Tuesday 31 May 2016

Jutland 100 Years and 100 Ships Later

A battle so big, it needs more than one sea cloth.


Jutland 100 years later, 100 ships later. This past Saturday The gang gathered to re-fight the Battle of Jutland in time for the centenary. After some extended set up time we managed to have over a hundred ships on the table. The rules were simple enough that we figured a 1:1 staging of the battle was possible. At the last minute we excluded some minor ships. Grand Admiral by Majestic 12 games is a bare bones hex based rules set. There were some minor hitches with the rules but with some tweaking they are usable for big battles. The British fleet got lucky on the draw sinking some of the German BBs for an exchange of some lighter ships. We called it at that point as time was running out.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

In Praise of Simplicity

 About a month ago down at the library Martin and I play tested a set of rules that I downloaded and printed out recently. Called Panzer War, they are a free set of quite detailed but still I think playable skirmish rules. How we ended up play testing this set of rules is a bit of a funny story. Originally it started out as a quest to find a decent set of modern period micro armour rules, as I'm dissatisfied with the ones I have so far. I downloaded and read a few sets of rules but could never find anything that really clicked with me. So I went back through my list of files and some of the older games that I have downloaded a while ago and took another look. Remembering that I had a set of rules called AirLand War I took a look at them again. AirLand War is actually an expansion to Panzer War. So with the rationale that I should try the basic game first before the expansion set I suggested we try Panzer war to Martin. But owing to the complexity of the rules, with such factors as vehicle angle and turned rotation speed we decided that it would be best to try it out in 15 mm first. So there you have it they went from modern micro armor to 15 mm, so does that make sense?

The result? Well let's just say things didn't work out exactly as we planned. For a more detailed after action report I direct you to another club member my friend John and his blog The Minstrel Boy. But I can summarize here, the game went very slow and owing to the long range of weapons (we were not using the recommended ranges for that scale) it ended rather quick. I think perhaps there was too much on the table and perhaps not enough scenery. Although the tank combat results where more "realistic" I don't think the extra detail really added much to the game. And so it occurred to me that if the extra detail didn't add to the enjoyment of the game why bother with it? Martin imparted a wonderful piece of wisdom to me recently about gaming whereby he explained to me the difference between modeling the process and modeling the results. Or to put it quite simply how it happens versus what happens. I realized there was more interested in what happened then exactly how it happened. The house were still somewhat important and should be modeled realistically towards expectations but the process should not bogged down the flow of the game. The Panzer War experiment certainly ran counter to my personal trend of moving toward simpler systems. I have already switched to far simpler games in other genres. For instance instead of Full Thrust, which is a terrific system don't get me wrong, I now play Sunder The Stars. And instead of Dirtside I will try Laserstorm, by Nordic Weasel Games. In these two examples it's mainly because I want to spend more time playing a battle then designing units for it. Specifically in the case of Full Thrust I've seen battles lost or one in the design phase rather than on the table, and that was before the plethora of options opened up in the newer unofficial supplement Project Continuum which is over 150 pages long. My main goal with gaming is to get figs on the table, push them around and roll dice. And simpler games serve this purpose well. It will only be a balance between simplicity and detail. As too much of one and not enough the other can spoil your enjoyment of a game.

After purchasing the PDF of Laserstorm I splurged and bought PDFs of FiveCore the generic skirmish game and Five Men at Kursk their more detailed will work to skirmish rules. As well as some expansions and add on modules. So I'll be giving the FiveCore System some testing in the future. How it goes, I will keep you posted.

So yeah, a longer post and it's about gaming, yeah me.

Keep Smiling

Entry #54 May 11th 1916

Sir Douglas Haig inspected the battalion at work, and told our Commanding Officer Major Bowen- that he had "a devilish fine fine battalion". At night "The Merry Mauves", our divisional troupe, give a fine concert in the open air, which we all enjoyed immensely. 

Tuesday 10 May 2016

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Entry #53 May 10th 1916

Laid out the line to the different companies and Orderly room. The weather improves and "The Caravan" looks finer than ever.

Monday 9 May 2016

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Entry #52 May 9th 1916

Out on our ordinary parades, visual, etc. the scenery around her bivouac was fine. We were on top of the hill, and had a fine view of the surrounding country, which would be hard to beat. Nature was in all its glory, and the birds served as an ideal alarm clock, as they had us weakened every morning at 5 AM. The rustling of the trees in the fresh country smile was like medicine to us after the sickening roar of the guns. We have improved our bivouac by making steps up to it, and laying in some foodstuffs. The weather still continues drizzly.

