Just found you guys

Hi All,

I have been playing games since the 70s but have not found many Kriegsspiel games. I hope to get in to a game with you guys some time.

Hamilcar Barca

Hi, I'm new here too

Welcome to both of you. I'm not clear from your posts whether you like traditional kriegsspiel map games, or online games (currently using the Scourge of War series).

No matter. There are folks here who will help whichever is your chosen route to happiness

Martin J

Martin wrote: Welcome to both of you. I'm not clear from your posts whether you like traditional kriegsspiel map games, or online games (currently using the Scourge of War series).

Thanks.
Mostly tabletop wargames - of various styles, and some online games. Still investigating the KS style of playing.
Feel free to sum it up for me though, as an intro, if you like.

Well here's a brief intro.......  

Traditional kriegsspiel is played on maps between 2 teams of players, each with a chain of command.  The focus of these games is not on troop numbers, quality or weaponry, but rather on 'soft' factors such as command-control, fog-of-war, communication lags and friction.  

To make all that work, there is a third team, composed of umpires.  These folks give each player only that information that they would know at that point.  To that end, they brief them on what they can see and hear in their current position on the map.  They receive messages from team members, but only after an appropriate delay.  The umpires resolve all combat, and give the results to players - again sometimes after an appropriate delay.

All of this makes for a fascinating game experience, but it's not for everyone.  It does not tend to appeal to those who like to feel in control, to operate with reliable information, and micro-manage their forces.  

Our group normally meets for games about 6 times a year, and new players are always welcome   .

There are also groups here playing online using the 2 games in the Scourge of War series.  One group focuses on the Napoleonic period using the Waterloo game, and the other on a range of periods, using the earlier Gettysburg game.  Both games have benefited since release by a tremendous amount of modding, which has provided (hopefully) more accuracy, and (definitely) improved graphics and greater variety.

Hope that helps.

Martin J

Thanks for that summary - I'm glad I asked.
Very interesting for players who like fog or war and reacting to the unknown that's beyond their control.
I've yet to try the KG mod for SOWW.

Here's something interesting; using SOWW in-game screen shots of battle actions;
https://www.waterloo-napoleon.com/battle-images-gallery-001-replay-2020.htm