Area movement is a
game mechanic
In tabletop games and video games, game mechanics are the rules or ludemes that govern and guide the player's actions, as well as the game's response to them. A rule is an instruction on how to play, a ludeme is an element of play like the L-shap ...
used in a
board game
Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well.
Many board games feature a comp ...
. While most
parlor games
A parlour or parlor game is a group game played indoors using speech (from French Parler). They were often played in a parlour. These games were extremely popular among the upper and middle classes in the United Kingdom and in the United States d ...
and the like have 'areas' of the board to move in, the term is used (particularly in
wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game in which two or more players command opposing armed forces in a realistic simulation of an armed conflict. Wargaming may be played for recreation, to train military officers in the art of strategic thinking, or to s ...
) for those boards that represent a geographical area, but do not use a regular
grid
Grid, The Grid, or GRID may refer to:
Common usage
* Cattle grid or stock grid, a type of obstacle is used to prevent livestock from crossing the road
* Grid reference, used to define a location on a map
Arts, entertainment, and media
* News g ...
(usually of hexes or squares).
Area movement is a common feature in lighter wargames and some mass-market games, such as ''
Axis and Allies
''Axis & Allies'' is a series of World War II strategy board games. The first version was initially published in 1981 and a second edition known colloquially as ''Axis & Allies: Classic'' was published in 1984. Played on a board depicting a Spr ...
'', ''
War at Sea
''War at Sea'' is a strategic board wargame depicting the naval war in the Atlantic during World War II, published by Jedko Games in 1975, and subsequently republished by Avalon Hill in 1976 and more recently by L2 Design Group in 2007.
It is ...
'' and ''
Risk
In simple terms, risk is the possibility of something bad happening. Risk involves uncertainty about the effects/implications of an activity with respect to something that humans value (such as health, well-being, wealth, property or the environme ...
''.
Area movement breaks the terrain represented into regions or areas, which are usually assumed to be completely controlled by one side. As such, they may only be an abstract administrative region, but often have borders conforming to natural obstacles such as mountain ranges or rivers. Movement is generally regulated by the number of areas a unit may move at one time, and the fact that movement can only occur through connected (adjacent) areas.
A variation of this mechanic is ''point-to-point'' movement. In some cases this is just area movement with a central point and the legal paths defined, instead of defining the region, as in ''
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
''. In others it is actually used where the ''means'' of movement is important as in ''
A House Divided''.
The first more serious simulation game to feature this type of movement was ''
Storm Over Arnhem ''Storm Over Arnhem'' is a 1981 board wargame designed by Courtney F. Allen, published by the Avalon Hill game company, and depicts the battle for Arnhem bridge over the Lower Rhine river during Operation Market Garden in World War II. This battle w ...
'' released in
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
by
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the company' ...
. Games directly copying this system included ''
Thunder at Cassino'' and ''
Turning Point: Stalingrad'', both also published by Avalon Hill. A more recent example is ''
Monty's Gamble: Market Garden'' released in 2003 by
Multi-Man Publishing
Multi-Man Publishing, LLC ("MMP"), founded in 1994, is a Maryland based game company that publishes many Wargaming, wargame titles, including ''Advanced Squad Leader'' and Operational Combat Series.
History
Multi-Man Publishing (MMP) was founded ...
.
Board game terminology
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