Another progress report about my Portable Belle Époque Wargame rules (1)

I have been making somewhat slower progress on my Portable Belle Époque Wargame rules than I expected ... but I'm gradually getting there!

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, the significant changes I am making to THE GATLING'S JAMMED rules from THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME book are as follows:

• Machine guns a treated like artillery and have their own fire phase.
• The number of units a general can activate each turn is subject to a degree of randomness that depends upon their ability.
• A timescale has been introduced.

The section that deals with the first of these currently reads as follows:

Machine gun fire phase

• Machine gun fire definitions
• If an enemy unit can be seen by a machine gun unit (i.e. there is a direct line-of-sight between the target and the machine gun unit firing at it), the machine gun unit may fire at it.
• Machine gun units can fire over other units that are in front of them if they are on a hill that is higher than the target.
• General machine gun fire rules
• Machine guns fire within an arc-of-fire that is forward of the direction in which it is facing.
• Machine gun ranges are measured through the edges and not the corners of the grid areas.
• Machine gun units can only fire once each turn.
• Machine gun units that fire cannot move during the same turn.
• Machine gun fire can destroy any type of ground unit.
• Machine gun units can fire into woods, built-up areas, and fortifications.
• Machine gun units can fire out of woods, built-up areas, and fortifications if they are in a grid area that is on the edge of the woods, built-up areas, or fortifications (i.e. the adjacent grid area in the direction they are firing does not contain woods, built-up areas or fortifications).
• Machine gun fire rules
• The target grid area is identified.
• Roll three D6 dice for the machine gun unit firing at the target grid area and add or subtract any relevant modifiers:
• Increase the D6 die roll score by 1 if the machine gun unit has fired at the same stationary target during the previous turn.
• Increase the D6 die roll score by 1 if a friendly general is in a grid area that is adjacent to the machine gun unit.
• Reduce the D6 die roll score by 1 if the target is in cover or fortifications.
• Results:
• Modified D6 die roll score = 5 or more: Machine gun fire lands on the target grid area.
• Modified D6 die roll score = 4 or less: Machine gun fire has been totally ineffective.
• If the machine gun fire has been effective, any unit that is in the grid area in which the machine gun fire lands is hit, and a D6 die is rolled to determine the effectiveness of the artillery fire upon the target unit. (See the Resolving hits on units section of the rules.)

Another Nagato!

In July, thanks to the generosity of Nigel Drury, I added a model of the IJNS Nagato to my collection of 1:1200th/:1250th-scale Japanese warships.

Since then – and thanks to eBay – I have acquired a second model of a Nagato-class battleship ... so now I can field both IJNS Nagato and her sistership IJNS Mutsu in a naval wargame.

I now have models of six of the ten battleship that the Imperial Japanese Navy had in service in 1941. To complete my collection, I need another two Kongo-class fast battleships (IJNS Hiei and IJNS Kirishima), the IJNS Yamashiro (a Fuso-class battleship), and IJNS Hyūga (an Ise-class battleship).

Battles of the Balkan Wars

Further to my recent blog post about the First and Second Balkan Wars, I have put together a list of the main battles of each war.

Battles of the First Balkan War (1912–1913): Fought between the Balkan League (Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro) and the Ottoman Empire.

Battle of Kirk Kilisse (24th to 27th October 1912) – Bulgarian victory over Ottoman forces in Thrace.

Battle of Lüleburgaz (29th October to 2nd November 1912) – The largest battle of the war, leading to an Ottoman retreat.

Battle of Kumanovo (23rd and 24th October 1912) – Decisive Serbian victory over the Ottoman Vardar Army.

Battle of Sarantaporos (9th and 10th October 1912) – Greek victory opening the way to southern Macedonia.

Battle of Yenidje (2nd and 3rd November 1912) – Greek victory leading to the surrender of Thessaloniki.

Siege of Adrianople (3rd November 1912 to 26th March 1913) – Fall of the key Ottoman fortress to Bulgarian and Serbian forces.

