Seeking a nice wargame. Any suggestions?

[WargamerScott]

I used Fritz 11. I don't really use the 3D boards because they are still liable to perspective errors when playing/analyzing.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by WargamerScott

I used Fritz 11. I don't really use the 3D boards because they are still liable to perspective errors when playing/analyzing.

Since I got a WS with 54 cm early last year, I can arrange the 3D board that it looks almost exactly the way like the chessboard I used with 4 cm per field when I put it on my table and sit normally at that table. even the size is the same. I have no problems whatever to take the virtual board for a real one. I use the "Staunton Wood" Set, and the "German Federal Design" that comes with Hiarcs.

[WargamerScott]

I've got to admit, that is pretty awesome!

[Blacklight]

Quote by Skybird
Originally Posted by Blacklight
REAL wargames are played on a table with a board that has a map covered in hexagons with 100000000 little carboard counters all over it and stacks of combat charts and rules.

I still had these residing on my HD, by chance:

Thing of beauty, that is ! That's also a nice looking Mephisto board there.

Not so! REAL wargames are played on a large table covered with green felt, cardboard buildings, lichen for trees, lots of miniature soldiers/tanks/ships/etc. and stacks of combat charts and rules.

Okay. I revise my former statement. REAL wargames are played on a board with a map covered in hexagons with 1000000000 cardboard counters all over them OR on a large table covered with green felt, cardboard buildings, lichen for trees, lots of miniature soldiers/tanks/ships/etc. and stacks of combat charts and rules.

I havn't wargamed with miniatures in a LONG time. I kind of got out of it because the mini's are expensive, and my wife won't let me have anywhere large enough to store the model scenery and stuff. Naval minis are the best I can do now because naval wargaming usually doesn't involve a lot of table scenery. Toss a couple of islands down and you're good to go usually. I cheap out and use counters for the ships.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Blacklight

That's also a nice looking Mephisto board there.

I have collected all the objects of my passion from my youth, those magical machines that back then were out of reach for
the boy that I was. I have another 7 machines hidden in the cellar, some of the broken, unfortunately, but amongst them
some real collector's item like a Chafitz Sargon 2.5 ARB, a fidelity Avantgarde and a Novag Constellation Forte. But I do
not have the space to set them up in my appartment, all of them.

When I found and bought them one by one over the past 15 years, mostly at ebay, every time it was like christmas night
for the 15 and 16 year old that I was in the 80s.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by WargamerScott

I've got to admit, that is pretty awesome!

On the screen, in real life the squares at the top of the screen appear to have 3,3 cm per side, at the top, due to the "closer" perspective, they have 5,4 cm. That is in fact bigger than the Mephisto board, which has 4 cm per square.

Tournament size is considered to be 5 - 5,5 cm.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Skybird

On the screen, in real life the squares at the top of the screen appear to have 3,3 cm per side, at the top, due to the "closer" perspective, they have 5,4 cm. That is in fact bigger than the Mephisto board, which has 4 cm per square.

Tournament size is considered to be 5 - 5,5 cm.

Say wha? Who the heck cares how big the squares are? You chess-people are wierd.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Say wha? Who the heck cares how big the squares are? You chess-people are wierd.

There is a very pragmatic reason, Dowly. Too small boards make it more difficult to play and to properly see all the things and to analyse. For that reason the FIDE has ordered that for tournaments only boards should be used with 5 cm per squares (upwards) and king heights being around 9 cm. The diameter of the king's base also is regulated. Believe me, it makes sense, it is about visual ergonomics. In chess clubs you will not find smaller boards, too. I personally consider 4x4 cm also to be acceptable, though, and kings of 7-8 cm height. firgure sets also are regulated, for tournaments only Staunton form and in the German league the socalled Bundesform (federal form) are allowed.

Nothing is worse than to have pieces that are too huge for the fields they stand on, like it is the case with many smaller chess computers for example. the fields may have 2 cm, but the figures are so huge that their basement fills the sqzare from one edge to the opposite edge. Terrible.

[Arclight]

As with any battle, you need some room to maneuver.

[WargamerScott]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Say wha? Who the heck cares how big the squares are? You chess-people are wierd.

You have no idea....

"Chess doesn't drive people mad, it keeps mad people sane." ---Former British champion Bill Hartston

My first real exposure to chess was the original Chessmaster back on the old 16-bit machines. What hooked me was the ability to watch the machine calculate hundreds of thousands of positions per sec. That sort of gave the game a cool factor I never considered before.

I didn't start to really play chess, though, until I was in grad school and didn't have time for the more complex wargames I had been playing. I started playing chess out of desperation...but eventually adopted it as my game of choice. I may not be a wargamer my whole life (well, nowadays, I am more of a strategy gamer...guess I should change my handle!), but I will always be a chess player. The game, the community, the learning, the history, the attitude...it is everything I ever wanted in a hobby.

[Skybird]

Scott,

I have another hot game tip for you, and urge you to try it out: Abalone.

Simple rules. Elegant design. Enormous depth.

On the game, find out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abalone_(board_game)

A free (GNU) engine is available here, but be warned, for beginners it can be frustrating: even after half a year it still takes my scalp every time.

http://www.ist.tugraz.at/staff/aichh...ch/rp/abalone/

I do not play it as regularly as I plan to do, but whenever I play it, I am fascinated again. It is a beauty of a strategy game.

If you go for it, let me know, so that I give you some starting tips.

Since we are at it, Backgammon also is a nice thing, although Abalone has pushed it from 2nd to 3rd place in my personal favourites list. But the luck-factor gets reduced sufficiently only when you play many matches.

Free, strong, visually beautiful engine here:

http://www.gnubg.org/

Abalone is different to Backgammon a 100% strategy and thinking game.