What’s The Wargames Buzz With Gary

Updated 15th March 2024

gazstabshirt CONTACT GARY ABOUT WARGAMING @ garymitchell5@hotmail.com .

Ok, so this page is open for business for legal, decent, honest, truthful, accredited articles about gaming, should anyone wish me to post them here as an outlet. The material here is ‘open-source’ because, hell, why should everything be monitised? If you purloin and use the material here, how about making a charitable donation to balance the karma of the universe?

Also for those of us residing in Greater Bournemouth (‘the Bournemouth, Poole and surrounding area’, as Radio 1 used to have it) shop Entoyment is double plus good – with a huge range of stuff and gaming space. They also do great food and coffee and put on events like gaming days and talks. Check out events on their ‘Facebook’ page.

NEXT GAME: Probably at my clubs ‘STaB’ see http://stabclub.wordpress.com/ (also on Facebook as ‘Southbourne Tabletop and Board Gamers’) and The Wessex Wyverns’ (on Facebook as ‘Wessex Wyverns Wargaming Club’). Read here The Wyverns club campaign, graciously written-up by the celebrated Miss Catherine Meadows: Gallipoli.   

One of the joys of my being ‘out of contract’ is that – for the first time since the 1970s – I have time to fully indulge my interests. Ok, I’m still skint and lack space, but… I watch Little Wars TV on YouTube. Excellent stuff. Do give their game reports and rule reviews a look; fair objective and largely free of the monitisation that is increasingly plaguing the hobby. I also like the way they hook up with various local (to them) museums and battlefield trusts and support them. Their website also also many freebies…. Check ’em out chaps, at Little Wars TV.

NEXT SHOW: See http://spacevixensfrommars.com/?page_id=152.


BUOYZ ‘N DA ‘HOOD’

PROJECT HISTORY. This a 1/1800th naval wargame rule concept I am developing with ‘STaB’ http://stabclub.wordpress.com/ and with Wessex Wyverns Wargaming Club.

We started mainly using XP Forge miniatures for the naval. These are 3D printed and really crisply cast and uberhip, and free of intrusive sculpted bases. We now use a variety of manufacturers and scratchbuilds – likewise for sci-fi. ‘Pega Printing’ supply 3D prints when their blasted machine is working. Check out the ‘Buoyz ‘N da ‘Hood’ page on Facebook – chronicling the adventures through time of sundry HMS ‘Hood’

We want a fun and fast game that also covers the (awkward) c.19th transition of naval warfare as much as the 20th century and ‘Napoleonics’. Oh – and there’s space rules too. We’ve taken the naval rules down for the mo as a formal, first, edition is in the offing. As always, all feedback – and if you want to try a draft set – please email…

We are also fortunate to have, as textual patroness, the respected historical romance novelist, Miss Catherine Meadows. Miss Meadows graciously concords events and back-story into  whole swashbuckling adventures. Do check out her ‘Facebook’ page. A ‘Campaign Supplement’ is here. It cover both ‘wet’ and ‘space’ Navy… it being a truth (universally acknowledged) that the UFP Starfleet is basically the Royal Navy in space… Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’ Campaign Supplement

BUOYZ ‘N DA ‘HOOD’. The naval rules bit. Use this link for Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’ (1st edition). They cover naval warfare. Errata sheet here (we’ve sacked our poof readers) Buoyz ‘N da ‘Hood’ In Space – 1st Edition Errata 23.02.24.

For the (fairly) recent Napoleonic naval adventures of the swashbuckling Captain Darcy’s HMS ‘Hood’… Visit the PDF Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’ – Hood and Hoodwinking. A new ‘modern’ adventure is about to begin… Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’ – Fire & Flood.

BUOYZ ‘N DA ‘HOOD’ – IN SPACE! The space rules bit. Use this link for Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’ – In Space’ (1st edition). They cover ST. Errata here: Buoyz ‘N da ‘Hood’ In Space – 1st Edition Errata 29.08.23 Future supplements will cover other ‘Verses.

The main logs of the USS ‘Hood’ from our ST RPG campaign are here – Pride & Persuasion. It utilises ‘Buoyz ‘N Da Hood – In Space’ and ‘SVfM’ rules and contains the adventure of the scenario run as a participation game at Colours 2023. We are progressing with ‘doubling’ supplements for ‘fighter’ type actions. To this end the celebrated Miss Catherine Meadows has surprised us with the first chapters of a new tome, Buoyz’N Da Hood – Space 1989!’, which includes the backstory to the next campaign adventure. 

N.B. A small number of ‘hard’ copies of the rules are available – contact Gary if interested.


‘A BEACH TOO FAR’

With the chaps at Wessex Wyverns Wargaming Club I started doing a bit of ‘WWIII’, mainly using ‘Battlefront’s ‘Team Yankee’ and WWII mainly using their (near identical) ‘Flames of War’. This has escalated to WW1. There is a Facebook support group.

