Back in 2013, Paul Wright published FUNNY LITTLE WARS: A GENTLEMAN'S PREOCCUPATION ...
... and LITTLE CAMPAIGNS: RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF WAR GAME CAMPAIGNS IN MINIATURE ...
... to commemorate the publication of H G Wells's LITTLE WARS in 1913.
Having had the opportunity to take part in some of Paul Wright's lawn battles using these rules, these two volumes occupy a special place on my bookshelves ... and it was whilst idly glancing through them again recently that I realised that they may provide an answer to my ongoing imagi-nations project.
In order to give the armies used by players a national flavour, each is based around the sort of army fielded by the major nations during the early part of the twentieth century ... BUT each is named by colour rather than nationality. So, for example, the British Army listed in the first book is called Army Red, and comprises:
- Divisional Staff Group
- An Infantry Brigade comprising:
- Brigade Headquarters
- A Guard Infantry Battalion
- Two Infantry Battalions
- A Light Infantry Battalion
- A Cavalry Brigade comprising:
- Brigade Headquarters
- A Heavy/Guard Cavalry Regiment
- A Light Cavalry Regiment
- Horse Artillery
- Engineers
- Field Artillery OR Garrison Artillery
- Army Service Corps
It would be very simple to reproduce such an 'army' to use with my PORTABLE WARGAME rules.
Looking at the other armies listed in the book, we find:
- Army Purple (the Belgians)
- Army Horizon Blue (the French)
- Army Black (the Germans)
- Army White (the Austro-Hungarians)
- Army Red/White/Blue (the Americans)
- Army Cerise (the Japanese)
- Army Dark Green (the Russians)
- Army Light Green (a Balkan army)
- Army Red/Gold (the Spanish)
- Army Red/White (the Swiss)
- Army Red/White/Green (the Italians)
- Army Red/Yellow/Blue (the Scandinavians)
- Ruritania (fictional, based on the writings of Anthony Hope)
- Grand Duchy of Gerolstein (fictional, based on the setting of Jacques Offenbach's opéra bouffe)
Whilst the all follow the same basic Order of Battle as Army Red, each has particular differences that reflect the 'national' natures of the army they are based on. For example, Army Horizon Blue includes Chasseur a Pied and Zouaves and Army Red/White/Blue has two rather than one Infantry Brigade.
The companion volume expands the list of armies, and includes:
- Army White/Red (the Danes): the army list is incomplete as Army White/Red features in the book's short 'Herring War' scenario
- Army Blue/Red/Blue (the Norwegians): the army list is incomplete as Army Blue/Red/Blue features in the book's short 'Herring War' scenario
- Army Khaki (the Turks)
- Army Saffron (the British Indian Army)
- Army Orange (the South African Republics)
- A generic Naval Brigade
- Army Primrose (the Chinese)
- Army Primrose/Blue (the Chinese ... but after being 'Westernised')
- Army Primrose/Black (a Chinese Warlord)
In addition to the campaign rules and additional army lists, LITTLE CAMPAIGNS: RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF WAR GAME CAMPAIGNS IN MINIATURE includes two copies of a hexed campaign map and counters ...
... and a 'copy' of the ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS that tells the story of the 'Herring War'.
Re-reading these two books has given me lots of material and ideas to think about!
FUNNY LITTLE WARS: A GENTLEMAN'S PREOCCUPATION and LITTLE CAMPAIGNS: RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF WAR GAME CAMPAIGNS IN MINIATURE were written by Paul Wright and published in 2013 by The (Virtual) Armchair General. Both books appear to be out of print at present.
I've never heard of these rules Bob, but they look to be well worth getting, so will try and track some down. Thanks for sharing info about them:)
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteThe rules are great but not over serious as they are intended to produce fun wargames ... and they do! I’ve spent many a happy hour on my hands and knees pushing 54mm toy soldiers around on floors and lawns, and trying to master the intricacies of firing a spring-loaded toy cannon with some degree of accuracy.
I hope that you manage to find copies.
All the best,
Bob
I have played games with around half of those armies but what I especially like is the quirky national characteristics of the armies. For example Army Dark Green makes much of priests and is sometimes plagued by anarchist attacks and Army Light Green (the Balkans) are plagued by units on the supposedly same side occasionally fighting each other.
ReplyDeleteQuantrilltoy,
DeleteThe nationsl characteristics of each army are a hoot! I like the idea of Army Saffron’s HQ having the odd nauche girl on the strength ... and Army Primrose seems to be huge and almost totally useless.
All the best,
Bob
Identifying your army by "colour" is a useful way to produce "generic" armies rather than "national" ones, even when it's pretty clear who they are based on!
ReplyDeleteI note Ion / Archduke Piccolo has adopted a similar "colour" theme for his C19th armies.
My own C18th Imagi-Nation armies, while following a board game have adopted the counter colours as their basic heraldry, uniform colour and "theme".
Hence, Bravance is a "blue" army and features that colour in their uniform. In addition, the various personalities have as their family surname a German word culled from a German dictionary that is connected to "blue". So for example, Traurig (sad).
