Readymade Kriegsspiel "blocks"

Some readymade "blocks", suitable for printing out on transparencies and then cutting up, have been posted down the page at http://chingfordgames1.homestead.com/kriegspiel.html

The commanders names have been designed to double up as far as possible for ACW as well as traditional Prussian battles, but there are some blank "anonymous" blocks also, which can be named according to one's own preference.

Also some naval flotilla chits here.

Folks,

This looks like the place to be: www.photoncutterstudios.com

Beautiful looking pieces !

They are that nice in person, too -- I haven't managed to take photos that show them off better than Tom's, but we ran a game with them yesterday and they were great -- much appreciated by everyone.

James Sterrett wrote:They are that nice in person, too -- I haven't managed to take photos that show them off better than Tom's, but we ran a game with them yesterday and they were great -- much appreciated by everyone.

Thanks for the kind words James. I now have the complete listing created, including the very small bits I was worried about going up the vent. I found a way to do those also.

Thanks you for the kind words. I am glad they were appreciated.

Tom

Tom & I had a side discussion about getting better pictures of these pieces up; I will be sending him some snapshots from the game we ran last month so he can post them.

What I don't think comes through in the photos -- and certainly comes through in none of my attempts at a photo -- is how sturdy these blocks seem to be.

The image on the top isn't a sticker or a decal; the process makes it part of the block. The coating on it shrugged off some accidental ballpoint pen markup... I just wiped it off with my thumb.

The block material, HDF (high density fiberboard), isn't nearly as dense as lead, but they have real heft compared to cardboard counters.

In addition to the blocks, the various rulers came in very handy. They may not look very sexy in the photos but everybody oohs & aahs at them in person. (They are far better than the hand-scrawled or print-out rulers we used before. )


Given that I like playing Kriegsspiel, but don't like painting miniatures (I still have a fair few unpainted lead blocks because, despite a crying need for more pieces, I never got round to painting them), these are a great solution. I get to skip the painting and go stright to the playing.

They do look great and I will be working with some club members to see what sort of order we can make for some.

I would also like to some generic modern blocks which can be used for modern KS games like WW2 / Vietnam. I need to work out what is needed and see how best we can do them. I will be in touch with Tom at some stage soon...

Tom's put up two of the pictures I sent him, on the
http://www.photoncutterstudios.com/1894/1852.html site.

They are from a battle fought on the Metz index maps a few weeks ago.
The top one shows the umpire map, and the one at the bottom shows the Blue
main body commander's map.

At least at the scale I've got the index maps printed out, the curved
movement rulers (which were made for the Meckel map), are a
good-enough approximation of movement every 15 minutes on the Metz
index map. (If memory serves, the math actually worked out to every
16 minutes or so.)

How heavy are the blocks?

Tom has kindly provided an indication of costs for UK orders:

"I am presently charging $.30 a piece. The more blocks the lower the price. Shipping would be around $6.00 - $8.00 range. It would take a lot of blocks to drive the shipping above that. A set of 9 infantry, 2 cavalry, 2 artillery and 2 exchange pieces (60 pieces in all) in red and blue with the blind set is $18.00. When we start getting into really large quantities the price comes down. If the shipping is less I charge less for it."

Martin

I don't have a good scale to weigh them. This gives you numbers, which may or may not help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardboard -->

"...the density of hardboard is 31 lbs. or more per cubic foot (500 kg/m³) and is usually about 50-65 lbs. per cubic foot (800-1040 kg/m³). "

I, at any rate, am not using pieces that are a square meter in size.

They are wood, and at the high end of the wood density range. They are definitely less dense than metal blocks; you can't put one of them on a rolling map corner or edge and expect to hold it down. However, they're a lot more dense/heavy than the cardboard counters from an Avalon Hill-style wargame.

Not sure if that helps.

The weight is 1 oz (28.35 g) for 20 infantry blocks. I hope that helps.

Regards,
Tom

These blocks look great, ideal for the more cack handed ! Do the blocks come with the unit numbers on ? I am keen to order some and would like an indication of price and for postage to the UK. Do you accept paypal payments ?
All the best
Mike

mpegham wrote:These blocks look great, ideal for the more cack handed ! Do the blocks come with the unit numbers on ? I am keen to order some and would like an indication of price and for postage to the UK. Do you accept paypal payments ?
All the best
Mike

Yep, the unit numbers are on them as-shipped.

