Ethan Clarke
Plastic army men are toy soldiers that are typically 5 cm tall and made from low-density polyethylene plastic. They are often dressed in modern military uniforms and armed with 20th-century weapons, including rifles, machine guns, and pistols. These toys are inexpensive and widely available, making them a popular choice for creative play, especially in sandbox games or simple wargames. In this context, let's explore the different options for what to shoot plastic army men with and how these toys can be used to create exciting battle scenarios.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Price | Cheap |
| Accessibility | Widely available in stores and online |
| Size | 2.5 cm (one inch) to 5 cm (2 inches) tall |
| Colour | Green, tan, grey, yellow, blue, khaki, etc. |
| Accessories | Weapons, vehicles, buildings, obstacles, etc. |
| Gameplay | Wargames, sandbox play, creative play, etc. |
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Rubber balls or marbles
Plastic army men are a popular toy that has been around for decades and is often used in simple wargames. If you're looking for a fun and harmless way to play with these toys, using rubber balls or marbles is a great option. Here are some reasons why:
Safety: Rubber balls and marbles are soft and flexible, making them ideal for indoor and outdoor play without causing any damage. They are much safer than harder projectiles like paintballs, which can cause injury or break things.
Cost-effectiveness: Plastic army men are inexpensive and widely available, and rubber balls or marbles are also affordable and easily accessible. This combination makes for a cost-effective way to have fun without breaking the bank.
Versatility: Rubber balls and marbles can be used in a variety of creative ways. They can be rolled or thrown at the army men, providing different gameplay options and strategies. This versatility encourages imagination and allows players to design their own rules and scenarios.
Accessibility: The lightweight and simple nature of rubber balls and marbles makes them easy to use for people of all ages and skill levels. They are a great introduction to the world of wargaming and can be enjoyed by beginners and experienced players alike.
Ethical choice: Rubber balls and marbles provide a non-violent and ethical way to engage in pretend combat. They offer a fun alternative to more aggressive toys and encourage friendly competition without promoting violence.
Overall, using rubber balls or marbles with plastic army men is a safe, affordable, and imaginative way to have fun. It encourages creativity, strategic thinking, and friendly competition while minimizing the risk of damage or injury. So, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned wargamer, rubber balls or marbles are a great choice for your next play session with plastic army men!
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Dice
Plastic army men can be used in a variety of games, including wargames, and can be shot at with dice. Here is a game that involves shooting plastic army men with dice:
A Game of Dice and Plastic Army Men
This game can be played with two players. Each player should have the same number of plastic army men—about eight is a good number. The players should go outside and build little fortresses out of whatever materials are available. Alternatively, one player can build a fortress, and the other can be the attacker, preparing the terrain by making shallow ditches (to serve as trenches) and setting up low walls.
The players should then put their army men in sensible places, quite close to each other—there shouldn't be more than a couple of yards of "no man's land" between the armies. Players can have their army men take cover in their fortress or in the terrain, but they are not allowed to completely hide army men from their opponent or wedge them in unnaturally.
During the game, players take turns throwing a regular six-sided die at their opponent's army men. If a player knocks down or flips over an opponent's army man, that piece is out. If the army man is jostled but stays upright, it can keep fighting.
Players must move out of the way during their opponent's turn so that no one gets hit by the dice. To make the game more interesting, players can move their army men the length of a short stick (about six inches) during their turn.
This game can be adapted and modified as you wish—the rules do not need to be strictly followed.
Other Games Using Dice
Other games that use plastic army men and dice include "Fighting Plastic", which requires six-sided dice, yardsticks or tape measures, and different-coloured army men. "Plastic Skirmish" uses a 12-sided die, a yardstick, and plastic army men and models. "Guns ‘n Grenades" uses six-sided dice and 54mm plastic army men. "Army Men: The Wargame by Gordon Games" uses dice and plastic army men, and covers a range of historical periods.
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Paper soldiers
If you're looking for a fun and inexpensive way to get into wargaming, paper soldiers are a great option. They can be easily printed and used as an alternative to plastic army men in tabletop wargames like Combat Storm.
Combat Storm is a 2-4 player tabletop wargame that uses a 6'x4' table or living room floor as a battlefield. Each player uses their own collection of plastic army men as game pieces, but the game also offers print-and-play papercraft terrain to build cities and environments. The game includes rules for two-player and four-player modes, with specific objectives for each army to complete or a Last Man Standing mode.
For those who want to get creative, you can design your own paper soldiers and bring them to life on the battlefield. Junior General offers printable paper soldiers that can be used with a 48-card deck per player (Kings removed) or a 12-sided die, a yardstick, and other models and junk (rocks, buildings, trees, etc.). The game encourages players to alternate turns, with specific rules for moving, defending, and attacking.
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Common household objects
Plastic army men are a great way to get into wargaming without spending a fortune. They can be set up in many different ways and are especially well-suited for the sandbox or simple wargames with rubber balls or marbles, which can be rolled or thrown at the figures.
If you're looking for common household objects to use as weapons to shoot at plastic army men, you can try using rubber bands and marbles. Set up your plastic army men and use rubber bands to flick the marbles at them. You could also use a straw as a makeshift blowgun and blow the marbles at your targets.
Another option is to use balloons filled with water or air. You can attach the balloons to a straw or a stick and use it as a makeshift slingshot to shoot at your plastic army men.
For a more interactive game, you can use a 12-sided die and some playing cards to play "Plastic Skirmish." This game involves moving your army men and models, firing at the opposing side, and following certain rules for combat. You can also use common household objects like books, wooden blocks, and boxes to create terrain and obstacles for your battlefield.
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Wargaming kits
The Combat Storm Starter Set is a wargaming kit that contains 28+ soldiers in various random poses (approx 40mm size). The kit uses 4k 3D-printing technology and includes a rulebook with step-by-step instructions for playing the game with two or more players. The game is easy to learn for beginners, but also offers opportunities for more advanced gameplay for experienced players.
For those who enjoy painting their miniatures, Tim Mee offers a 40-piece pack of plastic cowboys and Indians that can be painted and used for wargaming. These can be purchased inexpensively at dollar stores and provide a fun and affordable way to build a large collection for huge battles.
For those who want to create their own unique miniatures, plastic army men can be converted into different types of soldiers. For example, modern army men can be turned into medieval crossbowmen or retro SF-type troops. This allows players to get creative and design their own armies while still keeping costs low.
In addition to the miniatures, players will need terrain and other accessories to create their battlefields. Common household objects such as books, wooden blocks, and boxes can be used to represent buildings and obstacles. Print-and-play papercraft terrain is also available online, allowing players to build their own cities and environments.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several games you can play with plastic army men, such as Plastic Skirmish, which involves cards, a die, a yardstick, and other objects like rocks, trees, and buildings. Another game is Combat Storm, which is a 2-4 player tabletop game that uses a large playing area like a table or living room floor as a battlefield.
Plastic army men typically have weapons from World War II to the current era, including rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, flamethrowers, mortars, and bazookas.
For wargames with plastic army men, common household objects like books, wooden blocks, and boxes can be used as obstacles and terrain. Print-and-play papercraft terrain is also an option for creating your own unique environments.
In wargames with plastic army men, players can recreate small-scale historical battles and modify the rules as needed to model specific historical situations. For example, certain types of tanks may only be able to fire at armored targets. When a unit with "repeat" hits is firing, it can fire again if it can see a new target within a certain range.
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