Again, as with Buoyz ‘N Da ‘Hood’, Miss Catherine Meadows has graciously agreed to write and coordinate a campaign history. Please open NORTHAG & CENTAG for further details… How will the Borsestshires cope with the Soviet onslaught? Why aren’t the oppressed proletariat of Western Germany welcoming their WARPAC liberators? In a world of subjectivity how do protagonists end up wed to the person they should have been with all along? The ongoing story is there…

In Achtung! Panzerwaffe! Miss Catherine Meadows recounts the adventures of Hauptmann Hans Schmidt, and his contemporaries, during the Second World War. She has also graciously provided some background to our ‘Operation Sealion’ game for Colours 2024, in the same PDF.

Racked by guilt for what the Nazis did, and with his family dead, Hans seeks to redeem himself in a post-war world.

But will his wartime past destroy him..?

In Un Mémoire De La Grande Guerre Miss Catherine Meadows  delves in The Great War… from the point of view of sundry characters. 

You can view our (amended) and consolidated rules here A Beach Too Far.


Here is a list of games we are planning to play:-

8th April – an Arab/Israeli clash in ‘NORTHAG & CENTAG’

???? – Operation Kraftwerk – a hasty NATO counterstroke by Anglo-German forces to halt a Soviet advance to the Rhine in ‘NORTHAG & CENTAG’.

???? – Operation Nordic Hamster – fighting in northern Scandinavia between Anglo-Swedish forces and the Soviets in ‘NORTHAG & CENTAG’.

???? – Operation Rolling Lightning – ‘flashback’ to ‘Nam in 1972 in ‘NORTHAG & CENTAG’.

????? – Operation Sealion in ‘Achtung Panzwerwaffe!’ (this is to be our game for ‘Colours 2024’) 

?????- ‘All Active On The Eastern Front’ (this Austro-Russian clash is to be our game for ‘Peter Pig Weekend’)


‘OTHER MATERIALS RELATING TO MISS MEADOWS’ NOVELS’

A family tree for the Lowe family, in  the novels of Miss Catherine Meadows is provided here  THE LOWE FAMILY TREE in the Novels Of Catherine Meadows.


‘OBSIDIAN LUDUM AD BELLUM’

A few years ago I did some gaming and D&D with the guys at ‘Obsidian’.

Here are the tactical rules for fast-play tactical games (15-28mm scale miniatures) that I developed. All input gratefully received… Obsidian Ludum Ad Bellum.

These are being dusted off for a Napoleonic campaign The Emperor’s Dragoon, again graciously scribed as narrative for us by Miss Catherine Meadows. Many readers may find the behaviour of the central character, Major Henri Du Bois of the Empress Dragoons, morally reprehensible, but are reminded that a) these were very different times and b) he is French. Please note that neither myself nor Miss Meadows in any way endorse amoral behaviour.


PETE LOWE’S RULES FOR STaB

Fellow ‘STaB’ member http://stabclub.wordpress.com/ (also on Facebook as ‘Southbourne Tabletop and Board Gamers’) Pete Lowe has written some amazing rules, that we’ve subsequently developed for the club. An amazing achievement considering his mother-tongue is Welsh! These will be available here… just as soon as he sends them:-


CURRENT FREEBIE TACTICAL RULES

THE latest ‘FIGHTING SHIPS’ discussion document / draft IS HERE:- Fighting Ships Working Draft #3.0. Suitable for 1/600th ish size.

THE ‘STAR WARS’ FIGHTER DRAFT RULES ARE HERE:- You Can’t Come In Without A TIE – v1.2.

The aircraft rules ‘GET OFF MY CLOUD!’ ARE HERE:-Get Off My Cloud! 1.1

THE ‘MONACO’ MOTOR RACING GAME DRAFT RULES ARE HERE: – Monaco

THE ‘ULTRA SIMPLE STAR WARS@ RULES ARE HERE:- ULTRA SIMPLE ‘STAR WARS’ RULES. Literally one page, they were written for my great nephews and nieces and their 7.5″ SW figures…

CURRENT BOARDGAME ADAPTIONS

Also here an adaption of ‘The Original Trilogy Edition’ of ‘Risk’ to cover the whole saga here SW Game PDF.

THE revised ‘GAME OF THRONES RISK’ House Mitchell rules ARE HERE:- GOT RISK HOUSE MITCHELL AMENDMENTS.

THE ONGOING ‘TRAVEL BATTLE’ UNBOXING ARTICLE AND HOUSE RULES IS HERE:- Travel battle.

CHILDHOOD BOARDGAMES RE-VAMPED

THE’WADDINGTON’S CAMPAIGN’ HOUSE RULES ADAPTION IS HERE:- camp final.

THE ‘4000 AD’ HOUSE RULES ADAPTATION IS HERE:- 4000 AD Update.

THE’COMBAT’ HOUSE RULES ADAPTATION IS HERE:- Combat

CURRENTLY READING / WATCHING / RESEARCHING: Lotsa stuff… I am working on a set of 1/4800 naval rules for big battles called ‘All At Sea’ – and often post pictures on my Facebook page.