I bought them in sets such that I had all the numbered units in duplicate pairs (one for the umpire map, one for the player map), and a number of blank units equal to the total number of numbered units. (Blanks for general purpose use.)

So, to have 6 half-battalions in a brigade -- 6 pieces numbers as I Brigade, 1 through 6 --

I'd get two of each numbered block, for a total of 12 numbered blocks in two identical sets of 6; and 12 blank blocks.


On a related note, Tom did a test with a Sharpie, and found you can wipe Sharpie off the front face with alcohol. A cavalry squadron of mine bravely volunteered to undergo this procedure, and, indeed, rubbing alcohol takes dried Sharpie right off the face of these markers, with no apparent ill effects.

What's Sharpie, James? Some kind of pen?

Martin

A Sharpie is a permanent magic marker. In the US, at least, they are in the enviable but uncomfortable position of being popular enough that Sharpie is in danger of becoming a generic term instead of a brand name.

These are the usual kind: http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Fine_Point_Permanent_Marker.html

If it matters, I used one of these: http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Chisel_Tip_Permanent_Marker.html

More info than you really wanted?

Always nice to hear from you

Martin

mpegham wrote:These blocks look great, ideal for the more cack handed ! Do the blocks come with the unit numbers on ? I am keen to order some and would like an indication of price and for postage to the UK. Do you accept paypal payments ?
All the best
Mike

I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I am able to put any combination of numbers on the blocks that you could want. As James said, his blocks were broken out into battalions. Numbered I/1-6. The calvary and artillery are numbered 1 - ?. The pieces are then matched wiht a set for the Judge and blanks for the other color.

I do take paypal. Price is as Martin stated earlier. $.30 a block and $6-8 shipping.
You would have to e-mail me for my Pay-Pal info. Tome@photoncutterstudios.com.

If this is in-appropriate for me to state on the forums I do appologize to the board. As my site says, I like helping fellow gamers.

Tom

P.S. I now have another game to learn. My wife will kill me. From what I have seen so far, I am intrigued.

In my view, 'advertising' k/spiel stuff is quite appropriate Tom, so I don't think you should worry. After all we are all kriegsspielers, or would like to be. In my experience, producing attractive and functional troop blocks is the biggest practical obstical to getting into the game. And you have now solved it for us!

For the same reasons, I welcome TFL promoting their reprints of Bill Leeson's original k/spiel maps & rules here. That has been a real stimulus to take-up of the game, as folks now have everything they need for the first time.

If someone started to advertise non-k/spiel related stuff here OTOH, I would not be so comfortable (I think). But would be interested to know what others think.

Martin

I agree: This is the right place to promote blocks and other stuff to play KS!

Thanks Tom
I'll contact you off list with an order.
All the best
Mike

i ordered a lot of kriegsspiel blocks (PhotonCutterStudios) and now they've arrived. they look superb!
recommended to everyone!

Is Tom still doing business and producing those wonderful K-S blocks? I'm new to the joys of Kriegsspiel and while I have a copy of the 1824 rules from TFL and have satisfactory maps working up via CC3 - tactical as well as a campaign map, I am lacking appropriate pieces.

Ike wrote:Is Tom still doing business and producing those wonderful K-S blocks? I'm new to the joys of Kriegsspiel and while I have a copy of the 1824 rules from TFL and have satisfactory maps working up via CC3 - tactical as well as a campaign map, I am lacking appropriate pieces.

He is, as far as I know, and at this email - tfe.evans@gmail.com

Yes, I am still producing the k-s blocks. I am very glad you like them.
I have been producing and pricing whatever anybody needs via e-mail.
So far most have wanted different sets.

Jim in Milwaukee will actually be demoing to my LGS soon. I am dying to see the blocks in action.

a side note here. I love CC3. I actually demo it and sell it at GenCon here in the states. You can usually find me there.

Tom

Oh, excellent!! Soon as I have my army lists determined - it is one of my priorities to have no more than one brigade for each side in any given battle because this campaign will be solo! - you will receive my order, sir, via email. Thank you both for the quick and informative responses. I'm really looking forward to some K-S battles and campaigns.