We begin the New Year with a new analysis of Wargames, Soldiers, and Strategy's 2024 Great Wargaming Survey (GWS).
On deck in this installment is a look at one of the new questions added into the 2024 survey. What is the new question?
Do you play board wargames, including hex-and-counter or block wargames?
I have received comments regarding including this question in past years so very good to see that the topic of board wargame participation got the nod for inclusion into the 2024 survey. Many of these comments came from wargamers who dabble in both tabletop miniatures games and board wargames and cross-over between the two mediums regularly. Without giving some light to this section of the hobby, board wargamers felt that their interests were being either overlooked or discounted. For many, this is an important component of wargaming, so time to give board wargaming some visibility in the survey! For this question, boardgames include hex-and-counter and block wargames.
While I enjoy both wargaming mediums, many wargamers choose to follow only one path and stick to their lane. For those wargamers responding to the survey with a "Yes" (Boardgame_IND="Yes" in graphics below) to the question, I label this group as cross-over wargamers with the assumption that both tabletop miniatures and boardgames are played. What does the survey show?
When the survey results are tallied, nearly 61% of respondents stated that they play board wargames. Now, even though the GWS is miniatures wargaming centric, the survey does not exclude those respondents that are purely board wargamers with no cross-over interest in miniatures wargaming. Is a roughly 60/40 split a reasonable or surprising result? From personal experience, I expected cross-over to be a little more. From the social media (wargaming blogs predominately) I follow, I expected fewer cross-over wargamers.
As seen in many of the past analyses, results are broken down by a few, select demographic attributes. Group Size, and Age Group, Primary Interest, and Location are four of the attributes under examination. Finally, Time Spent, while not a demographic attribute, hints at the time allocated between miniatures wargaming and board wargaming. Group Size
Why look at Group Size? While I enjoy solo wargaming both with miniatures and board wargames, I know some wargamers struggle playing hex-and-counter wargames as a solitary exercise. I read accounts of players getting out the game, taking hours to set it up, maybe playing a turn or two, and then packing everything back up, unsatisfied by the experience. Well, from years of personal experience and reading about others' wargaming journeys, my hunch was that hex-and-counter wargaming might be less accessible to solo wargamers than for larger groups.
Survey results suggest that my hunch may be correct. That is, 52% of solo wargamers play boardgames while 60% or more of larger groups play boardgames.
Age Group
What if the question is broken out by respondent Age Group? Are age group differences present in the analysis? Yes. What the survey suggests is that cross-over wargaming sees the highest participation in the 41-70 age groups with a peak in the 51-60 cohort. Is this blip up in boardgame cross-over due to family and work constraints and commitments? Personally, while I still bring hex-and-counter wargames to the table, the percentage of actual playing time for board wargames has decreased with age.
Primary Interest
When survey respondents are grouped by Primary Interest (entirely historical, entirely fantasy/sci-fi, or somewhere in the middle), do differences emerge with respect to boardgame participation?
Yes! Wargamers in the Fantasy/Sci-fi group tend to play boardgames less than historical gamers and much less than gamers in the "Mixed" grouping. Seeing that the Mixed group plays more frequently than either the Fantasy/Sci-Fi or Historicals is not surprising since that group's hobby interests tend to be broader than either of the two specialist groups.
Location Do differences exist between cross-over wargaming based upon player location? To explore the answer to this question, look at UK/Ireland and USA/Canada. Between these two groups, a large difference presents itself in the cross-over group. For the UK/Ireland group, 55% of respondents play board wargames. For the USA/Canada group, 66% of respondents play boardgames. Why the wide chasm between these two groups of wargamers? Is board wargaming a more North American centered facet of wargaming than in the UK/Ireland? The survey suggests that this might be the case.
The last attribute to consider consists of a follow-up question. That is,
If you do play board wargames, do you spend more or less time with tabletop miniature wargaming than with board wargames?
Survey results show that nearly three out of four respondents spend more or much time with tabletop miniatures wargaming than with board wargaming. Only about 14% of respondents spend less or much less time gaming with miniatures than with board wargames. Given the nature of the pool of likely respondents, this result is not surprising. Is it?
To summarize the findings of the survey: - About 60% play board wargames.
- Middle-age wargamers tend to play more board wargames than other cohorts.
- Fantasy/Sci-Fi wargamers tend to play fewer boardgames than other groups.
- USA/Canada wargamers play more board wargames than any other country.
