tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65022983197723928812024-03-19T00:00:36.869+00:00Geordie's Big BattlesThe ongoing adventures of a boy who never grew out of making and playing with plastic model kits (and even some metal ones too). Also a wargamer in search of the perfect set of wargaming rules for WWII Land and 20th Century Naval campaigns.Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.comBlogger2281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-86992242882065596662024-03-05T07:00:00.002+00:002024-03-07T12:22:09.348+00:00Dunkirk 1940 the German View - Audible BookAlthough I have not been posting I have been listening to "wargaming stuff" throughout February. I can highly recommend this book to get a much needed German perspective on the fighting around Dunkirk (see below, a valuable item to my understanding of the early 1940 campaigns): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63v9f9zXblrSvt4rUXt2_xV6ZHCjz4Q67AO8yiulMF92y1thxNZyaLrTCKPvU5O2o8GsQMJven0psR6JInOgWg63IVSmuesZq3GMfcA6DD9nBYHN7-vW11DT-4ZKzvQCvMLS4HIN4bb0_UppOt6BWjyG9mgTB4Xw7LauU7H5LCKj0-zx6WsyJag35eSs/s1174/Dunkirk%201940.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="1174" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63v9f9zXblrSvt4rUXt2_xV6ZHCjz4Q67AO8yiulMF92y1thxNZyaLrTCKPvU5O2o8GsQMJven0psR6JInOgWg63IVSmuesZq3GMfcA6DD9nBYHN7-vW11DT-4ZKzvQCvMLS4HIN4bb0_UppOt6BWjyG9mgTB4Xw7LauU7H5LCKj0-zx6WsyJag35eSs/s320/Dunkirk%201940.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Like a lot of the factual Audible books I listen to, as soon as I was getting into it, I could not resist getting a hard copy - there was too much detail I knew I would want to go back to, even though it was still at a hardback price! That in itself is a complement to the quality and standard of the careful research that went into the book. The RAF got a better press than usual, as the German infantry also did not like being attacked from the air (no "superhuman" soldiers there) and the almost comical German command and control problems were highlighted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well worth the read if you can get it!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-21844959426095269842024-03-04T00:52:00.006+00:002024-03-04T00:53:32.144+00:00Sad News: The Passing of Dr Peter Perla - The Art of Wargaming<p>It is old news, but it is sad and still significant news. Others say it far better than me: </p><p><b>PaxSims: </b></p><p><a href="https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2024/01/22/we-say-goodbye-to-peter-perla/">https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2024/01/22/we-say-goodbye-to-peter-perla/</a></p><p><b>Wargaming Miscellany: </b></p><p><a href="https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2024/01/peter-perla-doyen-of-professional.html">https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2024/01/peter-perla-doyen-of-professional.html</a></p><p><b>Brian Train:</b></p><p><a href="https://brtrain.wordpress.com/2024/01/21/obit-peter-perla-1951-2024/">https://brtrain.wordpress.com/2024/01/21/obit-peter-perla-1951-2024/</a></p><p>I had the pleasure of talking with Peter online at VCoW sessions and all I can say was that he gave freely of his time and was encouraging in the endeavours of all gamers, great and small.</p><p>He will be greatly missed, his words are worth reading and listening to, again and again.</p><p><a href="https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/OnceAndFuture-Perla.pdf">https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/OnceAndFuture-Perla.pdf</a></p><p><a href="https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/OnceAndFuture-Perla.MP3">https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/OnceAndFuture-Perla.MP3</a></p><p><a href="https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2016PeterPerla.pdf">https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2016PeterPerla.pdf</a></p><p><a href="https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2016PeterPerla.mp3">https://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2016PeterPerla.mp3</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czIDMcJBaUM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czIDMcJBaUM</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxLQmPA1-4o&t=5s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxLQmPA1-4o&t=5s</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aknHj_6a2RM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aknHj_6a2RM</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvZ1EZukoWY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvZ1EZukoWY</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7yKFuZwtA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE7yKFuZwtA</a></p><p>He also published games, his last board game was: </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twtWueB4tqs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twtWueB4tqs</a></p><p><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/2728/peter-perla">https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamedesigner/2728/peter-perla</a></p><p>Oh and one last important thing, as Dr Perla said, it's spelled: "wargaming" and not "war gaming" despite what some spell checkers think. </p><p>Accept no other!</p><p>;) </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-14529312393946122502024-02-01T21:28:00.004+00:002024-02-01T21:29:33.930+00:00Question to Fellow Bloggers: What to do About Bot Accounts sending Spam to the Comments Section of Posts?<p>This is bugging me. </p><p>I moderate all comments so I see them coming in. An obvious Spam comments totally unrelated to the Post bit sneaking in a link to an "online gambling site". I click on the ID to see who the person is and it is obviously a Bot account. I click "Report Abuse" and say it is a Spam/Bot giving details. This all takes time. I get a "Thank You" (NoReply) email back from Google. No action seems to be taken though. They still dribble in and I am pretty sure I am seeing teh same accounts being used.</p><p>Anyone else suffering from the same scenario?</p><p>As I have "Moderation On" in my settings they don't make it through to the public page.</p><p>Slowly but surely it will fill blogs with Spam links. </p><p>Is there a better way of reporting it to Google? </p><p><br /></p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-84188530682368062642024-01-29T17:30:00.004+00:002024-01-30T00:31:28.325+00:00Audible Book: Victory at Sea - Paul Kennedy <div>A good general read of naval war in WWII, from the man who brought us Rise and Fall of the Great Powers. In fact how I came across this Audible version of this book (Victory at Sea), was because I was looking for an Audible version of "that" book (Rise and Fall). I was intrigued at his (Kennedy's) obvious obsession with WW2 naval power and the world wide implications of naval conflict. I listened to the sample and was hooked (see below, it gives a good all ocean coverage of WWII and I have to say "I learned a few new things" - although the editors should have picked up some silly errors [Hipper was not in the Channel Dash, but the Prince Eugen a Hipper class cruiser heavy, while accounting for RN CVs they had tallied the Furious sunk despite it surviving the war, getting confused with the loss of the Hermes I think], in the main it was wholesomely good and accurate [so I forgive the previous small errors], but I would double check specifics of ships to see if they are correct): </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdowF036ToGQwdRN5ND_W50F2M0TCBajlWH4ZeC6kdGmldIqXce2DAurLE0CwbZBFCTS9zj8YPx1ed06tx-QSUqasEnprE6oaVIp6vVWmu65NFuHVl-gei91CkgLUJVwG52iUEo4POJxxe26CL-Euzz91i64hz_PJSs3oszzEDNxxw_a_j3RgjlGzcI0I/s640/84F93881-5BA1-4357-8C51-E1ED7C58511F.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdowF036ToGQwdRN5ND_W50F2M0TCBajlWH4ZeC6kdGmldIqXce2DAurLE0CwbZBFCTS9zj8YPx1ed06tx-QSUqasEnprE6oaVIp6vVWmu65NFuHVl-gei91CkgLUJVwG52iUEo4POJxxe26CL-Euzz91i64hz_PJSs3oszzEDNxxw_a_j3RgjlGzcI0I/s320/84F93881-5BA1-4357-8C51-E1ED7C58511F.