George Gush is a key contributor to the development of early wargaming. His WRG rules for 1400-1700 were the standard rules in wargaming for that period for many years. This book, first published in 1980, is a lesser known classic from that period.



The book traces the history of the wargame, relating the professional development of kriegsspiel to the emerging hobby. Then it includes an interesting discussion of the main issues around developing wargaming rules for table top battles. The section of periods and types of games is fairly comprehensive guide to the state of the hobby by 1980.

The book includes three sets of complete rules.

Wargame rules for the later nineteenth century

20th Century Skirmish rules

Medieval wargaming rules



The History of Wargaming Project aims to document the development of wargaming; hobby, professional and the application of wargaming to serious games.