Just received news that the Battalion that relieved us got a desperate cutting up, having over 200 casualties. Truly Gordon Castle is a hotshot, and still one sees in the press "all calm on the Western front". Yes all calm to the general public, but to those behind-the-scenes, how calm? But `twas ever so, and this is why Tommy is such a happy-go-lucky character. Taking things as he finds them, and making the best of them. The sarcasm of the average British Tommy is amusing, and it is a mistake to ask them any questions. At least that's my idea, as I was "had" to often. On one occasion I saw two chaps carrying a Dixie, the soldiers kettle. Of course I asked them "was that the tea up?" One of them replied "no it's a new latrine bucket". On another occasion, during short rations, I saw chap with a very small piece of bacon. I asked him "was that for his breakfast?" And he replied "not at all it's to clean my boots with". Such is the spirit of the British Army.

In the afternoon we paraded to Acheux, a fairly decent sized town, for our usual lightning bath on coming out of the trenches still raining very hard, but "The Caravan" is still sticking it A1.

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Entry #51 May 8th 1916

Left Martinsart, as our three months for holding the line was up, for Lealvillers. Passing through Headauville and Varennes. It was our first March for over three months, however we enjoyed it A1, especially when passing one of our old billets- Varennes. Finally arriving in Lealvillers, as are billets were not too good for four of us hunted around and finally found an old French wagon, about 30 feet long, 6 foot broad and and sides 2 foot high. This we covered at both ends with waterproof sheets and our capes, to sleeping at each end. We had then a "bonne" bivouac, and our only hope was that we wouldn't hear another gun fired for at least a month, as we have had enough. Our bivouac proved a huge success as it rained all night, we never got a drop. In fact we rather enjoyed the novelty of caravan life, and for a few more days I address is "The Caravan", Lealvillers.

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Entry #50 May 7th 1916

(Sunday) Devoted to cleaning rifle, equipment and clothing

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Entry #49 May 5th 1916

H.E. exploded just behind our dugout, whilst I was on duty, breaking a few wires and nearly deafening us. Shrapnel fell like rain and I was relieved at 2:30 PM I examined the damage. A large tree was blown clean out of its roots, and another one was cut almost into with travel. Whilst you could have buried a section in the hole made by the shell slight stuff at intervals all day. I reported for all night duty at 8:30 PM, and was warned that our own artillery intended to pay for its back by heavy bombardment, and that more than likely Fritz would reply. So I was told to look out for squalls.

12 midnight- Sharp to the minute and all her guns opened fire and kept up a fearful bombardment. It was like daytime, and the concussion was terrific. The Huns did retaliate with some very heavy stuff, and D boys wire was broken, also our right battalions wire. Our right company got a fearful battering, and one platoon was buried alive. Besides a frightful number of dead, wounded and missing. One officer having his head clean blown off, and also a chum of my own Albert Beattie. Our chaps were remarkably cool, and some fine work was done this night under vary trying circumstances. When Don appeared our front line was completely leveled to the ground and it was practically impossible to move along the trenches is huge trees were lying across the. But when one looked across at the other side they were even worse than our own, as it was impossible to distinguish between their trenches and are shell holes. This stuff lasted from 12 midnight until 1:30 AM. Needless to say we were all glad when it was all over, as our right company suffered heavily. And when Don did appear with the fresh smell of the woods, and the birds chirping cheerily oh the irony of it. Other mornings I enjoyed it immensely, but this particular morning I felt very sad I thought of Albert Beattie and only other fallen comrades. To think that yesterday morning they also enjoyed the scenery and the birds and today the birds sing on quite unconscious of what has taken place. Oh the irony of war on a lovely spring morning. Some way or other the birds seem to like discord to me, and the air is poisonous, but enough. "God's will be done." After the storm comes the calm, and hardly a shot was fired during the early part of the following morning, both sides apparently having on understood truce to collect the dead and dying. Every man was turned out to dig some of our poor chaps and they were fairly successful. One poor chap was buried up to the neck the first five minutes of the stuff and was forced to remain like this during the whole stuff. But he was dugout as soon as things got a bit quieter. Our casualties where one officer, 11 men killed and 29 wounded. We were again mentioned in dispatches for this night's work. And as our six days were at an end thank goodness! We left our formal abode "Ravine Villa", The woods, Martinsart. And as the signals are always relieved early to move us went into Bouzincourt to see what it was like.

