Back in the day, my first “experience” of wargaming was back in the 1970s with those bendy and flexible Airfix and Matchbox model soldiers and often using Britain’s matchstick firing weapons.
One of my favourite toys and probably the thing that got me into gaming more than anything else was the 1:32nd Matchbox Counter Attack Playset.
In the set you got a set of American infantry with an M8 Greyhound. Their job was to attack the enemy.
On the German side, you got German infantry, a watchtower and they took refuge in a ruined cafe or restaurant. Watching Saving Private Ryan decades later I was reminded of the building as I watched the defence of the ruined village.
In the box you had two air pump weapons, a machine gun and a rocket launcher. The building was designed that you could knock down and put back together. Pieces fell off it as it was hit by the weapons.
It was an incredible toy that I really loved playing with. I think I was always a little disappointed that they never did more sets in this range.
You could certainly add more infantry, even tanks and trucks, but there was no more scenery or buildings to be had.
It was this game that got me into gaming, and where did I got next, well 25mm Napoleonics.