2 New "Table Top Teaser" Mini-Campaign

Not everyone has access to Charles S. Grant's wonderful "Scenario" books . . . so Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has crated a "Table Top Teaser" mini-campaign using Charles S. Grant's original "teasers" as published in magazines back in the late 1970's.

Fortunately Steve-the-Wargamer has (with permission) posted these online so that anyone can use them without needing Grant's later Scenario books.

• initial scenario -- (TTT) #3 The Advance Guard Action
  
• second scenario -- (TTT) #5 The Dawn Attack
  
• third scenario -- (TTT) #10 Rear Guard
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #4 Hold Up in the Badlands
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #8 The Hasty Defense and Relief of a Town

This Mini-Campaign has also been added to my post of the earlier ones (using Grant's books) so that all of the "Mini-Campaigns" are in one place.

Additionally Cesar Alfredo Paz has created another "Mini-Campaign" using "Table Top Teasers" which is available here.

-- Jeff

Reich Duchy of Beerstein welcomes 20,000th visitor

Reich Duke Wilhelm was just informed by the Minister of Tourism that the 20,000th visitor to the realm arrived sometime after midnight. A twenty one gun salute was fired to mark the occasion. If the intrepid traveler can be identified, Reich Duke Wilhelm would enjoy investing him into the Order of the Goblet.

Street fighting AAR

Just played a street fighting battle --and an approrpiate AAR posted at Principality of Galatea weblog. Please read it at what-if-catalonia.blogspot.com/2012/02/urban-fight-aar.html, if curious.

Peace Talks / New Blog

Peace has broken out between Ardoberg-Holstein and its turbulent neighbor San Maurice. While these quiet periods never last long in the war that has flared on and off across three decades, it does provide me with an opportunity to offer up a blog on all of the other periods I game in. The new blog, Hilton Wargames, can be found at hiltonwargames.blogspot.com. There I will cover various projects currently underway (usually two or three at a time), battle reports and other items of interest. The first entry is on Saxons and Vikings. Why not drop by and enjoy?

Responses to "Mini-Campaign" Challenge

Below are links to responses so far to my call for "Mini-Campaigns" based on linking scenarios from Charles Grant's "Scenarios for Wargames".

What I think strikes me most about them is how different their choices and paths are . . . they should provide much fun for those who play them.

I would ask that if you play them, please post feedback on the creator's blogs . . . the URL links are in parentheses below.

After the initial scenario, those following are not in order since most chose the "tree" format where the result of the scenario affected which scenario was played next . . . so don't look at them as being in sequence . . . in fact, depending upon the results of various scenarios, not all will be played in any one campaign.

Note -- I will endeavor to add future "mini-campaigns" to this post as they arrive.

Steve (Steve-the-Wargamer) set his three-scenario Mini-Campaign in 1705 during the War of Spanish Succession:

• initial scenario -- #9 Attack on the Camp
• next scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
• final scenario -- #16 Reinforcements in Defense (2) off table
  

Peter Douglas (The Single Handed Admiral) set his "Barolo" campaign in an "Emperor vs Elector" setting:

• initial scenario -- #20 Reserve Demolition
• other scenario -- #21 Bridgehead Breakout
  
• other scenario -- #13 Last Stand
  
• other scenario -- #19 Assault River Crossing
  
• other scenario -- #16 Reinforcements in Defense (2) off table
  
• other scenario -- #18 River Crossing
  
• other scenario -- #1 Positional Defense (1)
  
• other scenario -- #15 Reinforcements in Defense (1) on table
  

Ross Macfarlane (Battle Game of the Month) set his "Comox Valley Campaign" in a Colonial (or Ancients) setting . . . but it could be played as Horse & Musket too:

• initial scenario -- #30 Ambush (1)
  
• other scenario -- #4 Holding Action (2)
  
• other scenario -- #13 Last Stand
  
• other scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
  
• other scenario -- #34 Swampland Action
  
• other scenario -- #32 Wagon Train
  
• other scenario -- #33 Convoy Action (2) -- Evacuation
  
• other scenario -- #42 Advance Column

Jim Pitts (Col Campbell's Barraks) has posted his "Linked Mini-Campaign" on his blog. Like most it has a flexible order, so don't take these scenarios as being in order.

• initial scenario -- #41 Chance Encounter
  
• other scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
  
• other scenario -- #4 Holding Action (2)
• other scenario -- #1 Positional Defense (1)
• other scenario -- #2 Positional Defense (2)
• other scenario -- #5 Rear Guard (1)
  
• other scenario -- #6 Rear Guard (2)

Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has posted his 1804 mini-campaign based on a British force in France trying to fight its way to safety with yet a different starting scenario.

• initial scenario -- #42 Advance Column
• other scenario -- #50 Horse and Foot
  
• other scenario -- #8 Dead Ground
  
• final scenario -- #6 Rear Guard (2)

Ed Youngstrom (Landgraviate of Hesse-Fedora) started his "Ladder" campaign using the "Table Top Teaser" from Battlegames Magazine, then used Grant's "Scenarios for All Ages" to complete his "ladder".