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />As per what is now a recurring theme of my Audible purchases, if (as I usually do) I like the audio recording of the book I also end up getting a print copy too. It is a knowledge at your fingertips thing for me. Here, despite it being newly in print (so a relatively "expensive" treat) and despite it being in hardback, I really wanted it for the glorious watercolour artwork which beautifully accompanies it. If but only for that reason alone, the watercolour illustrations make it a beautiful book for the library shelf and thus I can whole heartedly recommend it. </div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-43291511762389725232024-01-21T07:00:00.001+00:002024-01-21T07:00:00.135+00:00Random Sci-Fi Stuff: From the Photo Archive Bucket .. Dust Bucket WorldThe usefulness of some of the Revell Star Wars spin-off range 15mm(ish) miniatures is shown with this beautiful "Combat Shuttle". A pretty much snip and click piece. It is the focal point of a 'planet drop' scenario and an ideal centre piece for a skirmish around a local spaceport or emergency wilderness dust-off . Ramp down, the "Away Team" is covered by heavy cannons as they disembark (see below, sitting on a nice little diorama made from the local wargames club terrain and friends bric-a-brac science fiction extras): <br />
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This reminds me of the 2000AD Cursed Earth style shanty town with "Muties" hiding in the shadows(see below, careful searching is required, kicking doors in and covering your arcs - notice, there is a platoon of Ground Zero Games [GZG] Star Grunt forces approaching in the background): <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jrmTTeDWH7JNl5VEtiyVHceRfy5d1wOQvbl3kKqx_gnv37ELYIGmkjZpuYsWMLveA4VT8JnBEgZ48IkV6CS1BwPUPW3vwmr6d8wHX0qTrtsJsbFr9tTngxgJ8y_83gwh3vs08v0M0DI/s1600/IMG_7393.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jrmTTeDWH7JNl5VEtiyVHceRfy5d1wOQvbl3kKqx_gnv37ELYIGmkjZpuYsWMLveA4VT8JnBEgZ48IkV6CS1BwPUPW3vwmr6d8wHX0qTrtsJsbFr9tTngxgJ8y_83gwh3vs08v0M0DI/s320/IMG_7393.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Good stuff, I liked the feel of Star Grunt and the "Western in Space" feel to barren desert planets! <br />
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<br />Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-90351589443578710142024-01-19T23:30:00.001+00:002024-01-19T23:30:21.927+00:00Late Review of some Xmas Presents - Family Games<div>The Reign of the Cthulhu board game is now fixed as a family favourite, however the family was gifted two additional games "Taskmaster: The Board Game" and a story card game called Odyssey (see below, a trio of charmers): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNgwRDvoiSm3mQ1YfTxW9A-sxH7jl95xl3szxIeUBjCBuFiU39jredBbzseJgFKHsS27QeAQP-DDf4oDBQaVEL17P1XxDltC6319Xzx7QuszVXYlM50M2lKm4cpOyamEDoeokcViKhTU0lycS-ftvsG36mGFjhbY5Y_FDWHD5FeFzxmPF4rB20_2ZzME/s640/6BE0E756-71DC-4669-BC2B-A4FB05E2BA47.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNgwRDvoiSm3mQ1YfTxW9A-sxH7jl95xl3szxIeUBjCBuFiU39jredBbzseJgFKHsS27QeAQP-DDf4oDBQaVEL17P1XxDltC6319Xzx7QuszVXYlM50M2lKm4cpOyamEDoeokcViKhTU0lycS-ftvsG36mGFjhbY5Y_FDWHD5FeFzxmPF4rB20_2ZzME/s320/6BE0E756-71DC-4669-BC2B-A4FB05E2BA47.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Taskmaster is a hoot, but like the series of the name, you would not want it played in your house - too much danger of collateral damage (and lateral thinking wins in spades). </div><div><br /></div><div>Odyssey looks the more intriguing game, despite being the simplest. You have to weave a Greek Tragedy through twenty "flipped" story cards (a few variations on how to draw the cards and use them) - perfect to be mixed with alcohol in a suitably inspiring setting. I think it needs careful cast selection and people to be in a certain storytelling frame of mind, the creative juices flowing, less of the analytical to the forefront and more emotion.</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-75473413589998915002024-01-16T07:00:00.002+00:002024-01-18T10:01:10.706+00:00Trying to learn "Root"<div>Darn if the US Marine Corp use it in their training, then I have "got to" take a look at it. Now from what I thought was going to be a straightforward A4 booklet of rules to read say in 45-60 mins, I was a little taken aback with the wealth of rule related material. It was all beautifully produced, engaging and rich in "pleasant" detail - but I have to "get my head round it" so I can explain it to others. It is a competitive faction (players v players) game, most play is not collaborative (although there can be moments of alliance [that also could lead to betrayal]) so it is important to get the "rules right" (see below, three instruction manuals - a light introduction, example of play booklet [a run through of a few turns], then the "Lore of Root" which is the definitive guide which looks "medium to heavy"):</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2AkuCgxITd0gSylFkABloxzhkMNv_2uC7ik1rEfWXpIf7JfzvahLL93yq19ggVtOOMvaE-DV5RUZN4u_WRVFKlbjQIesvT7JZ215KZc0N99E_V8U9tVqoEsu3oE_DUHj_o5j5w0whzfrkPNTfLVyPuZeLq96ut9nKbhV-ajuSFQxOi9crhVQe8dclaU/s640/5BA7CAA5-48B0-4BA1-AD84-4C7DAD7F7136.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2AkuCgxITd0gSylFkABloxzhkMNv_2uC7ik1rEfWXpIf7JfzvahLL93yq19ggVtOOMvaE-DV5RUZN4u_WRVFKlbjQIesvT7JZ215KZc0N99E_V8U9tVqoEsu3oE_DUHj_o5j5w0whzfrkPNTfLVyPuZeLq96ut9nKbhV-ajuSFQxOi9crhVQe8dclaU/w520-h293/5BA7CAA5-48B0-4BA1-AD84-4C7DAD7F7136.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><br />It is beautiful and I am keen to play.</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-25914515229852217042024-01-15T07:00:00.005+00:002024-01-15T07:00:00.242+00:00Note to self: KCL Wargaming Network Videos, Journals and Books<div><b>Some old links to Professional KCL Wargamining Videos and Articles:</b></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>Video: </b><div><br />
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Perla, Peter. “The Art and Science of Wargaming to Innovate and Educate.” King’s College London, 2018.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DrxLQmPA1-4o%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120317088%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3DJKZyBvZBdJjeCpoEvp1Yqh7GMucKkhVJja1B1d%252FChr0%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNFyk3gQVt2b_wWEXm7NRD6WP5RB_g" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DrxLQmPA1-4o&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120317088%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=JKZyBvZBdJjeCpoEvp1Yqh7GMucKkhVJja1B1d%2FChr0%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxLQmPA1-4o. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=rxLQmPA1-4o</a>. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Wong, Yuna. “Developing an Academic Discipline of Wargaming.” King’s College London, 2019.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253Dnwa02IMRZ_k%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120317088%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3DdQKIajZx%252BuV6X0UJxuLPOpD08MX%252F4QVUHQGNckSMcFA%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNEQjFavOwZrroMWW_q_SFo2Xz7kWw" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dnwa02IMRZ_k&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120317088%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=dQKIajZx%2BuV6X0UJxuLPOpD08MX%2F4QVUHQGNckSMcFA%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwa02IMRZ_k. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>watch?v=nwa02IMRZ_k</a>. </p><div><br /></div><b>
Journals and Books: </b><br />