Battle of Monastir (16th to 19th November 1912) – Serbian victory securing control of Pelagonia.

First and Second Battles of Çatalca (17th and 18th November 1912 and 20th to 22nd March 1913) – Ottoman defensive successes holding the line near Constantinople.

Battle of Bizani (5th to 6th March 1913) – Greek victory leading to the capture of Ioannina.

Battle of Bulair (8th February 1913) – Ottoman tactical success against Bulgarian forces.

Siege of Scutari (28th October 1912 to 23rd April 1913) – Montenegrin and Serbian siege of the northern Albanian town.

Naval Battles of Elli (16th December 1912) and Lemnos (18th January 1913) – Greek naval victories ensuring control of the Aegean Sea.

The Matrix Game map of the Balkans during the First Balkan War from the book THE BALKAN LEAGUE.

Battles of the Second Balkan War (1913): Fought when Bulgaria turned against its former allies, Serbia and Greece, joined later by Romania and the Ottoman Empire.

Battle of Bregalnica (30th June to 9th July 1913) – Major engagement and Serbian victory along the Bregalnica River.

Battle of Kilkis–Lachanas (19th to 21st June 1913) – Decisive Greek victory over Bulgarian forces.

Battle for Knjaževac (4th to 7th July 1913) – Bulgarian offensive action against the Serbians.

Battle of Doiran (23rd to 25th June 1913) – Engagement during the Greek advance against Bulgarian positions.

Battle of Kalimanci (18th and 19th July 1913) – Successful Bulgarian defensive stand halting the Serbian offensive.

Battle of Kresna Gorge (8th to 18th July 1913) – Fierce Greek counter-offensive operations trapping the Bulgarian army.

Battle of Pirot (24th to 27th August 1913) – Late-stage engagement near the Serbian border.

Siege of Vidin (14th to 19th July 1913) – Serbian siege of the Bulgarian fortress city.

Southern Dobruja Offensive (July 1913) – Unopposed Romanian invasion of Bulgarian territory.

Ottoman Recapture of Adrianople (23rd July 1913) – Unopposed re-entry into Eastern Thrace by Ottoman forces as Bulgarian troops redeployed.

The Matrix Game map of the Balkans during the Second Balkan War from the book THE BALKAN LEAGUE.

New YouTube video ... that shows how I make my YouTube videos!

I recently wrote two blog posts that explained how I created my YouTube videos using MS PowerPoint and NCH VideoPad video editing software. I decided that it would be a good idea to use these methods to create a YouTube video about how I make my YouTube videos ... and that is exactly what I have done!

The video lasts approximately eleven and a half minutes and can be found here on the Wargaming Miscellany YouTube channel.

'Bring me my Chariot of fire!': My new rollator/stroller has been delivered!

As my regular blog readers will know, I suffer from mobility problems as a result of my axonal polyneuropathy. This means that although I can walk a reasonable distance – say 100 metres – with the aid of walking sticks, if I am walking for longer than five minutes at a time without resting, I need something more substantial to support me.

When I finally learned how to walk again in 2024 (this was only possible thanks to the excellent support and help I received from the Royal Borough of Greenwich's Reablement Team) I was issued with a rollator/stroller. This is a four-wheeled walking frame that has a seat and back rest that one can use as a mobility aid when walking longer distances. I have used this on many occasions when going for a walk or when visiting somewhere where I knew that I was likely to do quite a lot of walking ... but it is second-hand, the brakes are prone to not working as well as they should, and it is very heavy and cumbersome to lift in and out of my car.

As I needed a rollator/stroller on my recent cruise, I hired one rather than taking mine with me. This hired rollator/stroller proved to be much lighter and easier to use than my existing one, and after giving it some thought, I recently bought a new one that I can use from home and that I can also take with me on future cruises ... and here it is!

I have already taken it out for a stroll around the local area, and it is much better than my existing one. For one thing, the brakes work ... and this is important if – like me – you live on a steep hill.

