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Deleted User
MemberHere’s another 20….
Deleted User
Member72, KB, at last count. If/when HaT ever releases their promised set of baggage camels, I’ll buy & paint more but I have enough British, Egyptian & Mahdist camel units for the moment.
donald
Deleted User
MemberMy period of interest at the moment too. What’s not to love about the Mahdist Wars? Harsh terrain. Hi-tech versus courageous masses. Jamming gatlings (and “The sand of the desert is sodden red”). And did I mention camels?
Pass on my admiration to Martin, Iain.
donald
Deleted User
MemberOld school wargamers, deploying their armies in secret:
Deleted User
MemberAgreed, Norm.
If campaigns are the pinnacle of wargaming, then carefully considered deployment rules allow at least a hint of what came before the battle in a pick-up game.
donald
Deleted User
MemberThing is, unless your units have spotted some enemy dispositions in the game, can reacting to as yet unlocated enemy be justified at all? Surely the only thing known at the outset is the terrain (more or less) and that the enemy are somewhere out there?
Les, I regard all the calculating initiative, dicing to decide who goes first & various deployment rules as Stage One of the wargame where both players strive for advantage. If you want to justify the process, it’s easily done. The player deemed to be defending home territory, naturally gains an advantage as does the player who has a preponderance in light cavalry (out-scouting). If you then throw in the ability of some generals to “read” terrain & to make calculated guesses as to their enemy’s dispositions, it all makes sense.
Consider Hannibal in Italy, who used local guides, had the best light cavalry of the period & seemed to always know what the Romans would do. If you have some of Hannibal’s ability & some luck, your deployment should confer advantage too.
donald
Deleted User
MemberFortuitous that this topic came up.
I’m contemplating creating the Nile, to be partly placed over my desert Cigar Box terrain mat for my Mahdist War games. The idea is to line a table edge up to 150mm wide with what will represent part of the river & one bank.
I’ve thought about buying some thick, blue vinyl & building the river’s edge to line it & butting this up against the mat. Or, similarly, using boards that show edge & water using various effects.
The various liquids seem to be very effective but on a board with only one lip, damning the liquid seems difficult. I’ve been looking (on Youtube) at this product:
As a gel, you spread it over the required area, creating eddies & waves with a coffee stirrer or some such, and it stays where you put it.
Any comments or advice on this is welcome.
donald
Deleted User
MemberI gotta know….what figure & why?
The Jack the Ripper figure shown below. I don;t remember the manufacturer, and can’t seem to find it online either.
I don’t know he has been sitting there for so long. It just happened.
There’s an episode of the Twilight Zone or some such in this.
Keep your eye on the little fellow….& his big knife.
donald
Deleted User
MemberI don’t do Fantasy & Ancients is as close as it comes for historical gamers.
Magic, anyone? Heroic leadership. The civilisation-barbarism dichotomy. Oh and pointy sticks.
donald
Deleted User
MemberI sound a bit judgemental & even harsh. Whatever amuses someone, provided they don’t expect me to necessarily conform, is fine.
I suspect most people realise you are sharing your view, rather than claiming this as fact.
And my “definition” doesn’t cover non-historical wargaming at all! Mike is correct & I beg people’s indulgence for my musing.
donald
Deleted User
Member“. Depends if you think you’re playing a game or ‘recreating history’, I suppose.
A game, of course. The “games” that “re-create history” are either dull or delusional or both. donald
You’ll get no argument from me there.
I sound a bit judgemental & even harsh. Whatever amuses someone, provided they don’t expect me to necessarily conform, is fine.
My opinion of wargaming is that it’s an intellectual exercise, entertaining & is wrapped in a few wisps of history. Or at least it should be some mix of these.
I will add, it provides a stimulus to discuss history, which I also enjoy. But history itself? I don’t think so.
donald
Deleted User
MemberAnother way to do things is for each side to put their forces in a line of march off the table (preferably before you know the exact composition of the opposing army). This dictates the order in which you have to place units on the table. You then take it in turns placing a unit at a time (with whoever lost initiative having to go first).
Field of Glory does this: though at 25% of your army at a time. Bit quicker.
donald
Deleted User
Member“. Depends if you think you’re playing a game or ‘recreating history’, I suppose.
A game, of course. The “games” that “re-create history” are either dull or delusional or both.
donald
Deleted User
Member. There’s one figure on my painting desk which has been sitting there, unfinished, for over 10 years.
I gotta know….what figure & why?
donald
Deleted User
MemberI was mulling over the idea of getting figures painted professionally as an antidote to don’t like/don’t want to paint.
I’ve never done it and haven’t any need to as I like painting (poor deluded fool, I am). However, as each of us has a unique painting style, isn’t there the possibility that pro-painted figures might stand out, perhaps disconcertingly?
So: an entire army or none?
donald
Deleted User
MemberGood advice offered in the above posts.
I’d add having a goal certainly helps with painting motivation.
Annually, for the past 9 years, we run a mega-game at a local Train & Hobby show. For our little group, this is the highlight of the year’s gaming ^ the focus of much of our terrain creation & figure painting.
In 10 days time, we’ll be running ‘Hannibal Ad Porta’ , a plausible battle where the Romans must stop the armies of Hannibal & his brother joining.
It will feature some 1400 1/72 & 20 mm figures. My contribution is about 400 figures for Hasdrubal’s army & a few hundred Romans. I’ve been working on it, on & off, for the last 10 months & the joyous expectation of the show has easily kept me motivated.
I finished my last figure, last night.
Here’s Hasdrubal’s 1100 point Field of Gory army on the painting table:
(More & better photos in 2 weeks).
donald
Deleted User
MemberAnd Ochoin! Oh and it’s Ochoin you all can blame for me showing up. He’s the one that alerted me to the forum.
I thought you’d enjoy participating in a wargaming forum.
donald
Deleted User
MemberTruls (Gunfreak) just wow! Exceptional work.
And welcome BTW.
donald
Deleted User
MemberWhen trying to grow the community (promoting TWW) I get a lot of questions about traffic and so on, but also a fair few about why TWW is worth joining. .
All of the above posts accurately express the positives of the site. However, to be pragmatic, a forum is no better than the amount of traffic & the quality of posts (I’m sure there’s a mathematical formula to express this). If posts are simply dross, no matter how many, the forum is worthless. If posts are topical, thought-provoking & on subject but there’s only a few a day/week, the forum is moribund. We all know examples of both of these.
The only way TWW will grow is if the current membership posts regularly & posts often & posts quality and attracts similar sorts to join. IMO, TWW is heading there but has not arrived yet. I hope this doesn’t sound negative or some sort of attack as I really want TWW to thrive & I intend no more than helpful advice.
donald
Deleted User
MemberThanks, Rod. I don’t think I’d realised the wargaming aspect of the series also tied into the class warfare concerns of the show.
Wargaming was originally very much upper & middle class in the early days, as you would know, & having a working-class Oik like Callan being in the hobby was a slap in the face to the establishment.
Really, Victoria was correct: I have to re-visit the show & will do so.
donald
Deleted User
MemberAgain, thanks for the head’s up re: the videos, Victoria.
It’s been interesting exchanging views with you.
donald
Deleted User
MemberRegardless, in both genres, Callan is an anti-social psychopath.
I don’t know about the books, but on TV Toby Meres was the psychopath, Callan hated having to use violence. The character on TV got on well with people and built strong relationships with them. That was sort of the whole point of the series, the reluctant assassin who is a good man with a heart who hates his job. All the surviving episodes are available on DVD, well worth a watch.
To be honest, Victoria, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the TV programs. I should follow your suggestion & dig them up (Youtube?).
However, in both genres, the sinister MIWhatever Callan works for use torture and extrajudicial killings are so routine they have a colour-coded filing system. Callan is a sympathetic character by comparison to his sadistic upper-class colleagues and implacable superior but he is an assassin who is complicit in the agencies’ activities. He kills the innocent as well as the guilty, under orders (echoes of the Nuremburg Trials?). It’s made clear he is only good at one thing: killing. This makes him a type of psychopath.
The point of the series, IMO, is that there are no “Goodies” and that Callan is closest thing to a hero is actually shocking.
Again, I point out his relationship with Lonely: loving, in a sense, but also highly abusive & violent. Repressed sexuality as well. The only way to describe it is perverted. The toy soldier aspect is used to suggest that these inanimate, even footling objects, are all he really cares for.
The series was ground breaking stuff if, as I’ve said, at times formulaic.
donald
Deleted User
MemberHey, don’t dis Callan.
I stumbled on a cache of Callan novels & short stories recently. They are awfully formulaic & a product of their times. Despite my writing this, the literary & television characters (both a little different) are compelling. I wonder if the author, not writing for TV, could have used this character to create real literature?
Regardless, in both genres, Callan is an anti-social psychopath. His only real relationship is with Lonely. Consider this & the nature of their relationship. It’s not pretty. Downright disturbing, really.
(EW was, of course, an outstanding actor).
donald
Deleted User
MemberGeek humour? If you love Sci-fi/Fantasy, you’re, ipso facto, a geek and everything else follows.
The media follows stereotyping because it appeals to the lowest common denominator & that’s the easiest way to communicate to the masses.
How about the way wargaming is depicted in movies/TV? The sad loser in ‘Ground Hog Day’? Even the social cripple Callan in the TV series wargames not to show he is a complete person and to underline his status as an outsider.
And this great piece of reporting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PBkisvuzf0
What bugs me about it is the people “interviewed” are trying to be pleasant & helpful & are set up and mocked by the reporter.
donald
Deleted User
MemberDeleted User
MemberI am, I’m afraid, one for stating the bleeding obvious & clearly everyone does this: reads a rule set with a table set up with terrain & figures for “dry runs” of mechanisms.
I will gallop through a first reading but a slower, more comprehensive read involves the above. It means I’m ready for a proper game with my pals straight after.
donald
Deleted User
MemberReading internet reviews of rule sets.
One definite bonus of naval wargaming is that unlike with many military games, you are not lock-step with basing & rule set.
Thus, I think if I try an AoS set of rules & find they don’t suit me, it’s relatively easy just to find another set.
donald
Deleted User
MemberOh, loved your scratch bronze age galleys BTW. Cheers, Vol
And you ignore my Nile Steamer!
I’m going to spend a bit of time web surfing the manufacturers you gave me. And start looking at a possible rule set. More later.
donald
Deleted User
MemberThe “horrible old Leopard*” is certainly not horrible at all.
donald
- see ‘Desolation Island’.
Deleted User
MemberI literally hadn’t thought of commercial tufts because the ones I use are not very reedy like but this has opened my eyes. I’ve sent a message to Barry as he’s in OZ & this cuts down the exorbitant P&P associated with O/S purchases.
In the mean time I have an old house painting brush I’ll use to try out Jonathon’s suggestion. Thanks to all.
donald
Deleted User
MemberThe generosity of the two gentlemen who replied to my OP is outstanding.
Thank you very much. I have to consider your posts before moving on to further questions but much food for thought…..and information to start googling.
donald
Deleted User
MemberBTW Max, you probably don’t remember but many years ago, on TMP when it was still a wargaming site, you gave me much invaluable advice on the hobby. I still ask silly questions and state the bleeding obvious so not much has changed.
Cheers, donald
Deleted User
Membertrying to get the shields to stay on.
Two part epoxy?
I’ve just finished a unit of Newline Celtic cavalry (20mm) where, as usual with metals, there isn’t even a suggestion of a lug to hold the shields.
The messy & fiddly aforementioned epoxy gives an unbreakable grip in either metal or plastic.
Next time you throw away plastic figures, I’ll send you my address & you can throw them my way.
donald
Deleted User
MemberI’ve just bought “General D’Armee”.
, I’ll spend hours reading reviews and AARs etc.
For the more expensive rule sets, you’d be mad not to. Add: ” bring the rule set up in discussions on hobby forums”.
I’ve just bought ‘General D’Armee’. I was delighted that the author posted 7-8 videos on Youtube, detailing a game using the rules.
Other than this, I think the rules are laid out “old school”.
I probably annoyed several of my fellow forum members at WD3 & LaW (Loose Association of Wargamers) with insistent questions.
I’m happy to use anything & everything to get a grip on a rule set. I’m not sure I either love or hate reading rules. The aim is to master them as a framework for gaming which I do love.
donald
Deleted User
MemberHaving been involved in wargaming forums for many years I now it is vital the membership reaches a “critical mass”. An avalanche of spam does not a forum make and, sure, whilst quality of posts are an issue so is number. Any forum that doesn’t have enough vocal members (or loses them in large numbers) will die. So: welcome!
Naval warfare, especially AoS, is something I want to do some day. So, Brian, I warn you now that a bunch of probably dumb questions will be headed your way.
donald
BTW WD3….you can belong to more than one forum.
http://www.wd3.org.uk/index.php
Deleted User
MemberI still have a lot of old Airfix soft plastic miniatures …but with time some of them became easily breakable and now fall into bits.
Yes, I think there was a time when the plastic used had a “Use By Date”. I don’t think anymore and the oldest of my painted figures is 30 YO & still robust.
I was glad to NOT see any mention of flaking paint on this thread. With some preparation, it was never a big problem & with the new plastics & decent paint (thank you, Vallejo) not a problem at all.
donald
Deleted User
MemberPleasure. Have you read ‘Khartoum’ by Michael Asher? If not, I would strongly recommend getting it.
Ha! It arrived last week in the post. I’ve started it & I already know it’s a gem.
I’ve ordered ‘The Mahdist Wars Source Book’ which should arrive in 10 days or so (long way to OZ).
I’ll be an expert before I know it……
donald
Deleted User
MemberSorry for dumbing up my explanation, .
I’m not sure it’s possible to “dumb it down” too much for me.
Thankyou for your useful reply.
donald
Deleted User
MemberCan I ask another question?
For the end of the C19th , what method did they have for range-finding?
A gun-captain with binoculars or something more sophisticated & complex?
donald
Deleted User
MemberThank you, gentlemen.
I used to go to TMP for such a supportive & comprehensive response. Nice to see TWW is becoming a one stop shop for all sorts of queries.
donald
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