<br /><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Barzashka, Ivanka. “Wargaming: How to Turn Vogue into Science.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 15, 2019.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fthebulletin.org%252F2019%252F03%252Fwargaming-how-to-turn-vogue-into-science%252F%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120297168%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3Dg7D7QjnvMQuj9ig%252BHmTM2obg2JDWlF78mlIo3iO9Qms%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNFwMStF5gD2k5w7EkkylGrbeRoOeA" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthebulletin.org%2F2019%2F03%2Fwargaming-how-to-turn-vogue-into-science%2F&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120297168%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=g7D7QjnvMQuj9ig%2BHmTM2obg2JDWlF78mlIo3iO9Qms%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://thebulletin.org/2019/03/wargaming-how-to-turn-vogue-into-science/. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://thebulletin.org/<wbr></wbr>2019/03/wargaming-how-to-turn-<wbr></wbr>vogue-into-science/</a>. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Hirst, Aggie. “States of Play: Evaluating the Renaissance in US Military Wargaming.” Critical Military Studies (January 9, 2020): 1–21.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdoi.org%252F10.1080%252F23337486.2019.1707497%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120297168%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3DBP17efmsFuNiIkPjMRK%252BP6XQX1yfCpttJlK8R6s7nyg%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNHuKiaHTYhJyRCxRA0FmfulsI22hw" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1080%2F23337486.2019.1707497&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120297168%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=BP17efmsFuNiIkPjMRK%2BP6XQX1yfCpttJlK8R6s7nyg%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/23337486.2019.1707497. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://doi.org/10.1080/<wbr></wbr>23337486.2019.1707497</a>. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Hirst, Aggie. “Play in(g) International Theory.” Review of International Studies 45, no. 5 (December 2019): 891–914.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdoi.org%252F10.1017%252FS0260210519000160%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120307126%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3D1LsfNiw%252Bem7s7pV4wPIdZz8UB%252FnMRHZXGBl3sg7B%252FE4%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNH0ItbSlDqcNgmcbWOIOfYp5f0GbQ" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1017%2FS0260210519000160&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120307126%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=1LsfNiw%2Bem7s7pV4wPIdZz8UB%2FnMRHZXGBl3sg7B%2FE4%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210519000160. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://doi.org/10.<wbr></wbr>1017/S0260210519000160</a>. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Sabin, Philip. “Wargames as an Academic Instrument.” In Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming, edited by Pat Harrigan and Matthew Kirschenbaum. MIT Press. 2016.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262547925/zones-of-control/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://mitpress.mit.</span><wbr></wbr><span style="color: #1155cc;">edu/books/zones-control</span>. </a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Sabin, Philip. “Wargaming in Higher Education: Contributions and Challenges.” Arts and Humanities in Higher Education 14, no. 4 (October 1, 2015): 329–48.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdoi.org%252F10.1177%252F1474022215577216%26data%3D04%257C01%257Canna.1.nettleship%2540kcl.ac.uk%257Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%257C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%257C0%257C0%257C637428366120317088%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3Dr%252BY1U1EBtwwR%252BEDIb0eApL0lGH06vpJ8DXMraP%252BsNus%253D%26reserved%3D0&source=gmail&ust=1607450724162000&usg=AFQjCNGtMcNciwEchuewLkEpXEb1EkxGFw" href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1177%2F1474022215577216&data=04%7C01%7Canna.1.nettleship%40kcl.ac.uk%7Ca939ff61e1974249928a08d899b8c1d9%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C637428366120317088%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=r%2BY1U1EBtwwR%2BEDIb0eApL0lGH06vpJ8DXMraP%2BsNus%3D&reserved=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022215577216. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://doi.org/10.<wbr></wbr>1177/1474022215577216</a>. </p></div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-14148355256127413072024-01-14T07:00:00.008+00:002024-01-14T11:12:18.548+00:00Games Workshop (GW Demon) - WIP<b>Confession:</b> This one was pulled from the archives (a year ago). Backstory ..I had a moment of weakness, I think I was in need to cheer myself up with a tonic and "it" took advantage of me! Daemons are like that, they attack you when your defences are down and this one appeared unexpectedly in an aisle in local non-wargaming shop (Boyes) during a boring shopping trip (see below, yes I totally blame the Games Workshop Daemon for taking advantage of me, I am weak and it promised me riches [but it took my wargaming soul]. I have primed, washed and base-coated it [and washed it again for good measure] to gain the following effect): <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09atmdC1Gy3mUhu_8cXgb2Jw9cpmhH2qx2WggtoyrvJLuNUPjxgjYgkOmGgeNbM5J5u-ppvev0NwdE2Eu2Oij3v9QF9x2BwYdyKdLwur5QgG4iRoGlcTnxKXDuakVmY0TQ-oMZREq4Y3rXqYw8_DUH5RV1NIFj8n5QxnT9dyU5Obo3AdlXztbrh5J/s640/IMG_7089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09atmdC1Gy3mUhu_8cXgb2Jw9cpmhH2qx2WggtoyrvJLuNUPjxgjYgkOmGgeNbM5J5u-ppvev0NwdE2Eu2Oij3v9QF9x2BwYdyKdLwur5QgG4iRoGlcTnxKXDuakVmY0TQ-oMZREq4Y3rXqYw8_DUH5RV1NIFj8n5QxnT9dyU5Obo3AdlXztbrh5J/s320/IMG_7089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Despite being a bit over the top, it is very, very good fun to paint and it is one of the "classic Warhammer miniatures" - just sought after just to paint (see below, I like the way fantasy holds no bars so you are free to experiment - although you could say I went for a typical "Demon Red" painting scheme, three layers of paint [shade, base, highlight] and a wash on the metals! Presentable but not yet totally finished): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsKhHNuEEUI7i_41X2PROJAzZkLdfPZht8QYkZYk6SmWKbPJQSciN2jr91RU9QEyCR2f4japK5Y-u2V_rc0JNcPGDNUpx1m9iW19siHYgEiI0oPtxpx8VW5VKdgJHvKEm2gCLmHv_yRxuZOwSWGkywOarJP9pQpNMlFZqfEkCmUqz_zDBRZXspCZO/s640/IMG_7111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsKhHNuEEUI7i_41X2PROJAzZkLdfPZht8QYkZYk6SmWKbPJQSciN2jr91RU9QEyCR2f4japK5Y-u2V_rc0JNcPGDNUpx1m9iW19siHYgEiI0oPtxpx8VW5VKdgJHvKEm2gCLmHv_yRxuZOwSWGkywOarJP9pQpNMlFZqfEkCmUqz_zDBRZXspCZO/s320/IMG_7111.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Vallejo Game Colour paint range did the trick, along with their washes. The next stage is spot highlighting and some extra "detailing" on the base! Watch this space ...</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-18157381603817964542024-01-13T07:00:00.003+00:002024-01-14T11:21:44.722+00:00Call of the Cthulhu - Pandemic Style (Collaborative Game)<div>I can highly recommend this game that was a Xmas present purchase that went down a storm with friends and family (see below, a Pandemic style collaborative game, where the investigators try and stop the sprawling tentacles of doom engulfing humanity): </div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicibtmzMpC5v28aubQ5QEXEql2qPyziR24QmfxZp8LgFIXnEDsS1kVdXoJRNCjdPQwl0WwfB9YrBtaddZNCpEsdxWGn6WrdZDAvojN7i79SIHphvczCBa_LsIxOjPxk4baxjZNIEg64Od_3ok1LmyOxLTOL1UMJxPLgYP43E37Rv8NO5b66fu6NSJgoJc/s640/ACB5716B-D6C5-4B7E-B725-349BAE2062F6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicibtmzMpC5v28aubQ5QEXEql2qPyziR24QmfxZp8LgFIXnEDsS1kVdXoJRNCjdPQwl0WwfB9YrBtaddZNCpEsdxWGn6WrdZDAvojN7i79SIHphvczCBa_LsIxOjPxk4baxjZNIEg64Od_3ok1LmyOxLTOL1UMJxPLgYP43E37Rv8NO5b66fu6NSJgoJc/s320/ACB5716B-D6C5-4B7E-B725-349BAE2062F6.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />So far it has been played twice, not with a great success rate for the investigators to date, but they were up against the A-Team of Elder Gods. The board game comes with some lovely miniatures that obviously will need painting in the due course of time. