Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In this new episode of Wargame Archaeology, I’m joined by Liz Davidson from Beyond Solitaire and special guest Matthew Kirschenbaum, one of the authors of Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming, for a deep dive into the origins and evolution of miniature wargaming.
While Liz and I come from the world of board wargames, Matthew will guide us through the fascinating history of figurine wargaming from its 19th-century roots to its modern tabletop communities. Together, we’ll look at how miniature wargaming and board wargaming grew into two parallel traditions, what the miniatures scene looks like today, and how it grapples with questions of accessibility, tradition, and renewal. We’ll also discuss how the creative energy and design innovations of recent years have reshaped both sides of the hobby, and how the conversations sparked by Zones of Control continue to echo through today’s wargame design culture.
Links to Beyond Solitaire podcasts mentioned on the show:
- Liz & Matthew talking about Kriegsspiel youtu.be/IlzIGaQdGPs
- Liz & Pat Harrigan talking about Zones of Control youtu.be/cIyAb-Cnypw
Support Homo Ludens on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
In this new episode of Wargame Archaeology, I’m joined by Liz Davidson from Beyond Solitaire and special guest Matthew Kirschenbaum, one of the authors of Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming, for a deep dive into the origins and evolution of miniature wargaming.
While Liz and I come from the world of board wargames, Matthew will guide us through the fascinating history of figurine wargaming from its 19th-century roots to its modern tabletop communities. Together, we’ll look at how miniature wargaming and board wargaming grew into two parallel traditions, what the miniatures scene looks like today, and how it grapples with questions of accessibility, tradition, and renewal. We’ll also discuss how the creative energy and design innovations of recent years have reshaped both sides of the hobby, and how the conversations sparked by Zones of Control continue to echo through today’s wargame design culture.
Links to Beyond Solitaire podcasts mentioned on the show:
- Liz & Matthew talking about Kriegsspiel youtu.be/IlzIGaQdGPs
- Liz & Pat Harrigan talking about Zones of Control youtu.be/cIyAb-Cnypw
Support Homo Ludens on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/homoludens1871
