Tuesday 31 May 2016

Jutland 100 Years and 100 Ships Later

A battle so big, it needs more than one sea cloth.


Jutland 100 years later, 100 ships later. This past Saturday The gang gathered to re-fight the Battle of Jutland in time for the centenary. After some extended set up time we managed to have over a hundred ships on the table. The rules were simple enough that we figured a 1:1 staging of the battle was possible. At the last minute we excluded some minor ships. Grand Admiral by Majestic 12 games is a bare bones hex based rules set. There were some minor hitches with the rules but with some tweaking they are usable for big battles. The British fleet got lucky on the draw sinking some of the German BBs for an exchange of some lighter ships. We called it at that point as time was running out.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

In Praise of Simplicity

 About a month ago down at the library Martin and I play tested a set of rules that I downloaded and printed out recently. Called Panzer War, they are a free set of quite detailed but still I think playable skirmish rules. How we ended up play testing this set of rules is a bit of a funny story. Originally it started out as a quest to find a decent set of modern period micro armour rules, as I'm dissatisfied with the ones I have so far. I downloaded and read a few sets of rules but could never find anything that really clicked with me. So I went back through my list of files and some of the older games that I have downloaded a while ago and took another look. Remembering that I had a set of rules called AirLand War I took a look at them again. AirLand War is actually an expansion to Panzer War. So with the rationale that I should try the basic game first before the expansion set I suggested we try Panzer war to Martin. But owing to the complexity of the rules, with such factors as vehicle angle and turned rotation speed we decided that it would be best to try it out in 15 mm first. So there you have it they went from modern micro armor to 15 mm, so does that make sense?

The result? Well let's just say things didn't work out exactly as we planned. For a more detailed after action report I direct you to another club member my friend John and his blog The Minstrel Boy. But I can summarize here, the game went very slow and owing to the long range of weapons (we were not using the recommended ranges for that scale) it ended rather quick. I think perhaps there was too much on the table and perhaps not enough scenery. Although the tank combat results where more "realistic" I don't think the extra detail really added much to the game. And so it occurred to me that if the extra detail didn't add to the enjoyment of the game why bother with it? Martin imparted a wonderful piece of wisdom to me recently about gaming whereby he explained to me the difference between modeling the process and modeling the results. Or to put it quite simply how it happens versus what happens. I realized there was more interested in what happened then exactly how it happened. The house were still somewhat important and should be modeled realistically towards expectations but the process should not bogged down the flow of the game. The Panzer War experiment certainly ran counter to my personal trend of moving toward simpler systems. I have already switched to far simpler games in other genres. For instance instead of Full Thrust, which is a terrific system don't get me wrong, I now play Sunder The Stars. And instead of Dirtside I will try Laserstorm, by Nordic Weasel Games. In these two examples it's mainly because I want to spend more time playing a battle then designing units for it. Specifically in the case of Full Thrust I've seen battles lost or one in the design phase rather than on the table, and that was before the plethora of options opened up in the newer unofficial supplement Project Continuum which is over 150 pages long. My main goal with gaming is to get figs on the table, push them around and roll dice. And simpler games serve this purpose well. It will only be a balance between simplicity and detail. As too much of one and not enough the other can spoil your enjoyment of a game.

After purchasing the PDF of Laserstorm I splurged and bought PDFs of FiveCore the generic skirmish game and Five Men at Kursk their more detailed will work to skirmish rules. As well as some expansions and add on modules. So I'll be giving the FiveCore System some testing in the future. How it goes, I will keep you posted.

So yeah, a longer post and it's about gaming, yeah me.

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Entry #54 May 11th 1916

Sir Douglas Haig inspected the battalion at work, and told our Commanding Officer Major Bowen- that he had "a devilish fine fine battalion". At night "The Merry Mauves", our divisional troupe, give a fine concert in the open air, which we all enjoyed immensely. 

Tuesday 10 May 2016

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Entry #53 May 10th 1916

Laid out the line to the different companies and Orderly room. The weather improves and "The Caravan" looks finer than ever.

Monday 9 May 2016

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Entry #52 May 9th 1916

Out on our ordinary parades, visual, etc. the scenery around her bivouac was fine. We were on top of the hill, and had a fine view of the surrounding country, which would be hard to beat. Nature was in all its glory, and the birds served as an ideal alarm clock, as they had us weakened every morning at 5 AM. The rustling of the trees in the fresh country smile was like medicine to us after the sickening roar of the guns. We have improved our bivouac by making steps up to it, and laying in some foodstuffs. The weather still continues drizzly.

