Jeux sans Minis?

 Here at Maudlin Towers January is always a bit of a miserable month, not least because it contains the anniversary of the birth of this blog's author. It's a time of reflection and one of the points being reflected upon is the dreaded D word - downsizing. The probability of moving in retirement (and not taking it all with us!) leads me to ponder the drastic reduction of the toybox (the horror, the horror). Just how small a "footprint" could a viable collection of toy soldiers be? 

Small figure size obviously helps, and replacing figures with 2D counters is another option (Jonathan Freitag's recent post on Boardgames shows that many Wargamers' are regularly playing 2D wargames), but even Boardgames take up space. Would it be possible to play satisfying games and run Campaigns without the need for the material props? For me, the important part here is "satisfying", because I think most wargamers would agree that the visual aspect of wargames is one of the key factors in the pleasure, however much they might enjoy the strategy, historical accuracy etc etc.

Playing wargames using digital tools is one obvious solution, and I have done this in the past to try out rules before moving them to the table.

Playtesting the "Matchbox" game Civil War!

 But could games played inside a computer replace the pleasure of getting figures out on the table? I suspect not, however I do already use a PC for recording games, map-making (largely) and other visual aids to Campaign play. The battles currently fought on the tabletop are part of a larger story after all. The "story-telling" aspect of wargaming has always been important to me, which is why I enjoy Campaigns so much I think; would games played without minis still make a good story?

To find out I've tried some, using very simple rules that didn't require any record keeping to keep them quick. A PC of course is 100% suited to record keeping...

Firstly, here's a simple Horse & Musket type game (figures have been snipped out of the Junior General site and the games played in Excel. 

Due to the simplicity of the rules, and some extraordinary random number generation it was all over rather quickly!

The next games were an attempt at running a mini-campaign without miniatures. Set in Hyboria (where else?), the backstory was as follows; 

Merchants traversing the Road of Kings through Zamora have come under increasing attacks from bands of brigands. Suspecting that this is orchestrated by the Governor of the Zamoran City of Shadizar (a City whose moniker is “the Wicked”), Corinthia has dispatched an army to ensure that the attacks cease and the road is safe for commerce. If possible the Corinthians would like to replace the Governor with a more pliable candidate and tear down the accursed Temple of the Spider God. 

The Zamorans react by sending their own force to push the Corinthians back over the border. 

Mechanics 

Three games will be played along the Road of Kings. If the Corinthians win two they will have reached the gates of Shadizar and achieved their goal.

Game 1

The Corinthian advance guard overwhelmed the Zamorian attacker in the first battle

Game 2

In the second battle, Zamorians attempted to block the road where it passed between two hills in an arid valley - they succeeded in slowing the advancing Corinthians.

Game 3

The Corinthians, forced to take a slower route cross-country, meet a final attempt to stop their advance on Shadizar

The Corinthian Army successfully arrives at Shadizar to find the Governor has fled (with most of the treasury) and establishes a puppet regime to keep commerce rolling.

As stated before, these games were played with simple rules to keep them quick. With more time investment some engaging games could be played using the Portable Wargame and variations thereof, inside a virtual world.

I currently don't think that, for me, virtual wargames could replace games with miniatures, however they can work in telling a story and are an option when the latter is not available. As long as the imagination is working, the only weak spot is the hardwear.

Beginning 2025

 We left the latest mini-campaign (in 2024) at the end of Turn 1; The Vardian Empire had invaded the Salarin Caliphate and taken control of Marhacan Province by defeating the Salarin's Army 1 that was stationed there. A counter-attack by Salarin Army 2 had also been defeated by the Vard's (seemingly) unstoppable Legion I.

On Turn 2 Legion I took a rest and it was Legion II that took up the baton. Taking the sea route from Palezaro to Harasta without incident (dice roll, see rules in the first post here), Legion II landed and began their advance towards the provincial capital. Blocking their way, however, was Salarin Army 3. 

Once again the Vard started the battle with an impenetrable forest on their left flank; the Salarin General took up position on a hill on his left.

Impetuous Legionaries rush forward and take casualties

The Vard General, an ex-Captain of the Imperial Archers, set up a relentless archery attack on the Salarin force on the hill, trying to encourage them from their defensive position. Meanwhile, his enemy attempted a flank attack on the other side of the battlefield.

With spearmen on the hilltop falling around him, the Salarin General mounted a charge to break the Vard Archers

The Vard were given a bloody nose but held firm and the Salarin retreated back to the top of the hill

The fighting on the rest of the battlefield took a pause as the remaining troops reorganized themselves. 

What was left of Salarin Army 3 congregated on the hill, surrounded by the Vard...

Several (bloody) dice rolls later it was over

Once again the Vard Legions had conquered. The Salarin were invited to become a client state under the 'protection' of the Empire, with all the taxes that such support involves. 

Mark C's Peloponnesian War campaign concept worked well for me as a mini-campaign system and will definitely be used again. The 10mm Ancients will take a break now as I hope to be regaining a little space for painting, post-Christmas. Best wishes for 2025 everyone!