I'm sure it sounds ridiculous to a German speaker but It amuses me to have a General Schmeissfliege.....
Perhaps you could adopt the nationality as the basis for character or unit names in the appropriate language....
The Inesperto fusiliere in the Army Verde- BiancoRosso for example....
I think it helps to provide the distance necessary to immerse yourself in the imaginary nature of what you're after.
Neil
Neil Patterson,
DeleteAdopting colour designations for your imagi-nation armies makes a lot of sense, and seems to fit nicely with the Wellsian tradition of the hobby. I seem to remember that the individual national armies used in the famous Hyborian Campaign each had a distinctive main colour for their uniforms.
My old friend Eric Knowles had Arab cavalry units that were all painted in the colours of London football clubs. I have also come across imagi-nations where names were food and drink related (e.g. Colonel Fromage, General Gouda, Admiral Perrier).
Your Bravance army sounds very interesting, and I like the naming theme you’ve used. I may well adopt something similar in due course.
All the best,
Bob
I remember buying a PDF copy but can’t find it now. The site seems to no longer provide the rules.
ReplyDeleteSteve8,
DeleteI also had a PDF copy of the rules, but bought printed copies once I realised that they were ‘keepers’.
Unfortunately, the books are no longer in print, and I’m not sure how one could now access a PDF copy.
All the best,
Bob
Great fun rules and I have enjoyed games with them too most notably the Centenary jamboree! I like the idea of replicating the armies for Portable Wargame. I was involved in writing the Danish Swedish Norwegian lists. I wonder if there is any way we can add the FLW national traits both good and bad into Portable Wargame?
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteI’m not surprised that you had a hand in creating the Scandinavian army ORBAT, and I’m very envious as I wasn’t able to take part in the centenary games.
Funnily enough, I have been wondering how I could combine the FLW national traits into my PW rules. I suspect that it might be possible by allowing certain units to have specific advantages (e.g. giving Gurkhas an advantage in Close Combat) and by introducing an additional category in the ‘Resolving Hits on Units’ table (e.g. Elite, Regular, Reserve, Militia/Irregular).
All the best,
Bob
P.s I still have my original army lists for White/red , red/yellow and Blue/yellow before they were put together.
ReplyDeleteAs to using the National characteristics one could give bonuses etc. For example the Swiss Army - Army red/white-
Excellent shots - plus one on dice when firing
Mobility- movement penalties for difficult terrain not used as the army defends short borders and knows where invaders would come from plus they know all paths etc very well indeed.
Inexperienced in battle - use rule as in FLW
A small army placed in a difficult terrain. Lots of woods and streams as terrain
I think that such positive and negative National traits would work well in A Portable Wargame and add another layer to games.
Tradgardmastare,
DeleteI like your suggestions ... and I don’t think that it would be very difficult to incorporate them into the existing PW rules.
It is certainly something for me to think about.
All the best,
Bob
I will speak to the author about making the rules available again...
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
DeleteIf he could move to a ‘print on demand’ platform, I’m sure that it would sell.
All the best,
Bob
I agree . I am sure there is a market for such jolly uplifting rules especially at a time like this! They are a terrific read and inspirational.
DeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteI agree. I’m sure that potential sales would merit its republication.
All the best,
Bob
Yes, my own Imagi-Nation's forced are distinguished by color. I bough6 several different Army Painter sprays as undercoats.
ReplyDeleteJustin Penwith,
DeleteThat makes a lot of sense ... and is an idea that I might well copy!
All the best,
Bob
Posting on blog via my phone is apparently problematic. :)
DeleteI went with Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow, for the four main factions, Black, Brown(s), and then variations of Blue, Red, Grey, and White for several of the minor ones.
Some uniforms for the main factions get a different hue, so Purple for Red, Orange for Yellow, and so on. Cuff colors are shared across all the factions, one to make is simple, but secondly, because they all come from a "Remusian" (instead of Roman) background common to them all.
The "foreign" factions or indigenous peoples will be more varied, I think, as I get to them. I was working on painting up examples, before I had to pack up my painting table when my son came to live with me for the Lost Year of COVID.
Justin Penwith,
DeleteI like the logic behind your system. It has an appealing symmetry, and I like the colour choices and combinations that you have made. I also like the fact that you’ve used Remus as the founder of the empire from which all the factions have descended.
With luck, things should be easing over the next few months, although I suspect it will be September before life approaches something like normal again.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Gentlemen All!
ReplyDeleteAs the original publisher of FLW and it's companion, "Little Campaigns," I owe all hands some explanation and perhaps ask for some help.
Both works by Padre Paul Wright, currently a pastor to the Royal Household having retired from active military service, are owned now wholly by him. I gifted him the full copyrights as compensation for, frankly, my botch of marketing his amazing works.
In the interim, he has not had the opportunity to re-publish them via Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly Amazon). The steps required are not particularly difficult, but perhaps a bit daunting to the inexperienced, and the former Lt. Col. also his his daily duties as well as his own family to contend with.