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Board Game Geek reference:</b> <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/192153/pandemic-reign-cthulhu">https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/192153/pandemic-reign-cthulhu</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I actually enjoyed it much more than a 7.4 rating, my rating would be a 9.0!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-74926512329025483622024-01-12T07:00:00.002+00:002024-01-12T13:02:21.866+00:00The "Look" that is in for 2024 - Sci-Fi Bounty Hunter Dude!<div>If I could pick a look for 2024, in a world filled with uncertainly .. I think this might be a the one - "Don't Mess" with this dude (see below, a 28mm Sci-Fi figure I picked up at Conference of Wargamers (CoW) 2023 [manufacturer TBC]): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1ml2qgporUy6Jn7-7vEZglXLCO7w5_35DndTMFkfK63Dcy5XtuJIHmHbsp_2qIPvxLdJh9WknsyGlo36WgGeSSAAxm3cMq-3_OM9rNkKzRaOTJM8V0QZME8u4T8DFkRKDubyBM49Hxg4yAB2bYnvJvE7R-LLWtuYTZp82YOxzOPrrdgV1odArRxRmA8/s474/SD.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1ml2qgporUy6Jn7-7vEZglXLCO7w5_35DndTMFkfK63Dcy5XtuJIHmHbsp_2qIPvxLdJh9WknsyGlo36WgGeSSAAxm3cMq-3_OM9rNkKzRaOTJM8V0QZME8u4T8DFkRKDubyBM49Hxg4yAB2bYnvJvE7R-LLWtuYTZp82YOxzOPrrdgV1odArRxRmA8/s320/SD.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><br />Quite pleased with the Space Bounty Hunter "look". He is obviously displeased to be stranded on a far distant planet probably in the middle of a Laz-Gun fight! </div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-48572427010296571002024-01-09T23:58:00.009+00:002024-01-11T00:09:36.424+00:00A retro-project approaching its completion: Games Workshop Warhammer Starter Set circa 2003 - The Orks!Before Xmas this was the state of play of my Warhammer Starter Set - bought for me as a birthday present circa 2003. The Empire troops are long painted but the Ork (careful not to drop into the LOTR spelling convention here) are still wanting a <span style="text-align: center;">bit of attention (see below, the Ork Boar Chariot and Ork Archers are just primed, Ork Chopper Boyz looking ok): </span><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmXRI7SRlaBVp2kqPb8FC-OIytje66WmRHv5WktT_PUWxvBRLPZ-G-ipFcW0ECQ2SubqRe0FhceF8IY6V1IdpGK_Hafz46Bsej6VPqnG2VPX_voo2TCULsNHheua7UaCwde3QS6MIhGVrTjEpVOFtqzICTxLsevban2nTV95M_PTW2q94Fgs4lE9tMGM/s640/A6147407-252B-46A5-9220-6FAA8FE42E9D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmXRI7SRlaBVp2kqPb8FC-OIytje66WmRHv5WktT_PUWxvBRLPZ-G-ipFcW0ECQ2SubqRe0FhceF8IY6V1IdpGK_Hafz46Bsej6VPqnG2VPX_voo2TCULsNHheua7UaCwde3QS6MIhGVrTjEpVOFtqzICTxLsevban2nTV95M_PTW2q94Fgs4lE9tMGM/s320/A6147407-252B-46A5-9220-6FAA8FE42E9D.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />The Ork Chopper Boyz are pretty much done - an extra bit of work on the blades won't go amiss (see below, these Ork Boyz don't seem to be the 1HD wonders of Second Edition D&D I remember so fondly of in my youth , more like 3-5HD "bad ass" things you try and avoid if at all possible): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpls4WSvciyo4SFYg4dViUc4sYYkIh_-55pagDtsZcXxhGCMqzk7nC22LWJzG7JxxknvheIBzDFF73CnMPavZsoLmVKtA1KnUkoQGNOsPZrbD75yaoDJ4PxB0Rez6h8JoJ7cXIssLROVN7PbksHwHY-G8zuHwYvMLBLQpy26RR2sTl7SVZnxRumGyE2hA/s640/4998C880-8097-4830-9361-2DE9001CE72C.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpls4WSvciyo4SFYg4dViUc4sYYkIh_-55pagDtsZcXxhGCMqzk7nC22LWJzG7JxxknvheIBzDFF73CnMPavZsoLmVKtA1KnUkoQGNOsPZrbD75yaoDJ4PxB0Rez6h8JoJ7cXIssLROVN7PbksHwHY-G8zuHwYvMLBLQpy26RR2sTl7SVZnxRumGyE2hA/s320/4998C880-8097-4830-9361-2DE9001CE72C.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />So during the Xmas break I went to it with gusto [it was a bucket list item]! The Ork Archers get their final painting session (see below, basing and flocking of course still to follow): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn-gznMnkrtZ4bwn2mJqa_MWI-JQPtM5Bjy2v53DAd-uJC9GZc5SKAB_Segv0S-r4-zkZ1MqY3Wi384XghWELlKdoPSqSt7ulqMFRQ5H_4Yo_-Ie2dEl6zgLkx1JwYQCRyRQ7iXEvUMkAky2LX9fWCMzlDRk4SVt-HCAYIwAXPSmZ7ot9miRx2dbAOm4/s640/4011B821-E373-4CCE-966E-7DB9835C0481.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn-gznMnkrtZ4bwn2mJqa_MWI-JQPtM5Bjy2v53DAd-uJC9GZc5SKAB_Segv0S-r4-zkZ1MqY3Wi384XghWELlKdoPSqSt7ulqMFRQ5H_4Yo_-Ie2dEl6zgLkx1JwYQCRyRQ7iXEvUMkAky2LX9fWCMzlDRk4SVt-HCAYIwAXPSmZ7ot9miRx2dbAOm4/s320/4011B821-E373-4CCE-966E-7DB9835C0481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Ork Crew and Wild Boar Chariot was the most challenging. In short, a lot of work .. albeit mostly brown and metal (see below, it did however become a mix between a "labour of love" and "point of honour to finish without rushing". Note: the Spear Ork is really working hard to find something "to hit"):</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVbPZjwst23SUBRjNoWqbRjzb6IsRvAMp9XgMVQxozQ7I2r5AWeacC6K4TNwmJ4m0IXNWl_EIK-47hA1VrDFrv_hyphenhyphenWtHfmmxZKCbMAzAzbgljqUnqMy_sAS_Fe0i-2f4TckN2qj7OQngREl3K06e0VdzpxHVvp_3CzJ-YeLH1TF655PaQx1DOtuKDjlI/s640/IMG_9249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVbPZjwst23SUBRjNoWqbRjzb6IsRvAMp9XgMVQxozQ7I2r5AWeacC6K4TNwmJ4m0IXNWl_EIK-47hA1VrDFrv_hyphenhyphenWtHfmmxZKCbMAzAzbgljqUnqMy_sAS_Fe0i-2f4TckN2qj7OQngREl3K06e0VdzpxHVvp_3CzJ-YeLH1TF655PaQx1DOtuKDjlI/s320/IMG_9249.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />A close-up of a typical Greenskin - showing off with a whip, prodding a Wild Boar and bigging himself up (see below, where is a juicy, defenceless Elf when you need one?): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTw-5oLWdTtip_HZHnqBjxrsSx5BFg0z7jZ4SzIP0530j8z7Cx1KBawCO6jsa5MqhjUaMms3NbWCzf8c_03bZhtGQG3k_Ba9e7Oj_POYuYPZDGFw3_pcfi0xNWMR6UfDKD11W6-R38y6KlD9h8XjP0RaPtxBezTDGJbfZX-iZu-dbjzi-Ime5d2X453o/s640/IMG_9250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTw-5oLWdTtip_HZHnqBjxrsSx5BFg0z7jZ4SzIP0530j8z7Cx1KBawCO6jsa5MqhjUaMms3NbWCzf8c_03bZhtGQG3k_Ba9e7Oj_POYuYPZDGFw3_pcfi0xNWMR6UfDKD11W6-R38y6KlD9h8XjP0RaPtxBezTDGJbfZX-iZu-dbjzi-Ime5d2X453o/s320/IMG_9250.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Nearly there, just the last bit of basing to do! Not that bad after twenty years - I was just waiting until I learned to paint?</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-86603656994439543392024-01-02T23:54:00.006+00:002024-01-02T23:54:51.404+00:00Wishing you all a (belated) Happy New Year!<p>Wishing you all a Happy New Year!</p><p>My Blogging "New Year's Resolution" seems to be reporting Spammers trying to leave betting website links in the comments sections of one my historical posts to Google.</p><p>Frustrating that!</p><p>None of them (yet) have got through to be shown on the Blog as I have set approval before publication wrt comments.</p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-22826366279007789462023-12-29T18:58:00.004+00:002023-12-29T18:58:29.684+00:00Attack Warning Red (Julie McDowell): Audible BookNot a light Xmas read, but a very rewarding one as it gave a fascinating glimpse of the "What if" or "What could have been" with a chilling reveal of strategic war planning - or rather, the lack of the ability to effectively plan for the unthinkable which on reflection .. makes sense. The Government's natural desire or want to "protect national assets" (even in a selfish way) was simply defeated by the Physics of Oppenheimer's and Teller's Hydrogen Bomb, "game changer" (see below, not quite the happy nuclear family I was thinking about, I am more of a "The Simpons" man myself): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiDdt6jVi-OT4rG745JT9N9Z4GFmetoN44AnV9A8NzgZDCiXSwcGebl79-S4gfKUNd9iZno5eaCpxO2Q8Nv4FaI95ZS6UlCAahgnRR-EHDOcMkbmrB-3sR7DptAtivABVcWYbDwLEurC3IETbxKr9RAIan1sRwdSjVdMCFu_Bld59MdbbZXysBxJRbiU/s1033/Attack%20Warning%20Red.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="1033" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiDdt6jVi-OT4rG745JT9N9Z4GFmetoN44AnV9A8NzgZDCiXSwcGebl79-S4gfKUNd9iZno5eaCpxO2Q8Nv4FaI95ZS6UlCAahgnRR-EHDOcMkbmrB-3sR7DptAtivABVcWYbDwLEurC3IETbxKr9RAIan1sRwdSjVdMCFu_Bld59MdbbZXysBxJRbiU/s320/Attack%20Warning%20Red.