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Entry #48 May 4th 1916

Fritz still very lively wounding four more. He shelled at intervals Gordon Castle, and I got a few pieces of shrapnel which came too near to be comfortable, whilst riding on top of my dugout. I reported for duty at 2:30 PM

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Entry #47 May 3rd 1916

Very heavy bombardment lasting nearly all morning. Killing one, wounding 10 and two shell-shocked. Our artillery very slack.

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Entry # 46 May 2nd 1916

Got up at 6 AM and had a fine bath before reporting for duty at 8:30 AM. Fritz very nasty all day, throwing over shrapnel, H.E., rifle grenades and coal-boxes galore. As our trenches were very close here, about 200 yards, we always got a plentiful supply of coal-boxes- a very heavy and highly explosive which doesn't awful amount of damage. One of these is being known to bury 50 men. This stuff wounded two engineers, killed one of her own chaps and wounded nine it was here I met Johnny May for the first time since arriving in France. Reported for all light-duty at 8:30 PM.

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Entry #45 May 1st 1916

The good weather continues, and as I was off duty until 2:30 PM I had a fine bath in the Anore River. This river is in full view of the German lines, but small parties were very rarely interfered with. Injuring my whole time here I only had to beat a hasty retreat once whilst bathing is Fritz started to splash us with a few wiz-bangs. The fresh smell of the woods, the scorching sun, bird singing and a sparkling river left nothing to be desired. So a return to feeling in A1 form. The trenches in this part of the line were fine, the nicest ever we were in. They were nice and wide, and water taps were in the trenches. This to us was a treat as we are never able to get a wash in the trenches before. In fact after what we had come through in other parts the line, such as Auchounvillers, where we were up to the waist in mud, we looked upon this spell is a sort of picnic. And, thanks to the splendid covering the trees gave one, we were very rarely in the trenches. It was quite a common affair whilst lying around to hear whiz! whiz! whiz! But long before it reached you it would strike a tree as the wood was very thick with trees. Anytime I was off duty I spent my spare time on top of our dugout either reading, writing or admiring the scenery. In fact it was the sort of whether one feels glad to be alive and enjoy nature in all its glory. Clear blue sky with Aeroplanes galore added to the scenery, which was perfect in itself but Fritz must not have agreed with me for now and then, as he usually did, trying to catch us unaware, he would throw over a few wiz bangs and shrapnels, which came much too close to be comfortable, and twice I had to retire to my dugout whilst writing this short account of my new surroundings, owing to Fritz's attentions.

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Entry #44 April 30th 1916

Left Martinsart for the trenches. And once more found ourselves in a new part of the line. Namely Gordon Castle, Thiepval Wood, Authville. This place is absolutely the best part of the line we were ever in, although a little hotter than our previous abode. We were in the most beautiful wood, with a lovely river running alongside the communication trenches. Whilst behind his lay a large swamp where Von Kluck lost half of his army. We bathed and washed all are close while off-duty, in the river. It was fine. The trees were in full bloom and the birds were singing cheerily long before dawn. Cuckoos and Larks were chief delight here and of these we had plenty. In fact had it not been for the occasional ping! Of a sniper's bullet, zip! zip! zip! Of a machine gun and the roar of artillery one would have felt inclined to forget all about the war and fancy he was having an ideal holiday.

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Entry #43 April 28th 1916

Ideal weather. Best shell out of the trenches ever we had. Parading in shirtsleeves daily.

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Entry #42 April 26th 1916

Instead of our usual visual work we had a fine bath in the Anore river, which I enjoyed immensely. Authville is a small wrecked village just behind the firing line, and shelled daily.

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Entry # 41 April 24th 1916

(Easter Monday) - Hooray! My first days holiday since arriving in France, owing to being out in the trenches. So at 9 AM I sent out along with the three other Macs and paid Albert another visit. We spent most of the day sightseeing in souvenir hunting, and got a few fine ones in the Cathedral and sellers below some. Returning to Martinsart via Avelny after an ideal days holiday, about 5:30 PM. When we found up to the-British Army's usual moving records-that once more the Battalion had moved. Fortunately for us the move was only across a few fields so we got our stuff across, and thanked our lucky stars the move wasn't a big one. So ended one of the happiest days of active service. And for a few more days my address is ``Ravine Villa``.

