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Thursday 18 March 2021

The First Blacklands War

Many years ago, I took part in the Madasahatta Campaign. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the range of hardware and software that is readily available nowadays, and as a result, the records of the campaign are rather sparse.

The same cannot be said to be true of Archduke Piccolo’s FIRST BLACKLANDS WAR, which he has been fighting since August last year. He has been regularly publishing blog posts about the progress of the campaign, and a few days ago he wrote the last one.

The military situation at the start of the First Blacklands War.

The full list of his blog posts are as follows:

This was a truly epic campaign that combined both land and naval action, and one that I think is worth great recognition within wargaming because it shows that it is possible to fight a campaign from start to finish without interest waning as it progresses. The blog posts also make for great reading, and a find it difficult to think that all but a few wargamers would not be inspired by reading all of the above!

The fact that Archduke Piccolo used an old map of mine as well as his own version of my PORTABLE WARGAME rules is purely incidental to my admiration for Archduke Piccolo's FIRST BLACKLANDS WAR campaign, and rather like Thislebarrow's ongoing series of Napoleonic campaigns, it shows just what is achievable if one puts ones mind to it.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Bob,

    Wow! I had no idea that there were that many posts on the campaign - that is a prodigious effort and no mistake! The Archduke deserves an award of some kind for this endeavour!

    You are absolutely correct about the range of hardware and software available today to record campaigns as well as the ability to fight battles separated by hundreds or even thousands of miles via Zoom or FaceTime or similar. It is a long way from Madasahatta for sure!

    All the best,

    DC

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    1. David Crook,

      I must admit that until I began to write this blog post, I had not realised just how many blog posts Archduke Piccolo had written about the First Blacklands War. I only wish it was possible to turn them into a book ...

      Modern technology really has had a greater impact upon the hobby than I think that many wargamers have realised ... and this is going to continue. For example, in ten years time your recent ACW project will probably be seen as distinctly ‘old school’ by wargamers who can ‘print’ the model ships they need in a wide variety of scales.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. I'd read quite a few previously, the none naval parts. They are good reads and instructive in many ways.

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    Replies
    1. Khusru,

      The blog entries are well worth reading in date order so that you can trace the development of the campaign.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Thanks for flagging this up Bob and I will be off to peruse all of those posts at my leisure:)

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    Replies
    1. Steve J.,

      That’s exactly what I hoped that people might do!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Wow, Bob -
    ... with an extra helping of 'Far Out!' That must have been some chore putting these together - one that I ought to have thought of myself. I had considered putting in 'bridging links' where the series was interrupted by postings on other topics, but not this.

    I'll be taking your example and put together on my blog a similar 'Table of Contents' with links. I may have to tidy up some of the titles (noting that I only occasionally used the definite article in the title).

    Thank you very much for your encouragement.
    Cheers,
    Ion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      Putting the list of links together took me very little time or effort ... and it was no chore; it was a pleasure.

      I think that your FIRST BLACKLANDS WAR is a classic, and deserves to be far better know.

      May I wish you more power to your efforts!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. Hi Bob -
    Many thanks for putting together this 'Table of links'. That must have taken a fair while! I have discovered that I can teleport the whole list, with links, onto my blog, which I have taken the liberty to do. After a bit of tidying up and the addition of a pic or two (non to mention due acknowledgement), I'll publish it shortly. I may add some after thoughts and possibly a hint towards a (possible) Second Blacklands War.
    Cheers,
    Ion

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    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      I am pleased that you were able to cut and paste the list onto your blog ... and look forward to the possibility of a SECOND BLACKLANDS WAR!

      All the best,

      Bob

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  6. Thanks for putting that up Bob. I was only vaguely aware of the Blacklands War and look forward to reading up on it. To think all that occurred in around six months! It puts me to shame as I think I should do more playing and less reading, rather than more. Perhaps after I have read this saga....
    I hope your recovery is proceeding well. Best wishes. Jim

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    Replies
    1. Jim Walkley (Jim),

      I think that you’ll enjoy reading all the blog posts ... and with a bit of luck, Archduke Piccolo may be able to publish them in a more permanent format.

      I must admit that I haven’t done much wargaming since last Summer, mainly because of my medical problems. Now that I am recovering, I have ideas for a campaign forming in my mind.

      All the best,

      Bob

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  7. Intriguing! Reading thru the campaign with ideas of my own. Will check out your original rules and campaign as well - I have the "Vault" subscription to WI.

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    1. Jennifer,

      My original plan was to use a version of DBA/HOTT to fight the battles generated by a campaign Matrix Game.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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