Wargaming |
Engle Matrix Games
Wargaming and Engle Matrix Games
I quite like using Engle Matrix Games as the framework for a campaign. I've run a few one day campaigns using this system and it works really well. It can also work for more long term campaigns.
The essence of Engle Matrix Games is that they allow you to do whatever you want to, so long as you can make a logical argument. The "Matrix" of the title is really just your mental picture of what the game world is. It is by definition incomplete! We never know much about what is going on around us. Fortunately our brains solve this for us by automatically imposing order on what we see, and potently the players can proactively change the nature of the matrix by offering arguments.
Chris Engle of Hamster Press is the creator of Engle Matrix Games. He has used them for murder mysteries, spy games, fantasy quests, intrigues, military campaigns and political games. He has also - as a Psychotherapist - used them to treat violent children and alcoholics!
Engle Matrix Games can form the basis of a great day long mini wargames campaign for six or so players. The matrix game provides the context for the battles. I've run them a few times Absolutely fab. In such a campaign you play a leading general of the period. Each turn you get to make one argument/order about what you want to happen that turn. You can make arguments for your side, to cause problems for the other side, or to change the rules! The game is played on a simple area map. Miniature figures or counters are moved around on the map to reflect the location of military forces. Battles are fought using an abstract system or transferred to the table top - typically using something like DBA.