tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post6708657776279282957..comments2024-03-27T07:02:30.838+00:00Comments on A Wargaming Odyssey: Charging into a WargameDavid Crookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-79668861624986051682018-07-13T19:59:22.846+01:002018-07-13T19:59:22.846+01:00I was lucky enough to find Charge in library as a ...I was lucky enough to find Charge in library as a teenager when i had reluctantly abandoned my childhood toy soldiers. I borrowed it indefinitely and later got to to buy in the library book sale for 10p! And yes still by my bed.Prince Lupushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205758324137548941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-21890812309076537142018-07-13T06:11:48.482+01:002018-07-13T06:11:48.482+01:00Hi David in Suffolk,
I can remember building two ...Hi David in Suffolk,<br /><br />I can remember building two unpainted Airfix Highlander regiments using the organisation from Charge! I would have loved to have gone further but it was a challenge getting figures in the right poses. I recall from when I lived on the Isle of Sheppey that there used to be a game shop in Canterbury called Westgate Games. They used to sell loose Airfix figures and I remember going in there during a school trip and using all my spending money on loose figures to round up the poses for some units. Happy days!<br /><br />The rules stand the test of time in my opinion as do both of Grant’s works. <br /><br />They really are timeless classics and are books I am always dipping into.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-87353977702561242002018-07-12T22:53:36.377+01:002018-07-12T22:53:36.377+01:00Heartily agree these are classics - as it happens ...Heartily agree these are classics - as it happens I have only recently acquired 'Charge' and read it only last week, and loved it, especially for the wit and style of the writing. The Sittangbad chapter is lovely, written as a battle report, not a game, and by authors who knew what they were about. 'The War Game' I bought with my 'holiday money' as a child, having first encountered Grant through 'Battle'; I agree his writing is more formal, but he has a twinkle in his eye, and indeed I like the way he takes us through the thought process behind the rules. Surely every rule-writer can learn from that. I was entranced; but those huge regiments were beyond pocket-money! It's got to be worth trying the rules, even today - I wonder if a pike and shot adaptation would work? <br />'Battle' was where it all started for me and it has the same appeal, letting you into his mind as he builds the rules. The opening is great - 'so there really was a Mark IV in that ruined house..' And those are imagi-nations too, aren't they? 'RED' and 'BLACK', not specifically Russian and German - so he can get away with the Hanomags. Thanks for getting us all thinking about ( and reading ) these books again!david in suffolkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02945969485547328039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-73929816359226097572018-07-12T08:20:11.535+01:002018-07-12T08:20:11.535+01:00Hi tradgardmastare (aka Alan),
I forgot to mentio...Hi tradgardmastare (aka Alan),<br /><br />I forgot to mention this book but funnily enough it remains one of my favourites for much the same reasons as yours. I always liked the way Charles Grant was quite happy to use whatever was to hand in terms of vehicle and such like - Russian infantry with Hanomags as I recall!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-86730101309796252402018-07-12T08:16:54.443+01:002018-07-12T08:16:54.443+01:00Hi Chris,
I am keen to get a hardback version but...Hi Chris,<br /><br />I am keen to get a hardback version but suspect the cost will be prohibitive. I have a couple of different softback versions though so all is not lost, at least for me anyway!<br /><br />If you can get a copy, even of the softback it is well worth the money.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-54397918162983573112018-07-12T08:14:53.622+01:002018-07-12T08:14:53.622+01:00Hi Archduke,
I would probably add Charles Grant&#...Hi Archduke,<br /><br />I would probably add Charles Grant's Battle! Practical Wargaming to that list!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-68869505305157593252018-07-12T08:13:57.559+01:002018-07-12T08:13:57.559+01:00Hi the good soldier Svjek,
A number of years ago ...Hi the good soldier Svjek,<br /><br />A number of years ago I took part in a number of large scale games using Charge! but with half size units - 24 foot, 12 mounted and a single gun and crew. The carnage was impressive! The rules worked well though despite the slight skewing of the results.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-79235797484357522702018-07-12T08:11:28.693+01:002018-07-12T08:11:28.693+01:00Hi Keith,
