Hi everyone, just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Paul, and I live in the coastal town of Whitstable in East Kent, UK. I've been a wargamer for many years, and have always had an interest in the Great War, although it's only the last few years that enough stuff has been available to enable me to game it properly. I do game other periods, mostly WW2 and ACW. I took early retirement last year so it's given me lots of extra painting time!
I'm the host for the Whitstable and Herne Bay Wargames club, as we play in a shed in my back garden. We've currently got a 10ft x 6ft permanent games table in there, but when shed Mk II comes along this Spring we'll have a 12ft x 6ft table. We play most weeks, and games tend to last several weeks.
I've got a large-ish collection of WW1 20mm figures, mainly HaT, Strelets and Revell, but supplemented with some of the excellent IT Miniatures range from Frontline. I can't wait for all the 2011 releases to add to my already huge plastic painting mountain!
For those of you on the forum who wargame WW1, I'd be interested to know what rules you use.
I've been looking at the Landships forum for quite a while but have only just got round to joining it. Looking forward to taking part in some great posts.
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The sands of time are eroded by the river of constant change
They shall grow not old,as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them,nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Hello Paul and welcome. That's a lovely part of the world you live in.
I used to wargame a lot, when I lived in London; not Great War (except for a couple of air warfare games) but Greek Naval, Gladiatorial, Ogre, Traveller, that sort of thing. There are a couple of Hobby Shops nearby, and they both seem to have regular gamers and games nights. But neither one seems interested in WW1, being content with their Dark Eldars and Bolt Guns etc! I would like to do a few games, and to that end I have the Games Workshop Great War rules; they seem reasonable enough. I was thinking I'd use the affordable 1/72 plastic figures instead of the more costly 28s (although some of them are rather splendid). What rules do you use?
Also, do you have any of the IT Miniatures painted up? If so, I think we'd love to see them.
Hi PDA
Thanks. The GW Great War rules are ok, but they seem to be a bit of a bolt on from their 40k rules and can produce some unrealistic situations for the period. We've tried those, and rules such as Mud and Blood by the 2 fat lardies and Bloody Picnic, but none of them seemed to us to really capture the essence of WW1 in a fast play style. So, we're writing our own, which we plan to publish in the autumn. They'll be battalion/brigade level, with the smallest unit being the company (of about 15 figures) and the first set will be for Western Front 16-18. Rules are aimed for most scales but ideal for 15mm, 20mm(1/72) or 28mm.
I've used quite a few of the IT Minatures to fill the gaps left by the excellent plastic ranges (eg HaT). They are just a little smaller in stature than HaT but I've found that if you just put a thin piece of cardboard under the figure's base when you base him (all mine are based on pennies and 2 pence pieces) then they fit in just fine. My highland battalion is all IT Minatures while I wait for HaqT to release theirs! The highland Lewis gunner is especially good, and I've used the parapet Lewis slightly adapted as the battalion HQ AA gun.
If I can do some photos I will, but we'll be putting on a demo game of the rules at Salute so there'll be some photos from that I expect!
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The sands of time are eroded by the river of constant change
I too have just joined this forum having been reading posts for ages. I do believe i met you at the War and Peace show last year in the model marquee where you were showing off your Canadian [ahem British] infantry. I saw the photos you posted of the finished table/models and was very impressed. Well done. I'm just getting around to painting my ww1 early war French [red trousers and all], thank you for telling me about Hat, they have some brilliant sets. Wouldn't have found them if you hadn't told me.
