Category Archives: General

Articles that do not fit a specific category

New Menus

Wargame Tactics

Yes, Wargame Tactics has become so big that WordPress can not cope with the number of pages on the website. To fix this I have created separate menus for Warhammer 40k, 8th Edition, and Age of Sigmar. There is also a fourth main menu that holds links for other wargames and general links.

While creating the new menu structure I have had a chance to review and improve the fonts and animations that I use. I hope that the new styling will make it quicker and easier to navigate around the website both on the computer and using mobile devices.

Tags:
Categories:

Cookie Policy

This site uses cookies – small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. However, you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers

Tags:
Category:

Website design changes and minor updates

Wargame Tactics

I have been working on website the look and feel this week. Using the ‘Morgana’ web page template the site now has an easier on the eye look and some space for some drop down menus in the Right Panel. I hope that the new menus make it easier for tablet and smart phone users to get around the web site.

I have also added some ‘301’  redirects so that inbound links will be redirected to the right web pages.

There is still a lot of converting left to do though. Many pages are still needing to be moved across from the old site, and links in the web pages need to be updated too, so I better get cracking on!

Tags:
Categories:

What is Miniature Wargaming

By: P Adkins

Wargaming is essentially playing with toy soldiers. Games are played using painted metal or plastic models, typically using 6-30 mm, to  represent the units involved and model scenery placed is placed on a tabletop or floor to represent the battlefield.

Miniature wargaming is really a combination of two different hobbies. On one hand it is a tactical game, where one player will attempt to out wit their opponent through superior strategy. On the other hand it is a creative hobby, wargamers will often spend far, far longer painting their units than playing games with them.

A major attraction of this type of game is the large degree of freedom found in miniature wargames when compared to traditional board games or computer games. The appearance of units and the terrain fought over is not dictated by a game designer but by the players themselves.

How does it work?

There are many different sets of miniature wargaming rules. There rules for all periods ranging from the dawn of civilization to the present day, as well as for science fiction and fantasy settings. The three most popular rules at the moment are Warhammer 40K (a science fiction game produced by Games Workshop), Warhammer Fantasy Battle (a fantasy game produced by Games Workshop) and Flame of War (a World War II historical game produced by Battlefront).

Miniature wargames are usually turn based like chess, each player taking turns to move and attack with their units. Different models (soldiers) will have different abilities depending on the unit they represent. They move at different speeds, have different combat abilities and have different strengths and weaknesses. The objective is to use your units strengths against your opponent’s units weaknesses. Your opponent will of course be attempting to do the same to you!

One of the major challenges facing wargames designers is ensuring that games are balanced; that one player doesn’t have an unfair advantage over their opponent. In order to ensure that opposing armies are evenly matched it is common for each unit type or piece of equipment to have a points value within a set of rules. The total number of points that may be “spent” on troops is then decided before the start of a game.

What do I need to play a miniature wargame?

The rules and game play of miniature wargames vary massively from games system to games system. They tend to always have a few things in common however; for one, similar equipment is usually needed to play a miniature based wargame. Firstly, of course, there are the miniatures themselves and a set of rules with which you can use them, which we have already touched on. In addition to this miniature wargames also need a playing surface, terrain, dice and a tape measure (or other measuring device).

The Miniatures: The models used in these games come in three main sizes, or scales, these are 25mm, 15mm and 6mm. The size refers to the approximate height of the average (human – in the case of sci-fi and fantasy games) model.

The Playing Surface: Miniature wargames are usually played on a table top, usually 6′ x 4′ (180cm x 120cm), sometimes larger, very large games may be played on the floor (just watch where you put your feet).

Terrain: Model terrain is placed on the table. Woods, roads, buildings, hills, rivers etc affect how the miniatures move and fight. Depending on what the terrain a miniature is currently in it might slow down movement, increase the ability to defend, reduce the ability to attack etc. Terrain can also block movement of miniatures over the table top, or can stop units shooting at each other (assuming they are armed with missile weapons).

