'Grognard' is derivative slang for someone who likes playing wargames. 'Grognard.com' therefore has a
unique collection of various conflict simulation game (i.e. wargame) information, including (but not limited to) rules
errata and variants, game reviews and links to relevant web sites. The emphasis is on board wargames, but miniatures,
computer and card-based wargames are also covered.
Who We Are
Beginning in December 2013, this site has been owned and operated by Mark D'Agosta. The site was conceived
and capably operated by Alan Poulter from 1995 through January 2013. From January to early December 2013,
the site was entrusted to caretaker Jason Pipes who "kept the lights on" during that period.
After undergoing an extensive re-design, the new Grognard.com was unveiled in February 2014 and has been active
as a reliable gaming resource since then. Currently the site is maintained by:
- Mark D'Agosta - Site owner and administrator.
- Doug Holt - Assistant site administrator, developer and contributor.
- Ed Sommers - Database administrator and contributor.
Content Updates
Grognard.com used to only be updated weekly, on Sundays, but starting in February 2014, we have moved to a
"continuous update" model, so new shares and submissions will be posted on an "as received" basis, which means as
soon after receipt as possible. This site depends on shares/submissions for new material, so please contribute if you can.
New instructions for sharing/submitting items can be found on the 'Share' page.
The Grognard Challenge
Each Sunday, sometime between 12:01 AM and 11:59 PM, Grognard.com runs a competition known as the Grognard Challenge which
challenges site visitors to identify a board game from pictures of its map and units.
There are no prizes, :-( but the first person to submit a correct response using will have their name added to a winners list.
Find out all about the current and past winners on the Grognard Challenge page.
Other Wargaming Resources
Jim Dunnigan's book The Complete Wargames Handbook, and
SPI's Introduction to War Gaming (PDF file, 20mb) are dated, but still useful
introductions to board wargaming. Another insight into the hobby is an Analysis of Top
Wargames, 1958-2008 (PDF), based on data from Boardgamegeek.
Finally, the British fanzine The Phoenix covers the SPI era in detail.
As far as video resources, you can watch a TV story on board wargaming featuring
CABS (Columbus Area Boardgaming Society),
a promotional film for board wargaming made by SPI in the 1970s and
a film about The Sentry Box game store in Calgary.
The book 'Simulating War',
by Professor Philip Sabin
of Kings College London, is recomended as it "sets wargaming in the context of established scholarly techniques such as mathematical modelling,
operational research, game theory and role playing, and explains how it unites all of these approaches in a synergistic whole". Other textbooks
for game designers are Designing Modern
Strategy Games and
Modern Perspectives on Game Design, both by George Phillies and Tom Vasel. Finally, The Grog News blog
is a useful source source of news relating games to reality.
You are also encouraged to check out "Tactical Wargamer's Journal", a periodical print publication by Michael A. Dorosh which can be purchased
through his Tactical Wargamer
web site. It covers all aspects of commercial tactical wargaming, and is a great resource for those interested in the hobby. Michael's
site contains a wealth of information on books, board games, computer games, miniatures rules, publishers, role playing
games and more. The Tactical Wargamer
Web Site is well worth the time spent perusing.
Free Wargames to Get You Started
Of course there's no better introduction to board wargaming than actually playing one! Here are links to two free board wargames
that you can "print and play": First Blood and Battle for Moscow.