Saturday, June 14, 2014

June 14-15, 2014: War Stories: Board Games

[In honor of last week’s 70 anniversary of the D-Day invasion, in this week’s series I’ve highlighted different ways we’ve told the story of that fateful day and its aftermath. This special post considers one other way we capture the stories of war, but is also inspired by Sunday’s birthday of my best friend Steve, with whom I’ve played most of my lifetime of board games!]
On three board games through which I learned a lot about war histories and stories.
1)      Ambush!: Ambush!, which began with a focus on post-D-Day European campaigns and then expanded to include Italy and the Pacific as well, stands out as (by far) the best solitaire board game I ever played. But its style of gameplay also captures the uncertainty and constant danger of warfare as well as anything I’ve encountered: as the player moves his eight squad members across the board in pursuit of each unique mission, anything and everything can suddenly transpire: sniper fire, the arrival of an enemy tank, an encounter with a civilian, a mine or other explosive device being triggered. Awaiting the results of each move was, as board games go, as nerve-wrecking as it gets.
2)      Sink the Bismarck!: Something about board games with exclamation points, I suppose. Inspired by one of the most unique naval histories in World War II, as well as the 1960 British film of the same name, Sink the Bismarck! was an incredibly complicated board game, and I’m not sure I ever played with every rule and feature (or even most of them). To be honest, I spent a good deal of time just examining the board, the pieces and cards, the rules and peripheral materials, learning not only about the game but also about the histories and stories connected to this famous German battleship, to the Axis and Allied naval armadas, and to all the complexities of naval warfare. I don’t think Michael Scott Smith would mind that outcome one bit.
3)      Gettysburg: Ah, the genius of Avalon Hill’s Gettysburg, a game that was at one and same time deeply grounded in the battle’s histories (the board alone taught me a great deal about the battle’s locations and landscapes) and open to each player’s and game’s unique choices (I still remember the time I had J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry flank the Union lines and capture General Meade, winning the battle in one fell swoop; luckily for all Americans it didn’t really work out that way!). The battle and war are history, but the game made them come alive, made them new and meaningful for each player and experience. I owe much of my enduring love of history to precisely such effects.
Next series starts Monday,
Ben
PS. What do you think? Thoughts on any war games you’ve played?

3 comments:

  1. Not a D-Day inspired table top but still a great WWII game is Axis & Allies 1941. Really fun game given to me by my brother and sister for Christmas. Created by Larry Harris and produced by Wizards (Hasbro) Axis & Allies plays like RISK which is a good thing as the game keeps you engaged and formulating plans both short- and long-term. This is a fun game playable up to five and will usually play for 2-3 hours. So it's a good table top game as the "main course" of an evening, but not enough to be the sole game of a night.

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  2. Steve and I played a lot of A&A, AnneMarie!

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    1. Nice, maybe you can talk my husband into playing it. The closest we get in this house is Dr. Who Monopoly!
      One last game note: for those of you with kids thinking to get them in Muchkin has a great starter game with a handful of extension sets to choose from. In the words of Wil Wheaton "play more games!"

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