and he mentioned his 3 favourite war-game books. The newer 2 were from 1971 and they tended towards the 18th century.

It made me wonder if there are any early war-game books that deal with the 12th to 15th centuries. Not necessarily rulesets but books that are a little more general in their approach.

Any of you long time war gamers know of any? Any you would recommend as still being a worthwhile read?

[James (olicana) Roach]

The only ones I can think of are Wargames Through the Ages 3000 BC – 1500 AD and Battle Notes for Wargamers both by Featherstone. The first is sectioned into ‘army classed’ sub-periods including “Crusaders” and “Saracens”. The second has chapters on Poitiers and Barnet.

Personally, although they make for a nostalgic  trip down memory lane, I think they are very outdated unless you play, and like, ‘old school’ wargames – which I don’t, because I played them whilst I was at school and I’ve moved on.

My whoring and daubing:
http://olicanalad.blogspot.co.uk/

[Derek Clark]

James (olicana) Roach wrote:

The only ones I can think of are Wargames Through the Ages 3000 BC – 1500 AD and Battle Notes for Wargamers both by Featherstone. The first is sectioned into ‘army classed’ sub-periods including “Crusaders” and “Saracens”. The second has chapters on Poitiers and Barnet.

 

Thanks for the help. I enjoy your blog by the way.

[Guy Farrish]

There is always: The Ancient Wargame by Charles Grant pub by A&C Black in 1974.

To be fair I don’t think it is his best book, The Wargame has that title for me. It is pretty much built around the then current Wargames Research Group Ancient set  (3rd?ed) which was ubiquitous. It has more than that and if you like Grant’s prose, which I do it is a good commentary and fun to read. Still about quite reasonable price second hand.

[willz]

“A Wargamers guide to the Crusades” by Ian Heath is a good read.

I know technically not a war-game books but very useful for information.

Armies of the middles ages volume 1 and 2 by Ian Heath.

Arms and Uniforms: The Age of Chivalry’ (4 vols) – F & L Funcken.

The Art of War in the Middle Ages’ – Charles Oman.

‘Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300’ – Ian Heath.

‘Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291’ – Ian Heath.

“A Distant Mirror” by Barbara W Tuchman is an excellent read and gives the reader a good feel of the middle ages.

 

[Guy Farrish]

Thinking about it a bit more I’m not sure Grant’s book went that far forward. Still worth a read but maybe Ancients was definitely more…well…ancient then? Sorry if I led you astray.

[Derek Clark]

Thanks all.

 

I have a couple of the books mentioned and ‘A Distant Mirror’ is on my Christmas list.

 

I take Olicanalads point, “Personally, although they make for a nostalgic  trip down memory lane, I think they are very outdated unless you play, and like, ‘old school’ wargames – which I don’t, because I played them whilst I was at school and I’ve moved on.”

It’s a difficult thing when you start because in sorting the wheat from the chaff there are a lot of people still recommending the old style stuff and it can get very confusing. For me, luckily, Lion Rampart came along just in time.

By the by, I met Olicanalad at FIASCO and he looks nothing like his avatar :0)

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