Saturday 8 August 2020

Desert island games- what would you take?

Just for fun. What hobby book, rules and two armies would you take to a Desert Island and why?

32 comments:

  1. This is a bit like Sophie's choice.

    How about,
    Hobby Book: Grant's Scenarios for Wargames
    Rules: Impetvs
    Two Armies: Biblical Assyrian and Egyptian armies.
    Why? Sand table readily available and the 52 scenarios could keep me busy for years.

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    1. I like the use of the sand table and appropriate army choice. I used to sometimes play Basic Impetus many moons ago.

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  2. Tricky.
    Hobby Book - Featherstone's Battles with model soldiers (for the enthusiasm he put into it)
    Rules - Featherstone's War Games (bit of a cheat perhaps, 3 sets of rules in one book)
    Armies - Airfix ACW armies (cover Horse and Musket) plus I may have some 2mm blocks hidden about my person to cover Ancients, along with a couple of dice. Measuring devices would have to be made of drift wood.

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    1. Cunning plan re three rules, nobody will notice the the blocks. I like the use of drift wood to measure, good use of resources.

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  3. Lion Rampant, Hundred Years War French and English, never tire of seeing hordes of medievals.

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    1. Lion Rampant does give a great game and medieval splendour will help your morale by being most diverting.

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  4. Great question. Can I have the current US Marine Corps (real and not model)? They’d have the wherewithal to get me home.

    Hobby book: the Wargame by Charles Grant.
    Armies: two opposing imagi-nation armies (Spencer Smith SYW - metal not plastic so they won’t get brittle with age).
    Why? I’ve always wanted to try them out and run a campaign a la Grant.

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    1. PS that book is the rules so can I have another book? Probably Frederick the Great: a military Life.

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    2. No to the Marines, a tad too bending of the rules. Yes to the rest including book. A super old school choice all round.

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  5. Rules: War Games 1962 Donald Featherstone incl. its Close Wars Appendix rules
    Book: Preben Kannik Military Uniforms of the World in Colour
    Figures: Natives versus Redcoats and Settlers 30 to 54mm metals? 18th - 19th century (floppy hats / Tricornes so could also be pirates etc)
    Alternatively a big bundle of Pound Store figures to convert with my trusty knife and fire!
    Terrain: jungles and forests made from whatever is around as in Close Wars

    I often still do take War Games and a tackle box of figures, dice and flat terrain with me, remembering long rainy holidays as a child.
    https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/portable-wargames-on-holiday/

    https://poundstoreplasticwarriors.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/pound-store-surreal-space-planet-away-team/

    https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/31/close-little-wars-away-game/

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    1. Pound store bag does give you lots of choice and craft enjoyment. Enjoyable book with lovely illustrations to divert you, give game and conversions ideas.

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  6. Wargames by Featherstone, Will McNally's AWI rules, and matching armies of opposing AWI forces

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    1. AWI is a fascinating period. I not sure I know these rules. Great reading choice too.

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    2. You my find them here... I have used them for over 20 years now and cannot rate them highly enough.. there are rules that just "click" and these were they for me.. there is a also a SYW set that (with some modidications) I use for the WSS... https://freewargamesrules.fandom.com/wiki/American_War_Of_Independence

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    3. Hey Steve,
      I can't seem to get to the rules thru that link. Just puts me in a loop, but I did get them downloaded here:
      https://sites.google.com/site/awirules/home/american-war-of-independence-rules

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    4. ECW40.. those are the one's... I hope you enjoy them... the firing/morale mechanism has had me hooked for over 20 years now I reckon... Will also ported them to SYW, and those were what I modified for my Marlborough project..

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  7. Hobby Book: Featherstone's Solo Wargaming.
    Rules: A Gentleman's War
    Armies: My collection of 40mm Little Britons.
    Why? Solo Wargaming was one of my first wargame book and an enjoyable read, practical in this scenario as well. AGW a great set of rules and entertaining. Ok I'm biased here. The collection is versatile, units can switch sides as needed and will remind me of places visited in the past.

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    1. Reasoning can’t be faulted. I particularly like the way that different army units can switch sides to give you lots of options. This will feed your imagination and also give loads to plan/ think about as you watch the sunset...

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  8. I'd take 'Self Sufficiency' by John Seymour.
    My 18mm Imaginations 1860 Armies.
    'On to Richmond' Rules.

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    1. An inspiring and practical book choice. Lovely illustrations too. Figures and rules will give some great games.

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  9. Wargames by Featherstone , A Gentleman's War rules and my 40mm Imaginations .

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    1. Lots to plan and weave stories around with that figure choice. Good reading for the evenings round the campfire. The rules are a comfortable and inspiring read in themselves.

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  10. Difficult.
    Wargames Tactics by Charles Grant.
    Early Persian and Classical Indian in glorious 25mm MiniFigs!

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    1. Splendid choice in terms of armies. Indians with elephants galore and Minifigs too! Interesting book choice.

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  11. Hobby book: Military Modelling Guide to Solo Wargaming by Stuart Asquith (for the mix of inspiration and scenarios)
    Rules: G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T. (they're as much a toolkit as a set of rules)
    Two armies: My imaginations 54mm AiP Russian and colonial British forces.

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    1. You are all set up for exciting solo gaming. AiP figures will be robust and stand up well to the desert island life style, not to mention looking great.

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  12. Book: Scenarios for Wargames
    Rules: Aelred Glidden's Charge! for Dummies (May I bring my modified version?)
    Troops: My 28mm "Horse and Musket" individually mounted forces--possibly beefed up to include a few units purchased but not painted? Or one or two planned but not purchased?
    Horse & Musket is my favorite period, if I have the island to myself neither storage nor transport is a problem, and book, troops and rules all work well together. In fact, second choice would be the same book and rules, but the 54mm version of the armies.

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    1. Book choice will be most diverting and spark off new gaming scenarios as well as those in the book. You may indeed bring your modified version of the rules.Army choices give lots of gaming potential and don’t bend the rules too far.

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  13. Book: Asquith's Solo Wargaming, (same as John above)
    Rules: My adaptation of Featherstone's Peninsular War rules from the Argus book of the same name.
    Armies: WSS Franco-Spanish and Anglo-Austro-Dutch. They're just so pretty!

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    1. Pretty figures indeed lift the spirt and the book choice will do the same. Your own adaptations of the rules will give you something to tinker with and think about round the camp fire at night.

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  14. Alan and all
    This has been a great post and a good read - really enjoyed this!
    Donald Featherstone and other classic authors would be so pleased at the touchstone regard they are held in.

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    1. Thanks Mark. I was just thinking the same re classic authors and the high regard they are held in. It has been an excellent post with lots of fascinating comments.Thanks to everyone!

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