Wargame Army

Collecting a 20th Century wargame army requires significant planning and research. Simply going out and buying a few vehicles and troops that look nice will never do. I recommend that you obtain a couple books on a particular battle that you like. I like the Battle of Berlin. Get a book that explains the overall battle, then get one that gives the viewpoint of someone who was actually there, two books, one from each side.

Once you have an understanding of the strategic and individual natures of the battle, get a book that explains the role played by specific units. Recently I finished a book about a unit of French SS soldiers in Berlin. Next, determine the size of the playing area you will be able to use in your wargames. The next step is to determine the size of units that will fit on your table. Finally, select the wargame rules you want to use. Different rules require different ratios of models to real life.

Once you have selected the type of units, then you can visit your hobby shop and start buying figures, terrain and vehicles. Buy infantry first. You can always play a small game with a few dozen infantry and a couple vehicles, using boxes as buildings. Planning a wargame army takes a little time, but pays off with a better collection and better games.