My recent cruise gave me time to think about what I hope to do during 2026, and I will be sharing this with my regular blog readers over the coming months.
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.
The First Rule of Wargaming and the Spirit of the Wargame
The First Rule:
‘Nothing can be done contrary to what could or would be done in actual war.'
- From 'The Rules of the Naval War Game' by Fred T Jane
The Spirit of the Wargame:
‘Wargames are played, for the most part, without the supervision of an umpire. The game relies on the integrity of the individual players to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the wargame.’
- Adapted from 'The Spirit of the Game' in 'The Rules of Golf' as published by the R&A Ltd.
One Is Better Than None
-
Its been one of those weeks. Here's a peek at turn 3.
Hopefully, the game will be played Saturday and a battle report posted on
Sunday or Monday.
.
Arena Of Death
-
Last night was our regularly scheduled Gaslands game and we had a good
turn-out for it with five players (technically we had a sixth but since
he'd not p...
Collaborative Campaign Year 19
-
Year 19 of the Campaign (the Year of the Hyena) sees further action in the
Northwest of the continent. The following report and photos are courtesy,
and...
Step away from the brush
-
I have tried hard to take projects forward hobby wise this week. Painted
briefly only to find my enthusiasm wither quickly and die upon the vine.
Same w...
Northampton minds its Billhooks
-
Down to Delapre Abbey this afternoon, where Northamptonshire Battlefield
Society member, soon to be new graduate of the University of Northampton,
and wa...
Panzer replacements - 1st Company
-
I've occasionally ruminated in previous posts about replacing some of my
older vehicles with more modern models. Replacing them means it wont take
up an...
It ain’t ‘arf Hoth, Mum!
-
More turning bad puns and the word play in my head into AI slop, sorry
design or What happens if Dad’s Army writers Jimmy Perry and David Croft
merged thei...
A 15mm ESSEX Colonial Project.
-
I've ordered ESSEX Colonials from the UK- I'll be getting British Naval
Sailors, British Naval Officer, British Infantry and Zulus. I have not done
much...
In Praise of Joy and Forgetfulness….
-
*An oldie but definitely a goodie!*
In many ways I have that well known Bon vivant, wit and raconteur Conrad
Kinch of *Joy and Forgetfulness* fame to tha...
Knights made in France by CBG Mignot
-
Part of the Sandown Park plunder were these two knights made in France by
CBG Mignot. The paper label on the plinth helpfully tells us that this is
Fran...
Ratisbon Campaign Day 1
-
*16 September 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 1*
The French attack in the north
7th French army – attack Prettendorf
8th French army – observe border
9th F...
Caesar's War progress
-
Perhaps unadvisedly, I dug out all the painted Gauls from the various
boxes to check on how many I actually had in a painted state....
To misquote Zulu....
Campaigns 135 – D-Day Through German Eyes
-
21 PzD Assault Pioneers and Recce Battalions form a rearguard to allow 192
PgR to withdraw. The 3rd (British) Infantry Division (3 (Br) ID) formed a
reargu...
Partizan 2026 : A Bit of a Do, Part 2
-
Last time I showed pictures of some of the games featured at the Partizan
show at Newark on 17th May; in this post I hope to finish the job, and show
a f...
The name of the Lord is a strong tower:
-
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and
is safe."
- Proverbs 18:10
Life, work and Kinchlets haven't left much tim...
Edmund's Civil War Marines
-
I recently found another set of Edmund's Toy Soldiers at a reasonable
price. This set is Civil War US Marines in dress uniforms.
Marines brought to lif...
Nice books!
-
I have had these books on my desk for some time, I find them fascinating
and they are both well thumbed and worth a quick review.
*1. Battlegroup!*
T...
Waterloo Campaign 2.0 - continued
-
I left off the previous posting with the situation at dusk yet to be
related. On the Anglo-Dutch front, the Duke of Wellington, with the Reserve
Corps w...
Is it really inertia to stick to what you like
-
There was an interesting post on TMP (which I still occasionally read) the
other day about whether people have too much inertia to rebase for new
rul...
A New Alliance
-
The recent invasions by the Midlish armies, have led to a new coalition of
the weaker, less aggressive peoples. On the eastern border of the
Midlands, ...
Wild West Town Tabletop Shootout
-
I recently acquired a collection of 1960’s era wooden Old West Buildings
made by Hausser Elastolin. The idea was to marry them with some 1970’s
Timpo Sw...
Return to the Hobby
-
It has been quite a while since I last posted here. When I started my tool
truck business back in 2021, most of my hobby time disappeared almost
overnigh...
WW2 ‘German’ Don Cossacks
-
I've had these in stock for a while now and as I may have work for them in
a forthcoming game it was clearly time to paint them!
