Any have any comments on this old book? I sit worth tracking down? It seems to
be one of the few that was ever translated into Japanese, so I tend to think
it must have been worthwhile...
If it is, anyone know where I could get a copy ( yes I know about Amazon.com's
second hand book service)?
The Complete Wargames Handbook: How to Play, Design, and Find Them by James F.
Dunnigan
That's a very comprehensive book and it's really worth reading. This depends
on which edition you are looking for. There was an older one printed in the
80's and I'm not even sure if that one is still around. But there was also a
new version from 92 or something that still should be around in bookstores.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Even the engineers are not *this* depraved. This must be the work of the Med.
students.
- A friend of mine
> Adrian Bruce wrote:
I've got the Second Edition of the book. In my opinion, worth having if you're
planning to design board wargames. There are some thoughtful ideas for
computer wargames as well, but the focus is mainly from the design issues and
not the actual programming issues. (Also, as a computer book, it's a little
dated; the 2nd Ed dates from 1993, if memory serves.)
Covers basic strategy, and includes a very simple wargame to show the basics.
Not much on the more advanced concepts of design that have come out recently
(e.g. VG Command and Control focus through titles such as Air & Armour or
Flashpoint: Golan, or GMTs ideas of tempo and momentum as per the "Great
Battles of History" series.) On the flip side, Dunnigan's experience with
Wargames is from the old SPI era, so that's the flavour the advice comes in.
I do love the list at the end of the book which lists all of Dunnigan's games,
especially the title "Up Against the Wall, Motherf***er." Makes
you wonder. (8-)
Hope this helps, and hope that this is somewhat coherent, (8-)
J.
Well, if you want a book about _board wargames_ its not bad, but if you
want something about wargaming with _miniatures_ forget it.
In a message dated 97-11-09 02:13:48 EST, you write:
<< Any have any comments on this old book? I sit worth tracking down? It seems
to be one of the few that was ever translated into Japanese, so I tend to
think it must have been worthwhile...
If it is, anyone know where I could get a copy ( yes I know about Amazon.com's
second hand book service)?
The Complete Wargames Handbook: How to Play, Design, and Find Them by James F.
Dunnigan
> [quoted text omitted]
Yes, I have an old copy around here somewhere, but NO don't buy it. It's not
bad for giving an overview of gaming to the unintiated, but for anyone who
plays more than a few games, its way too simple. If I remember right, it has a
whole chapter that explains that you need statistics to do war games.