Pages

Friday 9 July 2021

Future books?

Whilst I have been pondering what project to work on this month, I have neem thinking about what books I might want to write in the future. There are two obvious ones that I have mentioned in earlier blog posts. These are:

  • An American Civil War version of the PORTABLE WARGAME that will include both land action and naval rules
  • An expanded version of the terrain generation system that formed part of THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME.
In the past it has been suggested that I ought to publish:

  • A skirmish-level PORTABLE WARGAME
  • A fantasy version of the PORTABLE WARGAME
  • A World War II version of the PORTABLE WARGAME
  • An updated and expanded edition of HEXBLITZ
  • A book of scenarios

All of these suggestions have both merit and appeal, and I am certainly considering publishing them, possibly with the help and assistance of others. For the time being, however, it is back to thinking about this month's project ... which will probably be to finish off my FUNNY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME Army Black.

28 comments:

  1. Hi Bob, having seen the results with Arriba Espana, why not combine the WW2 portable wargame with hexblitz ?
    Take Care,
    Tony.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown (Tony),

      That is an interesting suggestion … and I have certainly looked at the possibility of melding the two.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Bob,
    A good assortment of suggested choices of Topics- be hard to decide. Glad your going to do your FLW Armies...this would be fun in 15mm for you. We're in full Lock Down here in Sydney and Greater Sydney- no visitors- no leaving the house unless absolutely necessary etc...just hope that the poor people who have contracted the Covid-Delta Strain will pull through and recover. Best Wishes to you in London. Regards. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      For reasons that will hopefully become clearer over the next few days, my decision to finish my Army Black turned out to be the obvious thing to do.

      I’ve just watched the BBC news channel, and our COVID R rate is rising to 1.3 to 1.5, and there are increasing numbers of people requiring hospitalisation … and yet, our government seems determined to remove almost all restrictions in just over a week. I have a horrible feeling that this is not going to end well …

      Keep safe and keep well,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Bob,
      The British situation is concerning- I here that to-day there was 28,000 new cases of Covid- in one day! Very concerning and hope that authorities make the right decisions for the population. Regards. KEV.

      Delete
    3. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      The government seems intent on removing almost all remaining restrictions on 19th July, with the final decision being made on Monday. There is considerable pressure from certain industries to remove the restrictions but I personally think that it is far too early. My wife and I will continue to wear masks in public spaces and on public transport for the foreseeable future, regardless of any change in the restrictions.

      I saw one estimate that COVID infections will double by 19th July … but although that is one of the factors that is supposed to be informing the government’s decision, economic and commercial pressure seems to be more influential.

      Keep safe and keep well,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. I'd like to see this one: A skirmish-level PORTABLE WARGAME

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobby,

      I know of at least one person who is already experimenting with this … so watch this space.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Bob,
    Perhaps a "Portable Wars Campaigns" book? It would fit nicely with the idea of the terrain generation expansion .
    If you twist my arm I'll let you have my SCW mini-campaign system for inclusion.
    Neil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Patterson,

      That’s a very interesting idea, and one that I will give considerable thought to.

      If I do start putting such a book together, have no doubt that I will be twisting your arm to get hold of a copy of your mini-campaign.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. A skirmish level game would be nice. I did an afternoon adaptation of PWG modeled on the old SSI game, Six-Gun Shootout. I was able to make a functional (but overly complicated) recreation of the OK Corral from that game. Here's a review of the parent game:

    https://archive.org/details/1985-09-computegazette/page/n59/mode/2up

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Pavone,

      Funnily enough, the chap working on a skirmish-level version of PW is designing it so that he can refight Western Gunfights!

      Thanks for the link; I’ll have a look at it later today.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  6. Maybe a campaigns and amendments book with a terrain generator, some simple (perhaps narrative?) Campaign rules and a scenario generator. And amendments for fantasy, medieval and seven years war games?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Cordone,

      Thanks for the suggestions. There’s probably enough there for at least two books!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  7. Sounds like you'll have your work cut out! Which version of PW would you suggest for an ACW game for those of us who can't wait?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jon S,

      My draft ACW rules are based on the Napoleonic ones, but with the rules for squares removed and cavalry less affective when used against infantry. Alternately, the Portable Wargame Rules: Late Nineteenth Century (including Colonial) rules from the original book with a few tweaks will do.

      The naval rules are being written by David Crook, who writes the A WARGAMING ODYSSEY blog.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  8. Bob,

    What, no Portable War of Jenkins' Ear rules?

    Arthur

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arthur1815 (Arthur),

      If you write it and I’ll publish it!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  9. Thanks Bob, a nice choice you have before you!
    A campaign system, combined with an expanded terrain generation system ( and maybe even some scenarios?) could be interesting...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David in Suffolk,

      It is certainly an interesting possibility!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  10. Hi Bob, I think the above comments show that the list is endless, but I think that the two extremes of the spectrum, ie, skirmish and campaign rule sets would probably fill gaps in the market.
    Regards Paul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PDL (Paul),

      Thanks for the very sensible suggestion to look at both ends of the spectrum for my next books.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  11. Hi Bob
    How about a PW/FLW book? Which is my not so very cunning plan of moving off topic to ask if there is any news re FLW?

    S&F

    Mike

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike C,

      I am awaiting news from the author. I understand that he has been working on updating FLW as and when he can, but as he still word full time it is a slow process.

      S&F

      Bob

      Delete
  12. Bob,
    Further to your blog entry today with ideas for an army-level game, you could combine such rules (with optional variant rules for Napoleonic/ACW/FPW) with a campaign system which - apart from the addition of railways - could remain the same from late 18th to late 19th century wars.

    So you would have one book that would enable readers to fight both battles and campaigns in several periods. Good value!

    Best wishes, Arthur

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arthur1815 (Arthur),

      That is an interesting idea … and if I included the terrain generator as well, I might be able to cover a lot of ground in a single book.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  13. Hi Bob,
    I have some questions on Hexblitz. I can't find in the book where the LOG process is explained do my trucks move from my base edge to the supply & commander center and then more trucks move from there to my various units? Base contact and a stationary turn required to deliver the LOG?

    Also this may sound dumb or I may be confusing somethings with Megablitz and others, but my mind is translating the combat section to read that when I roll the dice for my side, let's say I'm attacking, that my results indicate hits to my own units rather than their hits upon the enemy?

    Thank you Bob and take care good sir!

    Jeff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Auston Jeff Butler (Jeff),

      One of the reasons why I need to revise HEXBLITZ is the LOG rules … which really are almost nonexistent. I envisaged using something similar to the rules in MEGABLITZ, but never quite got around to writing it up properly. Mea culpa!

      In combat, players throw dice for their forces. So the attacker throws their dice, and the scores determine what casualties they suffer. If you look at a situation where the defender is moving position is attacked, the defender will suffer greater casualties than the attacker can.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

Thank you for leaving a comment. Please note that any comments that are spam or contain phishing messages or that come from Google Accounts that are 'Unknown' will be deleted.