Welcome to My Wargame World.

Background

Firstly, I thought I should give you a little of my Wargame Pedigree. I was always interested in 'Toy Soldiers' and addicted to all military films and programmes on the television, or at the cinema. My Father and Mother had served in the British Army during World War Two. My Grandfather had served during the Boer War and World War One. So coming from a Military family and hearing all of the tales had been absorbed into my soul.

I remember watching Edward Woodward in Callan, on the BBC during the late 60s, in which he was a spy and relaxed by painting and fighting battles with 'Toy Soldiers'. I was eager to learn about this. In 1970 I was given my first Wargame book. It was an Introduction to Battle Gaming by Terence Wise. This introduced me to such creatures as Carthaginians and Zouaves, totally unknown to me before. My next acquisition was 'Battle! Practical Wargaming by Charles Grant. This covered WW2 in detail. So now my collection of plastic Airfix figures, were removed from the garden trenches, where they had served. They were washed off, organised, partially painted and started marching into history.

Since those early days, I have been a member of the local Wargame Club. Acquired hundreds of books, thousands of figures and fought hundreds of tabletop battles. Now I am reaching the age of aches, pains, dimming eyesight and a frustration with complicated rules. I want to return to the fun of the early games. Like an Old Victorian General, I want to return to the actions of my youth and regale tales with my compatriots over a stiff drink and fine cigar. Well, maybe not a real cigar, as I gave up smoking and put on the weight to prove it!

The Rules Used

Now I'm returning to gaming, after a period abroad, so I'm dusting off my Army's and they are marching into action once again with new vigour.
My favoured rule sets for larger battles are:
Hail Ceaser for the Ancient - Medieval Period
Pike & Shotte for the Renaissance to Marlburian
Black Powder for 1700-1900
Fire & Fury for ACW
My favoured Skirmish rule sets are :
SAGA for Ancient to Renaissance
In Her Majesty's Name for Steampunk and Victorian
Bolt Action for WW1 & WW2

None of the above rules will suit 'Rules Lawyers!' However, if you want to relax, have fun and acquire memorable tales to share, these rules sets should suit you!

Previous rules I have enjoyed but have moved on from are all of the Games Workshop sets. The best of which to me, was WH40k Rogue Trader! That set even told you how to design vehicles and races! A far cry from the insular version that is available these days.

I played DBA and DBM, but lost interest in the minutia of the rules changes and constant army list updates.

I loved Principles of War and still think they are a superb set to use for large campaigns. As a club, I ran the entire 7 Years War as a campaign on a global scale using these rules. With added campaign rules that had everyone backstabbing with gusto. The members even produced weekly tabloids full of propaganda to wind each other up and it was hilarious to umpire. I also ran the Peninsular Campaign using these rules, which again was quite hilarious. The French discovering they could beat the Spanish in detail wherever they were encountered, but only ever controlled the ground they were camped on. Just as in real life!

Fire & Fury, a great set of rules in my opinion. We used them to recreate the Seven Days Campaign, as well as numerous battles, all of which were fun.

Objective

Over the coming weeks and months, I will be sharing the mustering and updating of my forces. My acquisitions, conversions and painting of figures and scenery.

My current focus is
1) 28mm Napoleonic, using Black Powder
2) 28mm Dark Ages, using SAGA and The Crescent & The Cross SAGA
3) 28mm Steampunk, using In her Majesty's Name

In particular, I will be sharing my developing world of Steampunk and the alternative history I am using for it. Along with the Company's, Weapon's and Creature's I organise for it.