Refighting History: Making a Wargame

How do you turn the chaos of an 18th-century battlefield into a set of rules? How do you simulate the "fog of war" that plagued commanders like the Duke of Cumberland or Marshal Saxe?

In this special episode of Prime & Load, we explore the art and science of Historical Wargaming.

We are joined by Rich Hamilton and Gary McClellan from Wargame Design Studio (WDS). We dive deep into their origin stories, how they went from history enthusiasts to professional game designers, and the incredible amount of research required to build the most historically accurate games on the market. We discuss the challenge of "translating" history into gameplay, the importance of accuracy, and how wargames serve as a tool to understand the friction of command.

Topics Discussed:

• Origin Stories: How Rich and Gary turned a passion for military history into a career in game design.
• The Translation Layer: The difficult process of turning historical accounts into game mechanics.
• Obsessive Detail: The level of research required to map terrain, uniform colors, and unit capabilities for the War of the Austrian Succession.
• Simulation vs. Game: Balancing historical realism with playability.

Exclusive Listener Offer: We have partnered with Wargame Design Studio for a special offer. Use the link below for an exclusive discount code for their War of the Austrian Succession video game. Offer good until Jan 25th.

Links: https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/game-of-the-week-january-19-25

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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