Narrative Wargaming

A couple of years ago, we ran a number of games that involved narrative gaming mechanics to conduct a miniatures wargame. These were published in Battlegames magazine, issue 33 (January 2013).

I have made the text - as submitted - available on this page. For the article as it was edited and published, you should try to find a backcopy.

Below is an example sequence illustrating the gaming mechanics.

This situation shows the Ingermanlandski regiment (the guys in the yellow jackets), ready to attack a farm defended by the Swedish Dal regiment. We have 4 players around the table. It is Player A’s turn, and he has Russian objective 5 (R5), explicitly stating the Ingermanlandski regiment should attack one of the farms. Player A formulates an order stipulating exactly that, and now the voting phase begins. Player B holds objective R2, favouring a slow and steady Russian advance. Player C has objective S6, with which he has to hold the farm with the Dal regiment at all costs. Objective S4, held by player D favours a concentrated Swedish defense further back.

So, players B and C probably will not support the order of Ingermanlandski attacking, while player D might go either way. Player D therefore proposes an alternative. He wants the Dal regiment withdrawing immediately from the farm, before a melee takes place. Player A is not against this idea, since it means he might occupy the farm with Ingermanlandski unopposed, Player B is also not against any Swedish withdrawing, but player C wants to hold the farm. So, this order will probably receive more votes than the earlier one. If the 2^nd proposal wins, the situation is now that the Dal regiment withdraws from the farm.