Wargamer's Digest was a wargaming magazine created by Gene McCoy that was published from 1973 to 2000 (from 1984 to 2000 as Military Digest). It is notable as one of the earliest publications to publish the work of Gary Gygax, and for the high regard that military professionals and academics showed for its military scenarios and simulations.[1][2][3][4]
Gene McCoy, an army veteran, was the editor-in-chief.[5][citation needed]
Historyedit
In 1974 Wargamer's Digest published Gygax's rules for wargaming in an ancient setting. Originally written in 1969, Gygax revised and expanded them for publication in Wargamer's Digest.[6] The magazine also sold war games through its "Reader's Service Department."[7] This included the earliest TSR products. In 1975, it published one of Gygax's earliest adventures for Dungeons & Dragons, "The Magician's Ring."[8]
Wargamer's Digest World War Two war gaming rules.edit
Between 1973 and 1975 Gene McCoy printed a micro-armor rules framework in Wargamer's Digest.[9] The rules, as they existed, were scattered across a number of magazines, with the last being printed in Volume 3, Issue 12.[10] While by no means a finished product, these rules introduced a number of new figure-gaming concepts, which in the micro-armor world were well ahead of their time. An example was each base or figure represented more than one vehicle.
The rules were originally designed for 1/87 or 1/72 scale figures, with a scale of 1 inch for each 100 yards. This changed in Volume 2 Issue 11 to 1 inch for each 50 yards. Each figure represented 9 vehicles, with the scale for infantry and artillery differing. By the last issue the scale had standardized to 4 to 6 vehicles or guns, although the infantry scale was not as clearly defined. The game-turn duration was never stated, but would have ranged from 15 minutes to 60 minutes a game-turn.
The rules allowed for combined movement and firing, as well as firing in the opposing players game turn. While the implementation of these rules concepts was basic, they represented a revolutionary step forward in micro-armor rules. The firing system consisted of cross referencing the gun and target armor to arrive at a penetration range. If the direct fire was at half this range or less two dice was used, other wise only one dice was used. No firing beyond penetration range was allowed. While not revolutionary the system was elegant and provided a surprising level of detail. Later version introduced a percentage to kill die roll as well.
Publicationedit
By 1975 the rules had developed to the point that McCoy decided to publish them. An early type of crowd funding was used with an intended publishing date of 1978, but unfortunately the rules were never published. An unofficial version was created based on available source material and published on the Yahoo group and IO:Group site.
Referencesedit
^Air Force Journal of Logistics. Air Force Logistics Management Center. 1980.
^"grodog's Castle Greyhawk Archive: Sources and Research Items". www.greyhawkonline.com. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
^Hall, David W. (2011-08-01). Blood and Guts: Rules, Tactics, and Scenarios for Wargaming World War Two. iUniverse. ISBN978-1-4620-2554-1.
^Witwer, Michael (2015-10-06). Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN978-1-63286-204-4.
^Peterson, Jon (2012). Playing at the world : a history of simulating wars, people and fantastic adventures, from chess to role-playing games. San Diego, CA. pp. 507, 541. ISBN978-0-615-64204-8. OCLC 808727087.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Peterson, Jon (2012). Playing at the world : a history of simulating wars, people and fantastic adventures, from chess to role-playing games. San Diego, CA. p. 502. ISBN978-0-615-64204-8. OCLC 808727087.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Peterson, Jon (2012). Playing at the world : a history of simulating wars, people and fantastic adventures, from chess to role-playing games. San Diego, CA. p. 529. ISBN978-0-615-64204-8. OCLC 808727087.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Images for each cover of Wargamer's Digest/Military Digest
December 15, 2023
wargamer, digest, wargaming, magazine, created, gene, mccoy, that, published, from, 1973, 2000, from, 1984, 2000, military, digest, notable, earliest, publications, publish, work, gary, gygax, high, regard, that, military, professionals, academics, showed, mil. Wargamer s Digest was a wargaming magazine created by Gene McCoy that was published from 1973 to 2000 from 1984 to 2000 as Military Digest It is notable as one of the earliest publications to publish the work of Gary Gygax and for the high regard that military professionals and academics showed for its military scenarios and simulations 1 2 3 4 Wargamer s Digest Contents 1 Editor in chief 2 History 3 Wargamer s Digest World War Two war gaming rules 3 1 Publication 4 References 5 External linksEditor in chief editGene McCoy an army veteran was the editor in chief 5 citation needed History editIn 1974 Wargamer s Digest published Gygax s rules for wargaming in an ancient setting Originally written in 1969 Gygax revised and expanded them for publication in Wargamer s Digest 6 The magazine also sold war games through its Reader s Service Department 7 This included the earliest TSR products In 1975 it published one of Gygax s earliest adventures for Dungeons amp Dragons The Magician s Ring 8 Wargamer s Digest World War Two war gaming rules editBetween 1973 and 1975 Gene McCoy printed a micro armor rules framework in Wargamer s Digest 9 The rules as they existed were scattered across a number of magazines with the last being printed in Volume 3 Issue 12 10 While by no means a finished product these rules introduced a number of new figure gaming concepts which in the micro armor world were well ahead of their time An example was each base or figure represented more than one vehicle The rules were originally designed for 1 87 or 1 72 scale figures with a scale of 1 inch for each 100 yards This changed in Volume 2 Issue 11 to 1 inch for each 50 yards Each figure represented 9 vehicles with the scale for infantry and artillery differing By the last issue the scale had standardized to 4 to 6 vehicles or guns although the infantry scale was not as clearly defined The game turn duration was never stated but would have ranged from 15 minutes to 60 minutes a game turn The rules allowed for combined movement and firing as well as firing in the opposing players game turn While the implementation of these rules concepts was basic they represented a revolutionary step forward in micro armor rules The firing system consisted of cross referencing the gun and target armor to arrive at a penetration range If the direct fire was at half this range or less two dice was used other wise only one dice was used No firing beyond penetration range was allowed While not revolutionary the system was elegant and provided a surprising level of detail Later version introduced a percentage to kill die roll as well Publication edit By 1975 the rules had developed to the point that McCoy decided to publish them An early type of crowd funding was used with an intended publishing date of 1978 but unfortunately the rules were never published An unofficial version was created based on available source material and published on the Yahoo group and IO Group site References edit Air Force Journal of Logistics Air Force Logistics Management Center 1980 grodog s Castle Greyhawk Archive Sources and Research Items www greyhawkonline com Retrieved 2020 02 17 Hall David W 2011 08 01 Blood and Guts Rules Tactics and Scenarios for Wargaming World War Two iUniverse ISBN 978 1 4620 2554 1 Witwer Michael 2015 10 06 Empire of Imagination Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons amp Dragons Bloomsbury Publishing USA ISBN 978 1 63286 204 4 Wargamer s Digest Military Digest tacticalwargamer com Retrieved 2020 04 22 Peterson Jon 2012 Playing at the world a history of simulating wars people and fantastic adventures from chess to role playing games San Diego CA pp 507 541 ISBN 978 0 615 64204 8 OCLC 808727087 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Peterson Jon 2012 Playing at the world a history of simulating wars people and fantastic adventures from chess to role playing games San Diego CA p 502 ISBN 978 0 615 64204 8 OCLC 808727087 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Peterson Jon 2012 Playing at the world a history of simulating wars people and fantastic adventures from chess to role playing games San Diego CA p 529 ISBN 978 0 615 64204 8 OCLC 808727087 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link The American Wargamer the miniaturespage Gene McCoy s Rules Topic External links editImages for each cover of Wargamer s Digest Military Digest Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wargamer 27s Digest amp oldid 1177397773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
