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Pictured: The Shogun Wargame by Milton Bradley (Hasbro). The newer version is
known as Samurai Blades.

Toward a History Based
Doctrine for Wargaming

by

Matthew Caffrey

Sadly both the medical and military professions get to bury their mistakes. Because the cost of errors can be so high student doctors are now using simulated patients to learn from their mistakes before treating real patients. For the same reason the military have used wargames for centuries. Ever more powerful computers appear to promise ever better wargames. Yet is the Emperor wearing clothes? Or to use a more contemporary expression, is the validity of "garbage in garbage out" independent of computing power? Will future wargames enlighten or mislead us?

Read More: http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/caffrey.html

The Allure of Airsoft

Pictured a Hen Long BB shooting tank

by Don J

Most of us, the male of the species anyway, at some point develop a fascination with firearms. For some of us, this interest starts when we are toddlers and continues through adulthood. I cannot count the number of bank robbers that have met their end in my parent's backyard or the number of times I have saved the world from the Nazis. Boys will be boys and boys do love their toys.

As father time advances the clock, our backyard begins to get smaller, bang-bang loses it's power and so does our imagination. At this point in our lives we may bounce around playing organized sports, video games, or action pursuit sports. For a fortunate few, they will discovery an obscure but growing activity known as airsoft.

Airsoft will transport you to a time when your backyard was an adventure and it was acceptable to pretend. The look, feel, and performance of airsoft guns will make anyone interested in firearms or the military stop and take notice. Some of the airsoft guns are externally identical to their real steel counterpart, down to their weights and markings, and their resemblance is not by accident. Airsoft was created to fulfill the needs of a gun enthusiast population in a country where real firearms are not permitted, namely Japan.

The variety of airsoft guns is mind numbing. There is an airsoft gun to fit any enthusiast tastes, from the days of Billy the Kid to the movie Aliens. You may see airsoft guns used as props in the television and film industry, at your favorite convention (Sci-Fi or Comicon), or at costume parties. Airsoft guns are sought after as much for their looks as for their functionality.

Military simulation is what really makes people passionate about airsoft. There are a variety of options in the action pursuit realm, but airsoft offers the best choices in performance and realism. Airsoft allows the simulation of time periods from old west to modern day Afghanistan. Police departments and the military are turning more and more to airsoft as a training option.

Most authentic firearm accessories will attach perfectly to all but the cheapest airsoft guns. In some cases airsoft accessories are used as a low cost alternative to actual firearm rails, lasers, and flashlights. The ability to use the same equipment you may already currently own for your real firearm on your airsoft gun is very appealing to police officers and gun enthusiasts alike, making airsoft a logical recreational choice.

From the magazine they use, to the moving bolt in some guns, the operation of airsoft guns also mimics that of their real world counterparts. Instead of utilizing unrealistic paintball hoppers, air tanks, and gas lines, airsoft guns use a variety of means to conceal the operational mechanism and keep the gun as realistic as possible.
About the Author

For more information on airsoft guns Don recommends Element Airsoft.

How To Purchase Wargame Terrain on eBay

Pictured: Some wargame trenches

by Crisano John

How To Purchase War Game Terrain On eBay

Greeting and well met!

As you may know, I sell Terrain pieces on eBay. This guide will assist you in purchasing wargame terrain scenery on eBay and the internet from credible sellers.

Many sellers on eBay create awesome terrain pieces. I have seen some pieces that are equal to and exceed museum quality. Here in the USA, the talent is overwhelming. Our friends across the big pond in England and Down under in Australia create some of the best pieces yet.

The main thing to look for when purchasing terrain pieces or even painted figures is good, qualitiy pictures. The more the better. This includes close ups, different angles and top views. Pictures tell you that this seller is proud of his/her creation. It displays for all to see, the detail and time spent on fabricating a quality piece of work.

The feedback score and comments are an obvious indication of a sellers credibility, so I won't touch on that.

If the seller has only one or two blurry or distant pictures, the next step is to ask questions. Email the buyer and ask for more detailed images. In doing so, you will not only answer your quality questions, it may provide some answers such as how responsive is the sellers. Do they return your question in a timely manner (a day or two)? Did they even respond to your question? If not, I would be very weary of this sellers commitment to satisfaction.

Another tip is to read the description. How detailed is it? does it give the size, and idea of the material used to create the piece and or shipping & terms.

As a seller, I go out of my way to answer potential bidders questions with in hours of them asking. I know that if I am upfront with them, honest and provide excellent customer service, they, the customer will respect and appreciate that, so in the future, he/she will remember and maybe purchase another item from my auctions...or better yet, tell a friend. Lesson - If you say what you are going to do - Do what you say you are going to do.

I have recommend other sellers who I have personally purchase from, and who I know can build what the customer wants (If I cannot).

In conclusion - There are many talented wargame terrain builders on eBay. They all bring the best that they can. but, as with anything out there and on eBay. be smart when spending your hard earned money on custom built terrain pieces.


About the Author

John Crisano is the owner of http://www.wargame-terrain.com

Why Study History? Why Play Historical Simulation Games?

Pictured: Epic 40K game by Games Workshop, photo courtesy of Bruce McBain and Mike Montesa

by Brad Martin


I have often been asked why I am so interested in military history and wargames, or for that matter, history at all. Many people regard playing
boardgames of any kind as childish, and say that the past is "dead" and of no consequence to them. To the first part I quickly point out the popularity of computer games with all age groups and explain that boardgames came first and share the same principles. I also mention that many people are obsessed with gambling, share-market speculation, horseracing, football, etc., and that these are also games.
On history, I tend to become a bit agitated, for this has been my life-long passion. To me the fashionable focus on the "now," the desire
for personal 'esperience' and the craving for immediate self-gratification, are all manifestations of a greedy, materialistic society.
The deprecation of history merely demonstrates the individual's shallowness and ignorance.
In a recent lecture, British historian David Cannadine described history as a discipline that, "makes plain the complexity and contingency of human affairs,
and the range and variety of human experience, which teaches proportion, perspective, reflectiveness, breath of view, tolerance of differing opinions and thus
greater sense of self knowledge." In this way, "...it provides the best antidote to the temporal parochialism which assumes that the only time is now, and the
geographical parochialism which assumes that the only place is here."
Another very well known British historian Jeremy Black, supplies a further argument against ignorance: "Military history is the most obvious field in which it is
dangerous to adopt the perspective of hindsight. War-gamers devote their time to an entirely reasonable pastime, asking whether battles, campaigns and
conflicts could have had different results. War is not always won by the big battalions and the determinist economic account that would explain success in
international relations in terms of the economic strength of particular states...is open to serious question." He goes on to say: "The past, and therefore the
present, can never be understood if the options facing individuals in the past are ignored. It is wrong to assume not only the path of history is preordained and
obvious, but that the past belongs to the victors and that they should also own the present and the future. This is especially true of military history."
We, our societies, and our states have all been fashioned by history, and for us to ignore this is to aquiesce to the agendas set by the controlling elites and
corporates. By understanding history we can help to shape our own destiny.

Brad Martin

Brad Martin produces the best Play by Mail historical simulation gaming zine you will find. If you are interested his address is:
Western Front, 15 Turo Close, Western Australia, 6155 Australia. Western Front