Just received news that the Battalion that relieved us got a desperate cutting up, having over 200 casualties. Truly Gordon Castle is a hotshot, and still one sees in the press "all calm on the Western front". Yes all calm to the general public, but to those behind-the-scenes, how calm? But `twas ever so, and this is why Tommy is such a happy-go-lucky character. Taking things as he finds them, and making the best of them. The sarcasm of the average British Tommy is amusing, and it is a mistake to ask them any questions. At least that's my idea, as I was "had" to often. On one occasion I saw two chaps carrying a Dixie, the soldiers kettle. Of course I asked them "was that the tea up?" One of them replied "no it's a new latrine bucket". On another occasion, during short rations, I saw chap with a very small piece of bacon. I asked him "was that for his breakfast?" And he replied "not at all it's to clean my boots with". Such is the spirit of the British Army.

In the afternoon we paraded to Acheux, a fairly decent sized town, for our usual lightning bath on coming out of the trenches still raining very hard, but "The Caravan" is still sticking it A1.

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Entry #51 May 8th 1916

Left Martinsart, as our three months for holding the line was up, for Lealvillers. Passing through Headauville and Varennes. It was our first March for over three months, however we enjoyed it A1, especially when passing one of our old billets- Varennes. Finally arriving in Lealvillers, as are billets were not too good for four of us hunted around and finally found an old French wagon, about 30 feet long, 6 foot broad and and sides 2 foot high. This we covered at both ends with waterproof sheets and our capes, to sleeping at each end. We had then a "bonne" bivouac, and our only hope was that we wouldn't hear another gun fired for at least a month, as we have had enough. Our bivouac proved a huge success as it rained all night, we never got a drop. In fact we rather enjoyed the novelty of caravan life, and for a few more days I address is "The Caravan", Lealvillers.

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Entry #50 May 7th 1916

(Sunday) Devoted to cleaning rifle, equipment and clothing

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Entry #49 May 5th 1916

H.E. exploded just behind our dugout, whilst I was on duty, breaking a few wires and nearly deafening us. Shrapnel fell like rain and I was relieved at 2:30 PM I examined the damage. A large tree was blown clean out of its roots, and another one was cut almost into with travel. Whilst you could have buried a section in the hole made by the shell slight stuff at intervals all day. I reported for all night duty at 8:30 PM, and was warned that our own artillery intended to pay for its back by heavy bombardment, and that more than likely Fritz would reply. So I was told to look out for squalls.

12 midnight- Sharp to the minute and all her guns opened fire and kept up a fearful bombardment. It was like daytime, and the concussion was terrific. The Huns did retaliate with some very heavy stuff, and D boys wire was broken, also our right battalions wire. Our right company got a fearful battering, and one platoon was buried alive. Besides a frightful number of dead, wounded and missing. One officer having his head clean blown off, and also a chum of my own Albert Beattie. Our chaps were remarkably cool, and some fine work was done this night under vary trying circumstances. When Don appeared our front line was completely leveled to the ground and it was practically impossible to move along the trenches is huge trees were lying across the. But when one looked across at the other side they were even worse than our own, as it was impossible to distinguish between their trenches and are shell holes. This stuff lasted from 12 midnight until 1:30 AM. Needless to say we were all glad when it was all over, as our right company suffered heavily. And when Don did appear with the fresh smell of the woods, and the birds chirping cheerily oh the irony of it. Other mornings I enjoyed it immensely, but this particular morning I felt very sad I thought of Albert Beattie and only other fallen comrades. To think that yesterday morning they also enjoyed the scenery and the birds and today the birds sing on quite unconscious of what has taken place. Oh the irony of war on a lovely spring morning. Some way or other the birds seem to like discord to me, and the air is poisonous, but enough. "God's will be done." After the storm comes the calm, and hardly a shot was fired during the early part of the following morning, both sides apparently having on understood truce to collect the dead and dying. Every man was turned out to dig some of our poor chaps and they were fairly successful. One poor chap was buried up to the neck the first five minutes of the stuff and was forced to remain like this during the whole stuff. But he was dugout as soon as things got a bit quieter. Our casualties where one officer, 11 men killed and 29 wounded. We were again mentioned in dispatches for this night's work. And as our six days were at an end thank goodness! We left our formal abode "Ravine Villa", The woods, Martinsart. And as the signals are always relieved early to move us went into Bouzincourt to see what it was like.

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Entry #48 May 4th 1916

Fritz still very lively wounding four more. He shelled at intervals Gordon Castle, and I got a few pieces of shrapnel which came too near to be comfortable, whilst riding on top of my dugout. I reported for duty at 2:30 PM

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Entry #47 May 3rd 1916

Very heavy bombardment lasting nearly all morning. Killing one, wounding 10 and two shell-shocked. Our artillery very slack.