- 75% of wargamers spend more or much more time playing tabletop miniatures wargames than board wargames.
Interesting takeaways from the survey. Where do you fit into this mix? Do you play board wargames and if so, does miniatures wargaming consume a larger proportion of playing time than board wargames?
Interesting analysis, Jon. Though I don’t play board wargames I often read of wargamers who do. Question- would Command & Colors Ancients eg be counted as a boardgame or a miniatures game ? (as I’ve seen a number of reports of this particular group, C&C, of boardgames being played with miniatures replacing the card counters)
ReplyDeleteGlad you found this of interest, Martin! I consider CCA a block wargame. In addition to playing CCA with the standard blocks, I play CCA with 6mm figures on the game board and also use 28mm figures on a hex grid laid out on a large table.
DeleteI have three board games in The Bunker, all favourites of mine but I couldn’t tell you the last time I played them. The club plays them on a regular basis but I don’t.
ReplyDeleteGeroge, what are the three titles that you keep in a place of honor in The Bunker?
DeleteDiplomacy, Robert the Bruce and NATO The Next War in Europe.
DeleteDiplomacy is classic!
DeleteSadly both are neglected due to an absence of venue and opportunities to play - I have bought some dedicated solo boardgames.
ReplyDeleteI tend to seek out boardgames that will work as the basis of a miniatures campaign; those that have a separate battle resolution mechanism or separate "battle board" are especially ideal. Most therefore are strategic or grand tactical in nature.
There are also those such as Commands & Colors, Hold the Line, Memoir '44, Battlecry etc which can be used with figures in place of counters.
Neil
Perhaps one day you can return to gaming in both mediums, Neil? As mentioned to Martin above, I play CCA (CC Napoleonics) with figures in a variety of figure scales. Like you, I have used board wargames as the basis for campaigns with resulting battles fought out on the game table in miniature.
DeleteAn interesting read, I don't play boardgames but have been tempted by some of the block ones, mainly ancients as I don't have figures to wargame that period.
ReplyDeleteDonnie, give Commands & Colors Ancients a go! It is a GREAT system and always provides an enjoyable game. I played three games of CCA with 6mm armies on Thursday in under two hours. Great fun!
DeleteI am not a boardgamer either...unless you count the Blood Rage and Zombicide played a Julian's occasionally...and they are his choice not the rest of the group!
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised by any of the findings in your breakdown, Jon, boardgames had their heyday in the 70's and 80's, so will be most popular with people who were young at that time. Most of the big boardgame companies are American, so hence they are more popular there, and almost all wargaming boardgames are historical, so that explains why fewer fantasy gamers play them... those are my feelings, anyway!
Keith, your conclusions seem about right to me. While I certainly played more board wargames in the '70s and '80s, the number of publishers and number of games published today far surpasses the quantity and quality produced back in the Old Days. You might be surprised at what is available today.
DeleteI agree with Keith’s comment about board gaming in NAM. I remember reading this as long ago as the 70s. Also makes sense what he says about age cohort.
ReplyDeleteMartin raises a good question. I’d be inclined to say yes. C&C is basically a hex and block game, made prettier by the use of figures. Would your hex version of BI be a board game though, as it started out as a free movement figures game transferred to a grid.
Hopefully I’ll be playing a multiplayer boardgame in the analogue world on Tuesday.
Chris
My hex version of BI is no boardgame. First, there is no board! It is simply a miniatures game played on a grid. What multiplayer boardgame is on deck for you?
DeleteSoldier Kings I think.
DeleteIs this part of a SYW PBEM campaign?
DeleteAn interesting analysis Jonathan and one that is close to my heart as I look at a bookshelf full of unpunched Strategy and Tactics games.
ReplyDeleteLawrence, I would be very interested in seeing a photo or two of your wargame collection!
DeleteI might just do that Jonathan. The last of the children are moving out in a month and it looks as though I might have negotiated my way to getting a wargaming room, alongside my painting room and office. I'm off to the Middle East next to see if I can ensure the Gaza ceasefire holds.
DeleteCongratulations on scoring a game room!
DeleteI do/have played hex & counter games, but not recently. I also play other non-figure wargames. A better question, given the potential miniatures bias due to the survey promoter, might be "do you play wargames without figures"? Megagames, for example, aren't hex & counter games and don't use figures but have a good foot print in the UK hobby.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised at the UK/US split on hex and counter games. Growing up the US hobby seemed to be dominated by the likes of SPI and Avalon Hill, with figures a minority sport.