Dice: The dice are needed as all miniature wargames rely, to a greater or lesser extent, on chance. Dice rolls are made to decide the outcome of most combat actions and sometimes even to determine troop behaviour. It is the use of dice and the introduction of an element of chance makes the game a little less predictable and forces the player to plan for things not going as expected.

Tape Measure: It is important to be able to measure distances in miniature wargames. Distances need to be measured to work out how far models can move and, if they have missile weapons like guns or bows and arrows, how far they can shoot and so on. The distances that miniatures can move and shoot is dictated by the scale of the game being played, a 6mm game will generally have shorter movement and shooting distances than a 25mm game.

But, err…. Why?

But why bother with all this? Well, because it fun. Miniature wargaming is a diverse hobby with elements that appeal to a wide range of people. There are those that spend most of their time painting or building models, then there are others that just enjoy playing games, most wargamers enjoy a bit of both. It’s a hobby you can enjoy on your own, modeling, or with others, the games themselves.

However possibly the best thing about miniature wargaming is that it gives players the opportunity to get together with people they share a common interest with and have fun.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Miniature-Wargaming?&id=800568

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P_Adkins

Paul Adkins

Total Wargamer

Specialists in AT-43 & Confrontation

Tags:
Category:

Wargame Tactics is moving to WordPress

I am updating the Wargame tactics site again. The XSitePro website builder that I have been using ( and providing support for ) for several years has now been discontinued. this means that I have been forced to find a new web page builder. I will repopulate this site as fast as I can. Please be ready to update any page links!

Categories:

Wargame Tactics Top

Because Better Tactics Win More Games!

Pre-heresy Dark Angel Space Marine

Warhammer 40k Dark Angel in pre-heresy colours

So, do you want to win more of the tabletop wargames you play? Well I have packed these pages with as many tip and tricks that will help get an advantage on the gaming table!

What Secret Tactics Will You Find?

Over the years last 30+ years that have been playing wargames and studying wargame tactics I have accumulated a wealth of tactics. You will find these tactics in these pages.

Be prepared to dig around the site to find these gems. But when you have these gems be prepared to spring your new master strategies on your helpless opponents (manic laughing in the background)!

Table Top Wargames vs. Board Games

Table Top Wargames are different to board games because you have much more flexibility in the movements and strategy compared to board games. The other main difference is that table top wargames have pieces of scenery to play around. These scenery pieces could be make-shift, like a pile of books representing hills and buildings, up to very realistic set-ups much like you may see on a model train setup.

Tactics Vs. Strategy

There is a difference between tactics and strategy, and not many people know what it is.

Tactics deal with the abilities of different types of each troop and vehicle. When to use each type and the best configurations for particular situation.

Strategy deal with how to win games as a whole. How to use all your army together, for example the art of sacrificing a squad to win a battle.

This site covers both these aspects. The Army Lists will lead you each army squad by squad discussing the pros and cons of each. The General Strategy section leads you through the most common strategies pointing the way for you to create your own cunning plots and manoeuvres.

Trade Marks

Warhammer, Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar are trade marks of Games Workshop. We respect all their trade marks, copyrights and hard work creating the games we enjoy.


Featured Posts

Chaos Daemons are Coming!

Age of Sigmar chaos Blue Horrors of Tzeentch

A new Codex: Chaos Daemons is about to materialise in a Warhammer 40k 8th editing game near you! Often thought of as the Other Chaos Army the Chaos Daemons are often seen as elite units with Chaos Space Marines on the gaming table. However the Daemon army is strong enough to stand by itself. Pulling…

Read More on Chaos Daemons are Coming! »

Posted in Front Page, News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dark Angel Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Edition

Warhammer 40000 Dark Angle Space Marine Deathwing Knight

In this section we will have a look at the Warhammer 40000 Dark Angel army, the successor chapters and how to win more games using them. To use the information in this section you will need the main Warhammer 4000 Rule Book and the 2017 Codex: Dark Angles or regular access to them. Introduction to the…

