Sign-In
Cart
Little Wars
Paperback
Games & Activities GeneralGeneral Military History
ISBN13: 9781783315154
Publisher: Naval & Military Pr
Published: Sep 4 2019
Pages: 132
Weight: 0.81
Height: 0.36 Width: 8.00 Depth: 10.00
Language: English
For his work on novels like War of the Worlds and The Island of Doctor Moreau, British author H.G. Wells is rightly lauded as a visionary. What often gets lost amongst the applause for his ideas on science fiction though is another area in which he was a pioneer: the field of tabletop wargaming. Which, at least as far as we know it today, was basically invented by Wells while he and a friend were playing with toy soldiers.
Wells did not invent the idea of using abstract rules to simulate the events of a battle. Prussian officers in the 19th century were trained on complex military board games called Kriegsspiel (literally War Games), while there are many other examples throughout history of using the basic ideas of war either as a primitive simulation tool or, in the case of chess, a game.
But what Wells did was invent the concept of the recreational wargame, the kind of experience you find today in things like Warhammer, games which are bought and enjoyed by the wider population, not just military professionals.
Sitting around after dinner one night with his friend Jerome K. Jerome, the pair began firing a toy cannon at toy soldiers, eventually making an impromptu competitive game out of it. Convinced that with some rules and a little more variety he could make a structured experience of it, Wells - an admirer of Kriegsspiel as a concept - decided to write what would become known as Little Wars.
The game was based around two concepts: that units and terrain would be represented by miniaturised models (or at least something lying around that resembled a hill or horse), and that the movement and interaction between the game's units would be determined by a relatively simple set of rules.
10 different editions
Also available
Also in
Games & Activities General
Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook (Core Rulebook, D&d Roleplaying Game)
Dungeons & Dragons
Hardcover
How Do You Feel?: A Spectacular Compendium of Ideas, Interactive Games, Provocations, Tests, and Tricks That Explore the World of What You Feel and Wh
Hughes, Edgar Gerrard
Paperback
Amazing Magic Tricks for Beginners: Impress Your Friends with Simple to Learn Magic That Anyone Can Do
Miles, Bryan
Paperback
The Mindful Birder's Journal: Record Your Observations of the Winged World
Paluso III, Keith
Hardcover
The Official Sherlock Puzzle Book: Are You as Smart as Sherlock Holmes? (Sherlock Holmes Puzzle, Detective Gifts, Mystery Gifts)
Tribe, Steve
Maslanka, Chris
Paperback
Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story (Expanded Edition): A Mother's Guided Journal to Share Her Life & Her Love
Mason, Jeffrey
Paperback
Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story (Expanded Edition): A Father's Guided Journal to Share His Life & His Love
Mason, Jeffrey
Paperback
Brain Games - Color by Number: Stress-Free Coloring (Green)
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
The Book of Unusual Knowledge: Big Book of Fascinating Facts & Information Hardcover Gift for Trivia Buffs, Curious Minds, Adults, Dad & Knowledge See
Publications International Ltd
Hardcover
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild the Complete Official Guide: -Expanded Edition
Piggyback
Hardcover
Brain Games - To Go - Stress Free: Word Search Puzzles
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
The Legend of Zelda(tm) Tears of the Kingdom - The Complete Official Guide: Collector's Edition
Piggyback
Hardcover
A Perpetual Journal Practice: Building a Connection with Nature Through Art
Gastinger, Lara Call
Paperback
The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 1: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles
Fagliano, Joel
New York Times
Paperback
Family Camping Games: A Pocket Book of Activities, Games and Puzzles to Play Around the Campfire
Henseleit, Jack
Paperback
The New York Times Greatest Hits of Monday Crossword Puzzles: 100 Easy Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective: The Official Art and Making of Metroid Prime 1-3
Piggyback
Hardcover
Minecraft: Guide Collection 4-Book Boxed Set (Updated): Survival (Updated), Creative (Updated), Redstone (Updated), Combat
Mojang Ab
The Official Minecraft Team
Hardcover
The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 3: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles
New York Times
Fagliano, Joel
Paperback
The New York Times Easy Crosswords for the Plane, Train, Car or Bar: 200 Removable Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story: A Mother's Guided Journal to Share Her Life & Her Love
Mason, Jeffrey
Hardcover
Dad's Story Journal (Linen Hardcover): A Memory and Keepsake Journal for My Family
Herold, Korie
Hardcover
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Amazing Animals (13 Images to Sticker)
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Paperback
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Country Garden (13 Images to Sticker)
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Paperback
The Legend of Zelda(tm) Tears of the Kingdom - The Complete Official Guide: Standard Edition
Piggyback
Paperback
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Puppies (14 Images to Sticker)
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
The Dungeon Master's Campaign Journal (Dungeons & Dragons)
Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Hardcover
The New York Times Greatest Hits of Tuesday Crossword Puzzles: 100 Easy Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
Dungeon Master's Workbook of Worldbuilding (Dungeons & Dragons): An Official Companion to the Dungeon Master's Guide
Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Wheeler, Andrew
Hardcover
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Dogs (28 Images to Sticker)
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
Hoyle's Rules of Games, 3rd Revised and Updated Edition: The Essential Guide to Poker and Other Card Games
Mott-Smith, Geoffrey
Morehead, Philip D.