Can you provide examples of Megagames? I am not sure I am familiar with this class of games. Yes, it makes sense that the US might lean toward board wargames with the ever-present SPI and Avalon Hill games being stocked in many bookshops when I was a lad.
DeleteThe leading UK group is Megagame Makers (google for their website) and they've been running them since 1980. In recent years there's been a real explosion of them after the team behind the gaming Youtube channel "Shut Up and Sit Down" played in one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN71v9H_gg8
DeleteThanks! I will give this a look.
DeleteAs always, very interesting analysis Jonathan. I like board games. However, I don't play them with anyone other than my sons when they are around and inclined to entertain me. For me, if I play boardgames it takes time away from painting and tabletop gaming. It is a matter of priorities in the end.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard! I understand priorities and distractions. Board wargames can be an excellent tool for driving a campaign game with battles played out in miniature. Still contemplating setting up a remote campaign game. Perhaps, 2025 is the year to kick it off?
DeleteI don't play board games. I have been tempted a few times to buy one, but have too much other stuff to do already.
ReplyDeleteYou didn’t buy board wargames as an entry into the hobby? I was a board wargamer first.
DeleteI think your comment to Ray epitomizes my argument re the cause of the North Atlantic Split...I had several friends as a teenager in a town of 10,000 people who were nascent wargamers...with Airfix figures, initially, but moving on to Minifigs etc in the mid teens ....but I did not know anyone who ever played an Avalon Hill or SPI boardgame, even though adverts for both were ever present in Military Modelling that I perused each month
DeleteInteresting. The survey results support this hypothesis.
DeleteIt's a common trope in the UK. Airfix figures were accessible everywhere, supported by the Airfix Magazine, which had wargaming articles. You had to seek out SPI games, usually be post. The route to that would be from an advert/review in either the Airfix Magazine or Military Modelling, so reinforcing the toy soldiers first approach in the UK.
DeleteAh, an example of Say's Law in practice where supply creates its own demand.
DeleteInteresting analysis as always Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteI do play boardgames as well as miniatures. One of this year's resolutions is to play more of them. I have no problem playing them solo.
Growing up in Australia, being influenced by both the US and UK, I recall that the few wargaming stores would stock both miniatures from the UK as well as boardgames from SPI and Avalon hill. Maybe we were lucky 😁
Thank you, Ben! Like you, I had a resolution to get some board Wargames to the table in 2024. I failed on that count. I will redouble my efforts in 2025 to get hex-and-counter Wargames to the table. I have no problem solo gaming either. Besides Airfix figures, I saw no miniatures in the local hobby stores when I was young. Board Wargames seemed to be everywhere. I think you were lucky!
DeleteI just had a couple of further thoughts. Might wargamers who have been in the hobby longer play fewer boardgames because they have access to more figures?
ReplyDeleteWhat difference does the ability to leave a game out on the table make? A quick skirmish or middle sized game can be packed away on the same day whether on the dining table or away at a club while many [though not all] boardgames may need to be left in situ for a much longer period
Stephen
Stephen, are you referring to "miniatures" wargamers specifically or wargamers in general when mentioning the inverse relationship between number of figures and boardgames played? For me, I think the inverse relationship is more along the lines of miniatures games played vs boardgames played. You are correct that many of the boardgames I choose to play take much longer than most miniatures-based wargames. Good thoughts!
DeleteApologies for the lack of clarity. I meant wargamers in general and perhaps my comment has the belief that given a choice who wouldn't choose miniature gaming if you have the miniatures to hand? Not me. However a do know a friend I gamed with when I lived elsewhere has given up miniatures games entirely and plays board games regulkarly and exclusively so I guess my 'assumption' is wrong.
DeleteI was interested in reading about people's university experience. I painted a lot of Ancients when a student [Phil Barker's books with their line drawings were the reference books of that era]. My Minifig Celts largely lay unused for years until TFL brought out Infamy! Infamy! and now they are back in business.
Stephen
Thanks for the follow up! Me, i am happy o play either board or figure wargames. Often, they address two completely different styles, scopes, and challenges.
DeleteInteresting stuff Jon as always…I think I would play more board games if I could find a regular opponent close by, I’m sure like many I would just prefer to see my figures on the table fighting it out ?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! Are you ever tempted to playing a board wargame solo? Seeing a table full of figures is a pleasing sight, for sure.
