Defining wargame--(not what you think)

[rstites25]

What is the defining wargame to you personally?

In other words, what game embodies everything that a wargame should be, i.e. what is the quintessential wargame?

For example, someone once asked me a similar question about rock music. My answer was the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction. It's not my favorite song (although it is quite good), I'm not sure I would even call it the best rock song. But, to me, it embodies everything that a Rock song should be. If someone was completely ignorant of Rock music it is the song that I would play for them to show them what Rock music is.

[usrlocal]

So many of them. But for the gold standard, I guess I'd settle on Avalon Hill's "Rise and Decline of the Third Reich".

[Calandale]

Can't do it. Dunno if I could for ANYTHING, but with wargames,
all the different eras and scales make it impossible. Add to that
the historical eras of the period in which the game was produced.

Hell, for Rock I'd be stuck the same way - too many genres.

[rstites25]

Can't do it. Dunno if I could for ANYTHING, but with wargames,
all the different eras and scales make it impossible. Add to that
the historical eras of the period in which the game was produced.

Hell, for Rock I'd be stuck the same way - too many genres.

Well, that's no fun.

[usrlocal]

Can't do it. Dunno if I could for ANYTHING, but with wargames,
all the different eras and scales make it impossible. Add to that
the historical eras of the period in which the game was produced.

Hell, for Rock I'd be stuck the same way - too many genres.

Well, that's no fun.

Oh, just put him down for 'Third Reich' too.

[Calandale]

I'm not a fun person.

I guess if I HAD to, it would be Battle of the Bulge (AH). I don't like it, but operational
WWII seems a primary focus of the hobby. Tactical has a big following, but less
game systems (not so sure recently). Bulge games were the assured sellers too.

[rstites25]

I'm not a fun person.

I guess if I HAD to, it would be Battle of the Bulge (AH). I don't like it, but operational
WWII seems a primary focus of the hobby. Tactical has a big following, but less
game systems (not so sure recently). Bulge games were the assured sellers too.

I had a similar thought process at one point. The game should probably be WWII based on the sheer number of those titles. And probably should be a bulge game by the same logic. It should also probably be hex-and-counter. Because I'm newer to the hobby I thought Ardennes '44 would be a good choice.

But I don't think that's the game I'd choose.

I think I'm leaning to something more out of Left field--VG's Korean War. I think that it embodies all the general/traditional hex-and-counter stuff. Plus it has, IMO, an outstanding integration of some political considerations. It's a bigger game, i.e. Not playable in a single setting, but not a monster game either. I think it would more clearly demonstrate to a non-wargamer that a wargame is more than just a game with a war theme; that there is a serious attempt to portray the underlying history and represent a lot of the considerations that went into fighting that war.

Third Reich may do that too, but I haven't played it.

[usrlocal]

Yeah, 3R hits a lot of those notes too.

[Calandale]

I think I'm leaning to something more out of Left field--VG's Korean War. I think that it embodies all the general/traditional hex-and-counter stuff. Plus it has, IMO, an outstanding integration of some political considerations. It's a bigger game, i.e. Not playable in a single setting, but not a monster game either. I think it would more clearly demonstrate to a non-wargamer that a wargame is more than just a game with a war theme; that there is a serious attempt to portray the underlying history and represent a lot of the considerations that went into fighting that war.

The pluses, the innovations, they make it tough to accept as indicative of wargaming as a whole to me.

My second choice would be Panzerblitz - which I truly despise.

[pnpfanatic]

Yeah, Third Reich again just because it was my first, but I couldn't pick just one. The East is Red holds a special place too.

[Calandale]

Hmm...the 'should be' seems to be what I'm missing.

I guess I'd have to go with a multi-era minis game.

I'll pick Striker.

[anarchy]

The defining wargame for me is my first love... Ogre. It's not "the" defining wargame, it's "my" defining wargame.

[The Grinch]

So many of them. But for the gold standard, I guess I'd settle on Avalon Hill's "Rise and Decline of the Third Reich".

+1

[billyboy]

What is the defining wargame to you personally?

In other words, what game embodies everything that a wargame should be, i.e. what is the quintessential wargame?

For example, someone once asked me a similar question about rock music. My answer was the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction. It's not my favorite song (although it is quite good), I'm not sure I would even call it the best rock song. But, to me, it embodies everything that a Rock song should be. If someone was completely ignorant of Rock music it is the song that I would play for them to show them what Rock music is.

Right band wrong song (Satisfaction is great!). Gimme Shelter, best song ever. An oldie that sounds great every time I hear it! 
Wargame, I'm not joking this is me real opinion-Case Blue!

[rstites25]

Case Blue!

I said wargame not party game.