Whanganui wargaming tournament Fracas brings miniature armies to town

Wargamer Jonathan Carryer, of Palmerston North, checks the position of his troops. Photo / Stuart Munro

A two-day Fracas drew armies from throughout the North Island to do battle in Whanganui.

The Fracas was a table-top wargaming tournament held at the Alexander Library on Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26. Competitors brought their figurine armies, equipment and terrains from as far afield as Auckland, Hamilton and New Plymouth for the military strategy game.

Organiser Julian Emmett said the Whanganui tournament was now one of the biggest in New Zealand; 14 people competed this year.

"We played the 1943-1945 period [of World War II] so there were big tanks and big guns," Emmett said.

"There was a mix of very experienced troops or very war-weary troops. There were fearless veterans willing to get stuck in and do the job asked of them and there were veterans who were reluctant.

"We had tables with different types of terrain - urban, wilderness, hills with a road going down it."

As well as prizes for the top competitors, there were prizes for the best painted miniatures and best terrain, Emmett said.

"And there's the Dunkirk award for whoever comes last. It's a reward for showing they tried their hardest."

Julian Emmett with one of the Fracas terrains. Photo / Supplied

Wargamers check out the various scenarios. Photo / Supplied

A village scene was one of the Fracas scenarios. Photo / Supplied