What I Like About You!

Well, what we like about wargaming, that is.

In the Great Wargaming Survey, 2025 edition, one survey question asked respondents, “What do you like most about miniatures wargaming?” Responses were collected as unstructured text (up to about 2,100 characters per response and anything goes!) allowing participants to write without constraint to include all of the facets of wargaming that they like.  In total, there were 4,063 non-blank responses recorded.  I last looked at this question in GWS 2023.  I wonder if wargamers' "likes" have changed since then?

To parse and interpret this large body of text, machine learning techniques are introduced.  Specifically, a variety of cluster analysis techniques are applied to the survey data.  These statistical methods help uncover underlying data associations and reduce thousands of unique words (tokens).  The aim of this data reduction step is to transform unstructured text into a manageable set of representative tokens while preserving essential meaning.

After routine preprocessing and tokenization, the dataset produced 2,719 unique terms with associated frequencies.  A further data step involved removing near-zero variance terms thereby reducing this set dramatically to just nineteen key word tokens.  These nineteen tokens are:

games, people, painting, miniatures, history, research, collect, model, terrain, table, fun, creative, army, build, aspect, good, time, hobby, like.

The last five tokens in the list of "aspect", "good", "time", "hobby", and "like" were excluded from analysis as either too general or redundant. 

With the dataset reduced from over 4,000 terms to fourteen, cluster analysis provides the next layer of insight.  The resulting dendrogram (see Figure 1) reveals a clear and intuitive structure that I break down layer by layer. 

Figure 1

The dendrogram organizes the “most liked” aspects of wargaming by how closely respondents associate the tokens.  Joining at a lower height in the dendrogram indicates a stronger relative relationship with higher splits indicating more separation.

At the highest level, "games" stands apart from all other terms, joining the rest of the terms only at a relatively large distance. This indicates that respondents view gaming as distinct reinforces the notion that gaming, itself, is the central facet of the hobby.  From the dendrogram (see Figure 2), "games" is not intertwined with the other activities. 

Figure 2

The next major split separates "people" from the remaining terms (see Figure 3). Together, this creates a clear hierarchy in a three-cluster solution of:

• Games (most distinct)
• People (second most distinct)
• Everything else (more tightly interrelated)

Results suggest that gaming and social interaction are the two most independently valued aspects of wargaming.

Figure 3

Below this top structure in the hierarchy, several distinct clusters emerge from the dendrogram analysis (see Figure 4).

Figure 4

"Painting" and "miniatures" form one tight pairing.  This closeness suggests a connection between painting and the objects being painted.  "Collect" and "research" also pair closely.  Their proximity suggests that painting and amassing armies of figures and learning about them seemingly go hand-in-hand.  "Table" and "terrain" form another very tight cluster representing the physical environment of play.  These pairings are intuitive and reinforce the notion that respondents think in terms of hobby activities rather than isolated concepts.

Slicing across the dendrogram at a practical level (around mid-height) yields four meaningful groupings (see Figure 5):

• Games (standalone)
• People (standalone)
• Painting/miniatures (craft-focused sub-cluster)
• All remaining hobby activities (a blended cluster of building, modeling, and researching)

Figure 5

Interestingly, "creative" sits between "history" and all of the craft elements in Cluster 4.  In this hierarchy, creativity acts as a bridge linking both building and interpreting history.

What can we infer from this analysis of survey respondents' likes about wargaming?

To begin, analysis supports the notion that gaming, social interaction, and painting emerge as primary drivers.  All other activities form a supporting ecosystem.  Analysis also suggests a structure to the wargaming hierarchy.  That is, wargaming should not be viewed as a single, unified, activity but as a combination of semi-independent domains.  If we return to the three-cluster solution, the clusters are:

• Gaming is central but conceptually separate.
• Social interaction is nearly as important and also distinct.
• Everything else forms an interconnected hobby engine of crafting, researching, and building.

The dendrogram shows that these are all part of the same hobby.  The distinction is that participants mentally separate playing and socializing from the preparatory and creative work.  Overall, results reinforce the idea that miniatures wargaming is a layered hobby with distinct, varied but interconnected facets of engagement.

For the cluster analysis, itself, these classifications demonstrate how a large and unstructured dataset can be reduced into a smaller number of meaningful dimensions without losing interpretive power.  Now, I mentioned that I examined this question in the 2023 survey.  Have "likes" changed in the two years having a different survey population and the ability to respond in unstructured text?

Figure 6 shows that hierarchy and association of the best aspects of wargaming have not changed all that much! 

