Recently Mike Lewis and Anthony Morton staged a re-fight of the Battle of Isandlwana using 54mm-scale figures and my PORTABLE WARGAME rules.
To my no doubt biased eyes the results look spectacular, and a full battle report can be found on Mike's blog.
Please note that the photographs featured above are © Mike Lewis.
To my no doubt biased eyes the results look spectacular, and a full battle report can be found on Mike's blog.
Please note that the photographs featured above are © Mike Lewis.
Bob,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this - glad you like the look.
We have also been playing a fair amount of Portable Wargames using 28mm Franco-Prussian figures on a 4" 6 ' x 4' mat with 17 units a side.
It gives a much bigger game but you still get a result in a couple of hours using the sudden death rules.
I give Prussian guns 8 grids range, French 6. Prussian Infantry are Elite and fire 3 grids.
French Infantry are average (except Guard and Turcos who are elite) and fire 4 grids.
Cavalry are average on both sides.
It seems to model FPW warfare very well.
Mike Lewis,
DeleteI like the clean, uncluttered look of your tabletop. It is a great antedote to the overcrowded, railway layout-style of terrain one sees at so many shows.
I'd be interested to see more about your Franco-Prussian War battles; some of my playtest battles were set in the Austro-Prussian War and the rules seemed to work well for the 1860/1870 era. I think that your choices of ranges and unit ratings are well made, and I can see why they work well for the Franco-Prussian War.
All the best,
Bob
I've ordered some laser cut boards to go with the Portable Wargame. I'll not be able to do anything with them until after my move, but I intend to run a double-blind game, via Skype for my club.
ReplyDeleteJustin Penwith,
DeleteCoincidentally, I was sorting through a box full of laser-cut MDF bases this afternoon, and discovered that I have enough 5cm X 5cm squares to create a smaller version of Mike Lewis's PW board. It's certainly something for me to think about for the future.
Good luck with your move ... and I'll be interested to read more about your Skype game once it has taken place.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, I hope you take it as a compliment that Mike and I have invested in so much specialist terrain (and toy soldiers) to use with your fantastic rules! The PWG has given us many wonderful games and will continue to do so. Personally I can't wait for your Napoleonic, Naval and Scenario PWG books to be published. I would be very happy to think that our games are helping to popularise such a great set of rules. Best wishes, Anthony.
ReplyDeleteAntony Morton,
DeleteI have been very impressed by the way in which you have both embraced the PW rules, and the terrain has inspired quite a few people - including myself - to consider producing something similar.
The GRIDDED NAVAL WARGAMES book is ready for publication, and I will release it once I have received the final printed proof copies ... which will I hope will be by the end of this week.
I have a non-wargaming book to write next (it will relate the First World War exploits of members of an important Hertfordshire Masonic Lodge) and once that is complete I hope to begin work on my PORTABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME book.
I would like to put on record my thanks to you and Mike for the work you have done to popularise the PW concept, and rest assured I hope to pick you collective brains at some point in the future with regard to some of PW scenarios I have in mind.
All the best,
Bob
PS. Did you see the Victorian Military Society's 'Battle of Dorking' PW wargame? It was demonstrated at a recent event the Society organised and will be appearing at at least one wargame show later this year.
Bob,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind words. I tried finding the VMS Dorking game on the internet but failed miserably. Do you know at which wargames show(s) it will be appearing this year?
Best wishes
Anthony
Anthony Morton,
DeleteI think that the VMS 'Battle of Dorking' game will be at Partisan later this year ... but I may well be wrong.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteAnthony and I will be at Valhalla in Farnborough on June 17th with the 54mm 19th Century participation game if you can make it - otherwise we are booked into Colours in September with the same game...
Mike Lewis,
DeleteI'll try to get along to Farnborough if I can as I'd love to see your setup in the flesh.
Colours might be a bit difficult as I think that I am already booked up for that weekend already.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sending Mike and myself photos of the VMS Dorking game.
Best wishes
Anthony
Anthony Morton,
DeleteIt was my pleasure, especially as I suspect that it is a scenario you both might want to try yourselves.
All the best,
Bob