Can tabletop wargaming really help us understand history, or are we simply creating the illusion of insight with dice and miniatures? This video explores the idea of wargaming as a form of “living history” and asks whether the hobby offers something that books alone cannot provide.
For many historical wargamers, the appeal of the hobby goes far beyond painting miniatures or playing games. It is about stepping into the role of a commander, facing the same kinds of decisions, uncertainties, and pressures that shaped real historical events. Unlike reading, which presents history as a structured narrative, wargaming allows us to interact with it. It turns history into a problem to be solved rather than a story to be absorbed. Through gameplay, we encounter friction, imperfect information, and the unpredictability that defined real battles, offering a different perspective on events we may already know well.
At the same time, this video takes a step back and questions whether we sometimes overstate the value of that experience. Wargaming relies on rules, abstractions, and models that simplify reality. While these systems can help us explore historical ideas, they can also create a false sense of understanding. It is easy to feel like we have “solved” a historical problem after a successful game, but real battles were shaped by factors far beyond what can be represented on the tabletop, including human emotion, political context, and logistical complexity.
The discussion also explores the limitations of focusing on battles alone. While wargaming can deepen our understanding of tactical and operational decisions, history itself is much broader, shaped by culture, economics, and long-term societal change. This raises an important question about how much wargaming can truly teach us about the past as a whole.
Ultimately, the video argues that wargaming is at its most powerful when combined with reading, research, and discussion. Rather than replacing traditional study, it enhances it by encouraging us to ask new questions and engage more actively with historical material. It is not about finding definitive answers, but about exploring possibilities and developing a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the past.
Excellent monologue, Lee! Given the proper study and reflection, I suspect you know where I fall in this debate.
ReplyDeleteI may be in a different camp to Jon on this. I think it's basically a game we enjoy because of the esthetics of the miniatures, terrain etc and has very little in common with actual combat and that playing it does not really give us much historical insight. Boardgames may be slightly different, I don't know, I never play them. Does a model railway layout provide much insight into the logistical challenges of running the London underground network....not sure it does!
ReplyDeleteI think that I stand somewhere between Jonathan and Keith. For the person who designs the historical scenario to play, it may give opportunity to reflect on the history. For the other players, who are there for the game, I'm not certain it has such an impact. The Rejects' post-game conversations almost never turn to the history around the game, but definitely on the decisions and events of the game. There is much that I agree with, though it may be a mistake to over emphasise it.
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ReplyDeleteDo you know John Clerk Eldin? This Scotsman, who had never set foot on the deck of a hHship, was nevertheless responsible for some of Britain's greatest naval victories: Cape St. Vincent, Copenhagen, Aboukir, and of course, Trafalgar.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Clerk_of_Eldin
The two essays on naval tactics he published in 1790 and 1797 inspired Admirals Hood and Nelson, who thanked him for his contribution. These writings were the result of his reflections after the defeat at Chesapeake and his experiments in the form of naval wargames.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T59anuf0pbk
Sorry, the blog is in French, and so are the subtitles.
Beyond the historical aspect, the contributions of civilians are of real interest to the military. In France, the Ministry of the Armed Forces organizes an annual conference under the auspices of the Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defense.
Almost ten years ago, a group of civilians and military personnel were invited to reflect on the forms of warfare of tomorrow. A science fiction comic book artist submitted a panel depicting an aircraft carrier being attacked simultaneously by a hundred drones. Between the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, you'll agree that today this is no longer science fiction. French admirals have taken the matter very seriously. As a result, ships have been equipped with active and passive countermeasures systems for several years now.