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Wednesday 25 April 2012

The Portable Wargame ... is my new desktop background image!

I was so impressed by the work Ian Dury did to turn my PORTABLE WARGAME into such an attractive looking wargame, that I have used a photograph of his complete setup as my new PC desktop background image! Thus this ...


... has become this!

24 comments:

  1. Bob,
    It's certainly an inspiring picture - perhaps you can persuade Ian to share details of how the board and scenery were constructed, so the rest of us can try to produce something similar.
    A pity to spoil it with those icons on the left! Maybe you could move them so you can click on a particular unit or terrain feature for each shortcut?
    Arthur

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  2. Arthur1815,

    I will certainly try to find out how he made the board and scenery, and if I do I will pass his tips on.

    I will also think about moving the icons so that they do not obscure the image, but as to making parts of the screen 'hotspots' ... well that is beyond my level of skill I am afraid to say.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  3. I was also going to suggest moving icons to "blue space" so as not to interfere with the photo.

    So, drag and drop, sir. Drag and drop.


    -- Jeff

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  4. Bob, that has inspired me to try your rules out.

    Arthur - the scenery looks pretty simple to replicate. Flocked squares of mdf for the hills etc.

    Its the modularity that appeals (it almost looks Lego-like). Pretty much any combination of terrain can be accomplished using the basic blocks.

    Might try that for other rules like DBA etc. that use a small play area.

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  5. Bluebear Jeff,

    I have moved the icons ... and the desktop image is no longer obscured.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  6. Phil Broeders,

    If you already use DBA then I think that you will enjoy using THE PORTABLE WARGAME rules.

    I agree that it looks as if Ian Dury has used flocked MDF squares as the basis for his modular terrain ... and I am mighty tempted to copy his idea. It strikes me that some of the terrain tiles could be made reversible, and this would increase its versatility.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  7. Oh stop it Bob!

    My head is starting to hurt as I think about how much of this excellent display I can borrow for some of my own setups.

    Some of the board materials look like carpet underlay and cork to my eyes. I feel an urge to visit B&Q today!!

    Jim

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  8. Bob

    Almost every single icon on your desktop is a shorcut which could easily be run from your menu.

    The exception is the 'bin' which can also be moved but takes a bit of Windows jiggery pokery.

    I have no shortcut icons on my desktop.

    Jim

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  9. Jim Duncan,

    If it was not pouring with rain (and I wasn't about to watch the Mumbai Indians play there next match in the Indian Premier League) I would be there ahead of you!

    All the bet,

    Bob

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  10. Jim Duncan,

    It is sheer laziness on my part that there are so many icons on my desktop. They need rationalising, and I hope to do that later today.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  11. Bob, on closer inspection it looks like he's cut and painted carpet tiles for the basic hills and terrain - layering up for hills and down for rivers. So the river is the bottom layer, river banks next layer, flat terrain the next layer. Then hills are just cut smaller than the main square blocks.

    The woods are simple - tile with trees!

    I might have a crack at that myself.

    I have also now downloaded the rules. I've bought some 6mm Samurai from Irregular and I'll see if the rules can accomodate them. I want to run a Samurai campaign next year and we need a simple combat resolution process. I'll let you know how I get on.

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  12. Phil Broeders,

    You may be right about the basic raw materials for the terrain tiles. It is difficult to tell from the photographs what they are made from, and I had assumed that they were MDF, but they could easily be carpet tiles.

    I would have thought that the rules should work for Samurai warfare, although you might need to make some minor changes.

    Some of the advantages of THE PORTABLE WARGAME rules are their flexibility and simplicity. In addition, they do not take a lot of space to setup and armies are relatively cheap to buy.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  13. What a fine set-up! Rather puts my bit of brownish tarp in the shade - but it does fit nicely into a biscuit tin.

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  14. AlFront,

    I don't think that there is anything wrong with using a gridded cloth that can be folded, as it is probably the easiest way to make the game truly portable. I have used one for some of my games, alongside my vinyl chessboards.

    This setup does look nice, and if something like it can be reproduced simply, cheaply, and without losing the portability, I would go for it.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  15. Hi Bob

    I have made a Blog entry regarding the Ian Dury tabletop setup.

    http://jim-duncan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/thinking-out-loud.html

    I have taken the liberty of using one of your images for illustrative purposes.

    Are you in contact with Ian Dury at all with a view as to answering our many questions?

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  16. Jim,

    I have sent Ian Dury an email asking for details about the raw materials he used to make his board. If and when I get a reply, I will write a blog entry that passes on his ideas.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  17. Bob,
    Very nice looking board. I have been following your progress and have to say I'm quite impressed with the end-result.

    Definitely an inspiration for those of us who are "space-challenged" for wargaming!

    Steve

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  18. Steven,

    Ian Dury has done an excellent job of turning my basic idea into a work of beauty.

    The whole concept fits the bill for any wargamer who has constraints on their time, the space that they may have available, and the finances that they can commit to their hobby.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  19. I hope you all know how much I am blushing at your comments on my simple efforts!
    Anyway, I have already let Bob know that I will write up how I made the board - it was simple enough. As some of you have guessed, the terrain blocks were cut from (unbacked) carpet tiles.
    I am just glad it sparked such interest!
    If anyone wants to contact me, my e-mail is:
    ian.dury@hotmail.co.uk
    Ian M Dury

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  20. Ian Dury,

    Many thanks for your very helpful comment. I will drawn it to the attention of the blog readers who have expressed an interest in recreating your wonderful PORTABLE WARGAME terrain board.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  21. After the "show us your spares box", are we now running a "show us your desktop thread? :O)

    Regards, Chris

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  22. Chris Kemp,

    Well I have shown you mine ... are you going to show me yours?

    All the best,

    Bob

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  23. Hi Bob

    Here's mine, not exactly warfare, but it is marriage...

    http://militaryhistoryandgames.blogspot.com/2012/05/bob-cordery-desktop-challenge.html

    Regards

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  24. Arthur,

    Having seen your new desktop image, all I can say is that it beats mine hands down!

    All the best,

    Bob

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