Thursday 4 March 2010

Wargamer Porn

No, you're not going to see any naked persons pushing around toy soldiers...well not here anyway. That makes me wonder: do you think somewhere on this planet one can find a nudist wargames club?:
-Okay, you can fire that third gun now.
-Hey mate, I've only got two nine pounder batteries on the table!
-No, I meant that tiny three pounder battalion gun at your table edge...

First off all I'm very happy to anounce two new books have been added to my library (this is the wargamer porn bit): Warlord Games' "Black Powder" rules and Ken Trotmans new series -I hope- Wargaming in History, Volume 1, "The Seven Years War" by Grant and Olley.
I think that whoever brought Olley and Grant together should get a medal and his own weight in wargaming figures...The "Seven Years War" book sets a new standard in wargaming books. It contains history, from there on it explains the rationale behind determining the model forces and terrain set up and in the end you get a battle report with the best pictures you can imagine...and this four times over...and then...some extra rules for "The Wargame" (using Frei Corps, Legions and the like...). I think this book is a must have... just because it is out there.
I would like to make one suggestion to the authors. I guess several hundreds of pictures exist from which the ones featuring in the book were chosen. Why not include a code inside the book cover, giving the buyer/reader login acces to a website where all the pictures in the book can be viewed and zoomed. I mean the pictures are just wonderful, but the size results in lots of detail going lost, especially in the panoramic battlefield views. I wouldn't mind seeing some of these pictures on my 17" screen.

Black Powder: what can I say? I can't say anything about the rules. I've read them diagonally, some bits more  intent than others. They do look promising, they invite you to play, they make you wish you had a couple of armies ready to deploy, they make you ponder all the clever things you can say to your opponent across the table...Oh, and there's pictures too.
Again a high quality publication, written by some of the better known names in the wargaming retail business. I think these are clear written rules containing a number of time saving mechanisms, but in the end probably giving the same results as more elaborate rulesets. Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating (or something like that, no?). Warlord games have started online support. I've already downloaded some army registration sheets, quick reference sheets and the inevitable FAQ's. Again, in the book, there are a number of well worked out scenarios -each including a battle report- and eye-candy. These are good times for being a wargamer, bad times for the wallet though.

And next...ACTION 2010...The Rheindahlen wargames convention.

I finally made it to a wargames convention.  I had everything ready the evening before, good for an early start. I did forget my lunch box, which was on the table next to my digital camera...bother...
I had a great day. I had fun going round the tables, chatting with gamers from Germany, Britain, America, the Netherlands and good old Belgium. I really enjoyed meeting up with a long time E-mail correspondent and the other half of his wargames club the "Alde Garde" . These two guys gave a fantastic new set up every year, go take a look on their webpage...My club demonstrated a WW2 Blitzkrieg Commander game based on the local "battle for Hechtel" in September 1944 between part of the Guards division and German Fallshirmjäger units in a bid to secure the springboard for operation Market Garden. The game table was just wonderful and reconstructed the village of Hechtel anno 1944. If you held your eyes at table level, it was as if you where there. Great stuff and in my mind the best table at the convention, well done guys. You will have to imagine the pictures...great aren't they?
I also had great fun browsing the retailers...boy...those prices...I think I will revert to solely internet buying straight from the manufacturers.  I did manage to pick up some 15mm WW2 lead at 25% bargain prices, only to dicover that his prices were 20% more expensive than other traders, giving me a net saving of 5%. I had unbelievable fun fondling the floppy latex rubber terrain from -was it?- JR miniatures. (That bit of kinky wargames porn was not intended). And I spent to much time drooling over Perry, Foundry, Victrix and other figures at the superb stall of "Dave Thomas - 28mm figures from a multitupde of manufacturers". I also found three Osprey Prussian 7YW army books for 6.5 euro (about £6 each).
My greatest buys where, however: two Jamaica Ginger cakes, two Golden Syrup cakes, one large box of assorted Jacob's crackers and biscuits, 10 Flake chocolate bars, two large packs of Tetleys tea, two packs of Bramley apple pies,  a pot of custard powder, four packs of fresh scones and crumpets, a large bottle of HP sauce, Branston brown pickles, jelly babies...as I raided the local NAAFI store in search of some great British comfort food...
Sadly, it was announced that this was probably the second last convention held by the club...

Well that's it for today. Stay tuned and be patient...things are still evolving and slowly taking shape...

Happy gaming
Pjotr

3 comments:

  1. I think that your "photo idea" for Grant & Olley is an excellent one . . . but why limit it to those who've bought the book?

    I can see it with an open URL as a selling tool. You see the photos, you want the book.


    -- Jeff

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  2. Hi, a half of the Alde Garde, I just want to say that some photos of Action 2010 are on our blog: www.aldegarde.blogspot.com as our web has some problems. Sadly, a lot of pictures were too dark to show.

    Also, I have started at last my French revolution blog; www.ca-ira.blogspot.com. Don't know were it will end and what the content will be; so take a look.

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  3. Nudist wargamers!! OH NO!! Especially with pikes-ouch!

    Matt

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