The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming

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The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming
First edition
AuthorNicholas Palmer
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectWargaming
PublisherHippocrene Books
Publication date
1977
Media typePrint

The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming is a 1977 book by Nicholas Palmer about the hobby of board wargaming.

Contents[edit]

The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming is a 223-page book exploring wargaming as a hobby, written for an audience of both non-gamers and gamers.[1] The book covers the evolution of wargames, strategy and tactics employed, short reviews of the games that were available when the book was published, and concludes with a sample game as an example of the hobby for newcomers.[2]

Reception[edit]

C. Ben Ostrander reviewed The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming in The Space Gamer No. 13.[1] Ostrander commented that "The nicest thing about this book is that a publisher somewhere feels wargaming is a good enough investment for a superior 'production' book. It will become a standard reference work for board wargaming. After all, the first is always in the position to become the book of any field."[1]

In Issue 11 of Phoenix, Allan Frost called the book "a classic work on wargame theory and practice. Every self-respecting wargamer should acquire it." Although Frost noted the book's relatively high price (£6.50), he thought the book was worth the price as "a well produced, clearly illustrated, 223-page tome on all aspects of board wargaming as they exist at the present time." After a summary of the book's contents, Frost concluded with a strong recommendation, saying "No doubt this book will be regarded as the book on wargaming; certainly it will be a Herculean task for anyone to better it. Can you afford to be without it?"[2]

Reviews[edit]

  • Craft, Model, and Hobby Industry Magazine[3]
  • British Book News[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Ostrander, C. Ben (September–October 1977). "Books". The Space Gamer (13). Metagaming: 32–33.
  2. ^ a b Frost, Allen (January–February 1978). "The Comprehensive Guide to Board Wargaming". Phoenix. No. 11. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Craft, Model, and Hobby Industry Magazine".
  4. ^ "British Book News 1977-12". British Council. December 1977.