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>My verdict: </b>So good that, after listening to the Audible version I bought the hardback copy (I could not wait for the April paperback edition to come out). It caused much stimulating conversation with the older members of the family who lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War 1980's! I also need to watch Threads again as well as catch up on the latest Podcast of The Atomic Hobo.</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-54163310935523243602023-12-28T07:00:00.001+00:002023-12-28T07:00:00.250+00:00Alternative Nativity Scene (D&D Vibe)?Kids having fun with nativity scene (see below, Avengers figures were too large to fit in correctly): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1bNMdZRSiFF6XT8ji7avyEl_UUXgV7a3S5yBg48KPqVLjOrh6IANG4PUBZvaHiNZ5CQOw2g9o6dCsuHb4xlx-GVUB3ZVa0UlnorTbYq_ykPPTPjcWeD1DEBR3EVtkttHn11pe_sCx6a73J6CQvQACWLXgiNLObggUsK5zMgT-wbHJA7Nma_f2-JSWKE/s640/4968C543-0ACD-4ED1-85F7-36B72FF91D9C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1bNMdZRSiFF6XT8ji7avyEl_UUXgV7a3S5yBg48KPqVLjOrh6IANG4PUBZvaHiNZ5CQOw2g9o6dCsuHb4xlx-GVUB3ZVa0UlnorTbYq_ykPPTPjcWeD1DEBR3EVtkttHn11pe_sCx6a73J6CQvQACWLXgiNLObggUsK5zMgT-wbHJA7Nma_f2-JSWKE/s320/4968C543-0ACD-4ED1-85F7-36B72FF91D9C.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well at least the Roper seemed to be the correct scale!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-82030528624925064082023-12-27T07:00:00.001+00:002023-12-27T07:00:00.250+00:00Another go at "Ghosts of the Jungle"In the interests of diverse game play I introduced my D&D group to Ghosts of the Jungle to see how these lads (RPG'ers, aka none mainstream wargamers) played it (see below, I was also experimenting with new novel markers [sourced from the random wood decoration department in "The Works" shop] - 'big feet' markers to say that a square had been entered, and as a "trail" marker [VC tracker to pick up, but teh method was a bit cumbersome]):<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaE8xUcPrn5ZF9k0KpHICBcfwioJki11F3cT4b6rEBmnkNQyyEMjms-JY4wMsoSQLHx9qSZcLpxCmlHmYNfTiQSVDo-vKuNHiq77jMaM2JxGiM_iawY1kHQ6WgpqjIsqmcOreRmRZvCVN5VCuVCXqoKjPVNVZwoXFuRCuY-xNuCtMuzmuuG3Fpql19SY/s640/A8D733E0-A89F-45B9-9D3A-21FAF179F402.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaE8xUcPrn5ZF9k0KpHICBcfwioJki11F3cT4b6rEBmnkNQyyEMjms-JY4wMsoSQLHx9qSZcLpxCmlHmYNfTiQSVDo-vKuNHiq77jMaM2JxGiM_iawY1kHQ6WgpqjIsqmcOreRmRZvCVN5VCuVCXqoKjPVNVZwoXFuRCuY-xNuCtMuzmuuG3Fpql19SY/s320/A8D733E0-A89F-45B9-9D3A-21FAF179F402.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />As I explained the rules, appropriate beverages [for the Aussies at least] were imbibed (see below, the exotic range of non-standard glassware down to what was left in the cupboard - aka stuff that teenagers like to drink their fizzy pop from): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fWntxAA5lJ-X8Jf9-RaV5khfEs7-LEMeDx6WFKU8qCY3wuJt59oMNZVqzJLyk9aajG0mtlUEIr34OQxJAxtR8gMNJ0G1MyMNo9BgyNhgEXsLG_JFcRbabE3lqKyNsnZC7qbpZGP1ylQE0p8eeHlfd7ageRQJ5q0VUlW5gLwtpDZ5a9cfJQcwpY-6MsI/s640/DCA2BEF7-3CE5-402F-8D6D-582EAEA70C54.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fWntxAA5lJ-X8Jf9-RaV5khfEs7-LEMeDx6WFKU8qCY3wuJt59oMNZVqzJLyk9aajG0mtlUEIr34OQxJAxtR8gMNJ0G1MyMNo9BgyNhgEXsLG_JFcRbabE3lqKyNsnZC7qbpZGP1ylQE0p8eeHlfd7ageRQJ5q0VUlW5gLwtpDZ5a9cfJQcwpY-6MsI/s320/DCA2BEF7-3CE5-402F-8D6D-582EAEA70C54.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sarge leads his troops off into the jungle and stops when he sees something suspicious. Is it a villager or VC? (see below, green squares are jungle vegetation hiding spots, red ones rural village houses, the warped cardboard sufficed as make-shift road [appropriate as it is a poor quality dirt track]): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEweCTYo4D1HvnVi3cMxxsFWlpe4tOGnzg7-U94m_6zb4JV1pYs0V6Cw9Q4Xx5a2urnWYdHxZbxKzASQ77odOBsJ2OXwjO2snJN91SGT8e7_tTq8o3m4Ed5T17_QVvSSGgJBm-E-ClBiVopAQCTncCIOdUTFotOJVBupntre2m9kMNtQapmqBE937SdSc/s640/D934398C-C043-4A4F-AFFE-79861356117E.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEweCTYo4D1HvnVi3cMxxsFWlpe4tOGnzg7-U94m_6zb4JV1pYs0V6Cw9Q4Xx5a2urnWYdHxZbxKzASQ77odOBsJ2OXwjO2snJN91SGT8e7_tTq8o3m4Ed5T17_QVvSSGgJBm-E-ClBiVopAQCTncCIOdUTFotOJVBupntre2m9kMNtQapmqBE937SdSc/s320/D934398C-C043-4A4F-AFFE-79861356117E.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />The gameboard gets a bit more complex as the VC and village encounters pose challenges for the strung out ANZAC patrol. The RPG'ers tried not to "shoot first and ask questions later" as the D&D "send the thief scouting forward" strategy came through in droves (see below, edging forward quietly and then ... the shooting started and all hell burst forth): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcy2FAmuYjxTWow4U9hDdkYzMmrDvxSKshmJMmi9gIr8mUbtsFs5BiqKkVniqitdVCdfqdicAIRNd7ufAANOjz0V5pRRJrIccZ7uRrc5WuWVdwPASdW-M6Gw2AKjsMIFtH8fdSHSJpu0oUswA8tnTLvdL1TfatVraQJgIk9GzkT6-9W6jpDviQJ2G648/s640/5526D856-8F15-421D-9C0A-EB550689A882.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcy2FAmuYjxTWow4U9hDdkYzMmrDvxSKshmJMmi9gIr8mUbtsFs5BiqKkVniqitdVCdfqdicAIRNd7ufAANOjz0V5pRRJrIccZ7uRrc5WuWVdwPASdW-M6Gw2AKjsMIFtH8fdSHSJpu0oUswA8tnTLvdL1TfatVraQJgIk9GzkT6-9W6jpDviQJ2G648/s320/5526D856-8F15-421D-9C0A-EB550689A882.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />Things looked bad as the SAS LRRP got trapped in a mathematical puzzle (insufficient actions to safelt do it and nobody wanted to get stuck in the middle) in trying to safely cross the road (despite all those scary 1970 BBC educational cartoons helping children to cross the road safely), but eventually they "reset" and went round the longer way (see below, the end result was a pile of VC [or are they really just innocent villagers] as the SAS exited safely off table): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8xTrQsZY3kuwZetv-Yy6a9iEvP4qIuPG-RfkzA43xN6UDHJZADvlWAmyOK18aTNrpz4prvQrhF657PaaaHVcT4cMaLGKTYOsZ2cV2uZ-F-AQxiqSjLVtohumJxzxeQcpvsaQ0RHc6i0Lk2wht5MrcFpYIowxKP2x-YgeQKPlNjrJ3TQJIGkTL2yleq0/s640/029FA266-C8AD-4646-99FE-282E56775F7C.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8xTrQsZY3kuwZetv-Yy6a9iEvP4qIuPG-RfkzA43xN6UDHJZADvlWAmyOK18aTNrpz4prvQrhF657PaaaHVcT4cMaLGKTYOsZ2cV2uZ-F-AQxiqSjLVtohumJxzxeQcpvsaQ0RHc6i0Lk2wht5MrcFpYIowxKP2x-YgeQKPlNjrJ3TQJIGkTL2yleq0/s320/029FA266-C8AD-4646-99FE-282E56775F7C.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />The RPG boys found the rules at first a bit of a challenge in understanding the [simple] game play, but their RPG problem solving skills ensured collaborative play so they got out alive and made devasting use of the "grenade" rule (when the VC attraction to noise makes them "clump" together). All-in-all a nice diversion, but back to wizards, orcs and fireballs next time!</div></div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-57690707623550833532023-12-25T00:01:00.002+00:002023-12-25T00:01:00.130+00:00Merry Xmas 2023Space Marines can also be used as Xmas decorations (see below, which is my excuse for keeping them in a box in the loft): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO6BY9kFTDLpj0XReoOMjZi6auplXyEGhAP3Zw4HATqTjdMFZZev5_0s6Gjqnn9OzdkDThHA0UYB6xalQsXs0RukCp-lCMGG6n203rSW7ZU-P-SV3Imk5Acj96wI8wS4XS9U6vTUxGPCeuAZVpbAYaEpPBVRviQVIs1ajY8J4lrzOM33nwNMt8fBC2EU/s640/3F48E446-6A0F-4061-894B-6948B8756DAA.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO6BY9kFTDLpj0XReoOMjZi6auplXyEGhAP3Zw4HATqTjdMFZZev5_0s6Gjqnn9OzdkDThHA0UYB6xalQsXs0RukCp-lCMGG6n203rSW7ZU-P-SV3Imk5Acj96wI8wS4XS9U6vTUxGPCeuAZVpbAYaEpPBVRviQVIs1ajY8J4lrzOM33nwNMt8fBC2EU/s320/3F48E446-6A0F-4061-894B-6948B8756DAA.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />Merry Xmas 2023 to all!