What wargaming is (and isn't).

Ask a dozen wargamers and you will get a dozen different answers but basically it's exactly what it sounds like; games recreating combats, usually from the past but also contemporary conflicts and science fiction/fantasy. Games are played using miniature figures on a table top with model trees, buildings etc on it, or using maps and cardboard counters.

What about computer games ? Some people would say that they are wargaming, some would not. In general however they are distinctly separated from wargaming, even when played by wargamers.

Some things that wargaming isn't. Paintball, Reenactment (dressing in clothes of the period to recreate battles), Role-playing.

About rules, figures, etc.

There are a host of manufacturers of figures, model landscape items, publishers of rules, etc. Unfortunately there are very few shops selling wargames items, most are therefore sold by mail order or at wargames shows. Our club runs one such show - Recon, but barely a week goes by without one taking place somewhere in the country. Details of them are carried in wargames magazines but not widely publicised elsewhere.

Where to get started.

The best thing is to join a club. Naturally we would prefer that you come along to ours. If however you don't live in our area, or our meeting times don't suit you there are plenty of others around, our links page connects to sites for a number of clubs but there are far more who don't yet have an internet presence. Many can be found by checking with the local library, alternatively wargames magazines list details of many clubs.