Wargaming Research: Solo War + Historical Gaming 2026 Results

Results are in! "...respondents were asked to tell us their top 5 favorite solo / solitaire games."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 9/11/2026

Show me your hands (of cards)! – Card-play wargames considered

"In a Combat Commander or Point Blank wargame on your gaming table the perfect strategy is inevitably going to be upended by—literally—the luck of the draw. And this is not necessarily a bad thing...". RockyMountainNavy, in Armchair Dragoons, considers two GMT titles and how they use cards. Check out what he's getting at with the comment "I generally like what I see, but with a few caveats."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 9/9/2026

Discussion Thread: Zones of Control – How important are they to you in wargaming?

"I think that everyone has an opinion on the subject of ZOC’s and these opinions are mixed...". Grant Kleinhenz, in The Players’ Aid, offers a thoughtful discussion about use of this feature in our hobby. Do you agree with him when he comments "...I really like the sticky/rigid/locking Zones of Control. Is this a taste thing or am I in the minority?"

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 9/2/2026

Bosworth - scenario building

The "...archers have done their arrow thing and have now run back to the rear of their melee troops to support the clash of the melee troops!" Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, finishes scenario design, and brings us a first run through. Things get tense when "In the French position, their pikemen get to drop on Richard’s billmen by striking them in the flank... It is a moment that may come to define the battle."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 8/24/2026

Bosworth reading and scenario design

"I have been wanting to do a wargame scenario on this battle, so I deliberately bought this title as a post 2009 guide to the latest thinking on the battle...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, begins a series on scenario building for this battle, using this book, but also another: "Rather than choosing which text I prefer, it leads me instead to conclude that each book enhances the other."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 8/12/2026

Lou Zocchi - War Game Designer

We mourn the passing and celebrate the life of war game designer and dice mogul, Lou Zocchi. Additional tributes: chaosium; Gaming with the Gnomies; Backseat Gamer; DDO Players and ICv2,

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 8/8/2026

Historicon 2026 Recap

A short video recap of the Historicon 2026 convention courtesy of Homefront Wargaming. Plus, click here for an illustrated recap courtesy of Brandon Rospond: Convention Report.

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 8/8/2026

Strategy and After Action Report

Using the Beginner's Scenario, Pat La Pella demonstrates most of the features within John Tiller's Squad Battles Series of war games. Can the Japanese break through?

Malaya (v2.5) War Game Review

Pat La Pella reviews this post-card sized game and its computer editions. Can the UK Commonwealth prevent the Japanese from occupying Singapore in 1941?

Malaya Player Aid (pdf)

Pat La Pella created this player aid to clarify special movement rules for the Japanese player for Amphibious Movement and Reinforcement beach landing hexes. Computer versions of the game show eligible hexes automatically when the Japanese player selects a unit for movement.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.