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-19721557747459907532023-12-22T07:00:00.001+00:002023-12-22T07:00:00.134+00:00Audible Book: Black Holes by Brian Cox and Jeff Foreshaw<p>Following my son's interest in Physics (I was pretty useless at hands on Science at school and ended up doing Computers instead) I thought I might try and "audible" my way into what makes him so excited about it. The latest book by Brian Cox and his compatriot Jeff Foreshaw seemed as good a place as any to start (see below, "to boldly go" or rather "sit back and listen") : </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4CTp0e-VdCHkywo3nI56qK2lfSgY-6VPr47L9Dohxxq58mjinwua2ZZkkCI6mrDuk8lLa_QD6T9ukYFYHI_VJv1MHZFPuJRbfcbcyKWz2_1zshs3_oKNAZyitoKK76-D15vwX8IKcJ0HSenGUGK7_Wpsy-ZjEgbzmojFCFM24bjTw5xw8nx1JRYAkls/s1159/Black%20Holes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1159" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4CTp0e-VdCHkywo3nI56qK2lfSgY-6VPr47L9Dohxxq58mjinwua2ZZkkCI6mrDuk8lLa_QD6T9ukYFYHI_VJv1MHZFPuJRbfcbcyKWz2_1zshs3_oKNAZyitoKK76-D15vwX8IKcJ0HSenGUGK7_Wpsy-ZjEgbzmojFCFM24bjTw5xw8nx1JRYAkls/s320/Black%20Holes.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well there is an Elton John song that comes to mind, aka Rocket Man and the line "All the science I don't understand", but I enjoyed the ride and bought a physical copy of teh book to go back to! I may well have to listen again to this one. Thought provoking and often mind blowing!<p></p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-49617785560297006972023-12-21T07:00:00.027+00:002023-12-21T22:07:09.703+00:00Waterloo done the Airfix Way with Phil Sabin<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">Following on from <a href="https://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2023/12/phil-sabins-version-of-napoleon-at.html" target="_blank">Bob Cordery's example (in his Wargaming Miscellany blog) post</a>, I too have to pay tribute to Phil Sabin's latest completed project (and anybody painting 450 </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Airfix 20mm [1/72 in old money] old school wargaming figures gets my respect). Waterloo - The Dunnigan way (which to teh man's credit, originally created as a free wargame) with a few new Sabin tweaks added: </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In Phil's own words: </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Coinciding neatly with the release of Ridley Scott’s new blockbuster movie on Napoleon, I have just posted the 450 significantly improved 2</span><sup style="color: #222222;">nd</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">edition of my own much-downloaded tweaks for Napoleon at Waterloo, together with a video illustrating and explaining my changes and showing a complete game using my new bespoke 3D playset with 450 painted Airfix figures, each representing around 400 real troops or 50 cannon.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">You may find the tweaks and video at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/199517/simple-rules-tweaks-greater-realism&source=gmail&ust=1703110509376000&usg=AOvVaw1z6irRKYPnxzOuGu_33oBb" href="https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/199517/simple-rules-tweaks-greater-realism" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://boardgamegeek.com/<wbr></wbr>filepage/199517/simple-rules-<wbr></wbr>tweaks-greater-realism</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@philipsabin1653&source=gmail&ust=1703110509376000&usg=AOvVaw3mxL1K59gCKlYFZJ3H5-GD" href="https://www.youtube.com/@philipsabin1653" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@<wbr></wbr>philipsabin1653</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">respectively.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Please share both links as widely as possible on other relevant board and miniatures gaming for a (together with the link to Charles’s book at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Books-by-topic/MCUP-Titles-A-Z/Wargaming-Waterloo/&source=gmail&ust=1703110509376000&usg=AOvVaw3GZtPRy47oenw2btPHhX7W" href="https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/Books-by-topic/MCUP-Titles-A-Z/Wargaming-Waterloo/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.usmcu.edu/<wbr></wbr>Outreach/Marine-Corps-<wbr></wbr>University-Press/Books-by-<wbr></wbr>topic/MCUP-Titles-A-Z/<wbr></wbr>Wargaming-Waterloo/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">), so that other enthusiasts are made aware.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy7wY7Tsh_FfF1IOebYPnTAO0lqAFEWSUdLaFAQUUywf4A1fCdrlEvtgqyiWXoRbgFW0O8xNB6QQl1vJTmP8gSM_qOY1O9jg5dFi3dDp5TEyx6UDfBzxQcSgbLzxlHaQV7cpPLedFccAE5A0_DQQ-YSaulMORvP7i5bKbeAOhJLnC1pirqrkyTOBtIL8/s640/Waterloo%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHy7wY7Tsh_FfF1IOebYPnTAO0lqAFEWSUdLaFAQUUywf4A1fCdrlEvtgqyiWXoRbgFW0O8xNB6QQl1vJTmP8gSM_qOY1O9jg5dFi3dDp5TEyx6UDfBzxQcSgbLzxlHaQV7cpPLedFccAE5A0_DQQ-YSaulMORvP7i5bKbeAOhJLnC1pirqrkyTOBtIL8/s320/Waterloo%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Our discussions of Charles’s ideas in his article and book provided the main impetus for me to create the 3D playset (using figures I first painted decades ago) and to revisit my original 2020 tweaks. Although the amendments proposed by Charles and myself coincide in several areas, our approaches are rather different, as is discussed in the thread below on ‘Tweaking Published Games’. Charles mostly takes the existing game system as read and focuses on more literal modelling of aspects such as the size of the farm garrisons, the tractability of woods and the times at which various contingents became available. I have used much more of a ‘design for effect’ approach, by playing the game repeatedly and introducing successive tweaks and constraints so that it comes closer to the historical course of events as regards aspects such as the differences among the three combat arms, Wellington’s reliance on defensive terrain, the fatal impetuosity of British horse, the long resistance of the farmhouses, the French cavalry charges, the progress of the Prussian advance and the time represented by each turn. Charles rather surprisingly leaves the original Anglo-Allied forces mostly unchanged, whereas I have shifted and combined a number of Wellington’s units to yield a far better model of his forces.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLTbTD7Q5rhwgn-X2juiEmbmvArEmLpnv4UbR2AHDu42sfHXzJe_8868ywSQdgtce2OtPMEUySzjTXDxvAHNtMK9UuDY-s1d99va9iAZ8mDfeUWzSotaZWLFoOuv6o24k-ruMD7_HS9ACt1Ne4eMhjy315TMJ0dCJIQua-z27mUcTxutMl7fJ8eIWWg8/s640/Waterloo%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLTbTD7Q5rhwgn-X2juiEmbmvArEmLpnv4UbR2AHDu42sfHXzJe_8868ywSQdgtce2OtPMEUySzjTXDxvAHNtMK9UuDY-s1d99va9iAZ8mDfeUWzSotaZWLFoOuv6o24k-ruMD7_HS9ACt1Ne4eMhjy315TMJ0dCJIQua-z27mUcTxutMl7fJ8eIWWg8/s320/Waterloo%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It is interesting to compare my own tweaks and illustrative refight with those provided by Charles on pp.137-48, 157-58 and 299-300 of his book. Both offer better simulations than does the original game, but their significant differences show the highly personal and individualistic nature of wargame modelling, which Peter Perla rightly compared to creating a painting of the real phenomenon. Our respective contributions give us plenty to discuss in this forum if desired. Besides the thread I mentioned above, newcomers may like to browse the other threads below on ‘Simulation vs. “Glorified Chess”’ and on ‘Esdaile’s Analysis of Waterloo Sims’ to see the extensive discussions we have had already. I hope that our contributions (including the inspirational sight of my figure version of the game) will encourage some of you to revisit this classic design and to tweak it in your own preferred style. After waiting patiently in their box files for decades, my bespoke miniatures have already seen extensive action during my many playtests, and I look forward to using them in plenty of future refights, perhaps with Bondarchuk’s 1970 movie playing in the background for added atmosphere!<p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>The final word from this Blog: </b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just those two screenshots make it mouth watering for me, what Phil has done in the rules, explained in the video makes it cool! Respect for completing a nice little project!