Developing the Portable Ironclads Wargame - A Sitrep

Not a new picture but one I enjoy - The Confederate squadron at Mobile Bay: CSS Tennessee leading followed by the CSS Selma, both flanked by the steamers CSS Morgan (top) and CSS Gaines (bottom)

Progress has made with much of the text for Developing the Portable Ironclads Wargame and has been passed over to the editor in chief for initial formatting etc. A selection of the chapter headings are below which will give a little taste of what is to come.

Revisiting the Rules.
Thoughts on Initiative and Movement
More Thoughts on Movement
Thoughts on Firing
More Thoughts on Firing
The Use of a Square Grid
Expanded ACW Ship Specifications
Bibliography

There are other chapters to be added, including two or three devoted to the background of the Anglo-Turkish War of 1880 with the battle report - aside from these and the usual acknowledgments, introduction and an expanded Designers Notes, will be just about it. 

In the meantime though, work on the models has stalled somewhat, simply because I am waiting on some bits from Warbases to continue. I have more than enough for some of the models but I am looking at a production line approach for the build so prefer to wait until all the pieces of the puzzle are in place.

It is all coming together nicely!

Iron and Oak and Battle Cry

 This one nearly passed me by! I remember seeing this game when it first came out but never got around to getting a copy. This has been duly rectified and with an additional surprise in the box! The game is a ship to ship tactical combat game that uses a square grid, order cards and wait for it - opposing dice rolls for movement and firing. Needless to say, it would be very simple to use models rather than counters although in my case I would need a larger playing surface to accommodate my models.

The box lid....

....and the back.

The playing surface - note the square grid (actually rectangular).

The game components. Lots of damage counters and the all important ship cards and counters

Some additional scenarios and rules found in the C3i magazine

There are some unusual mechanics in this game - opposed dice rolls for movement and firing would certainly raise a few naval wargaming eyebrows for a start - but the rationale behind the various systemic decisions seem sound enough, certainly for the gamer that wants a 'game that has the flavour, rather than a 'flavour that has a game'. 

On a different tack....

I have been looking long and hard at the scenarios in Battle Cry and indeed, also reacquainting myself with the rules. The former was a pleasurable experience, the latter less so, mainly because I am averse to using them as written! A quick visit to the files section of Boardgamegeek soon rectified this and so I was able to download an advanced set which looks far more appealing. I also used the opportunity to download a variant for the Zulu War.

If time permits I am looking to run a Battle Cry over the weekend using the advanced rules so watch this space as I shall certainly be posting the after action report on the blog.

Revisiting the ACW Via Battle Cry

Nice and compact and with plenty of scenarios….

….as you can see on the right hand page

For a variety of reasons my time over the next few months is going to be busy. Aside from the 24 models I need to build for Developing the Portable Ironclads Wargame, there is the small matter of fighting the battle with the said models when completed and then writing it up for the book. I am quite happy with all this activity and it all fits in with my current domestic situation nicely. However, I am conscious that I have not been getting any gaming in other than naval - again, this is not a problem but I do fancy revisiting some ground based action.

It has to be something that is quick and easy to set up and play - something for which the Portable Wargame series is eminently suitable for - and not requiring a ton to table top models and terrain. From my collection there are a number of options that tick the convenience factor, especially the Command and Colours series, of which I have a reasonable selection. 

I had a look through and settled on Battle Cry - the 150th Anniversary edition - as this ties in nicely with the Portable Ironclads Wargame, at least from the history perspective anyway.

I plan to work my way through the scenarios, in no particular order, with the occasional write up for the blog. I may even badger some of the denizens of SEEMS (the South East Essex Military Society) to take up the flag of either side as the new venue is far more amenable than the previous one IMHO. 

At least you can hear yourself think which is a decided advantage in my experience!