Stalingrad for Beginners (Studies in Game Design Book 3)

Stalingrad, the 1963 game from Avalon Hill, is the most intensely analyzed board wargame in the history of the wargaming hobby. Stalingrad for Beginners – Basic Wargame Tactical Analysis – presents fundamentals of play and basic strategic concepts at a level suitable for beginners.

For game designers, Stalingrad for Beginners has a different purpose. The author’s theme is that games are subject to deep tactical analysis, if the players know exactly what the rules are. Full knowledge of the rules is the opposite of the situation in some computer games, in which players are left ignorant of the rules, so that game responses to player actions can be mysterious, frustrating, or pointless. Stalingrad for Beginners is a presentation by example of the virtue of transparent game design, in which the full rules are known to the players.

Author and Professor George Phillies is a recognized grand master in the play of Stalingrad. For almost a half century, his articles on game play, game tactics, and game strategy have been eagerly sought out by Stalingrad players around the world. His treatment "Stalingrad, the Middle Game", is widely recognized as the best single article ever written on the game. Now he has given us a volume suitable for novices and for long-time players whose skills have become a bit rusty.

George Phillies is a Professor in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute interdisciplinary program in Interactive Media and Game Development.