Figure 6

The four-cluster solution in GWS 2023 mirrors that of the GWS 2025 four-cluster solution with the same clusters of,

• Games (standalone)
• People (standalone)
• Painting/miniatures (craft-focused sub-cluster)
• All remaining hobby activities (a blended cluster of building, modeling, and researching)

Remarkable.  The same question asked two years apart produces a very similar profile of wargamer favored aspects of the hobby even when survey respondents can enter anything they please.  Another tick alongside the scoring of the reliability of data.  Fascinating.

Dōmyōji: Tombs of Blood

As hinted at in the previous post, Monday saw the coming together of four of Postie's Rejects to take up the challenge of the 1615 Battle of Domyoji (or Battle Among the Tombs).  Since Richard commanded the Tokugawa in our first game (see Battle of the Tombs), he chose to command one of the Osaka Sonae.  Lee quickly joined him as an Osaka general.  Ray and Dan were left in command of the Tokugawa Army.

Initial army dispositions

With the army commanders set and the sides drawn up, let's step right into battle.  This time, we tell the battle in Haiku!

The battle begins with an archery duel near Emperor Ingyo's Tomb.  Neither body of archers was able to produce any noticeable effect on the enemy.  While the longbowmen were engaged in volleys, Katsushige leads his Tokugawa Sonae forward.  Katsushige and Susukida stare down one another as they prepare for the fight they know is coming over Emperor Ingyo's Tomb.

Archery duel near Emperor Ingyo's Tomb.

Katsushige advances toward Ingyo's Tomb.

Enemies brace for a fight over the tomb.

Susukida strikes first!  

Seeing that Katsushige's Teppo are unsupported on their left, Osaka Ashigaru spearmen are ordered to advance.  As the Ashigaru close, the Teppo attempt to get off a volley.  Their last-minute volley is ineffective in either stopping or even materially damaging the oncoming enemy.  The Teppo are driven back in the ensuing melee.

Ashigaru go in against Tokugawa Teppo. 

Then leading from the front of his Samurai foot, Susukida charges into Katsushige surrounded by his own body of Samurai foot.  The battle is fierce as warriors drop on both sides but neither willing to yield the bloody ground.  Fighting continues for what seems forever as warriors try to gain an upper hand.  When the tide of battle begins to turn against Susukida and his wavering Samurai, Susukida commits Seppuku in an effort to re-energize his bodyguard to avenge his heroic sacrifice.  Witnessing their brave commander fall, the Osaka Samurai redouble their efforts to throw the enemy back. With the loss of Susukida, the Samurai cannot sway the direction of the fight over Ingyo's Tomb.  It is they that are thrown back!  Susukida Samurai retire in disorder and severely weakened.  Katsushige and his warriors follow up in hot pursuit.  The Osaka Samurai are caught and dispatched with the Tokugawa giving no quarter.  Osaka Samurai lay scattered on the ground everywhere.     

Susukida charges in with his Samurai.

Fighting is brutal.
Susukida sacrifices himself in the fight.

Osaka Samurai yield the ground...

and are cut to pieces as they flee.

Watching as Katsushige chases the remnants of Susukida's Samurai from the field, Tadaaki (in the center) sends his Sonae of three Ashigaru spearmen forward.  While the first attack against the Osaka line is repulsed with heavy losses, the following attack with a body of fresh Ashigaru puts to flight the enemy before it can recover from its recent exertions in repelling the initial attack.  The third attack destroys the Osaka Center.  Even with support, Osaka Teppo are driven back in a series of fighting withdrawals.  Fighting through the woods, the enemy keeps pressing on.  Once pushed out of the covering woods, the Osaka Teppo and their supporting Ashigaru are cut down.  The survivors scatter.  Oh the humanity!  

Tadaaki charges in...

destroying two enemy units!

The situation is looking mighty grim for Sanada and his Osaka Army.  Having cut through both the Osaka Left and Center, only the Osaka Right is left to deal with.  Masamune wastes little time in pushing his Sonae forward.  Targeting Kitigawa's Teppo near Emperor Ojin's Tomb, first Tokugawa Teppo pour devastating fire into the enemy to soften the enemy.  With the enemy already wavering from volley fire, Masamune leads his Samurai horsemen in a charge.  Kitigawa's Teppo manage to retire from the initial contact put are pushed back in disorder.  In pursuit, Masamune cuts the poor Teppo down where they stand.  Few survive.    

Masamune tears into the enemy at Emperor Ojin's tomb.

With much of the Osaka Army either dead on the field or running away, this costly battle is over.

Congratulations to Ray and Dan for leading the Tokugawa Army to a resounding and astonishing victory.  Rarely have I seen such carnage on the tabletop delivered against one side only.  The Butcher's Bill tells the tale.  There is no doubt who the victor is on this day.  Battle was over in 90 minutes with only two turns played!

