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Post by aducknamedjoe on Nov 7, 2019 23:57:08 GMT
manoftinblog on his blog recommended folks play a game on November 18th in memory of Stuart Asquith, who is being put to rest that day.
I immediately thought of Stuart's 54mm rules, "Big Wars." I've never played them, but just gave them another read-through and they look pretty fun.
Some eye candy:
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Post by rossmac on Nov 8, 2019 1:49:55 GMT
As it happens, last week I had started a solo version of the 2nd scenarios from Scenarios for All Ages which Stuart co-wrote with CS Grant. I got back to it today and finished the game and am now planning my own memorial game for my blog. I doubt if I'll wait for the 18th though. However, Big Wars is what I was thinking with my old refurbished and recast Britains and the copy of the rules he sent me 20 years ago. Seems appropriate. Just gotta decide on forces and a scenario but it will probably be with these irregulars guys and a slightly Colonial air but possibly something with regular troops on both sides. Early days yet.  Here's a link to my own little memorial blogpost: Old toy soldier 'nuts' never die - Ross |
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Nov 8, 2019 2:29:13 GMT
Great memorial Ross, and looking forward to reading about the game.
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Post by gonefishing on Nov 8, 2019 14:44:04 GMT
This is a great idea. We're going to be travelling that day, unfortunately, but maybe I'll organise one once we return. If anyone does get a game going, please share pics!
EDIT: Just perused the photos of that Balkan Wars game - hugely inspiring. Do any of you have any idea who makes those Turks?
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Post by spiritofethandune on Nov 8, 2019 15:58:24 GMT
Mike and I have just this minute (literally) decided to do a Big Wars game at his house a week on a Monday, probably using his late 19th century British and Prussians.
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Nov 8, 2019 18:40:43 GMT
This is a great idea. We're going to be travelling that day, unfortunately, but maybe I'll organise one once we return. If anyone does get a game going, please share pics!
EDIT: Just perused the photos of that Balkan Wars game - hugely inspiring. Do any of you have any idea who makes those Turks?
I think those Turks are actually conversions of BMC ACW troops (as are many of the Russians). |
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Post by gonefishing on Nov 8, 2019 21:22:02 GMT
Thanks for that, Joe. If that's the case they did an amazing job!
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Post by zuludon on Nov 9, 2019 16:35:09 GMT
Excellent idea! I've been wanting to try out "Big Wars". I'll probably set the game up on November 17.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Nick Stern
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Post by tradgardmastre on Nov 9, 2019 17:26:04 GMT
I am hoping to play a Bigs Wars solo game with a Danish invasion circa 1900. More on this later...
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Post by manoftinblog on Nov 9, 2019 17:28:50 GMT
I look forward to running a short solo game in Stuart's memory on the 17th Sunday or Monday 18th (evening). It may be a small Roman / Pict Skirmish using Stuart's own 15mm Peter Laing Soldiers, which would be good.  It may be using his rules from The Military Modelling Guide to Wargaming that he wrote. 54mm would also be appropriate. Not quite sure which game yet or which scale, Stuart gamed in so many scales. |
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Post by rossmac on Nov 13, 2019 18:44:35 GMT
Well I've painted up the extra unit I needed: ( Stuart's Greys - conversions of some Britain's Light Brigade that I bought from Stuart 20 years ago) to play the Solo scenario from Stuart's Solo Wargaming, and I'm ready to go. The Game will be played Thursday or Friday and a report will follow. My latest blog post contains a summary of the rules (Link below), the one before that has the scenario info. Ross gameofmonth.blogspot.com/2019/11/stuarts-grey-horse-and-big-wars.html |
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Nov 15, 2019 17:22:41 GMT
Looking good Ross!
I'm planning on playing a scenario from One Hour Wargames inspired by/based off one of Stuart's "Scenarios for the War of 1812" (#24, "Bottleneck" for anyone else who has the book) and hoping to do it this weekend before we leave for the holidays.
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Post by rossmac on Nov 16, 2019 23:36:15 GMT
Well I have played the game as originally envisaged using Big Wars, more or less.  On Sunday I'll be writing up some comments about the game and related topics and replaying it under different rules. In the meantime: Big Wars memorial game (1) |
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Post by aducknamedjoe on Nov 17, 2019 1:04:17 GMT
Very nice! Curious to hear your impression of how the rules played?
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Post by zuludon on Nov 18, 2019 5:51:02 GMT
My buddy and I played a colonial game using Big Wars today. I was not familiar with the rules and, looking them over, wondered if they would be suitable for the scenario I had chosen, the 2nd Boer War battle of Elandslaagte. As it turned out, the rules worked marvelously well and produced an historical result. The British outnumbered the Boers by greater than two-to-one, but had to advance, without cover, against well sited Boer small arms and artillery. The game began badly for the British with the Boers taking out one of the four British artillery pieces with counter battery fire on the first turn. The British suffered many casualties from the superior Boer marksmanship, but they steadily gained ground using rushes, as they did in the real battle. Eventually, after the British deployed their mountain guns, they were able to soften up the Boers and destroy one of the two Boer artillery pieces. Although they lost two units, one of the Devons and one of the Gordon Highlanders, the rest of the British line was able to close with cold steel and it was all over for the Boers who were at an extreme disadvantage in melee. I was very impressed with the rules and am looking forward to trying them for other black powder periods. Thank you Mr. Asquith!         |
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