Ground scale is critical for most wargame rules. How else could you translate a real world battlefield to the limited space of a ping pong table? More recent battles cover more ground as weapons’ ranges increase and number of soldiers increase.
Below are some samples of ground scale including some board games to offer a visual reference. How the game boards align with the rules depends a lot on how one determines the actual size of a hex. Perhaps 2” per hex? What is very clear is that the closer scales inject more detail. Eventually, the carefully drawn obstacles and terrain features merge into blobs of brown, green, grey, and blue.
Little Round Top and a portion of Devil’s Den and Big Round Top at 1 hex = 30 yds OSG Devil’s DenLittle Round Top, Big Round Top, and Devil’s Den at 1 hex = 120 yds. SPI Terrible Swift Sword Little Round Top, Big Round Top, and Devil’s Den at 1 hex = 438 yds
SPI Cemetery Hill
The Blue Light Manual 1” – 17 yds A Glint of Bayonets 1” – 22 yds American Civil War 1” – 25 yds Stars and Bars 1” – 32 yds Johnny Reb III 1” – 50 yds Circa 1863. 1” – 50 yds Volley & Bayonet 1” – 100 yds
I have gone for economy and speed in assembling a force of larger scale ACW Confederate figures opting for hard plastic. The price is low especially if you can find someone discarding sets. Painting is as fast as I can make it si is somewhat rough.
A bunch of Perry miniatures from their Civil War infantry set painted as CSA infantry. These miniatures are hard plastic without the nice undercuts of metal miniatures but lighter and cheaper. Assembly is needed, attaching hats and occasionally arms. The figures are lighter and cheaper than metal and a few boxes provide a reasonable number of figures. I have yet to attach flags.A closer view of some of the Perry figures including a piece from the Civil War artillery set. The barrel of the gun is not attached and can be exchanged for other barrels provided.
