Because the physical book went out of print in the late 1980s, the became the lifeblood of the community. Without the PDF, new generations of wargamers would have no access to Quarrie’s unique vision.
✅ Uses inches/cm and real terrain – ideal for sand tables or living room floors.
: A full digital scan is available for free borrowing and streaming at the Operation Warboard Internet Archive page . operation warboard pdf
❌ “Moderate cover” etc. – open to interpretation and arguments.
The shift toward digital downloads in the wargaming community has been swift and decisive. There are several compelling reasons why gamers are trading in their glue guns and paintbrushes for paper trimmers and craft knives. Because the physical book went out of print
Operation Warboard is a legendary set of WWII wargaming rules, penned by thriller author and wargaming enthusiast Gavin Lyall. Originally published as a hardback book in 1976, it was among the first comprehensive, approachable rulesets for 20mm-25mm miniature gaming. The PDF version is typically a high-quality scan of the original book, preserving the charming hand-drawn diagrams, charts, and the distinct late-70s wargaming aesthetic.
| Feature | Operation Warboard (1976) | Bolt Action (Warlord) | Chain of Command (TooFatLardies) | |--------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Complexity | Low-Medium | Medium | High | | Turn structure | Alternating move + simultaneous fire | Dice-draw activation | Alternating patrol/phases | | Morale system | Simple, effective | Abstract pinning | Detailed shock + morale | | Vehicle detail | Basic facings/pen | Streamlined | Historical focus | | PDF price | ~$5-10 (vintage) | ~$20 | ~$18 | | Solo-friendly | Yes | No | Yes (with solo rules) | : A full digital scan is available for
Highly regarded for its realism, using a simple D6 system that weighs gun armament against armor thickness and impact angle.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Highly recommended – with caveats)