WARGAMES























circa 400 AD - chaturanga developed in India ... leads to chess


























1780 Johan Christian Ludwig Helwig, master of pages to the Duke of Brunswick, invents "King's Game"
    * 1666 squares
    * various colors representing terrain, fortifications, buildings
    * different unit types, movement allowances
    * entertained young noblemen, got them to think about basic military science





















1797 Georg Vinturinus, military tactician in Schleswig, invents "New War Game"
    * derived from Helwig, with many more pieces & rules
    * 3600 squares
    * required record keeping
    * modeled Franco-Belgian border
    * development related to improvements in cartography

















1811 Georg Leopold Baron von Reisswitz (Prussia)
    * sand table, modeling terrain at 1:2373
    * pieces moved according to rulers & gauges
    * up to 10 players per side
    * players submitted moves to an umpire
    * umpire used complex tables to determine casualties
    * popular at Prussian & Russian courts





















1824 Lt Georg Heinrich Rudolph Johann von Reisswitz
    * expanded & improved father's game
    * replaced sand table by realistic map; 1:8000 scale
    * reduced to 4 players per side
    * introduced red & blue colors
    * at least two umpires
    * umpires devised scenario
    * limited military intelligence & communication delays

    General Karl von Mueffling, Prussian Chief of Staff, saw value for training
    ("It's not a game at all! It's training for war.")
    every Prussian regiment ordered to play the game regularly

    Helmuth von Moltke (later Chief of Staff) founded/joined a war-gaming club in 1828 (Kriegspieler Verein), which published a periodical





















1870-71  Franco-Prussian War
    * Prussian leaders attributed success "in no small measure" to wargaming
    * other countries adopted Prussian techniques, including gaming








1876 Col. Julius von Verdy du Vernois
    * von Reisswitz-style games somewhat unpopular with officers, due to complicated rules & time consumption
    * Verdy created "freer" alternative
    * less die-rolling and written rules, more decisions by umpire























WWI: "Schlieffen Plan" tested regularly by Field Marshal von Schlieffen and General von Moltke (Jr)
    simulated only military aspects; failed to consider political consequences Germans were surprised when Belgians destroyed their own railroads, and by entry of Britain into the war 




















non-military wargaming:

1898  Fred T. Jane created "The Naval War Game"
    * used model ships
    * published in 1905 "Jane's Fighting Ships"

1911  H. G. Wells published "Floor Games"
1913  H. G. Wells published "Little Wars"
    * used toy soldiers / miniatures
    * toy cannon for shooting
    * pacifistic intent

1930s  Fletcher Pratt, "Naval War Game"
    * some games had 60+ players per side in large ballroom

1953 Charles S. Roberts, "Tactics"
    * cardboard & paper
    * Avalon Hill company