The One Wargame Book To Rule Them All

The Games of War:
A Treasury of Rules for Battles with Toy Soldiers, Ships and Planes
By John Bobek

This is my first stab at a book review.  So here goes.
I was brought this book by my daughter Christmas before last.
What a book!  This sacred book will, I'm sure be every wargamers Bible, Qur'an, Sacred Scrolls, Jedi Writings.

Why you may ask?

First of all the way it is written is clear, understandable (with obvious Americanisms as it's written by one of our American cousins) and flows like a gently meandering brook.

The first thing that caught my eye was the excellent section on wargaming terms, a sort of glossary, including Do's & Don'ts of wargaming. Some of these are a bit 'tongue in cheek' and made me chuckle.

The author obviously has considerable years of experience in wargaming and rule writing and I feel would be the type of person you could stop at a wargame show and have a damn good natter with!

There is an interesting section on using wargames within the classroom. Including scenarios and learning outcomes.  I would love to try these out.  Although rounding up the neighbours kids and herding them into my back room to show them my figures maybe a bit inappropriate in these paranoid times we live in!  As I am a trainer at work, I could russle up some members of staff and incorporate a wargaming session under the guise of mandatory Conflict Resolution training within the NHS!

Then there are the rules and what a cornucopia of rules. Every period, every type and every scale. Something for every one. 1-1 skirmish to massed battalions.  Simple 1-2 page affairs to in depth and detailed pages of rules and statistics.

To be honest if you bought this book with it's rules you could get away with not ever buying another.

After every chapter there is an excellent reference bibliography that would have any University lecturer drooling over it's fully detailed layout.

So do I like this book?

YES it's great and If you ever need one wargame book then this has to be it.
My copy is showing signs of wear and it's more thumbed through than a copy of 'Big & Bouncey'!!

The price of this hallowed volume has gone down a lot in price and as always can be found here.   CLICK for link.