</span></p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-8469861814285152912023-12-19T22:47:00.002+00:002023-12-19T22:49:15.892+00:001904-1905: Russo-Japanese Naval War Literature References<p>Following of from my hypothetical WWI Naval Russo-Swede battle at CoW-2023 I had a wide ranging conversation with Toby Ewin (a Naval Historian) who kindly passed on these references for the Russo-Jap War (see below, I never knew there was so many and so much to read!): </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyhJ_a_KHz-kEOACjRC6WI-L8Oj260yqmxRfOMkjVZr85i5jIW7voJ250VNV0_GzVMcaNWOpPc0d8vdNf4PC1TC39x9B5jb83Tfsa3-mC5PfRdfkwIWuSx0UuugYZGc0TZ2VkaVi26Eqi3BKvGITOlSn-l88U8iqT5zKQEb-fTVtyLnnP9L-f4zaSHV0/s850/Russo-Jap%20Ref%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="668" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyhJ_a_KHz-kEOACjRC6WI-L8Oj260yqmxRfOMkjVZr85i5jIW7voJ250VNV0_GzVMcaNWOpPc0d8vdNf4PC1TC39x9B5jb83Tfsa3-mC5PfRdfkwIWuSx0UuugYZGc0TZ2VkaVi26Eqi3BKvGITOlSn-l88U8iqT5zKQEb-fTVtyLnnP9L-f4zaSHV0/s320/Russo-Jap%20Ref%201.PNG" width="251" /></a></div><br />I have to confess to once having Julian Corbett's history of the Japanese War but could not get into them (I did read his WWI histories cover-to-cover, so I do not know what mental block I had for the Russo-Jap) and so passed them onto a friend for a 1/3000 figure [ship] swap [I received a modern USN Carrier Battle Group]. I am content with the battles in Avalanche Press' 1904-05 Russo-Jap Naval War board game and David Manley's White Bear and Red Sun rules and scenarios (see below, the amount of detail in the reference list is fascinating): <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJxqd3Gl5M6a4nWmFBeuEL1kSc8dwbYuW-K_ZpVSFKGxzUggAnEGj67ODsNTggMoKi1BbibD9-K5ASy8QxhyTEmce-DuCmKHHeA78q1hzI8BpLOGufZc8PZ_bYhuEsRvxCqgE6nDe0QL9Jdk24AdkdP4gXilc2tjEo5Rv_4Rhxw2_u_BaYij53ObuOkI/s843/Russo-Jap%20Ref%202.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJxqd3Gl5M6a4nWmFBeuEL1kSc8dwbYuW-K_ZpVSFKGxzUggAnEGj67ODsNTggMoKi1BbibD9-K5ASy8QxhyTEmce-DuCmKHHeA78q1hzI8BpLOGufZc8PZ_bYhuEsRvxCqgE6nDe0QL9Jdk24AdkdP4gXilc2tjEo5Rv_4Rhxw2_u_BaYij53ObuOkI/s320/Russo-Jap%20Ref%202.PNG" width="231" /></a></div><br />I am pleased just to have the complete range of Russo-Jap ships [bar the full number of destroyers] represented in the Navwar 1/3000 figure range for this period (see below, more and more references): <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPuCHa1IiHbpvQoT6AjAxHBKzLDMZOdoLDCSExzcF99HTazrsSzQPFHiGhClH9jM5AnES-HbklsligZn63grCyWPNauKIHz31FrArMtVXsDbgBHkiQPnHqc_eWDPwHn7RSi-EgpoHNFwsPGXkxkDQuQpDztUbjQosOXATySs1m9XU31lL5PS1v_dJ2kU/s857/Russo-Jap%20Ref%203.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="617" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPuCHa1IiHbpvQoT6AjAxHBKzLDMZOdoLDCSExzcF99HTazrsSzQPFHiGhClH9jM5AnES-HbklsligZn63grCyWPNauKIHz31FrArMtVXsDbgBHkiQPnHqc_eWDPwHn7RSi-EgpoHNFwsPGXkxkDQuQpDztUbjQosOXATySs1m9XU31lL5PS1v_dJ2kU/s320/Russo-Jap%20Ref%203.PNG" width="230" /></a></div><br />Final page just to be complete (see below, as the wife says, this is what libraries are for - get it on Kindle if you must!): <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5SLj4BE3DYTcoK3SxsT1ODHJEqWlaoIWrUo82f_DLSYmwgzvex_OP11Ex7fpLCbazvy3XjG1byB3kvJijv25Ikh6odvSlUOJs5y3_rml3zNuir_3bpiz-8UFgB14obCYEoEie-3MB_BRAfDwAAmnKAr1EknNC7IEpVc6gLgbkTtkCLUKGAhkt-t3gMA/s757/Russo-Jap%20Ref%204.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5SLj4BE3DYTcoK3SxsT1ODHJEqWlaoIWrUo82f_DLSYmwgzvex_OP11Ex7fpLCbazvy3XjG1byB3kvJijv25Ikh6odvSlUOJs5y3_rml3zNuir_3bpiz-8UFgB14obCYEoEie-3MB_BRAfDwAAmnKAr1EknNC7IEpVc6gLgbkTtkCLUKGAhkt-t3gMA/s320/Russo-Jap%20Ref%204.PNG" width="267" /></a></div><br />I look forward to Toby's book on Russian Imperial Naval Wargaming in the History of Wargaming Project in due course at it is a fascinating subject (that will probably find its way to my book shelf as it has wargaming in the title).<p></p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-33786835405362935142023-12-11T07:00:00.008+00:002023-12-11T07:00:00.148+00:00My Navwar Projects Review and "Get better soon Tony!"I was reviewing the Navwar 1/3000 production line of ships (lots of WIP here). It is a naval wargamers collectors paradise for Pre-dreadnought, WW1, WW2 and a bit of (Falklands) modern. Here are a couple of my current active project streams (see below, firstly filling out the German WW2 destroyer and minor vessels as we all have the Bismarck): <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-avyx6bEvxMrFZ5HZ4LBAl1MZKX058gJJWov_8PSrHWAAKf59BlV6tHEEFqWqq3WhuTKKMoxQL-CoHyXQoDoquKXAMuUuba6Fwrd19q4lJX8gWI9PSX3FiHSG4Ss7s39xUZsPRm5ErxFNzaN9BxAxwKE-Q7VdxRjEQzbiol0fQQftcHhsUDj7MdmYyX8/s640/9B890492-505A-4517-9D5C-E188DBE4B78B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-avyx6bEvxMrFZ5HZ4LBAl1MZKX058gJJWov_8PSrHWAAKf59BlV6tHEEFqWqq3WhuTKKMoxQL-CoHyXQoDoquKXAMuUuba6Fwrd19q4lJX8gWI9PSX3FiHSG4Ss7s39xUZsPRm5ErxFNzaN9BxAxwKE-Q7VdxRjEQzbiol0fQQftcHhsUDj7MdmYyX8/s320/9B890492-505A-4517-9D5C-E188DBE4B78B.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />The French Capitol ships (see below, because in that early war 1939-1940 period they played a big part in the numerous "hunt the raider" groups - long before the interesting Vichy side of things started up): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVxlwyeLe0rHTz8grm39gpzs50bFgREGieDTasR9VYFYbpozsuoCgjrhkTc71jM9NKupIm90nffqkP-4Ffpc2vm0YeYyWq5Pj8Je1HTkx69otUATPe5Z0NA334pMap906EX1s6MBcPjvXxjZbm2wcfJN3vunujKv1OBFN4w1G3Odpg7YVndNO52BlLy8/s640/175E567B-D80E-46E4-B296-20248BEAEE73.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVxlwyeLe0rHTz8grm39gpzs50bFgREGieDTasR9VYFYbpozsuoCgjrhkTc71jM9NKupIm90nffqkP-4Ffpc2vm0YeYyWq5Pj8Je1HTkx69otUATPe5Z0NA334pMap906EX1s6MBcPjvXxjZbm2wcfJN3vunujKv1OBFN4w1G3Odpg7YVndNO52BlLy8/s320/175E567B-D80E-46E4-B296-20248BEAEE73.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Imperial Japanese Navy in all its mighty glory (see below, a selection of their carrier force, the Pearl Harbour, Coral Sea and Midway "bad boys"): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IDWk2sJhhl8aM4Q13l383uQ_4nRXJq4qBkBWuS3jYxZQXjCewlF8fU5CuAtUdYX3j-oVg6X-9hqM-OR8mOZMEA72bGybiNP8AWNbKRP2nXoCDrsKwrbF7gUIuPnFE3RNYfpdjCH44ulFBZPNEJZv9WA8LMS7iowq7RM90ciXqSIU7LBFS6AR5zEsIR4/s640/656C4CF1-808D-4C10-A761-E3DE4016693B.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IDWk2sJhhl8aM4Q13l383uQ_4nRXJq4qBkBWuS3jYxZQXjCewlF8fU5CuAtUdYX3j-oVg6X-9hqM-OR8mOZMEA72bGybiNP8AWNbKRP2nXoCDrsKwrbF7gUIuPnFE3RNYfpdjCH44ulFBZPNEJZv9WA8LMS7iowq7RM90ciXqSIU7LBFS6AR5zEsIR4/s320/656C4CF1-808D-4C10-A761-E3DE4016693B.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Just as scary as the CVs are the IJN Heavy Cruisers (see below, this is where the calculus of the 1922 Washington Treaty and subsequent treaties met its match against the minds of cunning naval architects and Civil Servants/Officials who measured tonnages wrongly [accidently]): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKa76d1KQMKnZ1VF9REBH5w2AqMRbisAiDkRi4ktmWSkG_uygBrMVzbZzpstHJVAfM41m_CjjTej31JHtmrXcVhDHve3mhFczq5ywgMV0__46hO6MLtNVCkKYR0sQgc2bXy2CFQG6DRDxl4m_urA9tFypOG6BdGa3BQY97rFJL-_57QzSxJhp3lWzfVU/s640/7103E6BA-E855-4B12-BFBC-6092BEAF0EE4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKa76d1KQMKnZ1VF9REBH5w2AqMRbisAiDkRi4ktmWSkG_uygBrMVzbZzpstHJVAfM41m_CjjTej31JHtmrXcVhDHve3mhFczq5ywgMV0__46hO6MLtNVCkKYR0sQgc2bXy2CFQG6DRDxl4m_urA9tFypOG6BdGa3BQY97rFJL-_57QzSxJhp3lWzfVU/s320/7103E6BA-E855-4B12-BFBC-6092BEAF0EE4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then there is the heavy tonnage f the renovated IJN WWI battlefleet, with later "big boy" additions of the Yamato and her sister ship the Mushashi (see below, but in the era of the carrier all this 'stuff' became scrap iron in a plane's cross-hairs or an expensive form of AA protection and 'bomb-soak' for the important CVs): </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ-kF4eCxDRNFE5VIKT7hkxZUdXgOsMXd5ybyyDUmosLc7qtRTSxA-NdYlOR8sWfEGvoAW_rAdqXI6WgjKtrCEO7e09xtUd94Ho4f-f6_BvuOtWgpbpw_P5pl88iLRM6zXSJ6lZ2QNUHPnpRdGwSZGgaUzPLffGb4ahL5hkPNftYu-wILMF9855BhwrU/s640/B6B6BA9E-3002-42D2-9DF1-06DBB78044EC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ-kF4eCxDRNFE5VIKT7hkxZUdXgOsMXd5ybyyDUmosLc7qtRTSxA-NdYlOR8sWfEGvoAW_rAdqXI6WgjKtrCEO7e09xtUd94Ho4f-f6_BvuOtWgpbpw_P5pl88iLRM6zXSJ6lZ2QNUHPnpRdGwSZGgaUzPLffGb4ahL5hkPNftYu-wILMF9855BhwrU/s320/B6B6BA9E-3002-42D2-9DF1-06DBB78044EC.