Join us for:
Better History through Medieval War Gaming 2025 (Event/Demo)
Hosted by the Barony of Roaring Wastes
Saturday, Nov 22th 10 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Gatekeeper Games
3961 Twelve Mile Road, Berkley, Michigan
See more here: Medieval War Gaming Event/Demo (2025)
The Barony of Roaring Wastes is hosting a day of wargames and board games. The event will take place at a game store in Berkley, Michigan. The game store features a large area of tables where the games can be set up and played. And there’s a bar.
Wargames are simulations of battles or wars played on a tabletop, using dice to determine combat outcomes. Playing these conflict simulations can bring a greater depth of understanding to the study of warfare in our era, in a manner more immersive than books or documentaries.
We will play three categories of games.
Miniature Figures Games
Miniature figures representing the forces present at a battle will be moved across simulated terrain on a tabletop according to a set of rules.
Pharamond of Flanders will be providing a ready to play set of miniatures and terrain for the Battle of Dorylaeum. (1097, First Crusade) If you have medieval or ancient figures, you may bring them and we’ll see what we can put on the table.
Map and Cardboard Counter Games
The military forces are represented by cardboard counters, moved across a paper map according to a set of rules.
Because the rules for these games are notoriously detailed and difficult to digest quickly, simplified version of the rules will be provided for some games.
Niall Milscothach will make the following game available, with simplified rules.
Germania – War on the frontiers of the Roman Empire.
Lepanto – Naval warfare between Turks and Venetians, 1571
Hastings – Hasten on southward to this famous battle of 1066
Crecy – Excuse me Your Majesty. Is it a good idea to charge uphill against longbows? 1346
Charlemagne – Strategic level warfare in the dark ages, 8th century AD
Feel free to bring your own as well.
Board Games:
Chess, Shogi, Hneftafl, Go, and some other games were used as military training games in the middle ages. We will have those games available. Feel free to bring any board game that was played during the middle ages.
Disclaimer: This is the first time we’ve held an event like this. Honestly, we don’t know exactly what to expect. Show up. Bring games or miniatures if you have them. We’ll wing it.
Site: Gatekeeper Games, 3961 Twelve Mile Road, Berkley, Michigan.
This is a mundane game store with a large public playing area, and a bar. We will be playing during regular operating hours, so the general public will be present, and of course we will try to rope them in to play as well, and present material about the SCA and what we do. Because we are interacting with the public, this event will be presented as both an event and a demo.
Site fee: FREE!! (There is no fee for this event)
Time and Date: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, November 22, 2025
Food: The site is in downtown Berkley. There are a wide variety of take out food and available nearby restaurants. Food may be brought into the site. Beverages should be purchased at the bar.
Autocrat: Baron Niall Milscothach. baronniall@aol.com