10 December 2024
More than 180 strategists turned tabletops into battlefields at Herocon 24, commanding Roman Legions, WW2 forces and science fiction armies in a test of tactical skill.
Players navigated the diverse scenarios across one of 13 tabletop miniature gaming systems.
These systems demonstrated wargaming's impact on strategy, training and military applications as participants manoeuvred through intricate scenarios, from ancient conquests to futuristic wars.
Participants designed armies tailored to their strengths while anticipating and countering the forces they would face.
Scenarios were played out on detailed 3D battlefields, with objectives ranging from holding strategic positions to eliminating opposing forces.
Points were awarded based on mission success and winners were ranked for subsequent rounds.
'It’s a lot like a tactical exercise without troops.'
Chair of the ADF Wargaming Association Lieutenant Colonel David Hill said the purpose was to create mental models.
“Players are doing reps and sets of tactical decision-making. They devise strategies, adapt to the evolving situations, and see the consequences of their decisions; they learn in a competitive yet educational environment,” he said.
“It’s a lot like a tactical exercise without troops.”
Captain Jawad Salah was the highest ranking ADF player in Warhammer 40,000, a futuristic tabletop strategy game where players command armies of various factions, such as humans or orcs, on a battlefield filled with terrain such as ruins and buildings.
The game involves strategic planning, movement, shooting and close combat, with players competing over five turns to complete missions.
'It’s a way to use my brain tactically. You have to use the ruins and buildings on the map to your advantage.'
Success relies on tactics such as using terrain for cover, coordinating combined arms and balancing sacrifices to achieve objectives.
“It’s a way to use my brain tactically. You have to use the ruins and buildings on the map to your advantage,” Captain Salah said.
“It’s about mutual support; knowing when to sacrifice units and understanding the balance between short-term and long-term gains.
“Sometimes it’s worth losing a unit to score points, but other times you need to preserve it for greater value later in the game.”
In addition to the main games, the Army Battle Lab – the Army’s tactical training unit – showcased professional wargames such as Australian Platoon Commander and Littoral Commander, which support professional military education.
The manual wargaming tools enable junior leaders to simulate platoon-level operations in realistic scenarios using current and future equipment.
The annual event, first held in 2015, has grown significantly, with nearly a threefold increase in participation this year.
Over the course of Herocon 24, the association also supported Soldier On through a number of fundraising activities. The event raised $7000.