CURRENTLY SOMETIMES WRITING: Material for ‘the15MILL’, and other magazines and companies as and when. I am also proprietor of ‘Space Vixens From Mars’ and several secret projects.

The SVfM ‘macro’ unit level rules are now available at ‘SVfM Macro’ 


OLD STUFF

6MM PROJECT

I was working on – and devloped – a 6mm wargame – 5cm square squares and 4.5cm square bases.

First test proved useful, so draft rules here  6mm v1.4. We were on to something for a portable, pick-up, simple, ‘travel’ game system. This has now been superseded by ‘Obsidian Fast Play’ (qv)

FOR STaB MEMBERS THE WOTR CAMPAIGN BLOG IS HERE:- GOWQ Blog. If you wish to add information, let me know. The campaign will restart soon – evolving rules are here:-A Game Of White Queen _STaB finalish version_.

Nap naval1The back-of-a-postcard naval rules ‘Warship’ are now published (‘SvFM’ site and Kindle). Oh – and am converting ‘Airfix’ ships to do 1/600th Napoleonic naval for ‘Fighting Sail’ rules as well. First attempt here – learned a lot about cut and fill – it’ll be a frigate (USS ‘Constitution’ or fictional HMS ‘Glenmoor’. Wreckage marker also made. Pressed on and have now finished both first ships. Also 1/6-700th ‘coastal’ WWII and all periods. Watch this coast…nap2

To fit in with this scale I am dabbling in 3mm landing forces and 1/600th aircraft. Forts, shore batteries, landing parties and stuff. Still working on HMS ‘Ark Royal’s’ air group, but expect convoys and U-boats… etc from both sides. Trying to avoid too many ‘big gun ships’ and only the odd cruiser but, when you can’t sleep, and there’s ‘EBay’… (see above for draft ‘Fighting Ships’ rules).
ark

oOo

Also, I post here rules and board for a ‘Game Of Thrones Diplomacy’ for people to try – GOT Diplomacy

oOo

got minisHouse MitchellSPRING 2015 WORKBENCH: ‘Doing 18th century’ with ‘Perry’ plastics AWI, ‘Irregular’,‘Wargames Factory’ and ‘Front Rank’ Highlanders and stuff. Yep, a snowballing ‘fill in the gaps’ exercise that I can now restart having finished the ‘Game Of Thrones’ characters. Least, until Season Five comes out and I need to add new characters. Add to these ‘historical’ medieval armies and we’re pretty much there…

wotrbankhol‘Perry Miniatures’ plastic foot knights finished and ready to go. WOTR minis for the club campaign supplied by excellent pre-loved retailer ‘Colonel Bills’. Apparently King Richard III’s axe can fell two nephews with a single blow 🙂 Also shown a freebie sample from ‘Heroes Of The Dark Age’ who are about to launch C.19th Austrians. He’s shown here firing, and as a comparison with one of my main force of ‘Irregular’. His name is Wolfgang Strauss, and when he’s not sniping the Emperor’s enemies he likes to go waltzing with his fiancee Helga, and believes all nationalities in the Hapsburg realms should have their diversity respected, as long as they don’t try for self-determination…

So – now finished C.19th century armies – done the French, Brits, Mexicans, Bavarians and Austrians (top), and the Prussians (in box). finaustmaxfinsihedprussiansMexicans ‘Irregular’ and ‘Gringos 40s’ minis. Quite pleased with my ‘Mad Max’ conversion (at the front, with the whiskers), these guys will be and/or Republicans and Imperials.

ISD2Also – vaguely in scale ‘Star Wars’ ships game. Rather than scratchbuild X-Wings and Ties I’m using counters. Oh – and a Star Destroyer would be nice – so here’s one I scratchbuilt earlier – ISD ‘Doomslayer’ is now finished with it’s air groups’ (plus a counter for Lord Vader’s customised TIE). Cost – £0.00. Pictured here for comparison is an unpainted ‘Millenium Falcon’ model supplied by that wonderful human being that was Ray ‘Hairy Ray’ Turner. All ideas gratefully received.

oOo

As well as my musings top gossip columnist Sheila Tacku once graciously agreed to keyboard a (highly) irregular column. the archive is here. Please note due to commitments studying Applied Literature at Salisbury University (i.e. drinking, snogging etc) Sheila’s column has been suspended for the mo. ‘Publish and be damned’, I say… Here’s an endorsement!
ionage 3

SHEILA’S ARCHIVE BLOGS HERE:-
The Sheila Tacku Column #1 (Mar. 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #2 (Apr. 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #3 ”Salute’ Special (May 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #4 (June 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #5(July 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #6 (August 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #7 (September 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #8 (October 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #9 (November 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #10 – Festive Issue (December 2013)
The Sheila Tacku Column #11 (Jan/Feb 2014)
The Sheila Tacku Column #12 (April 2014)
The Sheila Tacku Column #13 (July 2014)
The Sheila Tacku Column #14 (Sept 2014)

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