Oh Little Town... for Gaming with!

When I started my 28mm French Revolutionary Wars collection a couple of decades ago, I set it in 1796 Italy.  In doing so I purchased a number of Mediterranean buildings and walls from Hovels.  Some got painted. Most did not!  I did not realise just how much wasn't painted until I checked through the shelves. 

Along with a load of walls, this is what I found and then promptly decided to paint them up.

Front...

... and back.

I got these walls painted up as well.

As I had the newly painted buildings out, I thought that I might as well get some of the older ones on display as well.

I had forgotten how quickly these paint up.  In putting acrylic to resin, I find myself encouraged and feeling renewed for figure painting after this quick win.

Are Command and Control Mechanisms Really Needed In Wargames?

I was listening to a podcast on the Yarkshire Gamers Reet Big Wargames Podcast where George Nafziger was being interviewed.  I found it a very interesting and entertaining episode.  You can find it here.

One interesting point that George Nafziger made was about command and control in wargames.  He was asked how he found wargamers replicate command structures and how that operates on the table.  His response was as follows:

"I've been in some games where you've got to roll to see if your order gets there and if it doesn't get there then it doesn't move, and I think that is very inaccurate because there would have been initiative taken on the part of the local commander.  So, nobody would ever be out of command.  I think that's a made up problem by the game designer."

My immediate reaction was to consider that answer as quite controversial (well, as controversial as a rule mechanism can be considered!).  Especially, as we are now so used to rules that include some form of command and control device whether it is initiative rolls to move units or brigades, command radius, or some form of card activation.  All of which I am happy with.  Indeed, my own home made rules tend to include some form of command and control mechanism.  In fact, I would imagine that rules published nowadays would be criticised for lacking such a concept.

However, upon reflection I did wonder whether Mr Nafziger had a point.  It is entirely feasible that in the absence of an order being sent by a general, the local commander - be it of a squad, platoon, battalion or regiment - would have to use their initiative in the face of the enemy and on the field of battle.  This could include doing something or nothing.  Maybe it is wrong to assume that the absence of an order equals inaction.  Plus, it has been my observation over the decades of gaming that once you put two gamers on the same side, enough "friction" is created without the need to have rules that generate command and control friction.  Perhaps, one should not always assume that if a player can move everything that they are destined to make the best decisions or have the necessary luck with dice or card to be successful.  In this sense their "command" decisions may impact their "control" ability.

So, to what extent do you agree that command and control is a "made up problem by the game designer"?

Guinea Pigs Remembered

The other day, I found myself taking my son to a plastic surgery appointment at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.  I got unreasonably excited at this as this is the hospital famous for pioneering and treating so many RAF aircrew for burns and the use of plastic surgery during World War Two.  Such pioneering techniques and holistic treatment of those aircrew being led by Sir Archibald McIndoe.  Those that were treated formed themselves into the "Guinea Pig Club".  A name to reflect the entirely new nature of McIndoe's work.

So, it felt like a privilege to find the roll of honour board.

The Roll of Honour board, as you might expect in a hospital, obscured by trolleys.

The inscription along the bottom reads, "The above are members of the Guinea Pig Club, founded in 1941, for allied serving airforce men who were treated at the Queen Victoria Hospital during the Second World War."

The work of McIndoe and his team was about more than just treating the horrific burns and injuries suffered. They were also concerned with enabling the men to function and thrive despite their physical and mental scars.  In this respect they were ahead of their time in showing that injury and disability should be no barrier.

To this day, the hospital maintains strong links with military patients and continues to treat service men and women. They also support the training of military staff.

What an honour to spend a few moments reflecting on the work done by the Queen Victoria Hospital, McIndoe, and the "Guinea Pigs".