Computers have not eclipsed manual board war gaming. This is the strong message delivered in Philip Sabin's Simulating War. This book is about war gaming, and if you are expecting a traditional treatment of simulation, you may be disappointed. Sabin, a military historian, is also a master war-game designer, and a significant part of the book is devoted to very effective descriptions of his methodology and design, with several examples of completed games provided, including Second Punic War, Roma Invicta?, Hell's Gate, Big Week and Fire and Movement.
The book's stated purpose is to "teach you how to research and design your own simple wargames on conflicts of your choice, just as do Professor Sabin's own students in his MA course on conflict simulation". Without a doubt, Sabin meets this goal. I was at one time an avid board war-game hobbyist and also participated in professional war gaming during a career in the US Army, so Sabin's book found a ready audience in this reviewer. It may not be appealing for readers who are not interested in board-based games.
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By: Brant
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