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Entry #40 April 23rd 1916

(Easter Sunday)- Church service held in wood behind huts; whilst Taubes were flying around. This service help to break the monotony, and my second service since arriving in France, owing to always being on duty anytime there was one. At 12 noon I broke camp along with two others and went into Albert, a distance of about 4 miles from Martinsart. We had a fine walk, and a splendid view of her own and the German lines from top of a hill. This place has suffered heavily, and the inhabitants are still in it. We spent five hours sight seeing and exploring. We were all over the Cathedral and got a few souvenirs; including one of the handles of the Cathedral door. We also bought all of the different views of Albert. Returning by Avelny, and so ended an A1 Easter Sunday, although one is in the Army (1st rifles).

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Entry #39 April 22nd 1916

Spent most of last night listening to our own guns. An awful bombardment. Every time the howitzers behind our hut spoke the awful concussion put all our lights out and the hut rocked something awful.

Tuesday 26 April 2016

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Entry #38 April 21st 1916

(Good Friday) -  Devoted to cleaning rifle, equipment and clothing.

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Entry #37 April 20th 1916

We left the trenches for Martinsart, a fine town 1 1/2  miles from Mensil. Arriving in a wood behind the Chapel at 12:30 am. Slept in huts. "Ulstervillers", Royal Avenue, was our address whilst there.

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Entry # 36 April 17th 1916

A memorable night when I had to lie down 3 times going across from H.Q. to "Shrapnel Villa" owing to "Peters" attentions.

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Entry #35 April 16th 1916

I saw an interesting air fight between two aeroplanes and a Taube*. The Taube put up a very plucky fight, but being out numbered was forced to retire.


* a German early war scout aircraft

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Entry #34 April 14th 1916

Things were a lot quieter this time.

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Entry #33 April 8th 1916

We left for Mensil once more for our usual six days rest. Returning to Hamel on the 14th.

I've fallen behind again

I have gotten a bit behind on posting again. Bear with me and I am catching up. Also the vast majority of posts have been the keep smiling diary, but I will post more gaming stuff soon.

Thursday 7 April 2016

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Entry # 32 April 6th 1916

We had a frightful bombardment. Our chaps had to get out in front of their own wire for safety, as our front line was badly shattered. Fritz started the fund but artillery finished it. It was like daylight while it lasted. We had a brave few casualties, but not half as many as Fritz, according to her own aero-planes. It was only due to the steady fire of the battalion That Fritz was held back. In some fellows fired until the rifles were red-hot. We were mentioned in dispatches for this nights work.

Saturday 2 April 2016

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Entry #31 2nd April 1916

We left again for Hamel, and this time it got very hot, especially on the 6th.

Monday 28 March 2016

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Entry # 30 March 27th 1916

We again returned to our old home -"Cellar"- for another 6 days rest.

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Entry # 29 March 21st 1916

We had another go at Hamel. This place seems to be getting hotter daily. We had 6 days this time, as the weather was a lot better.

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Entry # 28 March 15th 1916

We returned to our cellar in Mensil for 6 days rest.

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Entry # 27 March 11th 1916

We left for trenches at Hamel. The trenches run right through Hamel, and this spot was just too lively. "Peter" was a specialty here with a plentiful supply of ammunition for his machine-gun, and a accuracy which made us all careful. He generated "Shrapnel Villa" on two or three occasions. "Shrapnel Villa" was our home when not on duty. It was a house on the road between Hamel and Mensil, and was in fairly decent condition. It was impossible to walk along this road during the day, but at night the communication trenches got a bye and the road was used at ones own risk. Peter played along this road at intervals and when one heard him start at one end of the road and sweep right along it, it was advisable to lie low. I had one or two narrow shaves here by Peter starting anywhere and playing here and there. We only stopped here 4 days, but it was long enough, as it was much hotter than any other part of the line we were in.