Read More on Dark Angel Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Edition »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Dark Angel Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Edition

Chaos Daemon Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed

Warhammer Chaos Lord with Wings

point The Chaos Daemon army is not quite like other armies in the Warhammer 40k universe. This is because the Chaos Daemon army was designed for the Warhammer Fantasy game ( now replaced by Age of Sigmar  ) and ported across to 40k. The Chaos Daemon army plays quite differently to other 40k armies. This…

Read More on Chaos Daemon Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Chaos Daemon Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed

Incoming! New Imperial Guard Codex arrives this weekend

Warhammer 40000 Imperial Guard Company Commander and Cammand Squad

Yes! A new Imperial Guard Codex is imminent, and it’s looking like it will be a cracker. The Codex releases are coming out thick and fast for Warhammer 40k 8th edition from Games Workshop. In this Codex we are expecting new rules for the Imperial Guard regiments. It is expected that the different regiments of…

Read More on Incoming! New Imperial Guard Codex arrives this weekend »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Genestealer Cult Tactics Added for WH40k 8th Ed

Warhammer 40k Genestealer Magus Psyker

From the passages beneath come the Genestealer Cults. Chaos and confusion will reign as Cultist Guard show their true colours and the population take up arms against the Imperium. The Genestealer Cult army is a very sneaky one. Lacking in heavy firepower they need to use guile to strike at their foe when they least…

Read More on Genestealer Cult Tactics Added for WH40k 8th Ed »

Posted in Front Page, News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed

Pre-heresy Dark Angel Space Marine

Space Marines! The legions of the Adeptus Astartes – the Angels of Death (and remember that these are the good guys!), the defenders of mankind (ignoring the Imperial Guard, the Inquisition and all). These are the guys that will save the galaxy from the clutches of Chaos (just as long as they don’t succumb to…

Read More on Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40000 8th Ed

Chaos Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40k 8th Ed

Warhammer 40k Khorne Berzerker Chaos Space Marine

In the age of the Great Heresy a full half measure of the Space Marine armies where corrupted by Chaos these corrupted Space Marines becomes the Heretic Astartes, or Chaos Space Marines! On this page we will have a look at the Chaos Space Marines and their tactics. Also see: Warhammer 40k 8th Edition Tactics…

Read More on Chaos Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40k 8th Ed »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Chaos Space Marine Tactics for Warhammer 40k 8th Ed

Tyranid Tactics for Warhammer 40K 8th Ed

If you have ever wanted to side with the alien in the ‘Alien’ film series, or you just like the thought of playing giant monsters rampaging across the gaming table, eating everything in sight, then the Tyranid army is for you! Now that the Tyranids has a full Codex for 8th edition they are a…

Read More on Tyranid Tactics for Warhammer 40K 8th Ed »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer 40k, WH40k 8th Edition | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Tyranid Tactics for Warhammer 40K 8th Ed

AoS Skirmish Tactics

Age of Sigmar Skirmish Rulebook Cover

In these catacombs is the Star of Asher. With it’s power we will be able to bring many great victories to our cause! But beware! these catacombs are defended. What is more the tunnels will be too tight for us to keep in formation. It will be every man for himself! So now let adventure…

Read More on AoS Skirmish Tactics »

Posted in Front Page, Warhammer Age of Sigmar | Tagged , | Comments Off on AoS Skirmish Tactics

Free Age of Sigmar Army builder online

Do you want to build an army list for Age of Sigmar games quickly, easily, and freely? Well you can! Over on the Warhammer Community site. The army builder allows you to build a Matched Play army or a wound count balanced army list. One item of note is that you are able to select…

Read More on Free Age of Sigmar Army builder online »

Posted in Front Page, News, Warhammer Age of Sigmar | Tagged | Leave a comment
Tags:
Category: