[Pre-Cabinette Archives c.2022 - part 1]
Probably the biggest inspiration in my wargaming was Charles Grant and as a schoolboy I had his book 'The War Game' on semi-permanent loan from the library. Of course it helped that my mum was a librarian.
Now my SSM collection, put together to use with Brigadier Peter Young's 'Charge' rules, was big enough I decided it was time to try and play out this action myself.
Grant's table was 9'x7', so as mine was only 5'x8' I reduced the units down from his 48 infantry and 24 cavalry to 40 infantry and 20 cavalry. I also, to avoid confusion, kept the names of my units rather than use his (the colours refer to uniform / facing colours for ease of unit identification).
Next the battlefield was distorted (squashed) to fit an 8'x5' table as shown below. The bars next to battle-map show the move distances and firing ranges that I use with my Charge rules (also reduced for use on smaller tables).
My table (the dinner table with a sheet of green vinyl flooring laid on top) was then set out to try and match the map as closely as possible.
Then it was time to populate the table; all looking rather cramped on my table even though I was fielding slightly smaller units than in the original game.
After which a few close ups of the armies: first the (stand-in) 'Austrians' ...
... then the (stand-in) 'Prussians' ...
And finally, the opposing commanders: Khevenhuller acting for the Austrian General Neipperg ...
... and Seckendorff taking the place of the Prussian King Frederick (the not yet Great).
At this point the wheels came off as my opponent phoned to let me know he had come down with a serious eye complaint and was unable to come over for the game.
What now?
All will be revealed in the next instalment.
Terrific looking tabletop and armies. Even your buildings seem to have a Grant-like look to them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I deliberately tried to capture the look of his buildings as the photos from The War Game were the aesthetic ideal I was aiming for. They lift off to reveal ruins underneath that can also house a garrison. They are made from cereal boxes and foamboard and are perhaps worth a quick post some time.
DeleteNow that really is magnificent. Bravo! A real Charles Grant look to it, that mass of figures is quite awesome. I shall look forward to what transpires next.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I really was trying for a CG look to the whole affair. Spoiler alert: I couldn't get anyone to come round at short notice to play the game ...
DeleteTerrific nostalgia and pictures Rob. CG inspired me as well and I did use his rules for a while for my Napoleonics (including making a cannister spread pattern out of wire!) Are they similar for this game?
ReplyDeleteI did use his Napoleonic rules at first - back in the day they were serialised in Military Modelling and I copied them all out in longhand into a spiral bound notebook. My SSM collection was inspired by Peter Young's Charge 'rules' (used in the Mollwitz game). I have streamlined them slightly and reduced the distances a bit (1" becomes 2cm). I have made, and used, the artillery bounce stick and the canister wire frame but I felt they were fiddly and slowed the game down (see an earlier post entitled 'Tool Time').
DeleteWow but your table is immaculate. How do you keep it that clean? It really sets of your Spencer Smiths beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThat is the dining table in my old house, but I lay a roll of green vinyl flooring on top. This makes for a great smooth surface for sliding whole groups of along. You only need to pick them up when they go up or down a hill. I've current table is bigger so I bought more vinyl flooring to cover it as I hated seeing the table poking out around the edge. The green is the best I could find, I'd like a slightly lighter shade like WM has painted his table tennis table with.
DeleteAs you're commenting, I trust this means you're back on the grid now?
I wish. Borrowed a generator to power my computer system and a small space heater.
DeleteI shall keep my fingers crossed that you get reconnected soon.
DeleteI bought the book when it came out and made the roundshot stick from a cheap tape measure and the cannister frame from acrylic plastic. I remember the Napoleonic rules series in MM too. Your splendid looking armies and table have been a wonderful reminder of those days. I hope your friend gets better soon and I look forward to more of this story.
ReplyDeleteStephen
Thanks, and he has fully recovered now, it took awhile but he has since been here for a game.
DeleteYes!!! Now's THAT'S what we're talking about. And the two staffs compliment the table and troops perfectly. What happens next?
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Stokes
Thanks, the next instalment will be along soon.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful Rob…
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the look of the game perfectly…
The lining out on the figures is incredibly neat… Did you use a pen?
All the best. Aly
Cheers, I switched to using an Edding Profipen about half-way through the army so the older units have the black lining (and eyes) painted in and the newer units all used a pen. If you do a search in the blog for "profipens" (pl.) it should take you to a post describing how I paint them, and how the gloss varnish makes all the difference.
Delete