• initial scenario -- (Mag) Pontoon
  
• other scenario -- (Ages) Rearguard
  
• other scenario -- (Ages) Assault on Prepared Position
  
• other scenario -- (Ages) Hot Pursuit
  
• other scenario -- (Ages) Chance Encounter
  
• other scenario -- (Ages) Making the Best of a Bad Job

Dr. Vesuvius (The Axis of Naughtiness) used Grant's "Programmed Wargames Scenarios" for his "Continuing Diplomacy" mini-campaign for solo play!

• initial scenario -- (PWS) #11 Crossroads
• other scenario -- (PWS) #18 A Hasty Blocking Position
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #5 The Weak Flank
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #1 Hill Line Defense
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #7 Two Sides of a River
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #6 Crossing Point
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #8 Fighting Through
  
• other scenario -- (PWS) #9 Island Stand
  

Ross Macfarlane (Battle Game of the Month) has also posted a Horse & Musket mini-campaign for solo gamers using Grant's "Programmed Wargames Scenarios". Interestingly enough it also starts with the same scenario as Dr. Vesuvius' mini-campaign above . . . although it then proceeds differently.

• initial scenario -- (PWS) #11 Crossroads
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #1 Hill Line Defense
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #2 Broken Ground
  
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #3 Pass Clearance
  
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #5 The Weak Flank
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #6 Crossing Point
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #7 Two Sides of a River
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #8 Fighting Through
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #9 Island Stand
• final scenario -- (PWS) #4 Holding Action
  

Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has also crated a "Table Top Teaser" mini-campaign using Charles S. Grant's original "teasers" as published in magazines back in the late 1970's. Fortunately Steve-the-Wargamer has (with permission) posted these online so that anyone can use them without needing Grant's later Scenario books.

• initial scenario -- (TTT) #3 The Advance Guard Action
  
• second scenario -- (TTT) #5 The Dawn Attack
  
• third scenario -- (TTT) #10 Rear Guard
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #4 Hold Up in the Badlands
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #8 The Hasty Defense and Relief of a Town

  Additionally Cesar Alfredo Paz has created another "Mini-Campaign" using "Table Top Teasers" which is available here.

-- Jeff

Mini-Campaign Challenge

Most of us are familiar with Charles Stewart Grant's wonderful book "Scenarios for Wargames".

I propose using it . . . or rather the scenarios in it to create some mini-campaigns . . . a series of logically linked scenarios that will provide the framework for a series of games.

Sure, Grant and Phil Olley have done something similar in their volumes "Raid on St. Michel" and "The Annexation of Chiraz" . . . and they are wonderful . . . but I'm looking for some simpler, quick and easy solutions that we can all use.

So here is the challenge . . .

Create a series of three to seven scenarios from Grant's "Scenarios for Wargames" that will make for a logical simple mini-campaign of linked scenarios.

You can even, if you like, make a "campaign tree". That is to build it in the format of "if Red won Scenario A, go to Scenario B . . . and if Blue won, go instead to Scenario C, etc.

Let's see what you can come up with, okay?

====================

Also, an update on my health. First, I wish to thank all of you who have posted your kind wishes for my recovery . . . there is no need to repeat doing so . . . please use the "comment" feature of this post for "mini-campaign" suggestions.

Overall I feel much better although I do tire very quickly due to all of the blood I lost and my resulting low hemoglobin level.

Also the hospital has changed my visit to the operating room from Monday to Wednesday, when they will hopefully find out what's wrong with me.

-- Jeff

Out of Hospital

Gentlemen,

Thank you for all of your kind thoughts.

As Murdock reported, I have been in Hospital. Without going into details, I have lost a great deal of blood and am weaker than wet tissue paper . . . but can now rest better at home than in hospital.

I go back in on the 13th for an exploratory diagnostic procedure. Overall my condition is not considered life threatening although there is always some risk with surgical procedures.

Murdock (with whom the concept of this group blog was first explored) has been designated with co-inhaber powers should anything unexpected occur.

Once again, my thanks for all of your kind wishes . . . and I will appreciate any positive energy or prayers on the 13th.

-- Jeff

Long live Grand-Duke Konrad?

The contents of Grand-Duke Otto of Pommaine's will was read out today in the ducal palace, his elder surviving son Karl has been passed over in the succession and his youngest son Konrad named as his heir.

Of course any change of this sort should be agreed in advance with the Lower Saxon Circle to which Pommaine belongs and then if necessary raised with the Emperor. No discussion appear to have taken place with either body and in a surprisingly sudden move the Imperial ambassador declared the succession void and that forthwith the Empire was at war with the usurpers.

The exact position of Prussia and Alsace who openly supported the change in succession is not yet clear, but war seems likely.

More on the Frundsberg blog

From the surgeons tent

Bluebear Jeff is reported in stable condition and recovering well.

Further medical tests will be needed and we may or may not hear from him before the 10th of February.

Thank you all for your well wishes.

Inhaber not well

Bluebear Jeff of Saxe-Bearstein has been admitted to hospital recently and as such may not be able to handle the comments or requests of the EvE community for some time.

Please do send out some good will energies for a speedy recovery.