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Entry # 26 March 7 th 1916


Fro Mensil, a village which is completely demolished by German Artillery, and not a single inhabitant in same. This place is 1 mile behind the firing line and shelled night and day. We slept in cellars here, as one never knew when the place would be shelled. we had one very heavy bombardment here, when we had to "stand to" and when the morning came there was still less of our precious village to gaze upon. There was one particular road here where traffic was forbidden. But one day an artillery transport happened to come that way and as soon as it got on the skyline the Germans opened fire, firing 20rounds of H.E. It was very exciting whilst it lasted. The artillerymen were very cool, and drove to  a place of safety, only one wagon being upturned owing to the curve of the road. No damage was done. We stayed here 4 days.

Sunday 27 March 2016

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Entry # 25 March 3 rd 1916

In Forceville, a fairly small village. During our short stay here we were visited by Taubes, dropping a few bombs, but no damage was done. We stayed here 4 days, I left on the 7th.

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Entry # 24 February 28 th 1916

We left for trenches at Auchonvillers, near Mailly-Millet. This was a fairly quiet spot, and only thing that annoyed us was the state of the trenches. The previous weeks rain left them in a frightful state. And when we took them over form the 10th Battalion we were up to our waist in rain and mud. It was unsafe to walk down the trenches at night unless one could swim. And as soon as it was dark both officers and men preferred walking along the parapet. When our chaps took over not one of them had gum boots on, so they had to plough through the water, and as some of the sump-boards were floating about consequently some of the foot chaps got a bad wetting.They had to go on guard with their wet clothing and it was here we had 6 cases of trench feet. But this state of affairs did not last long, and before we left that part of the line we had trenches as dry as Royal Avenue. We left here, having no causalities, on March 3 rd.

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Entry # 23 February 24 1916

 We moved on to Beaussart. Another small village, just behind Mailly-Maillet. We stopped here 4 days.

Kepp Smiling

Entry # 22 February 9 th 1916

 We left for Varennes. A fairly small village. We stayed here a fortnight.

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Entry # 21 February 3 rd 1916

We moved on to Puchvillers a fairly decent town.We stopped here one night.

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Entry #20 January 6 th 1916

Moved on to Berneuil, another fairly small village 5 kilos from Domart. We were very lucky here to strike an ideal billet. And the only inhabitant was an old woman who was a second mother to us. I shall never forget her kindness to us. We stayed here until February 3 rd.  

Catching Up

Illness (the flu) and the holidays have kept me from updating.
 So now back to the trenches (littoral and figurative).   

Friday 26 February 2016

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Entry # 19 December 10th 1915

In Ergines, a very small village about 3 miles from Ailly-Ht-Clougher. It was here I spent my second Xmas in the army and  the first on Active Service. When Xmas id arrive we had a "bonne" time. And although our table was in an out-house it contained everything one could wish for at home. Our training was still attended to here. We stopped here almost a moth. Moving on in January. 
 

Friday 5 February 2016

Full Thrust

Sometimes when I want to play a game like space ship combat its just that, space ship combat, any set from the over 50 I have. And sometimes it is a specific set of rules. I don't just want to play any space ship combat game. Once in while a game becomes the definition of the type, like Dungeons and Dragons does for Role Playing. For me that game is Full Thrust. Introduced to me back over 20 years ago it was the go to game for space combat from across the pond in England. Easy to learn and with a fun buckets of dice combat mechanic it proved popular here as well. But the shine came off the diamond a little while after. There were balance issues with the construction system. It could be min/maxed without some guidelines. And the implied setting was near future so the ship building system couldn't do Star Trek or Star wars very well. The Fleet Books revisions helped with some of the short comings. The scale of the game was task force sized (about 6-10 ships) and I wanted to put larger fleets on the table. So the game was shelved and I went on to other things. But recently I have had a craving to play it again. Returning to it I see that some new versions have popped up on the net.

The original creator Jon Tuffley has a rule book that brings the basic game up to date called
Full Thrust Remixed  the plain vanilla version.

A group of Australian gamers wrote their own version update with permission of the author
Full Thrust Cross Dimensions  a few added spices.

And also a dedicated group of tinkerers again with the OK of the original writer have theirs
Full Trust Continuum   or the bat crap crazy with add everything and the kitchen sink edition.

And another group of gamers with their own take on the everything added update.
Full Thrust Warlords  

Full Thrust, so there may be some better, but I don't think there are any more popular.

Don't worry this will all make sense soon