News from the Front! – COW2009: Report 3

Sunday Morning

A Transitional War – Italy 1859

Richard Brooks gave a fascinating and well-illustrated talk about the about the war of 1859 in Italy. He presented compelling evidence that the war was the first ‘modern’ war between nations.

A Potted History of Wargaming

John Curry is working on a long-term project to make early out-of-print books about wargaming more freely available, and this lecture was based on his recent talks to early pioneers of modern wargaming including Donald Featherstone and Charles Wesencraft.

Fire So Close You Are Splashed By His Blood

This was a play-test of the current version of David Bradbury’s rules for fighting battles between 16th century Mediterranean galleys.

The game used textured, rigid plastic for the sea, and some lovely scale model buildings – including one bought as a tourist souvenir – to represent a Mediterranean fortified port.

When Empires Clash!

Tony Hawkins finally managed to take part in a play-test of WHEN EMPIRES CLASH!. His British force destroyed the attacking Mahdists without loss.

Sunday Afternoon

John Bassett’s America

Originally intended to take place outside in the grounds, the weather forced John Bassett to deliver his talk about his time in the USA – particularly that part of it that he has spent visiting the numerous battlefields of the Texan War of Independence and the Civil War.

And finally ...

As I was writing this I noticed that is the 200th blog entry I have made.

Thank you for reading my random thoughts, and I hope that all my blog readers will continue to do so in future.