My personal exhortations proving inadequate, I most definitely encourage any and all--including your acquaintances off this site--to E-mail Paul and let him know you would buy his books and even related items if he would make them available again in printed form.
In the meantime, both rulesets are still available as PDF files from The (Virtual) Armchair General, though many of the various supplements and accessories (card decks, etc) will be problematical as they would be available only as files for self printing, and many would not be practical via one's desktop printer. Any such sales would be forwarded to him via PayPal so that he would not be deprived of his just reward.
To order copies of FLW and/or FC, or just to chide me for my foolishness, please write me at TVAG@att.net
As I believe I am among friends here, I feel I can chance providing Paul's E-mail so that he may receive your own expressions of enjoyment, and that you would support the return of his works. Indeed, he has notes and plans for several more incarnations of his basic systems for a wide variety of historical subjects, so we may yet pry open the flood gates!
Please write him at funnylittlewars@yahoo.com.uk
It's possible this account folded when Yahoo Groups shut down last year, in which let me know. And while I won't attempt to speak for him, I'm sure Our Host, Brother Cordery, might be willing to forward notes to the Padre.
Finally, the suggestion was made that it might be possible to offer the works via a "Print on Demand" Platform. If brought back via Kindle, that would be the case, but if there are other such platforms out there, I would very much like to know about them!
Thank you for your time, Gentlemen, and please let us do what we can!
TVAG
TVAG,
DeleteThank you very much for your very detailed comment, which explains why FUNNY LITTLE WARS and its companion volume are not currently available to buy in printed format. I will certainly contact Paul with an offer of assistance if he wishes to republish the books, and I’ll pass on any comments by other interested parties. In the meantime, I’ll use your comment as the basis of a blog post, so that anyone who is interested in acquiring FLW and who misses it, will be fully informed.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, it's funny how the mind works. I've been following this discussion because I am curious about .. well what it's about. Your comment about your imagi-nations project triggered a thought about something you said in The Portable Colonial Wargame. Namely, colonial wargaming lends itself to fighting imaginary wars. I had not looked at it that way before. I've been in a Napoleonics, ACW, ancient wargaming cycle since I started a few years ago. But now I grasp the meaning of what you said, and can't wait to reread The Portable Colonial Wargame again with a new frame of mind. Also, watching the movie "Gunga Din" for the umpteenth time, and paying attention to the actual fighting, added impetus. Thanks as always for inspirational thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteHave you read my book about Madasahatta? If not, follow the link in the sidebar and you’ll get an idea about how a Colonial imagi-nation (or in this case, an imagi-island) can work so well. It provided the basis for a campaign that was fought over the course of just over a year.
Another imagi-island worth looking at is Jack Scruby’s Mafrica. I understand that copies of his map have been reprinted relatively recently, and are probably still available.
GUNGA DIN is one of my favourite films, and includes some wonderful scenes. The sight of elephants carrying Gatling guns into action just makes you want to field such a unit ... even though I understand that when making the film the elephants ran off when they starting firing the guns!
All the best,
Bob
No I haven't, but have thought about it. I will get it and give it a go. Yet another path I haven't explored yet. So much wargaming to do, so little time. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteThe books are very ‘British’ in that some of the writing is a bit tongue-in-cheek and ironic in nature. It tries to recapture the spirit of HG Wells’ original and the time when it was written,
All the best,
Bob
:) HG Wells' Little Wars was the very first book I read about wargaming. Loved it. And as a yank I freely admit that British humor far surpasses anything the US has lately. We had great commedians in the past, but now they have replaced humor with crudeness. Except for Jerry Seinfeld, still a very funny guy. I'm a big fan of all things British. I was a little boy when I watched Queen Elizabeth's coronation on TV, and I had such a crush on her. I have always loved her, and truly understand why y'all do. But I digress. Back to the game. Thanks for the sidebar.
ReplyDeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteI actually managed to read first edition copies of both FLOOR GAMES and LITTLE WARS in the library of the Savile Club in London. Wells was a member of this literary gentleman’s club, and like all the other members, he was expected to donate a copy of each book he published to the library.
Comedy is often a reflection of a nation’s ‘character’. On a personal level, I don’t like slapstick comedy, but I do appreciate situational comedy and comedy that uses the nuances of language. For example, I love the famous FOUR CANDLES sketch by the Two Ronnies and I’VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH MY APPLE sketch by Ronnie Corbett and Harry Enfield (both are available on YouTube if you’ve never seen them) and DAD’S ARMY and ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES.
I am old enough to have been born before the Queen was crowned, and she has been part of the ‘landscape’ for almost all of my life. Having seen her close up (I was about three feet away from her when she opened the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich), she is tiny!
What will happen when she dies will define the UK’s future. There are a significant number of people who would like the Royal Family to either disappear altogether or to take on a very diminished role. Whilst the Queen remains alive, discussions on this matter are held in check, but when she dies, I suspect that there will be a move to debate the future of Britain’s monarchy.
All the best,
Bob