Campaign Games?

[Mike Tanner]

When I was answering the WSS questionnaire I remember coming across a question about wargame campaigns. It made me curious as to how others here view campaign games, hence this topic.

How do you fellows feel about campaign games vs. single unconnected battles? Is running a campaign too much hassle? Has anyone here been involved in a long term campaign game? I believe campaigns up the ante for each battle and my Rhodesian Bush War game will be part of a campaign and as a result each tabletop encounter will have a bearing on the ultimate outcome of the war.

[Duncan]

I think that they are fine amongst friends and in small easily managed campaigns where you can agree rules for things between yourselves, not get upset if things don't  go your way etc.
I think way too many are taken too seriously by many gamers who feel it is the end of the world if they loose or want to argue the point on every rule. Basically I would not take part knowingly in a prearranged organised campaign as it would be way too stressful.

[Leman (Andy)]

I haven't done a campaign since I last had a go at To the Last Gaiter Button, several years ago. I found it far too difficult, which resulted in my opponent getting several battles which were not much fun and a foregone conclusion. He has a wargame winning brain, I have a wargame figures painting brain. Consequently I'd end up with one corps having to face off three or four corps - relatively pointless exercise.

I am considering giving the Altar of Freedom campaign games a go but feel the same thing will happen. I think it is part of the reason I don't follow football. All I see is 20 men running around aimlessly and then a goal is scored. MOTD explains it all with helpful lines, arrows and highlights, but once they have gone all I see is that aimless running around again.

[mellis1644]

Most large group campaigns fail horribly IMO. A few weeks/sessions/turns in and it requires a really dedicated GM (and group of players) to keep things going. We kept one going for a few months but that was about it. People in this hobby get 'new toy' syndrome a lot and so want to move on. Also, real life gets in the way.

I have done a couple of 1 vs 1 campaigns over a year or two which work better but the system has to provide interesting scenarios and make them winnable by each player. Otherwise, it's way too easy for one side to just give up because of the uninteresting/unwinable games.

Also, have a specific end point and not being too aggressive with it are important. It's too easy to get into long sessions with no end and people again move on before the end.

[martin goddard]

Good points, well made.
One of the most famous campaigns was Tony Bath's Hyborea. In letter and ink days. I think it went on for years. He used it as background for his campaigns book. Anyone read that?

[Big Mike]

I have played a very successful (for both players) Dark Ages campaign with Duncan, based on Peter Pig's Longships Viking rules. It enabled us to use longships, fortified villages and allied armies.
The result of each battle influenced the next game so there was a thread running through.
I am currently playing a French general in a Marlburian campaign using the GaPa rules. Not my favourite period but the non-playing umpire keeps it all ticking along. Not much seems to happen for weeks then an order arrives to march north and find the Allied forces. So yes, campaigns are good.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Good points, well made.
One of the most famous campaigns was Tony Bath's Hyborea. In letter and ink days. I think it went on for years. He used it as background for his campaigns book. Anyone read that?

I have indeed! A very interesting book. I played in an Ancients campaign many years ago at the club I was in , which ran successfully for several months, if I recall correctly. The battle rules were quite simple - as were the unit make-up (in a time of complex Newbury and WRG rules).

I think a key point was that big mismatches weren't played out on the table - the umpire must have had a simple system to deal with scouts meeting main forces and suchlike. The map was also simple, based on a boardgame.

So maybe simplicity of mechanics is a key element?

[Leslie BT]

For most of the PP rule systems it is very easy to use them for campaigns, a few tweaks to the victory outcome can be then used for the next games.

[Mike Tanner]

Good points, well made.
One of the most famous campaigns was Tony Bath's Hyborea. In letter and ink days. I think it went on for years. He used it as background for his campaigns book. Anyone read that?

I bought Bath's campaign book in the early 90s. My version is ©1986. I will have to give it a reread.

[Colonel Kilgore]

That looks very similar to my copy, Mike. Lots of good ideas and mechanisms and certainly worth a re-read.