I have been thinking about drawing the first map for my Belle Époque project, and having extensively wargamed conflicts in that country, I looked back at the maps and photographs of the battles I had fought ... and realised that they would provide me with the basis of a Belle Époque campaign map of that country.
A selection of these maps and photographs is shown below:
The campaign map of Zubia from the 'Portable Colonial Wargame' book.
The 'Bombardment of Secundria' from the 'Trouble in Zubia' book.
The 'Advance from Port Zub' from the 'Trouble in Zubian' book.
The 'Attack on Wadi Halwa' from the 'Trouble in Zubian' book.
The 'Defence of Massala' from the 'Trouble in Zubia' book.
The 'Evacuation of Abou Nasir' from the 'Trouble in Zubia' book.
The map of the area where the 'Battle of Al-Nahr' was fought in the 'Portable Colonial Wargame' book.
My next task is to see if I can draw a hex gridded map that will incorporate as much of the above as I can. In theory, this should be a relatively simple task ... I hope!
Cool looking maps and games Bob, it was a pleasure to have a chat on the VWC last night. Hopefully see you again soon.
ReplyDeleteWillz.
Tiberian General (Willz),
DeleteCheers! It was great to put a voice and a face to a name and I hope to become a regular member of the VWC.
All the best,
Bob
Looking forward to it, the VWC is a great place to bounce wargaming ideas around.
DeleteWillz.
Tiberian General (Willz),
DeleteWithin a few minutes I knew that taking part was a very good idea! I look forward to the next meeting.
All the best,
Bob
Looking good Bob. The alternative to mapping everything on hexes is to fit your existing maps into a series of linked boxes with the most strategic locations.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem with a huge map is the tendency to wander all over it!
In reality, there tended to be limited routes with significant strategic locations, even in places like deserts (tracks between waterholes for example). It's why armies seem to follow the same routes and end up fighting in the same place in different campaigns (I'm thinking here of Gaza, Thermopelae and numerous other locations).
It would also save you time.....
Nice to see you on the VWC yesterday BTW. I hope you weren't deterred from regular attendance!
Neil
Neil Patterson (Neil),
DeleteThanks for your very useful and apposite comments. The map I am working on does seem to be growing larger and larger as I work on it and has the distinct possibility of turning into a bit of a monster! That said, the process has been a very useful exercise and I have learned a lot of helpful lessons.
I really enjoyed taking part in the VWC meeting yesterday and I look forward to becoming a regular participant.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteI like your photos of the games- especially 'Secundria'- it has everything- figures, buildings and ships- brilliant....hope your doing well regarding your mobility. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteThe attack on Secundria was a memorable wargame and was great fun.
My mobility continues to improve slowly. I can now stand and walk across the room as long as I have my walking frame to lean on. I am also improving my muscle strength and joined mobility by using an exercise machine that simulates pedalling a bicycle.
All the best,
Bob
Wonderful looking games. I'm glad your mobility is improving! I like Niel's idea, kind of like a point crawl for an RPG. It has the advantage of controlling movement routes, but doesn't force only one on the players.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers! They have been featured on my blog as well as my books.
I intend to finish my current map, although it isn't quite turning out as I hoped it would. Once that is complete, I will reconsider my options.
All the best,
Bob
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteHaving linked boxes as the basis of a campaign map is a great idea and I reckon that similar could be readily applied to Madasahatta…..
(Hint, hint….)
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteIt is certainly an option that I am looking at although I would prefer to end up with a hex grid version of the sort of map I used for my Franco-Prussian Campaign of 1810.
As to Madasahatta ... well, once I've got my map drawing system working to my satisfaction, I hope to look at using it to produce a new Madasahatta map. Just to warn you, this may be some weeks off, but it will happen at some point.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be running into the same kinds of projects, though you progress yours better than I do mine. I've been poking around doing a map for my 'War of the Nations', but, although having a rough outline, have yet to decide upon 'point to point' (like my Byzantiad thing), or some kind of gridded map (Like the Kavkaz or Zubian campaigns).
Your posting has reminded me of some campaign and operations maps I drew up long ago and never used. One was an island taken from the C.S. Grant campaign book, and blown up to incorporate road networks, hills forests, villages farms and whatnot. I believe finished, but never used.
You just might have kicked off my next blog posting...
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI am tending towards thinking about producing a hex gridded version of the sort of map I used for my Franco-Prussian War of 1810 for my Belle Epoque project map. My present experimental map is too big to be fit for purpose but creating it has taught me some very valuable lessons. I’ll be writing more about this on my blog later this week.
I must admit that - like you - I have created quite a collection of campaign maps that really deserve to be revisited. Perhaps I might do that during my enforced confinement.
All the best,
Bob