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Spotlight Articles

Outstanding articles that are not necessarily linked to one particular game, but may have broad appeal to gamers.

My Top Travel Wargames for 2026 Holidays

Spotlight Article Graphic

"...the newest edition of my flagship article – the guide to Top Travel-Friendly Wargames." Michal, in The Boardgames Chronicle, updates us on great options to avoid wargame withdrawal when traveling. Check out which one earned this praise: "It is honestly surprising how much Napoleonic flavor the designers managed to pack into such a tiny container."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 7/6/2026


“Ecosystem” From YAAH! Magazine #16

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"...this is less about 'how did we get here' than it is about 'where are we compared to that “golden age” of long ago..." Brant, in Armchair Dragoons, shares a column he has authored in YAAH! Magazine, looking at where our hobby is now compared to the early days. Check out the various trends he has identified as he leads up to the question of "Where do you land on the overall health of the wargaming hobby?"

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 7/3/2026


Phalanx Wargame show (UK) 2026

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"...it was just a case of seeing what temptations I would come across...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, takes us along on a visit to this big show. Lots of great pictures! And check out what was "...an important table for me."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/22/2026


Flying Pig Games goes into the breach

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"We should all get ready for a porcine power play." Robert Peterson, in A Wargamers Needful Things, hosts an upcoming games announcement from Flying Pig Games. See if you agree: "Whether you love historical conflict simulations, fantasy battles, tactical warfare, horror, or science fiction, the future at Flying Pig Games has never looked bigger."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/14/2026


A Wargaming Visit to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

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"We 'warned' him that we would like to come out and see how the Army is wargaming with officers." Aaron Danis, in Armchair Dragoons, tells the tale of his visit to the College and what they got to see and do. "All-in-all, experiencing wargaming with seasoned professionals has enticed Lance and I to return to Leavenworth at some point (we still need to take that last class!)."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/13/2026


Wargame HQ at Origins Game Fair 2026

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Armchair Dragoons is hosting the Wargame HQ at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, June 17th-21st. One room will be dedicated for playing SPI Games.

Poster: Pat L.
Post Date: 6/2/2026


The Partizan May 2026 Wargame Show.

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"As soon as you enter this space, the senses are assaulted (in a good way), for a hobbyist to be immersed in their hobby environment is just a thing of joy and long may these calendar highlights continue, we must never take them for granted." Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, lets us join him for this premier show, with lots of great photos!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 6/1/2026


More Spotlight articles...


Gaming Conventions

Gaming Conventions

Another new feature for Grognard.com, the Gaming Convention calendar will make it a snap to keep up with all the latest gaming conventions in your area. But we need your gaming convention information, so please contribute.



Grognard News

Grognard Challenge - Expanded Room for Comments! (6/25/2023)

The Comments entry area has been resized to 512 characters.

Grognard Originals

In addition to our links to great content all around the internet, expect to see more Grognard.com "originals" in the future.

Strategy and After Action Report

Using the Beginner's Scenario, Pat La Pella demonstrates most of the features within John Tiller's Squad Battles Series of war games. Can the Japanese break through?

Malaya (v2.5) War Game Review

Pat La Pella reviews this post-card sized game and its computer editions. Can the UK Commonwealth prevent the Japanese from occupying Singapore in 1941?

Malaya Player Aid (pdf)

Pat La Pella created this player aid to clarify special movement rules for the Japanese player for Amphibious Movement and Reinforcement beach landing hexes. Computer versions of the game show eligible hexes automatically when the Japanese player selects a unit for movement.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

More Grognard Originals...


Grognard Challenge

Latest Challenge

Have a look at the graphics for the latest Challenge and see past solutions and contest winners.

Recommended (archives)

Wargaming - General Info

Board Wargames

Miniatures Wargames

Computer Wargames

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Board Games

Internet Based/PBEM Games

Individual Wargamer Blogs

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Asst Software/Player Aides

In Memoriam

Grognards Lost


A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z '-9

Game: Defiance: 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War 2022-?



