Vintage Wargaming Rules

[Correus]

Does anyone out there, other than me, collect vintage wargaming rules?

I just scored a mint copy of 'How to Play War Games in Miniature' by Joseph Morschausesr III - 1962 off eBay.

[Big Al]

I have some, but none that old. I nearly bought Little Wars once but decided against it. I do tend to collect rules. Just nostalgia, really.

[Correus]

I have some, but none that old. I nearly bought Little Wars once but decided against it. I do tend to collect rules. Just nostalgia, really.

Nostalgia is the main reason for me as well. A lot of the ones I've collected are from the 60's.

I'd love to find an original copy of Little Wars as well as Floor Games - but the prices can be a bit high. I've thought about buying the re-prints, but it's not the same.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Yes I love to collect classic wargames rules and books. I usualy buy the reprints too so as not to wear the originals. How sad is that! I collect old catalogues and brochures from figure manufacturs too.

The only old stuff I actualy play with any frequency is Charles Grant's The War Game. Just bought the codification of the rules by his son that were published in April. These have to be the set of rules that has been in longest continous play in the world. Its motivating me to add to my Spencer Smith and Willie collection. A bonus is that these armies can be used for BP as well.

[Eumerin]

Since the title doesn't mention "miniatures"...

I picked up a copy of Panzer Leader a couple of years ago. Still haven't had a chance to play it, unfortunately. And Napoleon's Battles, which is a set of miniatures rules and dates from the same era, is still in print, albeit with a different publisher (since Avalon Hill is long gone ). I own a copy of the latest edition of those rules as well.

[Cubster]

I used to love the Avalon Hill games - I remember the Viking one being lots of fun.

I think I've got the 'Rorke's Drift' one tucked away on the shelf (it might not be Avalon now I think of it), it has a Boer War game on the other side of the board. I bought it for a Crimbo pressie for my brother then thought he probably wouldn't ever get to play it so it's sat gathering dust.

[shadegate]

I've been collecting older games, mainly from the 80's when I first got into gaming and RPG.
The Avalon Hill bookcase games were firm faves back then and I've been able to pick up Panzer Leader, Squad Leader (Not ASL) and Panzer Blitz. Glad to have them back again. Also got a copy of WRG 6th edition ancients rules at the Salute bring and buy this year.

I too collect old and not so old rules. One day they'll all be gone or fallen prey to the 'mint in box' brigade who command a small fortune for things on ebay. I like to open and play/read my games and rules. The words 'shelf worn' or 'play worn' are music to my ears (and wallet) on ebay listings. No point me paying over the odds for museum quality exhibits as I am going to open that box/rip that shrink wrap and use games for the purpose they were made for.

[Comte Michel]

I have a shelf full of books by Don Featherstone and Charles Grant from my very early wargaming days, plus copies of a lot of the early Wargames Research Group rules. Charles Grant's 'The Wargame' was the one that really hooked me into the hobby.

I had the pleasure of actually commanding in a huge Napoleonic wargame with Charles S Grant (the son) commanding the opposition. He beat me of course, but I have the excuse that he went to Sandhurst and I didn't....

Fond though my memories are of the 'good old days', the current crop of rules like BP are a lot more playable and (in my opinion anyway) give a more realistic simulation.

I'm also relatively ashamed to admit that I have Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks going right back to the original stapled together set

[grant]

My oldest stuff is the D&D "white box" with the three books, plus the three supplements. I actually had most of them when I was a kid, ebayed them in the mid-90s, and then bought a set again. I am very happy to own them. Plus the box of D&D I got for my 10th birthday in 1982, the full cover art box with the blue-tone book of the cover inside. It came with "chits" inside instead of dice. I was bewildered by the thing anyway. I also have Dragon starting in the 20s, although not every issue, and then from the 50s or so to around 200. Plus all the AD&D modules and books from 1st edition. Probably the set of things I have owned the longest and have no interest in selling, ever (again).

I wish I still had my Grenadier (?) dwarves that I owned from that period, they were very characterful.

I did ebay a copy of Chainmail - the silver, plastic-ring bound book. Never missed that one.

[NORTIVS MAXIMVS]

Yes! Quite a few ... Featherstone was my teenage inspiration ... Grant ... Quarrie made it all very grown up with national characteristics ... articles in Airfix magazine by Terrance Wise kept me building terrain that I had nowhere to store (his Operation Sealion series is the one I have in mind) ...

I have a reprint of and ‘Charge! Or How to Play Wargames’ (Lawford and Young) which I readm and re-read as a lad ... and I have often thought of using these rules if I ever actually collect the era ... proper nostalgia!