December is always a bit of strange month at work, completing projects that "have to be done before Christmas", and finishing processes that work on a Calendar Month rotation. As a creative distraction yesterday I invested an hour making a 3x3 Portable game that would fit in a Wee Matchbox. Apart from the challenge of fitting a complete game in a matchbox, I also decided it had to be made from things I already had, or had free access to and should provide a game which required no record keeping. The latter meant a game that saw units that were"hit" being destroyed / removed at once. In terms of game period, I chose a Roman Civil War theme as I'm really enjoying Archduke Piccolo's latest campaign.
Here then is Civil War! in a Wee Matchbox.
 |
| Art credit: www.symbolikon.com |
.jpg) |
| The Matchbox - the grid on the cutting mat is 1cm |
.jpg) |
| The Rules (unfolded and legible with good eyesight) |
.jpg) |
| 12 grid square options and 2 Reserve Areas - printer friendly card used |
.jpg) |
| Unit tokens - 4 Infantry, 2 Cavalry, 1 Artillery Art Credit: www.juniorgeneral.org |
.jpg) |
| The Wee Matchbox packed - with room for an Expansion Pack |
 |
| Digital Play Test in MS Excel |
 |
| Downloadable version of the Rules |
In the next post I hope to demonstrate that one could actually play the game using the components created... (I hope).
I really like your take on the wargame in a wee matchbox challenge! I'm going to use miniatures from the Junior General as well. Thanks for adding the rules!
ReplyDeleteThanks Roger! The Junior General site is very good.
DeleteNicely executed! Now, how do you keep both terrain tiles and BMUs in place?
ReplyDeleteVery good question - I'm going to use a pressure sensitive adhesive synthetic rubber putty (eg Blu Tack) for the Grid and not breathe to hard during the game!
DeleteLooking very nice. I wish I had time to help test it, but I'll probably have to wait for the finished version before getting to grips with it.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that there is no precedent for VL in place of XLV?
Thanks Dave. I guess VL is ok too - I like the X in a number personally; looks Latin!
DeleteA fantastic idea and it looks great!
ReplyDeleteThank you Old Nick
DeleteVery nicely done and looks excellent.
ReplyDeleteCheers Peter!
DeleteI really like this approach - you can have a nice variety of terrain included in the matchbox. I wonder if mounting the terrain squares on mdf/wood bases would provide enough heft to keep the game surface from blowing around the table and still fit in the box.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. I considered printing the terrain on Printer friendly adhesive sheets (Laser Labels) and then mounting on thicker card, but I didn't think I'd have the box space for all the parts. Pre-made terrain tiles on mdf is an idea I've tried and Bob Cordery has done a nice set for one of the PW Companion books.
DeleteVery nice. This is a concept I will certainly be “borrowing” 😉
ReplyDeleteFWIW I store many of my 2mm armies (on 1/2 DBx sized bases, so a 20mm frontage) in vintage cigarette tins. Not sure I could fit any in a matchbox though.
I look forward to reading how you get on when you play a test game 🎲🎲⚔️⚔️
Cheers,
Geoff
Cheers Geoff. I considered 2mm blocks initially but mine are mounted on coins and washers and I wasn't sure how many I'd fit in the box. They are perfect for portable games - I did a little campaign with some back in 2017 (click on the 2mm label)
DeleteWhen I first discovered your website/blog I had a good look round - and your 2mm posts were one of the first things I read.
DeleteFor games where no separate General/command base is required I generally do build one — but on a distinctive base (usually a 5p coin rather than the rectangular plastic or MDF bases for the bog standard troops). As we’re now in a cost of living crisis I’ve recently started to use 1p coins instead, no there’s rarely any “shrapnel” change weighing down my pockets 😉
Some years ago the 5, 2 and 1 Cent (Euro-cent) coins were taken out of circulation over here - fortunately I had collected a stash of them for basing purposes! Since the pandemic of course cash is hardly used at all.
DeleteLovely set up, MJT. A good concept, well executed 👍🏼.
ReplyDeleteThe Archduke’s campaign has certainly been very inspirational, and your take on squeezing a game like that into a matchbox is most commendable 😁👍🏼. Looking forward to the reports. ⚔️🎲⚔️🎲
Cheers Martin. Yes the Archduke's campaign is another masterpiece.
DeleteThis looks very interesting, I'll definitely be giving it a go!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark - just a bit of fun really
DeleteI'm making up a 'deluxe " version with figures from the old Conquest of Empire game and looking at using it with my Hoplite campaign system. This has excellent potential. Works just fine with 2 SP per unit for a longer game.
DeleteSounds good Mark - please do let me know more when you've tried the Deluxe version!
DeleteBy deluxe version I just mean using minis. 😁. But I am thinking about giving your system a try as a campaign game.
Delete👍
DeleteA couple of rules clarifications. Although not explicitly stated in the rules, can units in combat disengage on a subsequent turn if there is a vacant square to move to? And can cavalry pass through a square occupied by a friendly unit to an adjacent unoccupied square? In my initial play test with chess pieces I did it this way and it worked fine, and provided a bit more tactical flexibility. Also, I am playing around with adding a few more armies, Persians, Huns, Goths/ Germans and Picts. I'm looking at adding three more unit types as a result and think playing it that way would make it easier to model specific tactics. Thanks in advance for your input.
DeleteMark. I would say Yes and Yes!
DeleteI like the idea of a unit being able to disengage from combat (I play that rule in PW games, pulling back a grid if there's space, though the opposition can always move back into combat on their turn..). Cavalry should be able to move through a friendly unit, though perhaps with the penalty of making that unit disorganized (loss of bonus)?? and perhaps not over a hill/thru a wood??
I didn't include archers/skirmishers for brevity and space reasons but of course they could be added in a Deluxe version!
Nice idea, looks superb!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil!
DeleteA stylish solution, the top down view of figures works so well and with simple rules even I can almost understand.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark - the Junior General site has some lovely artwork for paper gaming
DeleteAbsolutely splendid ! Nearly didn’t see this as my blogger reading list is playing up ! Fortunately Bob C mentioned your matchbox game yesterday so l have popped by to see it.
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Alan I'm glad you approve of my contribution to your fantastic challenge!
Delete10 out of 10 simply wonderful and well done!!! Quinn
ReplyDeleteThanks Quinn! It was a fun thing to think about and do.
DeleteMaudlin Jack Tar -
ReplyDeleteI very nearly missed this. I've been getting on my reading list lately blog posts from anything up to 7 or 8 years ago. Heavy traffic too. Weird.
You have come up with yet another brilliant creation - and an attractively presented one, too. The whole thing looks good!
Thanks for your flattering remarks anent my own campaign.
Cheers,
Ion
Thanks Ion - there seem to be Gremlins in Blogger at the moment alright. Others have commented on issues recently.
DeleteYour Civil War Campaign is a cracker - I really like the mix of land and sea battles and would like to do something similar in my (hopefully) upcoming Horse & Musket Campaign - still a lot of work to do, hence this little project was a distraction!