DeleteI have played solo but find painting etc more rewarding so never really carve out the time for solo events
DeleteDo what motivates you!
DeleteI find I sit in the 'don't play boardgames' never really been my thing to be honest
ReplyDeleteTo each his own! I find each medium and its pros and cons.
DeleteInteresting as always, Jonathan. My first game was Avalon Hill's D Day, which I got in 6th or 7th grade, in '65. Fast forward to the late 60's for an opponent, a co worker who purchased a new game each month for a year. The Anzio , Blitzkrieg, Panzer Blitz era for my Friday nights. Late in the sophomore year of college the mini's took over.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell from my blog that I have been putting old board games to help out with campaign ideas. I also have some new titles in stock for Friday games. So I guess I fit the US model.
Thanks, Joe! Melding and integrating board wargames with miniatures games is a good idea and one I have done in the past especially in setting up campaign games. You definitely fit into the US model!
DeleteI enjoy board gaming (and RPG's as well), and would play more of them with more opportunity. Certainly my time devoted to miniatures games as opposed to board games is 10:1 or more. I do play a few, mostly very old, computer games with considerable frequency, probably because they work well solo.
ReplyDeleteMiniatures wargaming takes up most of my gaming time as well. I would enjoy seeing more board wargames out, but I simply run out of time or opportunity with all of the miniature games played.
DeleteIn the past I have been known to buy a board game or two, I can say with honesty I haven't played one for 30+ years. I remember reading an article some years ago that claimed that the popularity of boardgames in North America was in part because of the scarcity of local miniature manufacturers and in part because early gamers were university based and board games were easier to set up and play in dorm rooms. What level of truth lies in that I don't know.
ReplyDeleteWhat you have read is as good of an hypothesis as there is, I suspect. I wonder if this difference could also manifest due to the dispersion of many US wargamers and the concentration of wargames clubs in the UK?
DeleteInteresting to look at the data and the comments Jon. I started off as a miniatures gamer as the rules we had available were for use with these and Airfix figures were cheap as chips compared to board games. At Uni we played some boardgames as they were easy to set up and play from the box, plus we didn't have to paint anything! Some worked well, others were simply too large and complex for the time and space we had available. So the last time I played a boardgame would have been 1985/86.
ReplyDeleteI've pondered getting some to run campaigns, but cost, storage and how much I would actually use them have been the limiting factors. I think my small narrative campaigns tick all the boxes for me.
As for what makes a boardgame, I have been pondering this as it has got my little grey cells whirring away. For me it is a game in a box, with a board that is hexed and cardboard counters and with rules pertaining for the action being played. Nothing revelatory there for sure! But I could make the point that Bob Cordery's 'The Portable Wargame' is in essence a boardgame in the same vein as Command & Colours, even though the latter uses blocks. Replace the blocks with counters and to my mind, you have a boardgame. So does using miniatures rather than block or counters move it away from it being a boardgame? Answers on a postcard...
Thanks for weighing in with your thoughts, Steve. Always much appreciated! What makes a boardgame is an interesting question. Having recently read Ford and Hutchinson's "Fundamentals of Tabletop miniatures Game Design" an equally interesting question is what a miniatures game is. I may tackle that question in another post.
DeleteI would say Steve has more or less nailed it, but I would add that even adding nice scale figures to the box does not transform a boardgame into a wargame....whereas, if you take the cards, dice and rules from CnC, but play the game with figures on a hexed cloth....THAT IS a boardgame transformed into a wargame.......thoughts?
DeleteHmm. When I play CCA on a hex grid with figures, I don’t consider that medium a board wargame any longer. Why is that?
DeleteCos it isn't a boardgame......there is no board involved, for a start! 😀 I think we are in agreement Jon!
DeleteAnd on the other hand, the Zombicide and Blood Rage games we sometimes play on a Friday, despite having very nice 28mm figures that Julian has painted up....remain 100% boardgames, in my submission
DeleteSolid defense!
DeleteI don't play boardgames now, even if Norms blog tempts me, I have considered, like Steve getting a boardgames that could generate battles but I think either a campaign or a scenario book is a better option. Unlike the established UK/US split I did collect and play SPI board games, all of the fantasy persuasion, which tied in with D&D which was my entry drug for miniature gaming!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain caveadsum1471
Yeah, Norm can be a bit of a Tempter on the board wargaming front.
Delete