Games We Play
Currently being updated
The gaming interests among CSGA members is quite varied. From back into antiquity to far into the future range the games played at our club. Each Saturday night a wide variety of historical games, along with fantasy and science fiction, will be found being played at the club. Below is list of the most common gaming genres played by CSGA members.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Paul runs naval games of the American Civil War using 1/600 scale miniatures. Games are played using Sail and Steam Navies rules modified to hexes for speed of play. The rules contain a detailed treatment of the iron clad armor and the penetration capabilities of the various guns that provide a good simulation of the period. Scenarios have included both Eastern and Western naval actions. Much enjoyment has been had by all involved.
Joe runs land combat games using a modified version of Battle Cry with home grown courier cards similar to those found in GMT’s Command and Colors games. Joe’s games are run using 28mm figures with a focus on Eastern Theater battles in 1862 and 1863.
ANCIENTS / MEDIEVAL
Mr. Ed runs ancient miniatures battles using a conversion of Command and Colors Ancients and WoFun figures for battles of Rome versus Gauls. Battles have included a contest over river crossings and an assault where the Gauls are attacking and the Romans are scrambling to get their men out of their camps and up to the front lines.
Risk Medieval Europe
Joe runs games of Risk Medieval Europe at the club. It is a very different game from the original risk that many people may have grown up with. Each major city has unique abilities that reflect their military power or influence in the Medieval era.
Hank runs games of Warmaster Ancients in 15mm. His period of interest is the Punic Wars with Carthaginians and Romans. Hank is intrigued with the campaigns of Hannibal the Great. Hank recently received a large group of 15mm figures from a service members widow who was cleaning out her garage after having them for many years.
Other members of the club were also given a number of 25mm ancient armies from the same service members widow. Some of these figures (there were many thousands of them) were donated to wargamers at CMH (our former DBA tournament opponents) in Denver, CO. These miniatures range from the Greek era, through the Roman era into the Byzantine era and then the Crusades in the West in addition to some armies of ancient China. The club is currently looking at a variety of rule sets to use for club night scenarios. Some prospective candidates include “To the Strongest”, “Mortem et Gloriam” and “Tactica II”
In the past the club had a large number of members with DBA armies and a number of DBA tournaments were held at local Colorado gaming conventions. Back in 2012, a DBA tournament between CSGA and the Colorado Military Historians (CMH) gaming group up in Denver began. The annual DBA Smackdown was a great success with a lot of support from each club. A traveling championship plaque was awarded to the winning club each year. A number of members may still have their armies if this is of interest to perspective newcomers. The clubs organizer of the DBA tournaments and the most excellent chronicler of the English Civil War battles has since moved to Washington. His status can be seen at https://csga1983.wordpress.com/about-2/former-members/
The club also used to have a number of members who played the original version of Tactica. Many of them have since moved out of the area.
Air Combat
Blue Max (an out of print GDW design) was the original air combat game to which a number of current games around the country owe their inspiration. An Italian design for World War I combat called Clash of Eagles was introduced to our club by Larry Neal, who then expanded the rules to include planes and tactics used in World War II Europe. Larry calls his WWII rules DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). Andy Oertig also runs DFC games at the club.
Larry has also developed charts and rules for air combat in the Korean War with Sabres and Migs, called Mig Alley. The models used in these games range from 1:100 scale (15mm) to 1:72 scale with the planes being mounted on telescoping car antenna rods mounted on large hexagon bases.
American war of Independence/French and Indian war
Joe runs small formation skirmish level games for American War of Independence and the French and Indian War using Ospreys Rebels and Patriots Rules.
FANTASY
Hank runs games of Warmaster Fantasy in 15mm. He has put on large battles between Dwarves and Orcs and another battle between the undead and the living.
NAPOLEONIC
CSGA has been gaming Napoleonics in miniature for an extended period.
Dick currently runs games of DBN using a hex based conversion of the rules. These games usually occur once a month on a Saturday during the day at Dick’s house. If these games are of interest to you reach out to Dick and let him know you would like to play.
The Napoleon’s Battles (NB) rules set by Craig Taylor and Bob Coggins was first introduced to the club by club member Dick many years ago, and like most clubs, we have established our own house rules modifications (as example, we require “pin by contact” rather than the 1″ rule).