Morehead, Albert H.
Paperback
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - The Skyrim Library, Volume II: Man, Mer and Beast
Bethesda Softworks
Hardcover
The Game Master's Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design: A Game-Changing Approach to Homebrewing Emergent Ttrpg Stories, Character Arcs and Worlds
Fishel, Jonah
Fishel, Tristan
Paperback
Minecraft: Exploded Builds: Medieval Fortress: An Official Mojang Book
Mojang Ab
The Official Minecraft Team
Paperback
The National Parks Bucket List: The Ultimate Adventure Journal for All 63 Parks
Mohammad, Linda
Paperback
New York Times Games Strictly Medium Crossword Puzzles Volume 2: 200 Medium Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
The Official Agatha Christie Puzzle Book: Put Your Detective Skills to the Ultimate Test
Agatha Christie Ltd, Agatha Christie
Paperback
Spelling High School Grades 9-10: Vocabulary and Writing Practice with Interactive Activities
Attard, Natasha
Paperback
Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story: A Father's Guided Journal to Share His Life & His Love
Mason, Jeffrey
Hardcover
Patty Lyons' Knitting Bag of Tricks: The Official Workbook: Hands-On Exercises to Improve Your Knitting Skills
Lyons, Patty
Hardcover
Totally Awesome Book of Useless Information: A Delightfully Absurd Collection of Unusual Knowledge for Adults and Teens
Style, Life Daily
Paperback
The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters: 500+ Customizable Maps, Tables and Story Hooks to Create 5th Edition Adventures on Demand
Ashworth, Jeff
Hardcover
The New York Times Greatest Hits of Saturday Crossword Puzzles: 100 Hard Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg: Large Print Edition: How to Play the Game & Win (Large Print Edition)
Egri, Jan
Sandberg, Elaine
Paperback
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Birds (28 Images to Sticker)
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
New Seasons
Paperback
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Under the Sea (28 Images to Sticker)
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Brain Games
Paperback
Brain Games - Sticker by Number: Animals - 2 Books in 1 (42 Images to Sticker)
Brain Games
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Paperback
The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Guide: Advice and Tools to Help You Run Your Best Game Ever!
D'Amato, James
Paperback
The New York Times Easy Crossword Puzzles to Go the Distance: 200 Removable Puzzles
New York Times
Paperback
The Book of Concealment (Dungeons & Dragons): A Game Screen and Journal in One
Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Hardcover
Brain Games - Color by Number: Stress-Free Coloring (Pink)
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Brain Games
Paperback
The Game Master's Book of More Random Encounters: A Collection of Reality-Shifting Taverns, Temples, Tombs, Labs, Lairs, Extraplanar and Even Extrapla
Ashworth, Jeff
Baker, Tim
Hardcover
Eat the Borderlands: One Loader Bot's Culinary Tour Through Pandora and Beyond!
Melendez, Jarrett
Alsaqa, Jordan
Hardcover
The Game Master's Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and Strategies for Running Pc-Driven Narratives in 5e Adventures
Fishel, Jonah
Fishel, Tristan
Paperback
The Ultimate Final Fantasy XIV Cookbook: The Essential Culinarian Guide to Hydaelyn
Rosenthal, Victoria
Hardcover
Baldur's Gate 3: The Necromancy of Thay: A Grid-Paper Notebook for Journaling, Sketching, Adventuring, and More
Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Hardcover
The New York Times Mini Crosswords, Volume 2: 150 Easy Fun-Sized Puzzles
New York Times
Fagliano, Joel
Paperback
The Game Master's Book of Instant Towns and Cities: 160+ Unique Villages, Towns, Settlements and Cities, Ready-On-Demand, Plus Random Generators for N
Ashworth, Jeff
Baker, Tim
Hardcover
Grandmother, I Want to Hear Your Story (Expanded Edition): A Grandmother's Guided Journal to Share Her Life & Her Love
Mason, Jeffrey
Paperback