Sunday 13 September 2009

Wargames Library Part I, Sidetracking and Making everybody very, very jealous

As promised, today I’m taking a look at my wargames library. This first part I’ll be taking stock of the rules I’ve collected. Next, technology permitting I’ll show the photograph that I talked about in my second post.
And last of all, a small announcement that will take wargaming to the next level…


So here’s my collection of historical wargame rules. In order of gaming period, commented as I see fit and not counting rules freely downloaded from the net.

De Sumer A Constantinople (D. Coulon & F. Devaux): bought these after meeting the authors during a demonstration. In the end like DBM, but with more detailed combat formations.
De Bellis Antiquitatis (Barker, Barker & Bodley Scott, WRG): rules for a quick uncomplicated hour of fun. SWMBO beat me almost every game. I let her win because she took pity on me when I asked for a rematch.
War Games Rules 3000BC to 1485 AD 6th (Ph. Barker, WRG): recently bought as follow up for 2nd edition. At first glance not sure if I like them as much. Difficult to read. Is it at this point DBM started growing?
Field of Glory (R. Bodley Scott, S. Hall & T. Shaw, Osprey): I still don’t like chess board like formations and battlefields. High quality publication.
Minden Rose (B. Lee, Emperor Games): one of the sets of choice for starting my 7YW project.
The War Game (C. Grant, Ken Trotman publishing): the final goal of my 7YW project. For some reason, I like these rules so much more than Grant’s Napoleonics.
Batailles de L’Ancien Régime (W.B. Protz, Jr., Self Published): holy-cow, I didn’t like the alphabetical approach. Not sure about the card activation. Will try these again when my 7YW armies grow larger.
Charge! (P. Young &J.P. Lawford, Morgan-Grampian): nostalgia. Saw these in use as a youngster. If ever I use them I will probably change the scale of the game. Companies becoming battalions, batallions becoming regiments or brigades because I feel you get a game that looks like a skirmish game but doesn’t feel like one.
Napoleonic Wargame rules (Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society, Bayonet publication): see my second post. My favourite Old School rules written by G. Gush. Will be resurrected once I get my Nappies sorted out.
Napoleonic Wargaming (C. Grant, Model and Allied Publications): not sure about this set. Can’t put my finger on it. Not as good as the Gush rules and The War Game, but I really don’t know why.
De Bonaparte à Napoléon (J.-C. Raguet, Vae Victis): french napoleonic rules based on a DBM like game engine (DBN).
To The Sound Of The Guns III (R.P. Butler, Tabletop Games): well…they’re To The Sound Of The Guns III (and Napoleonic).
Fast Play Rules for Napoleonic and Crimean Wargames (T.J. Halsall, Newbury rules): lite version of the above.
In the Grand Manner (P. Gilder, Wargames Holiday Centre): not simple, but great battlefields. Switched to General de Brigade as for me, not being English, the latter were more structured and therefore easier to assimilate, but with the same look and feel.
General de Brigade (D. Brown, Partizan Press): second rules of choice for my napoleonics. In the grand manner like gaming, but easier to assimilate.
Fast Play ACW Rules (David Bickley, Active Service Press): I honestly don’t remember how these played.
American Civil War Wargaming (Terence Wise, Airfix): great memories of blue against grey. In the bookcase, but not forgotten…
War Games Rules 1925-1950 (WRG): Fun rules, many 1/300 scale battles. Memories of terrain drawn in felt tip pen on packing paper, cardboard layered hills, lichen woods…the Eastern front on the living room table. Happy days.
Rapid Fire 2 (C. Rumford & R. March): I enjoyed these with the boys, playing with cardboard and pencil coloured armies. I’d still use them, but with 1 to 1 scale platoon or company sized actions.
Blitzkrieg Commander (P.A. Jones): based on the Warmaster game engine. Liked the rules, but to easy to play the rules and not the period (depending on your opponent and his knowledge of WW2 warfare).
Challenger 2000 (B.R.- Taylor & B. Connor, Tabletop Games): see sub-sub rule 25.36.54, if marked **, then +1/-4. Modern rules for the die-hard fan.
Wargames Rules 1950-2000 (Phil Barker, WRG): had a few good small games with small numbers of vehicles to keep it manageable. More accessible than Challenger, because of playing the 1925-1950 set.

And also:

PSL Guide to Wargaming (edited by B. Quarrie, Patrick Stephens Ltd): guided me into wargaming other periods then WW2 and napoleonics. Generic rules based on the WRG ancients game engine.
Little Wars (H.G. Wells, Da Capo Press): a classic, if ever I find a suitable artillery piece these armies will be resurrected in 1/32 plastic (or Lego, or Playmobil?).

Next up: a centrefold photograph of a Gilder set up of La Haie Sainte taken from “How to make model soldiers” by Ph. O. Stearns. You’ll understand what the attraction was.