They're certainly a co...
Forest Dragon 3D Sculpts
-
A Christmas pressie to myself ...
... and on the inside.
Not the best presentation with their packaging.
Contents are revealed.
Can you tell what the...
Winter Break: A Beary Simple Wargame
-
*A Beary Simple Wargame *made it out of the box today. My daughter set out
the terrain while I cleaned up lunch and we played while the boys took
their...
Warp Speed into 2025
-
The last year has been quite challenging. I suffered a stroke in November
2023 and have spent the last year or so in recovery. I'm not there yet, but
do...
Update and WIP
-
[image: Merry christmas wallpaper design]
Well, it certainly has been eventful, this year. Shortly after my last
post, far too long ago, some things...
Blog Closing…
-
This blog will be closing down on 1st July. I have a fairly expensive
hosting package that I no longer need as I am only running Black Hat and
selling pain...
New Accessions – tidying up …
-
So, 3 items under the camera … Chris gave me a P&G SU-76i quite a while
ago, and I’ve been meaning to get round to it … the SU-122 I did years ago.
It’s a ...
Solo Play Testing
-
The next Seven Years Wargame with the "Usual Suspects" has moved to the
right by a couple of weeks. One of our group, who has been unavailable for
a few ...
Warplan 5/5 Campaign System
-
I'm afraid I couldn't find a way to reproduce the snazzy double headed
arrow in 5/5 in the text so will have to do with this instead.
Warplan 5/5 came o...
Take the High Ground
-
“Take the high ground”. These were Captain Scarlett’s latest orders in the
ongoing campaign to repel the Teutonians from Albionia’s green and pleasant
lan...
Initial...
-
...deployments.
Seconds out...first two rounds, of 15. In the Blue corner (US invaders):
On the right flank, a unit of US Regulars, an artillery battery, a...
I have been wargaming for as long as I can remember. One of the first toys that I was bought was a wooden fort that was garrisoned by assorted lead soldiers ... and I have never looked back!
The first wargames book I bought was CHARGE! (although I had taken out [and repeatedly read] Donald Featherstone's WAR GAMES book beforehand [and many thanks to John Curry for republishing it!]).
My first 20mm figures were the good old Airfix Guards Infantry and Band (in shocking pink!), soon followed by others as they were released, and by 1968, when I bought my first metal Hinton Hunt 20mm figures, I had a large collection of World War II figures, tanks, guns, and aircraft.
I was a founder member of WARGAME DEVELOPMENTS and have been the treasurer and membership secretary ever since. I have also organised – along with Tim Gow - the annual conference (COW – Conference of Wargamers) for more that fifteen years.
My main interests are wargaming any wars from 1850 onwards, although I have a special interest in Colonial, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II wargaming. I also have a special interest in wargames that use square or hex grids for movement and weapon ranges.
Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteA Happy New Year to you too!
All the best,
Bob
A good new year to you and yours
ReplyDeleteThe Good Soldier Svjek,
DeleteMay I wish you and your family a great New Year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy New Year to you, too, Bob. 👍🏼
ReplyDeleteMartin S.,
DeleteMay reciprocate and wish you and your family a great 2026.
All the best,
Bob
Happy New Year to you BOB and Sue- may 2026 be a great year for you both.
ReplyDeleteKev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI wish both of you a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy New Year Bob, and best wishes for 2026
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful 2026.
All the best,
Bob
And a Happy New Year to you both too :)
ReplyDeleteLee.
Lee,
DeleteMay I reciprocate, and wish you and your family a wonderful New Year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy New Year to you and yours Bob.
ReplyDeleteJim
Jim Duncan (Jim),
DeleteI hope that you and your family have a wonderful and healthy New Year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteMay I wish you and your family a Happy New Year.
All the best,
Bob
And the very same to you Bob!
ReplyDeleteNickN,
DeleteI’d like to wish you and your family a great New Year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy New Year to you and Sue and everyone!
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope this year will be an improvement over last year in some ways!
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteMay I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year, and - in the words of the song - hope that ‘things can only get better’.
All the best,
Bob
A good new year to you and yours Bob, hopefully it will be a good one for us all.
ReplyDeleteDonnie McGibbon,
DeleteI wish you an and your family a great New Year … and hope that the world will be a better and safer place for us all.
All the best,
Bob
HNY, Bob! Here's to lots of games in 2026
ReplyDeleteGary S,
DeleteMay I wish you and your family a wonderful New Year … and look forward to lots of games in the next year.
All the best,
Bob
Happy new year bob, I'm looking forward to another year of your blog
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteAnd a Happy New Year to you too!
My recent cruise gave me time to think about what I hope to do during 2026, and I will be sharing this with my regular blog readers over the coming months.
All the best,
Bob