Historical Consulting for Analog Games in Poland and in Context

This study examines the role of historical consulting in analog, or tabletop, game development, with a focus on the Polish market set against international practice. Its central argument is that history is a dominant theme in board games, yet the professional function of the historical consultant remains rarely acknowledged in design literature and largely undefined in standards. Research funded by Poland's Ministry of Culture underpins the work, which is presented as part of a broader historical consulting project run by the Polish Game Research Society and supported by CRPK. The authors cite a 2012 figure placing 65% of Eurogames in the historical category, a statistic that frames the subject's significance.

In the Polish context, the authors find that external historical consultation is minimal. Creators tend to prioritize play and entertainment over strict accuracy, and those who are historians or deeply specialized often already hold expert knowledge. Developers typically research periods themselves through primary sources and popular science, and small budgets make dedicated consultants impractical. Consultation is most valued in narrow domains such as costume, military history, heraldry, and figure-based wargames, where precision matters. Even state-commissioned projects and roleplaying settings rarely credit consultants, a pattern the authors compare to historical fiction.

Internationally, historical consulting is far more common but lacks established standards, as evidenced by an unanswered 2024 public query on BoardGameGeek. The authors synthesize a seven-part description of the consultant's role that closely parallels practices in video game development. They also distinguish humanities-trained historical consultants from educational or military experts, a distinction that shapes how the profession is understood. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Polish game professionals, the work offers a foundation for defining the consultant's skills and responsibilities.