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Most people know that 'Bring me my Chariot of fire!' is a quote from William Blake's poem 'And did those feet in ancient time' which became the lyrics of the famous song, JERUSALEM.

Fewer people know that the poem references Chapter 6, Verse 17 of Kings 2 in the King James bible, which states:

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Sixteen million hits!

I just realised that my hit counter passed sixteen million hits earlier today.

It looks as if the AI bots are still the major contributors to the total number of hits my blog has received. I only wish that I got paid every time they visited as it would help pay for my next cruise!

The Balkan Wars on a single tabletop!

Some years ago, I came across a very interesting concept: a complete 3D map of the Balkans that fitted onto a tabletop and that one could fight the Balkan Wars on using 15mm figures. I cannot find out who developed this idea ... but as the following images indicate, it is brilliant!

If anyone has any information about this, please can they share it?

Progress report about my Portable Belle Époque Wargame rules

Whilst I was on my recent cruise, I began drafting some period-specific rules for my Belle Époque project.

I find that the days when the ship is sailing from one port-of-call to another are ideal for me to write. I don't have to worry about refreshments (food and drink is available for almost twenty-four hours per day!) and there are few things to distract me ... unless I want to be distracted! (On this cruise I was distracted by going to the excellent guest speaker's talks and the hilarious 'radio play' staged by the entertainment team.)

By the time we reached Cadiz, I had produced almost a dozen A4-sized pages of 10pt text that included several ideas that I wanted to include in the rules ... but when I re-read what I had written when we were on our way between Cadiz and Ibiza, I realised that it was rather verbose and the new mechanisms I had used were not just over-complicated but also extremely clunky!

I chose to start again ... and almost repeated the same mistakes! In the end, I decided that rather than start from scratch, I would base my 'new' rules on THE GATLING'S JAMMED rules that are in THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME book.

These use units of figures mounted on 40mm wide bases (i.e. standard DBA/HOTT bases for 15mm figures) on a grid of 50mm squares or similar-sized hexes (e.g. the terrain boards that comes with MEMOIR ‘44/BATTLE CRY).

At present, the significant changes I have made are as follows:

• Machine guns a treated like artillery and have their own fire phase.
• The number of units a general can activate each turn is subject to a degree of randomness that depends upon their ability.
• A timescale has been introduced.

I am hoping that I will get the present draft of the rules finished by the middle of next week ... and then I can begin thinking about playtesting them.

American Civil War Campaign: The Battle of Akragas City!

This is a report of the second battle of the American Civil War campaign that Professor Gary Sheffield and I are fighting.

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Report to the Confederate C-in-C from the commander of Confederate States' forces in Akragas City, South Carolina

Dear General,

I am writing this shortly after nightfall on what has been a most sanguinary day. We retain possession of Akragas City, but the enemy are inside our fortifications to the west and north and are blocking the road leading east. In short we are surrounded and have taken heavy casualties. Indeed, it was only the coming of night at turn 15 that saved the army from exhaustion – we were but one point away. The enemies's losses too have been heavy. but not, I fear, as heavy as ours.

Before the battle commenced, we had built the fortifications on three sides, the fourth of course being the seawards flank. I deployed my cavalry brigade to screen the eastern flank, from once I judged the most serious threats to come, viz along the coastal road. The Yankee Southern Brigade did indeed materialise on that very highway. I dismounted my cavalry, and this force of noble equestrians, and my elite 1st Brigade, handily held that position for the duration of the fracas; on no occasion did an enemy succeed in putting his long Yankee nose inside the eastern fortifications, although late in the day an enemy unit established itself in the woods through the immediate north and was able to bring some firepower to bear, with indifferent success.