(d10091)
 
 




Publisher: GMT Games
Game Type: Board
Designer(s): Mark Herman & David Dockter
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Description:


Defiance: 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War 2022-? Volume 1: Miracle on the Dnipro 2022 (“Defiance”) covers the initial 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine with the Kyiv and Chernihiv campaigns from February 24, 2022 to roughly April 1, 2022. Defiance builds upon Victory Games’ (Mark Herman’s) Flashpoint Golan (1991), adds a strategic political component, and updates the system for modern multi-domain warfare/the expanded revolution in military affairs (eRMA).


Articles


Article ID
Pub Date
Article Description
Source
6
Date: 7/24/2026
Poster: Doug Holt
Defiance AAR: North Jersey, July 2026 — Chili Dogs and Chit Pulls

"We selected the Quick Start Scenario. Players’ first action in this scenario is to pull three chits from the Cup of Chaos: so, a jump head first directly into the pool." Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman, in Inside GMT Games, celebrate completion of the game by bringing us an AAR. How closely is the play tracking history when "The fall of Borodyanka sent out alarm bells at Ukraine’s HQ: 95 Air Assault was tasked with forming a blocking position in the south."?
Web Link
5
Date: 11/24/2025
Poster: Doug Holt
Defiance Standard Campaign Session Report: OCTOBER 2025 AAR

"This OCT 2025 play of Defiance was a full campaign test of YOGI (the Russian bot)." Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman, in Inside GMT Games, bring us an interesting AAR on this audacious project of creating a game about an ongoing war. And the consensus on Volume 1? "...a final shakedown cruise for the simulation (hard development work for a workhorse developer, Mark Herman). Upon its conclusion, we decided, Defiance was good to go. Champagne was popped."
Web Link
4
Date: 5/29/2024
Poster: Doug Holt
Defiance Design Happy Hour: Modeling the Combat of 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War

"Fighting words." In a discussion about the oft referenced "3 to 1 rule", and how it should apply to this game project, designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman consider what technology has done or not done to key combat power influences: are these modern engagements more influenced by "Quality, Time, Size and ...Artillery", the fact that "...the proliferation of cheap networked unmanned systems has replaced the 20th century’s reliance on large expensive sensor platforms...", or is it something else?
Web Link
3
Date: 4/10/2024
Poster: Doug Holt
Defiance Design Happy Hour: Modeling the Political Dimension of 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War

"If military operations are included in power politics games, they are heavily abstracted. What about the other way around? Military simulations including a strong political dimension?" Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman offer the next in their series of articles on designing a simulation of an ongoing conflict, this time focusing on the impact of political elements on the struggle. Check out the factors that they feel "...will generate a strong narrative, provide players with a better understanding of political dynamics and, most importantly, create a 'richer' simulation experience."
Web Link
1
Date: 3/27/2024
Poster: Doug Holt
Defiance Design Happy Hour: Partisan/SOF Operations vs. Regular Russian Forces

"The 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War has forced us to re-examine how we model modern warfare." Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman continue their series of articles on designing a simulation of an ongoing conflict, this time focusing on the fight's irregular element. Check out how they are designing on the fly: "After repeated playtesting, we concluded that neither [mechanic] really did a good job of modeling partisan/SOF encounters with regular Russian forces. So, we had to invent...".
Web Link
2
Date: 12/1/2023
Poster: Doug Holt
First Draft of History: Designing a Military Simulation of the Russo-Ukraine War 2022-2023

"A book? A movie? An HBO series? How about a military simulation ('wargame') of the heroic struggle of Ukraine? ... Wiser men and women would avoid. But not us fools." Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman discuss their approach to creating Ukraine 2022!, addressing an ongoing conflict! Check out the insights and quips as they forge ahead: "Ukraine 2022! should go on preorder in December 2023, and, with any luck, be published in 2024. ... Or some other event on the Richard Berg random events table could pop up."
Web Link