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I find out it fantastically good fun slowly collecting this stuff (for over twenty five years now), so I should give a shout out to Tony the owner of Navwar, as I heard he had a fall recently, but is on the mend. Get well soon mate and thank you for this awesome range of 1/3000 models. </div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-63558301395192950372023-12-10T17:17:00.003+00:002023-12-10T19:59:35.989+00:00How to Paint Black Templars -Tips from the InternetLinked to my recent interest in using "Vallejo contrast [Xpress] paints"- and possessing a bottle of Black Lotus (very evocative naming from the marketing department, top marks) I was looking around for some "dark chaps" to paint up. Two candidates jumped to mind, one from Vietnam - black pyjama Viet Cong, the other from the unpainted bucket of Space Marines - some Black Templars. Time to turn to the Internet for some help (see below, saviours of universe [Black Templars] needing a coat of paint before they can go "hand-to-hand "with Chaos in the name of the Emperor - all WIP): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe2mEaCEU3maCqekKtaGDlxOFcNy5XTNsaVrVA6xI_FgJ-rvc5f7W2NpTIEx4bmROmjlURGkLpS5hk924wzghxOBVkfVUlBq4bYOZfbiy3A-Rw_2tJF7ZOsNt7rLXYAfDTgKXUht4jsmX_5CJU7KfSICcVzTtSrFX6AuCohet-3Is_qQRsv3R90ySFEY/s640/IMG_9143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe2mEaCEU3maCqekKtaGDlxOFcNy5XTNsaVrVA6xI_FgJ-rvc5f7W2NpTIEx4bmROmjlURGkLpS5hk924wzghxOBVkfVUlBq4bYOZfbiy3A-Rw_2tJF7ZOsNt7rLXYAfDTgKXUht4jsmX_5CJU7KfSICcVzTtSrFX6AuCohet-3Is_qQRsv3R90ySFEY/s320/IMG_9143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I have surrounded them with a sophisticated painting task-force of Vallejo dark paint ranges to see if anything works, I have great hopes for Dark Grey (994), Black Grey (862) in combination with Xpress Black Lotus (423) and Black Ink (094), highlighted perhaps with Glossy Black (861). Talk about "fifty shades of grey"!</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile this is what other people did (very well) on the Internet: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://taleofpainters.com/2021/10/tutorial-how-to-paint-black-templars-crusader-squads/">https://taleofpainters.com/2021/10/tutorial-how-to-paint-black-templars-crusader-squads/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.fauxhammer.com/tutorials/how-to-paint-black-templars-armour-tutorial/?fbclid=IwAR0W2-EiEvXew3VukW3DHfOkJN430qGfKujhwh-sSul4Qo9VWF5xSFP6c9Q">https://www.fauxhammer.com/tutorials/how-to-paint-black-templars-armour-tutorial/?fbclid=IwAR0W2-EiEvXew3VukW3DHfOkJN430qGfKujhwh-sSul4Qo9VWF5xSFP6c9Q</a></li><li><a href="https://www.redgrasscreative.com/painting-miniatures-black-templars/">https://www.redgrasscreative.com/painting-miniatures-black-templars/</a></li><li><a href="https://spikeybits.com/2021/10/how-to-paint-black-templars-space-marines.html">https://spikeybits.com/2021/10/how-to-paint-black-templars-space-marines.html</a></li></ul></div><div>The exploration of black painting space continues!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-16752552702024070282023-11-28T07:00:00.002+00:002023-11-28T09:19:54.257+00:00The Man From The Future - John von Neumann (Audible Books)<p>I thought I knew something about John von Neumann, but this book amazed my by revealing how little I really knew about him at all. He was the definition of a Polymath .. and a Nobel one at that, in many fields! So, hand on heart, I can thoroughly recommend this title (see below, I listened too it via Audible, but intend to buy the book too, so I can skim through the chapters again .. I cannot give a higher recommendation than that): </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEZjKYDVmBQUlxCit8awQLYdokkKm5cRNHmxd2OGQM92eCXj7uLSQ2usl0sGOk6-82rBqy-5AI5SUx0hlBmZMat8P-SJIeQ0viAqgf3hn_yz3uCOwJUA7_caOX1a9e7SK86zsxpfGToyJ_j4b0lWTvdp3plJwfCPNHJYE9WEXU6I9QIvYU4mLOIGSbcw/s1378/John%20von%20Neumann.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1378" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYEZjKYDVmBQUlxCit8awQLYdokkKm5cRNHmxd2OGQM92eCXj7uLSQ2usl0sGOk6-82rBqy-5AI5SUx0hlBmZMat8P-SJIeQ0viAqgf3hn_yz3uCOwJUA7_caOX1a9e7SK86zsxpfGToyJ_j4b0lWTvdp3plJwfCPNHJYE9WEXU6I9QIvYU4mLOIGSbcw/s320/John%20von%20Neumann.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />A tantalising peek at its contents reveals: <p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"The smartphones in our pockets and computers like brains. The vagaries of game theory and evolutionary biology. Self-replicating moon bases and nuclear weapons. All bear the fingerprints of one remarkable man: John von Neumann.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Born in Budapest at the turn of the century, von Neumann is one of the most influential scientists to have ever lived. His colleagues believed he had the fastest brain on the planet - bar none. He was instrumental in the Manhattan Project and helped formulate the bedrock of Cold War geopolitics and modern economic theory. He created the first ever programmable digital computer. He prophesied the potential of nanotechnology and, from his deathbed, expounded on the limits of brains and computers - and how they might be overcome."</span></p></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><p>It is also pitched at the general reader (so I didn't have that Stephen Hawkins Brief History of Time, "What does that mean?" - effect here on me).</p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-82587333357655485362023-11-25T00:47:00.004+00:002023-11-28T00:05:04.514+00:00Platoon 20 - NVA FiguresInspired by the recent series of "Ghosts of the Jungle" games I visited my silver pile of shame in the loft for Vietnam figures and found pretty much a whole platoon of NVA Regulars to paint up. They had been based and primed so it was just a matter of gritting your teeth and letting go with the Vallejo paints (see below, the finished product or rather formation): <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9s6XwGbXyYociCm2_sJacBubVl_TRe-hF4NdvTE5Z562SjNV8voqI8I75fLFBrIPlIYA4F7YKcf-5RbXI5kVhTx6u-trp8oE2XtaXAFDCMC7gV6adC6MItC7fMc2Ih51NM9-l3YNnxqh4GU8H4mvfTJPoniXnczXBoqaQ2MEW1Hto7Mv6oox2CsvwnE/s640/BDE2E65E-35E4-4128-9A14-84F5A90A9AED.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9s6XwGbXyYociCm2_sJacBubVl_TRe-hF4NdvTE5Z562SjNV8voqI8I75fLFBrIPlIYA4F7YKcf-5RbXI5kVhTx6u-trp8oE2XtaXAFDCMC7gV6adC6MItC7fMc2Ih51NM9-l3YNnxqh4GU8H4mvfTJPoniXnczXBoqaQ2MEW1Hto7Mv6oox2CsvwnE/s320/BDE2E65E-35E4-4128-9A14-84F5A90A9AED.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />A labour of love that has took twenty years to finish. Given the old casting quality (as in poor) - I best not drop them too hard!</div><div><br /></div><div>Apologies for no close ups!</div>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6502298319772392881.post-49389455713606355422023-11-23T23:35:00.003+00:002023-11-23T23:35:18.248+00:00NATO Professional logistics Wargame<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5jrbp2DBp_kxQuCcww0XEyBrlbvJXQXbu_NfFr83XuPj0gfRGtwu8yWG13UCs1GnZuUZoCn4XEdnX-708-sHsoEs7YnnuQemyDElDY4Q545wVhIQtGUyyuBufjLhjxbqelLDZPDOdBFzFceH93rer4FM6F3ZfvnKznZGC0n7lLllXOJY6mieB5K2b0Tk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1238" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5jrbp2DBp_kxQuCcww0XEyBrlbvJXQXbu_NfFr83XuPj0gfRGtwu8yWG13UCs1GnZuUZoCn4XEdnX-708-sHsoEs7YnnuQemyDElDY4Q545wVhIQtGUyyuBufjLhjxbqelLDZPDOdBFzFceH93rer4FM6F3ZfvnKznZGC0n7lLllXOJY6mieB5K2b0Tk" width="320" /></a></div><br />See Link Below: <p></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDB_At_QRw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDB_At_QRw</a></p><p>Looks damn impressive!</p>Geordie an Exiled FoGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01002743056274635657noreply@blogger.com0