An Overview by Peter Merritt

This sub-site contains some samples of rules and 'after-action' reports on a number of megagames played by members of SELWG and the South London Warlords over the past 8 years. I hope that you have as much fun reading the reports as I had both running the games and writing the follow-ups!

What is a megagame?

Modern megagames had their origins in the Staff College exercises run by the professionals. In essence, they are wargames involving a number of players forming several teams (either as equal allies, or sub-commands normally operated by die-roll, or certain 'specialist functions' in the modern era, i.e. tactical air-support for ground operations). Whether the games be at global political level or tactical 1:1 tanks, the common theme is that multiple players must operate together both to plan and execute moves. Communication, therefore, is the name of the game..... Game sizes can be anything from a couple of dozen up to the 180 players and umpires who took part in the 1990 game "Springtime For Hitler", a rerun of the 1940 invasion of the West.

Recreational megagames began with a dedicated group of wargamers with links to Sandhurst and the Staff College at Camberley, in Surrey, England (and all their wonderful, dedicated facilities, fondly remembered with much thanks), although now sadly closed to us - potential terrorist infiltrators please note. Eventually the 'ad-hoc' nature of these events was formalised by a loose team of very experienced wargamers who formed 'Megagame Makers', now an umbrella formation which runs 5 or 6 megagames on a vast array of subjects each year at Streatham in South-East London (see below for contact details). A few years later, the SELWG club in Grove Park also began to run an annual large game, and since 1993 we have attempted to continue this very popular exercise. The fruits of this 'labour of love' are contained here.

The Documents

This directory contains details on just four of the games which have been run (and written-up) over the years, but give something of the flavour of what brings players back time after time - the confusion, fun, exasperation, cunning, betrayals and triumphs of a few hours one Sunday.....Just click a game title and your away!

A game of the German airbourne landings. To prevent too much hindsight, the set-up was varied to allow greater Italian participation, and different Allied setup options.

A 'fictional' mid-19th century game heavily based on the military and political problems of our own Crimean War (1854/56). Three large player teams represented the two main allies and a third 'minor power' with lots of clout...

A game of the 2nd Punic War (yes, the one with Hannibal and those Elephants). Actually run as a giant 'solo game', players were grouped into several factions of the Roman Senate. Their problem was to balance personal and faction advancement while not losing to Carthage....

Actually contains details of two very low-level 'tank skirmishes' - one player per vehicle, with inter-troop and inter-squadron communications run over a very crowded network of real radios!