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Entry # 46 May 2nd 1916

Got up at 6 AM and had a fine bath before reporting for duty at 8:30 AM. Fritz very nasty all day, throwing over shrapnel, H.E., rifle grenades and coal-boxes galore. As our trenches were very close here, about 200 yards, we always got a plentiful supply of coal-boxes- a very heavy and highly explosive which doesn't awful amount of damage. One of these is being known to bury 50 men. This stuff wounded two engineers, killed one of her own chaps and wounded nine it was here I met Johnny May for the first time since arriving in France. Reported for all light-duty at 8:30 PM.

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Entry #45 May 1st 1916

The good weather continues, and as I was off duty until 2:30 PM I had a fine bath in the Anore River. This river is in full view of the German lines, but small parties were very rarely interfered with. Injuring my whole time here I only had to beat a hasty retreat once whilst bathing is Fritz started to splash us with a few wiz-bangs. The fresh smell of the woods, the scorching sun, bird singing and a sparkling river left nothing to be desired. So a return to feeling in A1 form. The trenches in this part of the line were fine, the nicest ever we were in. They were nice and wide, and water taps were in the trenches. This to us was a treat as we are never able to get a wash in the trenches before. In fact after what we had come through in other parts the line, such as Auchounvillers, where we were up to the waist in mud, we looked upon this spell is a sort of picnic. And, thanks to the splendid covering the trees gave one, we were very rarely in the trenches. It was quite a common affair whilst lying around to hear whiz! whiz! whiz! But long before it reached you it would strike a tree as the wood was very thick with trees. Anytime I was off duty I spent my spare time on top of our dugout either reading, writing or admiring the scenery. In fact it was the sort of whether one feels glad to be alive and enjoy nature in all its glory. Clear blue sky with Aeroplanes galore added to the scenery, which was perfect in itself but Fritz must not have agreed with me for now and then, as he usually did, trying to catch us unaware, he would throw over a few wiz bangs and shrapnels, which came much too close to be comfortable, and twice I had to retire to my dugout whilst writing this short account of my new surroundings, owing to Fritz's attentions.

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Entry #44 April 30th 1916

Left Martinsart for the trenches. And once more found ourselves in a new part of the line. Namely Gordon Castle, Thiepval Wood, Authville. This place is absolutely the best part of the line we were ever in, although a little hotter than our previous abode. We were in the most beautiful wood, with a lovely river running alongside the communication trenches. Whilst behind his lay a large swamp where Von Kluck lost half of his army. We bathed and washed all are close while off-duty, in the river. It was fine. The trees were in full bloom and the birds were singing cheerily long before dawn. Cuckoos and Larks were chief delight here and of these we had plenty. In fact had it not been for the occasional ping! Of a sniper's bullet, zip! zip! zip! Of a machine gun and the roar of artillery one would have felt inclined to forget all about the war and fancy he was having an ideal holiday.

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Entry #43 April 28th 1916

Ideal weather. Best shell out of the trenches ever we had. Parading in shirtsleeves daily.

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Entry #42 April 26th 1916

Instead of our usual visual work we had a fine bath in the Anore river, which I enjoyed immensely. Authville is a small wrecked village just behind the firing line, and shelled daily.

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Entry # 41 April 24th 1916

(Easter Monday) - Hooray! My first days holiday since arriving in France, owing to being out in the trenches. So at 9 AM I sent out along with the three other Macs and paid Albert another visit. We spent most of the day sightseeing in souvenir hunting, and got a few fine ones in the Cathedral and sellers below some. Returning to Martinsart via Avelny after an ideal days holiday, about 5:30 PM. When we found up to the-British Army's usual moving records-that once more the Battalion had moved. Fortunately for us the move was only across a few fields so we got our stuff across, and thanked our lucky stars the move wasn't a big one. So ended one of the happiest days of active service. And for a few more days my address is ``Ravine Villa``.

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Entry #40 April 23rd 1916

(Easter Sunday)- Church service held in wood behind huts; whilst Taubes were flying around. This service help to break the monotony, and my second service since arriving in France, owing to always being on duty anytime there was one. At 12 noon I broke camp along with two others and went into Albert, a distance of about 4 miles from Martinsart. We had a fine walk, and a splendid view of her own and the German lines from top of a hill. This place has suffered heavily, and the inhabitants are still in it. We spent five hours sight seeing and exploring. We were all over the Cathedral and got a few souvenirs; including one of the handles of the Cathedral door. We also bought all of the different views of Albert. Returning by Avelny, and so ended an A1 Easter Sunday, although one is in the Army (1st rifles).

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Entry #39 April 22nd 1916

Spent most of last night listening to our own guns. An awful bombardment. Every time the howitzers behind our hut spoke the awful concussion put all our lights out and the hut rocked something awful.