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Tuesday 26 March 2019

A Gentleman's War or Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets

I've followed Howard Whitehouse's career as a wargame designer ever since I was introduced to his SCIENCE VS. PLUCK wargame rules, and more recently I've found reading about the development of his latest rules – A GENTLEMAN'S WAR OR GLOSSY COATS AND TIN BAYONETS – intriguing. They are very definitely aimed at wargamers who like to fun and who enjoy fighting wargames with glossy looking figures, and who may well have already dabbled in using H G Wells’ LITTLE WARS rules at some stage in their wargaming lives.


The book is divided into twelve sections:
  • Introduction
  • Building Your Army
  • The Country
  • The Rules Of The Game
  • Engineering
  • Scenarios
  • A Brief, Imprecise Guide To Armies Of The Wellsian Era
  • On Colonial Matters
  • From Flintlock To Needle Guns
  • Cameo Roles
  • Musings
  • A Word On Traditional Toy Soldiers
  • Designer’s Notes
The layout is very easy to follow and to read, and the use of Colonel Binky Bagshot and LITTLE WARS-like cartoons to illustrate the book add a level of humour that more traditional wargamers will love and enjoy. (This is definitely not for wargamers who think that what they do is in any way ‘serious’.) This book is all about having fun and enjoying yourself … and I thoroughly recommend it (and wish that I had written it!).

A GENTLEMAN'S WAR OR GLOSSY COATS AND TIN BAYONETS was written by Howard Whitehouse with the assistance of Daniel Foley, and published by Pulp Action Library in 2018 (ISBN 978 1 945430 93 0).

13 comments:

  1. Hi Bob,

    My copy is en route - and I am really looking forward to seeing it!

    All the best,

    DC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David Crook,

      I'm sure that you'll enjoy reading it; I certainly did!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Looks good Bob. Are there lots of photographs in the book?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maudlin Jack Tar,

      There are lots of inspiring photographs but it is by no means all images and very little text ... unlike quite a few recently published rule books.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Bob,

    Be good to have some clues about how the game system works.

    Cheers,

    Trebian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trebian,

      The rules use a card-driven activation system and D6-generated movement rates for units. The combat systems are reasonably conventional, with national weaknesses and strengths affecting outcomes. The whole thing is aimed at fun rather than so-called 'accuracy'.

      I hope you that gives you the sort of basic details you asked for in your comment.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Thanks. That sounds in line with what Howard has been talking about on line.

      Delete
    3. Trebian,

      My pleasure. The end result certainly seems to be very much in line with what Howard has discussed online during their development.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. As an early proof reader who lost track of the project, I am eager to see how it has played out [pun intended]!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ECW 40mm Project,

      It must have been quite an interesting process to be part of ... and the finished product is excellent.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. These sound intruiging and will probably get added to a Father's Day wishlist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve J.,

      I certainly enjoyed reading these rules, and it has given me some ideas for my own wargames.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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