Butcher's Bill

Ray and Dan were both red hot with their dice throwing in the game with the photos below showing just some of what Lee and Richard faced.  Double 5's and single 6's are hits.  Lee and Richard, on the other hand, had difficulty scoring hits and even more difficulty passing Cohesion Checks.  Such is war.  

What a day and what a battle!

Thank you all for an enjoyable and fast game!  Maybe you fellas would like a rematch?

For Neil, I set the action into Haiku.

Morning mist lingers,

Arrows whisper over tombs,

Silent clash begins.

Katsushige closes,

Teppo volley cuts the air,

Ashigaru charge.

Susukida roars,

Samurai blades sing and clash,

Steel drinks deep of life.

Wounded pride burns bright,

Seppuku, a crimson vow,

Bodyguard fights on.

Yet the tide turns swift,

Osaka yield the sacred ground,

Scattered like autumn leaves.

Tadaaki presses,

Spearmen cleave the center line,

Woods echo with death.

Masamune thunders,

Horsemen storm Ojin's tomb,

Teppo fall like rain.

Two turns, graves run red,

Tokugawa banners rise,

Osaka dreams die.

BatRep: Dōmyōji 1615 Game #2

On Thursday, I took to the Domyoji battlefield a second time at the head of the Osaka Clan.  My opponent for this scrap was Peter from Grid based Game Wargaming blog.  Peter has already posted an excellent battle recap of our engagement.  Pop over to Peter's blog (Remote game report...) to read his account of the battle. Don't forget to return! 

As a reminder, the armies drew up for battle as shown in the map below:

Initial deployments

Let's dive straight into the action to discover if I learned anything as Osaka Army CiC after my defeat to Richard (see BatRep: Battle among the Tombs).

Armies arrayed for battle.

The battle opens with Tokugawa (Peter) holding initiative.  Peter moves up Katsushige's Sonae on the right while lobbing arrows into the Osaka archers in the woods.  The archers are disordered from the volleys.  Tokugawa Center moves up to cover the flank of the Tokugawa Right advancing upon Emperor Ingyo's Tomb.

Armies advance.

Activating the Tokugawa Left, Peter cautiously advances Masamune to cover that flank.  Sensing an opportunity, the Osaka Right springs to life.  Kitigawa leads his foot Samurai in a charge into the enemy Ashigaru spearmen.  In the clash, the spearmen are thrown back suffering great losses.  Not wanting to pursue into an awaiting body of fresh foot Samurai, Kitigawa halts.  Wasting no time, Masamune's foot Samurai pitch into Kitigawa's disordered Samurai.  Kitigawa gives ground with Tokugawa Samurai following up in hot pursuit.  Unable to avoid the enemy pursuit, Kitigwa is caught and handled roughly a second time.  A retreat turns to rout as losses are very heavy for the Osaka Samurai.  

Kitigawa's Samurai attack...

and drive back the enemy.

Victory is fleeting.
Masamune's Samurai attack sending Kitigawa reeling back.

Masamune is not finished quite yet.  At the head of his Samurai cavalry, Masamune charges into Kitigawa's Teppo stationed at Ojin's Tomb.  The Teppo fail to get off a volley before the horsemen come crashing into them.  The Teppo are driven back as the horsemen thunder on.  Again, the unfortunate Teppo are caught and scattered by Masamune.  The entire Osaka Right has vanished!  

Masamune leads a charge...

forcing back the enemy.

In pursuit, the Osaka Teppo are vanquished!

Having seen his right quickly swept away, Osaka's CiC, Sanada, orders attacks in the center.  Ashigaru spear attack out of the battle line toward a body of enemy Ashigaru spear.  The enemy is driven back.  The Osaka spearmen do not pursue.  Near Emperor Ingyo's Tomb, on the Osaka Left, Katsushige leads his foot Samurai forward into the Osaka battle line.  Targeting Susukida's foot Samurai, Katsushige crashes into the enemy who are supported by spearmen while his Teppo soften up the enemy spearmen to his front.  Katsushige's attack is bloodily repulsed.  The Tokugawa are put to flight!  

Sanada's Ashigaru drive the enemy back!

Katsushige attacks...

Victorious only moments before in driving back the enemy, the body of Osaka spear finds itself somewhat isolated ahead of the main battle line.  Seizing this opportunity, the Tokugawa counterattack viciously.  Kitigawa's Ashigaru are driven back with great loss.  Tokugawa forces suffer mightily in the clash as well.  These Osaka Ashigaru are forced back upon their supports causing units behind to retire.  Being the only Kitigawa unit still combat effective, Ashigaru spearmen emerge from Emperor Ojin's Tomb to attack these, now wavering enemy Ashigaru. Tadaaki's Ashigaru fall back in the face of this attack.  Kitigawa's Ashigaru fail to pursue letting the wounded enemy slip away, again.   

and is bloodily repulsed while
Tadaaki's spearmen advance upon the exposed enemy.

