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Tuesday 7 February 2017

The next Portable Wargame book?

I've had a rather busy day today, but during a break from my Masonic researches I have begun to make notes for my next PORTABLE WARGAME book. The working title is DEVELOPING THE PORTABLE WARGAME and I hope to include things such as:
  • Rules for pinning and unpinning units
  • Fighting campaigns using the Portable Wargame Rules (with a short example)
  • A more complex version of the Early and Mid Twentieth Century Portable Wargame Rules
  • The Portable Naval Wargame Rules for the Mid and Late Nineteenth/Early Twentieth Century (with an explanatory battle or two)
  • The Portable Napoleonic Wargame Rules (with an explanatory battle)
This might actually be too much for one book, but I won't know if it is until I begin to put the book together, and that is something that is probably not going to begin in earnest until later in the year. I will, however, keep my regular blog readers apprised of any progress that I do make.

32 comments:

  1. Another one to look forward to! I would have thought though that a 'Horse and Musket' book (Marlborough to The Mutiny?) would make a stand alone volume.

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    Replies
    1. Barry Carter,

      The Portable Napoleonic Wargame could possible form the basis of such a book, and it is something worth considering.

      Something for me to think about.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. An excellent list you have there Bob,can't wait...

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    Replies
    1. Tradgardmastare,

      It's a plan ... and may well change drastically as I begin to put the book together.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. I wonder if Barry might have a point and perhaps an ancient/Dark age/medieval volume?

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    Replies
    1. An Ancient - Medieval version would be interesting. Combat would probably require an attack vs defense cross reference.

      Delete
    2. Tradgardmastare,

      It's not a period I know much about ... but I could give it a go at some point in the future.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    3. Barry Carter,

      It's something for me to consider, but it's not a period I know much about.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. The Portable Wargame Carries On

    (no charge for using that)

    My little 'Portable Cordery' experiment will be using Marburlian period figures. Watch the blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Duncan,

      As long as it doesn't become a right carry on!

      I look forward to seeing your Malburian battle report.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. It will be more than a Marlburian battle report. It should be how to select figures for a simple paint job; how to put together an army with said figures; how to select a suitable version of PW; how to build a suitable tabletop; how the game went; where to go next.

      Several steps (some of them baby steps), some choices to be made, some fun to be had.

      It will be blogged.

      Delete
    3. Jim Duncan,

      That sounds like a labour of love ... and you ought to consider sending the end result to a magazine for publication. At least that way you would get so money for your efforts ... and might find that it is a self-financing project!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. Looking forward to that! Meanwhile - the first PW book has yet to arrive. Expecting it at any time.

    Do you want or have need of a play tester? My navies of Raesharn and Kiivar have been built for a couple of years or so now, but are still wanting a naval rule set... I began developing my own, but the project slipped behind other interests. I know; I'm a dilettante.

    Cheers,
    Ion

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    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      I'd certainly appreciate input from play-testers! The rules are alread drafted (I used them at COW2016) and I'll send you a copy later this week.

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      I don't seem to have your email address. Could you contact me via my email address (bobthetemplebuilder-at-gmail.com, remembering to replace -at- with @) so that I can send you a copy of my naval wargame rules.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  6. In the early and mid 20th century rules can you allow for late colonial of the 1920's and 30's, please.
    I also like the idea of a Dark Ages and medieval coverage.
    My painting week is in ruins. The bathroom fitters have come a week early.

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    Replies
    1. Nobby,

      By using the Native data from the nineteenth century rules with the early and mid twentieth century rules it should be possible to fight 1920s and 1930s Colonial battles. The only other change would be to arm the Armoured Cars/Light Tanks with Machine Guns and to allow Machine Guns to inflict hits on Armoured Cars and Light Tanks.

      I hope that your painting get back on track soon!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Thanks for your thoughts Bob - very helpful.

      Delete
    3. Nobby,

      It's something that I have thought about doing myself. One of my wife's relatives took part in the Waziristan Campaign, and after doing some research for her I became interested in the fighting that took place on the North West Frontier in the post-Great War period.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  7. Are you aware of this humorous take on the period?
    http://talesfromrhanzlistan.blogspot.co.uk/

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    Replies
    1. Nobby,

      Thanks for the link. I'll look at it tomorrow.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Nobby,

      Its a great blog, and I love the terrain he is using.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  8. Bob,

    Just wanted to let you know my copy of your book has been dedicated and signed by you. Not really of course, but no one I know would be familiar with your writing style, so how would they know? The inscription:

    "To Chris, one of the towering figures in the hobby and a constant source of inspiration, lo these many years." --Bob Cordery

    Note that I kept it restrained and humble--one of the things people love about me.

    Restrainedly and humbly yours,

    Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chris,

      I do hope that you signed it correctly! It should have a rather shaky 'X', with 'Bob Cordery, His Mark' written next to it in a different hand!

      Seriously though, if I'd been there, that's what I would have written for you! Mind you, I am told by another wargaming author that his signed books are worth less on the second-hand market than unsigned ones ... so you may just have reduced the resale value of your copy!

      All the best,

      Bob

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    2. That's interesting--I've always assumed that signed copies were worth more. How many people would have one?

      Oh well. Best regards,

      Chris

      Delete
    3. Chris,

      Signed copies of books are only worth more if the writer who signed it is a saleable one. In my case my signature isn't I am afraid.

      I only signed a few copies of my book so that I didn't depress the second-hand market too much!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  9. Bob,
    An earlier post talked about Henry Bodenstedt's Franco Prussian rules on a grid and others commented about his other rules like the siege of Bodenberg. Visiting the Armymen homepage I realised Thor at said page has all three of Mr. Bodenstedt's rules for download.
    http://www.thortrains.net/armymen/Remagen_Bridge_Rules.pdf and http://www.thortrains.net/armymen/Bodenstedt_39-Franco-Prussian-Wargame.pdf and last http://www.thortrains.net/armymen/bodebok1.html. Granted the last is not a pdf. Hope you and the other readers find them interesting.
    Thanks,
    Kyle

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    Replies
    1. Anon (Kyle),

      Those are really helpful links, and I am sure that other regular readers will follow them and learn more about the work of this relatively unknown early wargamer.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Hey, I'm the guy who sent the stuff to Thor. Clearly part of what has made me a towering figure in the hobby... :)

      Chris

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    3. Chris,

      Well there you are ... and you have a signed book dedication from an (in)famous wargames writer to prove it as well! ;^)

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  10. I see from the Perry website that this company is bringing out a grid based portable war game in April. It looks quite good. I wonder what rules they will use? Straight away I can see that it would be easy to use with the rules set out in your book and, as the game is Napoleonic based, maybe with book 2 as well if you go down that route.

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    Replies
    1. Bob Kett,

      I've also seen the new Perry wargame, and will be interested to see both the rules and the contents.

      I may well buy it when it is released ... and use my own Napoleonic rules which may well be featured in my next book.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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