Alack and alas, it was a different story in the centre and west of our position. The enemy's Central Brigade, supported by remains of his Cavalry Brigade, which was noticeably under strength and, perhaps as a consequence, played very little part in the battle, launched a fierce attack from the north. Enemy fire power drove back one of our gallant units and consequently the enemy in the form of one of the Zouave regiments was able to gain ingress to our fortifications. Sadly, one of my subordinate commanders, a most gallant fellow but lacking in tactical knowhow, failed to appreciate the importance of the hill just beyond the north eastern section of our fortifications. Our enemy, with the typical low cunning for which the Yankee is notorious, seized that very feature and was able to bring significant musketry to bear on the gallant defenders. Suffice it to say that eventually most of the northern and eastern fortifications, and of course their hinterland, were by moonrise in the hands of the enemy. As an honourable Southern gentlemen, my honesty compels me to admit that had the daylight continued but another hour, we should have been comprehensively defeated.

So now, General, I am on the horns of a dilemma, and the instructions that I crave you to render unto me, will be my only way of removing myself from this discomfiture. Pray informed me, can a relief force arrive within 24 at the most 36 hours? If so, I will cling on and await the second round of this battle. If however, the answer is nay, the choice is indeed bleak.

I could attempt to break out to the east or north, and move into enemy-held territory. This has the advantage of probably achieving surprise, but local intelligence informs us there is a sizeable enemy force advancing towards us and so seems to be very risky course of action.

I could attempt to break out to the west, but as this is an obvious move and I would be significantly outnumbered it would be a desperate measure indeed.

I could ask the enemy for his peace terms. He actually offered me honourable terms on Turn 13, proposing that my force would be allowed to withdraw unmolested with our weapons and equipment along the road to the west. At the time I considered that even terms such as these to be beneath my dignity. In retrospect perhaps I was too hasty. I sincerely doubt that anything as generous will be offered now; I am compelled to believe that the only proposal will be offered will be that of surrendering my force.

General, I beseech you let me know your mind on this matter, at the first available opportunity.

I remain, your obedient servant,

Commander of Confederate States' forces in Akragas City, South Carolina

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The situation leading to the Battle of Akragas City.

So, it looks as if the Confederate forced will be forced to withdraw from its prepared positions, and the Union troops seem to have achieved a notable victory.

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Since this report was received by the Confederate commander-in-chief on Sicily, the following was message has been received:

Sir, one of our patriotic civilians in Akragas City obtained an order from the Yankee Commander, which is here attached. It is stomach churning in its boastfulness.

Order of the day from General Jolyon Custard, commander of United States Army forces in Akragas City.

Well boys, you sure whupped them Rebs. We have them pinned into this Sesesh dung heap like a rattlesnake in a trash can - and just like them rattlers, these Rebs can be mighty dangerous when cornered. So y'all keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you. But otherwise spend tomorrow getting yourself back into fine fettle, cos cause sure as eggs is eggs, there's more a fighting coming down the Turnpike.

In the meantime, you fellas in the artillery can bombard those southern rapscallions in that there town - hopefully that will make them see sense, and come out with their hands up, or else they have the cheery prospect of eating rats when they run out of food. We kin just wait it out, as our force grows bigger over the next few days as our reinforcements arrive, at the same time as those Rebels get more difficult to see sideways on.

I have ordered the sending of a telegram to Mr Lincoln in Washington to tell him that glad news. Old Abe will, I'm sure, the gratified by our victory.

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Some photographs of the Battle of Akragas City.

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Please note that the photographs featured above are © Professor Gary Sheffield.

Nugget 382: A bonus issue!

I collected the latest issue of THE NUGGET from the printer (Macaulay Scott Printing Company of Welling, Kent) on Tuesday and posted it out to members of Wargame Developments yesterday.

I will send the PDF copy to the webmaster as soon as I can so that members can read this issue of THE NUGGET online.

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IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the TENTH (and bonus) issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2025-2026 subscription year.

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If you wish to subscribe for the 2026-2027 subscription year, please request a PayPal invoice from the Treasurer or follow the instructions on how to pay by bank transfer using the information on the relevant page of the website.