Gentlemen, again thank you for the kind comments I received. When I follow other peoples blogs I tend to read the postings, but not the comments. So I take the liberty of repeating myself when I write I have to remember that the Chronicles are just a tool for the hobby. As it has, thanks to the readers, taken a flying start, it is difficult not to get sidetracked and spend to much time "blogging" instead of gaming.

And now for something to blow your fine gentlemens minds. I’m of playing C.S. Grants “Breakout” teaser from issue 18 of Battlegames magazine. “What? Nothing special in that”, I hear you exclaim. Well, sit back down and read on. I’m off playing it for real. Yes…10 days of fun in a Full Troop Exercise (FTX) in the Belgian Ardennes. I’m playing Opfor for some Special Forces and guess what: I’m responsible for organising a POW camp that has to be observed and in the end “liberated” by the SFG’s. I think I will call the Camp “Klapso” and I’ll be Major Pjotr Nuydrev, VFS camp commander…

I'll be back (in a forthnight)

Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Tuesday 8 September 2009

My scrapbook and the Hasselse Garde Grenadiers Flag

My first attempt at posting pictures and a bit of tinkering with the Paint program. 

First of all an attempt at flag design with the Paint program. Not bad, but not there yet.
Secondly I present the reader with a page of my scrapbook. Here all my thoughts on wargaming are recorded. To me it's invaluable. The fun thing is that I can look back and see ideas evolve, or sometimes realise that earlier thoughts were better. Best thing...unless I misplace the book...I won't lose my doodles and scribbles as "somebody" cleans up the desk.
On with the show...
Here you see a first design of the Hasselse Grenadier Guards Flag. White and green banded background of the modern day Hasselt flag and central part of Hasselt coat of arms combined.


As promised a page from my scrapbook. Thank you Dave over at Not By Appointment for the uniform template. Some of you more learned or dexterous (computer-savvy) gentlemen would probably suggest to colour the template by some program...Hey...It's my blog... and the felt tip pens were a present from the same somebody whom cleans desks.

And yes...the scrapbook is in English...Why?...Otherwise I have to translate when I transpose my writings to the Chronicles (as I now lovingly call the blog). Doesn't that make sense?

Next I'll make an inventory of my wargaming literature (that will be laugh), watch this space

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Thursday 3 September 2009

A huge thank you and introducing my first unit and character

First of all: a huge thank you to all you fine gentlemen whom posted a comment or sent me a private mail. It is very motivating when one embarks on a project like this to receive all these splendid encouragements. Thank you.
And now for something completely different…


Kevinovich Nyudrev found himself half naked, penniless and horseless in a ditch outside the city gates of Hasselt. He was a spent man, but his fortune was about to turn. In more modern times, he would be recognized as a man suffering from combat stress, having fought in many of Europes battles. Once a bright cavalry officer, he fled from the slaughter and found relief in drink. That’s how he ended up in Hasselt: the capital of Jenever, a schnapps like drink made from berries. He told his tales in the drinking halls, trying to impress the ladies and getting free drinks from the gentlemen.
Getting himself together a small company of horsemen pulled up. He recognised the newly elected Citizen-Regent of the DDU, Leopold van Loon, at their head. Kevinovich also was recognized and was promptly invited to come to the offices of the Citizen-Regent at midday.
Leopold van Loon, having signed a treaty with the British, the Netherlands and Prussia, was very busy trying to organize a standing army. He had heard of the exploits of Nyudrev, indeed met him at a social event and listened to his tales. He had grown to like and pity the man.
In the DDU the economical power was held in the cities and their merchants, not the nobility. An army could only be raised supported by the cities and the union, once the taxes started coming in. The very rich town of Hasselt had agreed to fund the first unit of the DDU: the Hasselt Garde Infanterie . Recruits were still easy to find and relatively experienced as many were deserters from Flemish-Austrian units, looking for a job. That midday, somewhat cleaned up, Kevinovich was standing before Leopold. If he was understanding correctly, van Loon was offering him a job as Kolonel-commandant of the Hasselt Guards. Not really having any plans or other options, Nyudrev agreed.

In reality Hasselt, provincial capital of Belgian Limburg, really is known for the liqueur called Jenever. This city’s flag and coat of arms will form the basis of the Hasselt Guard flag. The red and yellow banded design, which I mentioned before, is historical the coat of arms of the medieval Graafschap van Loon, which used to be situated in the eastern part of modern Limburg. Many Limburg cities and towns have some reference in their flag designs to this historical fact. This was also the inspiration for the name of the first citizen-regent (but I think most of you figured that one out for yourselves).
Please feel free to comment. I'm still tinkering with layout and stuff. Any tips and tricks from the more experienced bloggers would be welcome. Pictures are promised...soon...-ish


Happy gaming

Pjotr