“Some of the battles get pretty intense, and it’s not much different than playing chess when it comes to thinking ahead,” Kleman said. “When we do World War II, some take the German side because they believe they had better equipment than the Allied Forces.”

The Klemans’ attic looks like a museum of vintage board games. Shelves overflow with boxes of various military sets from all eras of combat.

The battle scenery is homemade. Players paint their figurines, which range from three-quarters of an inch to an inch tall.

“Many people just enjoy the challenge of painting miniatures and constructing scenery,” says Rutz. “We have heard of some guys who buy sets, paint each figure in detail but have never played a game.”

Rutz and Kleman described the attraction of miniature war games as they prepared their table for a battle involving row after row of Crusaders and the Byzantine forces in 1130 AD. The freedom of play and tactical element, they say, are not found in traditional board games or computer games.

The friends, who don't have a formal name for their group, meet Friday nights and often play until well after midnight. Members also meet on certain Saturdays for a full day of gaming.

Players flex their creativity in accessorizing their armies. Kleman's German Tiger tanks, for example, are accurate down to the whip antennae attached to the turrets. “The antenna is a whisker from one of our cats,” he said.