Sanada's spearmen are drive back upon their supports.

Kitigawa attacks!

Having repulsed Katsushige's attack earlier, Susukida leads his own foot Samurai forward into battle against the now exposed right flank of Tadaaki's Teppo. Unable to stand up to the charging Samurai, the Teppo are put to flight.  Crashing back through their own lines, these Teppo carry away their supports.  Susukida chases the Teppo in hot pursuit.  Exhausted from their efforts, Susukida's Samurai are unable to extinguish the enemy.  Susukida retires to recover.  What an opportunity lost!  The battle lines are fracturing as combat begins to devolve into a series of local contests.

Susukida attacks driving the enemy before him...

but falls back having put the enemy to flight.

State of the battle.

With holes opening up on the Tokugawa Right, Sanada refocuses on the enemy units still holding the Tokugawa Center.  Susukida's Ashigaru advance to contact with the enemy.  Defeated in melee, the enemy turns about and heads for the Ishigawa River!  Again, the Osaka fail to pursue!  Come on, guys!

Osaka spearmen drive the enemy back!

To steady his center, Tadamasa leads his Samurai cavalry forward from the ford.  Their target? Susukida's now exposed Samurai foot.  In the initial clash, Susukida is forced to retire back to the Osaka battle line.  Under orders to not pursue the fleeing enemy, Tadamasa's cavalry obey.  

Tadamasa forces Susushige back!

Even with Susukida's Samurai driven back and the Tokugawa Center looking more stabilized, Osaka spearmen attack from near Ojin's tomb and into the enemy.  Already weakened from fighting before, Tadaaki's lead Ashigaru spear are scattered.  Following up in pursuit, Kitigawa's Ashigaru crash into the rear of a second Tadaaki Ashigaru.  These spearmen are, likewise, dispatched.  One more pursuit will take these twice victorious Ashigaru into the last of Tadaaki's fleeing Ashigaru who find themselves trapped against the river.  Alas, a clean sweep of the Tokugawa Center is not to be.  The Osaka spearmen fail to pursue.  Success here could have spelled victory for the Osaka! 

Kitigawa attacks...

and attacks but cannot put the final stake into Tokugawa heart.

Seeing his center disappear and his army disintegrating, Tadamasa takes matters into his own hands.  Charging into Susukida's Samurai, the Osaka Samurai are forced back.  Following up in pursuit, Susukida and his Samurai are destroyed.  With Susukida dead on the field, Sanada brings his Samurai cavalry forward to plug the gap.  His attack against Tadamasa is repulsed!  Tadamasa does not counterattack.  As Tadamasa gives his Samurai horsemen a breather to recover, Sanada strikes again!  For Sanada, the result is the same.  He and his horsemen are repulsed and put to flight.  This time, Tadamasa pursues.  His pursuit carries him into the rear of the nearby Teppo.  These Teppo have no chance.  They are cutdown from the threat to their rear.  The loss of these Teppo is enough to push the Osaka Army over the breaking point.  Victory to the Tokugawa and Peter!  History repeats, itself, again.    

Tadamasa charges and cuts down Susukida.

Sanada counterattacks and is repulsed...

State of the battle.

Sanada redoubles his effort, but the result is the same!

Tadamama's pursuit carries him into enemy Teppo.
Teppo are dispatched with ease.

Osaka breaks!
Tokugawa victory!

Congratulations, Peter, on an outstanding victory!  The final result was a much closer contest than the Army Breakpoint Clocks show.  A quick glance at the Butcher's Bill illustrates the closeness of battle.  Both armies saw one leader fall.  Great game and a most enjoyable and satisfying contest.

Butcher's Bill

What did I learn from replaying the scenario at the head of the Osaka Army a second time?  Well, perhaps, not much since I fell to the wily Tokugawa again!  Peter ripped apart my right in astonishingly quick fashion.  At that point, I figured this might be a quick game.  That result was not to be, however.  My Osaka turned the battle around by putting to flight a large part of the Tokugawa Right and Center.  I came close, very close to taking the Tokugawa Army to its breaking point.  Close but not close enough.  I also need to learn how to condense my battle reports like Peter has done!

This game was filled with tension and drama as was Game #1 with Richard.  I walk away convinced that the Osaka can win this battle.  They came very close this time.  Game duration was about two hours.

Thanks, Peter, for an excellent game!  Great fun!

Note: Blogroll delay persists.

I had a devil of a time with this post. Originally posted at 0600 04 July, it still had not appeared in the blogroll widget by 0400 05 July! As a test, I republished the post at 0600 05 July and it finally appeared two hours later. What a pain!