Back in August 2019, I looked at a variety of different ways to create a simple campaign system. One of the ideas I looked at was using existing games as a starting point, and I mentioned Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, ...
... and Monopoly as possible examples that I could adapt. In the end I opted for something different (see here, here, and here), and this formed the basis of the system outlined in THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME. It also led to the development of my terrain generator (see here and here), which was also featured in THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME.
Interestingly, one of my regular blog readers (Peter of Grid based wargaming - but not always) did take one of my rejected examples (Snakes & Ladders) and did turn it into an elegant, workable, and fundamentally simple campaign system.
Since then, Steven Thomas of Steven's Balagan has produced a version for his 'Tilly's Very Bad Day' campaign, ...
... as well as a 'Crossfire' campaign, ...
... whilst Steven Smith has fought an English Civil War campaign using his version (and produced an interesting YouTube video that explains how it works), ...
... as did Kaptain Kobold, using an even simpler version.
It looks like I missed a trick by not pursuing my original idea ... so I have copied it and begun designing my own campaign matrix based on these examples! At present it looks like this ...
... but in due course, I hope to add some more detail and information.
Please note that the photographs featured above are © Peter of Grid based wargaming - but not always, Steven Thomas, Steven Smith, and Kaptain Kobold.
A remarkable and versatile campaign generator, not to mention elegant. It seems to be remarkably flexible, too, adjustable for any particular campaign. I can well imagine my 'Long Live the Revolution' campaign being run along these lines.
ReplyDeleteArchduke Piccolo,
DeleteLike all the best ideas, it is simple and elegant ... and I wish that had come up with it!
I have several ideas as to how I might use it, including an improved version of ‘Long Live the Revolution!’
All the best,
Bob
As kids we played with toy soldiers (mine were all plastic and rough) and kids games like this. Then we grew up. But we still want to play (with wives often thwarting our efforts by presenting us with "honey do" lists). So instead of crude soldiers we know use painted miniature figures. Instead of kids games we invent maps on computer, build elaborate battle scenes on tables and boards, and create rules way more sophisticated than the kids games we played. But we never outgrow that love of games and fun with soldiers. Maybe some men grow up and do other serious stuff.
ReplyDeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteJust before I read your comment, I read an online article about how important it was for adults to continue to learn by playing games. Wargamers are therefore ahead of the curve ... and its amazing how much one can learn from the wargaming hobby. As for men who grow up and do serious stuff ... well, it’s my impression that most of the ‘serious stuff’ involves eating and/or drinking to excess.
All the best,
Bob
AT my age eating to excess is out because I get full too soon. As for drinking, I fall asleep before I can get to the excess point. Both bummers. I enjoyed both these excesses in my youth. In fact for most of my life I think. But in spirit I certainly agree. Also very good point about growing older and learning, as in wargaming. It's important to learn something new, and be creative. I read that doing crossword puzzles only makes you good at doing crossword puzzles. So not all brain-teasers are that helpful. Wargaming is fascinating I must admit. If I had only gotten into it about 30 years ago.
DeleteDalethewargamer,
DeleteThere was I time when I could - and would - eat huge meals, and could drink pretty well as much alcohol as I liked ... but now that I am older the former makes me feel uncomfortable, and the latter no longer happens as I gave up drinking alcohol about thirty years ago.
Wargaming takes in so many different skill sets and areas of interest that I think that it is far more mentally stimulating that almost any other hobby I can think of. I've been doing it for as long as I can remember, and I know that it has helped to keep my brain working.
All the best,
Bob
Hello Bob,
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting up the blank matrix. I am currently refurbishing my 30+ year old Hinchcliffe AWI armies for the Saratoga campaign and came across the snakes and ladders system on the Honors of War forum and The Stronghold Revisited. It will make a great quick and simple system for my AWI armies. On the HOW forum they came up with a rule that if the two opposing army counters ended a turn on the same space you then fight a skirmish type game. The winner moves either they're or the opponents counter forward or backwards one space. I really like this idea and it would work well for the AWI or any colonial campaign. Best wishes and regards.
Wolfgang Blum
Unknown (Wolfgang Blum),
DeleteI thought that people might find the blank campaign matrix useful. If I can find a way to make it more accessible (it was drawn using MS Publisher), I will do.
I like the idea that if the opposing counters end up in the same space, there is a skirmish. It’s exactly the sort of event that might disrupt a side’s plans, although I might allow the winner to have a free throw rather than moving theirs or the enemy’s counter backward or forward one space.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteHere is another treatment of snakes and ladder for a Punitive Expedition http://jozistinman.blogspot.com/2021/02/punitive-expedition-solo-snakes-and.html. This included some additions such as limited supplies.
The snakes and ladders approach seems to be a useful mechanism for running a small campaign with a handful of games. Unless one is very unlucky with the dice, then the idea of adding supplies deals with this.
Cheers, Peter
Peter,
DeleteThanks for the link to your blog, which I am now following via Readly.
I like the way you have modified the Snakes & Ladders campaign matrix, and have shown its flexibility as a means of running a short campaign. I hope that you don’t mind, but I would like to feature your design (along with a link to you blog) on my blog later this week.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob, for sure, and I suspect your post will be a catalyst for future ideas and modifications to the snakes and ladders campaign mechanism. All the best Peter
DeletePeter,
DeleteThanks very much for giving me permission.
I suspect that it will not be too long before the Snakes & Ladders-style of mini-campaign matrix appears in one of the mainstream wargame magazines ... and then it will become one of those standard wargaming tools that people use and have no idea where the original idea came from.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, I have planned an ECW campaign along these lines with a twist. The Edgehill campaign 1642, where the final square is London as the prize for the winner. The battles fought along the way are Powick Bridge, Edgehill, Brentford etc. Armies grow or shrink depending on combat outcomes. Regards Paul
ReplyDeletePDL (Paul),
DeleteWhat an interesting way in which to use this essentially simple system! By using actual locations for the battles, you have pre-programmed the campaign in one sense, but allowed the vagaries of the 'dice-and-move' system to ensure that things might not quite go as expected.
Thanks very much for sharing your idea.
All the best,
Bob