Founded in 1995, VaeVictis, the war-games magazine, breathes the epic winds of the great battles which made history for its readers, from the wars of Antiquity to the great conflicts of the 20th Century with favourite themes like the battles of the Middle Ages, Lace Wars, the Napoleonic campaigns, the American Civil War, opposing the North and the South, the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 without forgetting the campaigns in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.

Every two months with 68 full colour pages, VaeVictis offers as an insert a complete war-game (with a map and cardboard cut-out pawns) of a great battle of history, complete game rules to play with figurines immediately, articles on military history (analysis of strategy and tactics throughout the ages, presentation of the units used in military campaigns) and all about what is going on in the war-games world, on maps, with figurines, or on computer together with critical analysis and new release box opening.

Did you say “War-games?”

Wargames (sometimes the German expression “Kriegspiel” is used) enable a battle (or an operation, or even a campaign depending on the scale used for the game) to be simulated. The conditions of the confrontation are determined from the start (the state of the forces, the battlegrounds) and it is up to the players afterwards, according to precise rules for combat and movement, to use their military units (represented by pawns on the map or by figurines on the table) to swing the result and win the battle. It is thus possible, by manoeuvring adroitly, to get Napoleon to win at Waterloo (and why not have him lose at Austerlitz if you have chosen to command the Austro-Russian army). Most of the war-games are played by two players, each representing one of the camps. However, some incorporate rules of diplomacy and can be played by several players. Depending on the level of simulation desired, the rules of a war-game can be more or less complex to include the realities of combat, supplies, the effect of the weather, etc. Beginners and those who prefer quick games will be happy with a few pages of rules whereas, the “Grognards” (Old Veterans) can launch themselves into simulations involving several dozen pages of rules, incorporating a bigger number of factors. There are three types of War-games:

On maps with cardboard pawns, called the map-game.
With figurines, played on large tables set out for the purpose with realistic decors; this is the figurine wargame.
Since the computer revolution, on a screen. Note that the first games on screen merely reproduced the map-games whereas today’s computerised games of today have all the visual characteristics of games with figurines because of the realism of the forces present and the décor.

The map-games are suitable for big strategic campaigns because the map represents operations taking place over vast regions, whereas the figurines are perfect for battles or lesser engagements. In reality, the main advantage of the map-games is that they do not take up too much space (handling only the pawns) which enables large battles to be simulated; the advantage of the games with figurines is that you can display superb terrains with magnificent armies of lead or plastic soldiers. As for the computerised game, it brings the other two traditional schools together, offering infinite spreads of terrain, whilst also compartmentalising the action simply into what can be seen on the screen. Recreational, historical, relaxing, inviting reflection and the discovery of military history, war-games are a marvellous hobby which can be played at any age. If you like history, if you like playing, if tactics and strategy interest you, discover war-games thanks to VaeVictis. Welcome to our site.