Historical wargaming unlike games like Warhammer is set not in a fantasy world but in real history.  Real battles can be recreated to test "What if ....?" scenarios, or to give the player the opportunity to see if they could have beaten Napoleon or Grant.  Many wargamers play "fantasy" battles.  These are based on fact but rather recreate actual battles they usually battles fought between balanced armies, similar to chess. These games allow two or more players to test  their skill and luck whilst retaining feel of history. Most Wargames Rulebooks will suggest 28mm figures as the best choice for representing armies. These are generally supplied in unpainted form, and require Enamel, or Acrylic based paints to achieve the best results. A good set of Paint Brushes are also a must.