We also have evolved a tournament system (not so jokingly called the “Never Ending War” (NEW) by Luis, the Crazy Cuban,) that provides semi-weekly play with a handicap system and troop increases as rewards for competition.
CSGA member Lamont Anderson developed rules for playing Napoleon’s Battles on a hex map. In 2015 he hosted a replay of the Battle of Waterloo to mark its 200th anniversary.
Possibly some of us are a bit obsessed with this game system?
PULP FICTION
Dave runs pulp fiction miniature games in a variety of settings and locations. Events have included one set in Egypt where the intrepid explorers arrive on a steam vessel on the Nile and enter the temple to explore only to encounter heavy resistance inside the interior maze while simultaneously being attacked from behind by locals who are outraged by the explorers desecration of the temple. Even worse was the unexpected surprise that awaited them in the temples lower reaches. Another event was set in 1937 China with various European and American groups attempting to reach their boats at the dock to escape Shanghai before the advancing Japanese captured or killed them. There is no mercy in war as delaying your opponent could slow the enemy who would spend time killing or capturing them and thus increase ones chances of escaping. Another event included gunslingers and lawman on a phenomenal multi deck river boat steamer where one side is trying to steal the gold and the other is trying to keep it safe.
Eric runs the board game Scythe at the club. Scythe is a multi-faceted board game that is a cross between Steam Punk & Mech Warrior set in a dystopian 1920s Europe. Various choices to be made in pursuit of goals. The person that has the most money at the game’s end is the winner. Games can support up to seven players.
World War II
The greatest conflict in the history of mankind has born great interest in the gaming the conflict by CSGA members.
Club members Peter Hope and Al Mauer both run Bolt Action scenarios at the club. A number of small actions on the Russian front have been hosted to teach the game.
Some recent WWII games includes an adaptation of Assault Red Horizon 41 and Assault Sicily Gela Beachhead to hex based miniatures by Paul Pease. Battles have included fights in Russia from 1941-1941, fights in Tunisia in 1943 and Fight in Sicily in 1943. Future battles will include British forces with the upcoming release of Assault Sicily Primosole Bridge.
Another recent game includes a conversion of the Polish Great Battles of 1939-45 Great Battles System to miniatures by Ed Strecker. The first game was a translation of Operation Conrad I from the Budapest 1945 game.
One of the clubs favorite World War II games played is WFG’s Frontline, a 1:1 skirmish level game that was usually hosted by Walt Williams (the game designer) and a number of other CSGA members, using 28mm figures. Battles from central Europe and the sands of North Africa to the steppes of the Soviet Union and islands of the Pacific have been depicted using Walt’s rules. Joe Muise continues to run the occasional game of WFG with Walt having moved out of the area. His presence and camaraderie are greatly missed. You can see Walt’s current status at https://csga1983.wordpress.com/about-2/former-members/
18th-19th Century Colonial
Warfare during the 18th and 19th centuries is a gaming favorite with many CSGA members.
Games covering battles from the Seven Years War, French and Indian War, the American Revolution and War of 1812 up to and including the colonial wars of Britain and France in Africa and the Far East have been played.
Some of the more popular rules to play these games include Muskets and Tomahawks, The Sword and the Flame, and The Men Who Would Be Kings. The small skirmish battles that occurred during this time period are popular due to fewer number of figures needed to game these battles.
Science Fiction / Fantasy
In addition to historical miniature gaming, there is a lot of interest within the CSGA in futuristic Science Fiction, and Fantasy gaming. A number of members are involved in Battletech and other gaming systems and it is quite common to see futuristic and sci-fi games being run throughout the year.
One of our members has completed working on a number of Battlestar Galactica (BSG) miniatures for use with a modified version of the Full Thrust gaming system. The game has been well received and Luis’ colonial and Cylon miniatures are quite breathtaking.
Other Sci-Fi gaming systems of interest in our club include Battletech and Steve Jackson’s Ogre Miniatures. There have been a number of Battletech battles in the past and more will surely take place in the future. Ogre Miniatures is classic game system from the early 1990s that still has a following here at the CSGA.
Also popular are a number of different Star Trek based games including Federation Commander and Call to Arms: Star Fleet. The Star Trek universe with its wide variety of well-known alien races makes it very popular amongst club members.
And recently All Quiet on the Martian Front and Star Wars: X-Wing have made appearances at the club. Both games have been played quite often at the club and have been enjoyed by everyone who have played them.
Colorado Springs Gamers Association 