The Complete Book of Wargames

The Complete Book of Wargames is a comprehensive 1980 guide by Jon Freeman that serves as both an introduction to wargaming and a reference work for enthusiasts. The book explores the fundamentals of wargaming, from basic concepts to advanced tactics, through clear explanations and practical examples. The first section provides a thorough foundation in wargaming mechanics, including hex-based movement, combat resolution tables, and terrain effects. A complete introductory game called "Kassala" allows readers to practice these concepts, while detailed strategy discussions help players develop their tactical skills. The book's second section contains an extensive catalog of game reviews, organized by historical period from ancient battles through World War II, plus sections on modern warfare, science fiction, fantasy, and early computer games. Each review includes core information about gameplay, complexity, and historical accuracy. This work stands as a snapshot of the tabletop wargaming hobby at a pivotal moment in its development, capturing the transition from traditional board wargames to new formats like role-playing and computer games.

Readers remember this 1980 book as a thorough reference guide for the wargaming hobby as it existed 40+ years ago. Many note it provides detailed coverage of board wargames, miniatures, and role-playing games available at that time. Liked: - Clear explanations of game mechanics and rules - Extensive game listings with reviews - Historical context for the hobby's development - Useful for understanding wargaming's roots Disliked: - Very dated information - Some reviews seen as overly harsh - Lack of illustrations/diagrams - Limited coverage of modern game types Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (12 ratings) BoardGameGeek: 6.4/10 (28 ratings) Notable reader comment from BGG: "A snapshot of the hobby circa 1980. Interesting historically but not particularly useful today except as a reference work." - User Klaus B. No current Amazon ratings found as the book is out of print.

The Art of Wargaming by Peter Perla A comprehensive history and analysis of military simulation gaming that connects historical wargaming traditions to modern military training applications.

Fire in the East: The Rise of Asian Military Power by James Dunnigan This book from wargame designer James Dunnigan combines military analysis with gaming principles to examine Asian warfare through a simulation perspective.

The World War II Combat Film: Anatomy of a Genre by Jeanine Basinger The detailed analysis of military tactics and strategy in war films provides wargamers with source material for scenario development and battle recreation.

Playing at the World by Jon Peterson A deep examination of the evolution of wargaming and its transformation into role-playing games traces the development of simulation gaming mechanics.

The Universal Tank: British Armour in the Second World War by David Fletcher The technical specifications and combat accounts offer wargamers precise details for accurate battlefield simulations and scenario creation.

🎲 The book helped establish standardized review criteria for tabletop wargames, influencing how games would be evaluated for decades to come. 🎮 Author Jon Freeman went on to co-found Free Fall Associates, creating groundbreaking computer games like "Archon" and "Murder on the Zinderneuf." ⚔️ Released in 1980, this was one of the first comprehensive guides to bridge the gap between traditional historical wargaming and emerging fantasy/sci-fi genres. 📊 The book's Combat Resolution Tables became a model for many subsequent wargame designers, helping establish industry standards for combat mechanics. 🗺️ The included sample game "Kassala" was set in the 1940-41 East African Campaign - a rarely covered theater of WWII - making it unique among contemporary wargames.