That is a coincidence as I often find i...Hi Keith,<br /><br />That is a coincidence as I often find ideas from revisiting these two books. In fact the Balkans project owes a lot to Charge!<br /><br />I am going to try and get a hardback version of this classic title as I currently only have two softback versions.<br /><br />I suspect it will not be cheap if I do though!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-80162930752543985782018-07-12T07:40:05.309+01:002018-07-12T07:40:05.309+01:00I come back again and again to these books. Anothe...I come back again and again to these books. Another l return is Battle Practical Wargaming, it is time machine back to my Airfix tank and toy soldier games of my youth. I am enjoying the planning and preparation of this project and look forward to seeing the resultant gaming.<br />Alantradgardmastarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13116967655904601740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-3195612282116715232018-07-12T00:04:03.354+01:002018-07-12T00:04:03.354+01:00Those two titles are in my view two of the top fiv...Those two titles are in my view two of the top five war games classics, to stand alongside H,G, Wells's 'Little wars'. and Don Featherstone's 'War Games', and 'War Games Campaigns'.Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-1726351817733213412018-07-11T14:46:02.113+01:002018-07-11T14:46:02.113+01:00Was a fan of Featherstone when I started wargaming...Was a fan of Featherstone when I started wargaming in 1969 , his smaller units were more doable . Had these two books but the size of the units intimidated me , however now use Charge with 36 figure battalions with Prince August homecasts .The Good Soldier Svjekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749564052124659180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-51374532873852335682018-07-11T13:58:48.687+01:002018-07-11T13:58:48.687+01:00More of a Featherstone man myself (one attraction ...More of a Featherstone man myself (one attraction being his 20 figure units), but those 2 books still remain classics. I'm glad to hear others use these old books as 'comfort blankets' the same as me. I often tote a wargaming tome up to bed for a short, nostalgic read before sleep. The interesting thing is, such reading often prompts ideas for my current projects, particularly rules ideas. It's great to have these books on the shelf and always available to dip into.Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-43264810417033825802018-07-11T13:12:28.527+01:002018-07-11T13:12:28.527+01:00Hi Lee,
There is nothing wrong whatsoever with be...Hi Lee,<br /><br />There is nothing wrong whatsoever with being a dyed in the wool historical gamer - I am also a historical gamer but I like and am beginning to prefer the imagi-nation route or 'based on' historical approach.<br /><br />The beauty of our hobby is that we can use historical troops in non-historical settings - whether these are a what if style scenario or a full blown 'imagi-nation'.<br /><br />Horses for courses.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-68894238291010989532018-07-11T12:43:59.618+01:002018-07-11T12:43:59.618+01:00I am yet to read or get a copy of either of these....I am yet to read or get a copy of either of these. Saw Charge! Second hand for well over $50.00 Australian, 20 years ago and went......not today. Alas a mistake was made by all accounts.<br />chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13028920392149987916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-14453393068909914352018-07-11T11:41:40.068+01:002018-07-11T11:41:40.068+01:00I've never really done any imgai-nations warga...I've never really done any imgai-nations wargames and my group of wargaming buddies are firmly in the Historical camp. However I see the attraction of semi-historical imagined setting... Many years ago, back when I played a lot of RPG's, I designed a world setting for my games and I found the whole exercise very enjoyable. BigLeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00960213980906190335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-60074572781456442322018-07-11T09:47:54.991+01:002018-07-11T09:47:54.991+01:00Hi Robbie,
The sheer enthusiasm shines through fr...Hi Robbie,<br /><br />The sheer enthusiasm shines through from Young and Lawford and complements the more detailed approach of Grant. Like you in many ways they have acted almost as comfort blankets over the years.<br /><br />I am pleased that Charles Wesencraft is still going strong - he is another author I enjoyed especially his Practical Wargaming book.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />DCDavid Crookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497436789811496047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4472889370304077924.post-62093965153090512332018-07-11T09:32:47.208+01:002018-07-11T09:32:47.208+01:00The Wargame has always been the book I would reach...The Wargame has always been the book I would reach for when life in general wasnt going well. Almost like a comfort blanket. Charge I came to later in life and loved the way it was written. Both men had a wonderful way of making the hobby interesting and entertaining. I must admit my other favourite books are Practical Wargaming and Pike and Shot by Charles Wesencraft who again is a brilliant writer. Charlie is still pottering about and its always a privilege to sit and chat with him. He is a cracking raconteur and a devil to wargame against.Independentwargamesgrouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019172667119107650noreply@blogger.com