A quick update - what happened in 2023 and some plans for 2024

 In 2023 I was able to play 201 games across a lot of recorded and imagined space and time.  What particularly pleased me was that my last game of the year was my 100th based on a real historic land battle and I also did 2 similar naval engagements.

Highlights included trips with Test of Resolve to Hammerhead, Historicon, Carronade and Claymore.  I also made two trips to France to play wargames at Matt and Vanessa Williamson's delightful holiday property L'Hotel d'Herce, and visit historic sites including Mont St Michel and the Bayeux Tapestry.

Not too much off the beaten track this year but I did enjoy games at Station Gamers in Kilmarnock and the Crossfire Gaming Club in Cumbernauld.

A new venture for me was attending 3 'just for interest' courses at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow being The Hundred Years War, Caesar's Gallic Wars and the Punic Wars.

Plans for 2024?

Play 202 games, including as many refights of historic battles as I can in that total.

Visit a few new shows and clubs.  I enjoy this in its own right and it is also a good way to spread the word about Test of Resolve.  

I have another course booked at Strathclyde on the Civil Wars so some 17th Century action may be on the cards.

At least one more visit to France.

Blog at least half a dozen times as the year progresses.

A Happy New Year to you all and good gaming in 2024.

  

 

First Post in Over a Year

 Many of you will know that my wife died last September and my interest in maintaining the blog waned.

Two things have really helped me in coping.  One is my dog Beau, who has been an absolute godsend.

The other has been wargaming.  

Beau has made me get out, exercise, and his happy face on a walk or running after a ball has been a real tonic.

Wargaming has kept my brain active and also kept me in contact with my wargaming friends.

I decided to post as after being involved in 3 games of Test of Resolve at the Claymore Wargames Show in Edinburgh today my game count for 2022 passed the 100 mark.

Thanks so much to all my opponents and friends for helping me keep myself sane.

My plan is to post more in the coming weeks

Test of Resolve Scenario Book 2 now available

Now on sale on our website testofresolve.com it covers 8 battles in the latter half of the Wars of the Roses namely Hedgeley Moor, Hexham, Edgcote, Empingham, Barnet, Tewkesbury, Bosworth and Stoke Field.  Lots of fun to playtest and it is great to be able to offer it up the the wargaming public.

 

First time back at the club since February 2020

 We actually opened on the 21st but it was my first visit this Monday.  We are operating a fairly strict set of protocols in line with Scottish Government advice and a lot of members are not wanting to return just yet but it was good to see 7 of our 8 available tables with games on them.

I played 7YW Rebels and Patriots using a scenario from the Sugar Islands campaign book.  I took the French and led the defense of Madame Ducharmety's plantation on Guadeloupe.  The redoubtable lady's force was largely made up of armed slaves who provided a determined resistance to the British regulars but after a  brisk firefight a highland charge stormed the hill and she she was wounded and captured.

Thanks to Doug for the game.  Perhaps I will remember to take pictures next time.

 

Launch of Test of Resolve - Wars of the Roses

It has been quite a journey but myself and Tim have now published our first set of rules together with a scenario book and printed game cards. Some links for more information are below

We did a Youtube interview to mark the launch

EXCLUSIVE: Test of Resolve - New Wars of the Roses wargaming rules released - YouTube

 Peter, one of our playtesters, did an in depth run through of a game of Stoke Field which explains how the rule mechanisms work 

 Blunders on the Danube: Test of Resolve Playthrough - Stoke Field, June 16, 1487

If you are on Facebook you might want to join our group

Test of Resolve Wargame Rules | Facebook

 Also a link to our website for more information and to makes purchases

testofresolve.com

The softback books are available worldwide from Amazon but the PDFs and cards only direct from us 

Wargaming the Sudan in 15mm

I bought 15mm armies suitable for gaming the Sudan a few years ago and with the above volume now in my possesion I can plan some games for when the club open again I need to expand the collection a bit to do full scale battles but I will start with some scenarios for The Men Who will be Kings

Mythic Wargaming

Something for later in the year once we are gaming face to face again. I am hoping to do linked scenarios for Jason and Argonauts using Hordes of the Things which is from some Slingshot articles a few years ago. Also an Arthurian quest – dark ages vibe rather than medieval – from Songs of Arthur and Merlin. Games are relatively short so 2 a session swopping sides would be the aim. Just some painting to finish off and I need a Giant and a Witch!