More Tips.

I mean simply that a campaign with a series of smaller encounters gives each player a chance to sample victory and want to participate in the next campaign. No one really, except victors, enjoys campaigns of one battle with complete victory to one side. It is a bit pointless - as the same effects could be achieved in a one off game.

Possible small campaign options.

1. Warring tribes.

Small-scale skirmish level game based in a tribal setting. (Gauls, Scots highlanders, Samurai, Huns). Use a large scale, small area map with a number of villages. Perhaps warlords can have extra prowess in the game. Simple rules often work best in these games.

2. Knights & Domains.

Always good fun. Heraldry and bright colourful figures. A group of players with a Knight and retinue of Men at arms is easy to run and requires few figures. Lots of alliances and political intrigue as honour often is forgotten.

3. American Civil War.

Try a point A to point B for one side and the other must try to stop them. Both sides need not know the other side's objective. Can be any scale but small can be fun. A good example might be Confederate raider cavalry being cut off from the main army and need to get back with supplies.

4. Napoleonic.

Similar to the idea for the ACW game but can be French retreating from Russia with the Cossacks chasing. Perhaps a Prussian game with the Prussians trying to retreat and reform after Jena Auerstadt. An interesting twist can be to reinforce the Prussians if certain points on the map are reached. This will give them a chance to inflict a check on the pursuing French.

5. Custer and the Indians.

Not necessarily the Little Big Horn but any campaign using this colourful period. The 7th cavalry were my heroes for years as a child, it'll be great fun - honest.

The list of options is as limitless as your imagination and almost every period will offer a small beginning campaign to play.

Clubs often run campaigns very well and new gamers would be well advised to join in at a subordinate level. This lets new players learn the ropes and gain an appreciation of different periods without having to buy a mountain of figures.

A word of warning - if you are new get involved, don't become a slave to another player - no matter how experienced they claim to be. Make your own decisions.

Wargaming is about fun, and if it ain't fun - change what you are doing.

Happy Campaigns, Altany.