Advisory Note

Please Note: This blog contains poorly painted toy soldiers that may offend those of an aesthetically sensitive disposition.

Saturday 13 July 2019

Quick "Close War" game

Introduction

A bit like decorating, it's the preparation of wargames that seems to take all the time. Actually Wargames are nothing like decorating; I loath decorating at the best of times. Anyway, I'm rambling like a prospective Prime Minister avoiding the question.
Todays quick game was a Featherstonesque Close War. A few old figures were grabbed from the toybox and hurled into action...

Game

A patrol is bringing a defector back to Divisional HQ for debriefing but to do so they must pass through a valley crawling with local tribesmen bent on killing the traitor and as many of the colonial overlords as possible. I couldn't find my Rolls Royce Armoured Car so used a Saladin instead.

The patrol starts entering the valley

The ambushers cannot be spotted until they open fire

The firing begins
Some natives get restless and a melee ensues
The cross fire has taken its toll but the chaps push on through the valley






In true Maudlin style, the Armoured Car missed everything it fired at. With hind sight the natives should have just run out and overwhelmed the column instead of taking cover as they were perfectly safe. The patrol and its charge escaped and the valley was left to the goats
Blehhh

14 comments:

  1. The defector scenario is a simple and excellent idea.

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    1. Thanks Mark. In the Close War rules DF suggests getting 50% of your force to the enemy's baseline - I added a storyline.

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  2. What a jolly little game. Far better fun than hanging wallpaper or grouting tiles.

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    1. Cheers Mr Sprinks - next post should see the completion of the cut-price Oldhammer Army...

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  4. Looks good! Is the game geared towards a grid or are you simply using a grid out of convenience?

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    1. Thanks Jonathan. Since returning to Wargaming after a break I've got into the habit of playing on grids and I rather like it. The original Close Wars wasn't of course written for a grid but was simple to convert to one.

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  5. Very Featherstonian ws the use of the Saladin, iir there is one in Battles with Model Soldiers assisting Airfix 8th Army to evict some Airfix Arab /Afghan tribesmen from a mountain strong hold.

    I don't know about the rush, really they were just saving ammo till the tribesmen rushed out into the open! Neber trust a Ferengi!

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    1. Ross, you're quite right! THAT was the inspiration though I'd forgotten it at the time of picking out some figures. The picture in DF's book is very evocative.

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  6. Inspiring game ,thanks for posting it.

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    1. Thanks! It's nice to get some old figures out of semi-retirement.

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  7. Wargaming at its simplest and a great outlook to have.
    games needn't be complicated or vast to have fun and this fals right into that category.

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    1. Thanks Joe! Small games like this can be a Wargaming "Fix" after a busy week in the Saltmines.

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