2011 Events

Any information on plans for 2011?

We are aiming for games in February (possibly), March & April (definitely).

Am waiting on availability from the village hall authorities before firming-up on dates.

Martin

We were unable to get a February date, so are now planning games in March & April.

First one is on Sunday 20th March and will be set in Scotland during the early 18th C. - a time of Jacobite rebellion, and possible foreign intervention. We would like to get some idea of numbers, so if you're interested please let me know here, or directly.

Am waiting on availability from the village hall authorities before firming-up on an April date.

Martin

Martin wrote:First one is on Sunday 20th March and will be set in Scotland during the early 18th C. - a time of Jacobite rebellion, and possible foreign intervention. We would like to get some idea of numbers, so if you're interested please let me know here, or directly.
Martin

OK guys - form a disorderly line here.
[think I am already committed elsewhere that day ].

Have now booked the hall for Sunday 10th April, in addition to 20th March. Games will be as follows:

Sunday 20th March - Jacobite rebellion in Scotland c1715

Sunday 10th April - detachments k/spiel c1860-70

In both cases we would like to get some idea of numbers, so if you're thinking of coming, please post here or contact me direct.

Martin

Martin wrote:Sunday 20th March - Jacobite rebellion in Scotland c1715

Is it a village hall or a church hall? As a Sunday game I assume the former.

Does anyone know if the term jacobite relates in any way to jacobin in the French revolution or is the similarity a coincidence?

A village hall. It's very clean, warm & modern, and really exceptional value for what we pay.

The Jacobites were named after the deposed Stuart king James II and his descendents. Jaques being the French version of James (or should that be vice-versa).

Here's what Wiki says about the Jacobins.......

The Jacobian Club was the most famous political club of the French Revolution, so-named because of the Dominican convent where they met, located in the Rue St. Jacques (Latin: Jacobus), Paris.

So a sort of link.

There is still time for anyone hoping to come on 20 March to let me know btw

Martin

Martin wrote:The Jacobites were named after the deposed Stuart king James II and his descendents. Jaques being the French version of James (or should that be vice-versa).

Jacobus is the Latin version of James.

Jacobites = Supporters of James II and his descendants, the last claimant to the throne Henry IX, died a Cardinal, in 1807.

Jacobins=French political radicals, including Robespierre

Why can't every one speak English anyway?

10th April may be OK for me. Jacobites do not really appeal.


Cheers,

Richard

Well if you join the right side, you could always kill a few of the blighters.........

Just sent a newsletter, which should have gone to all members, if things are working correctly. Next kriegsspiels are on:

Sunday 20 March - either a Jacobite rebellion campaign in Scotland c1715 or an ACW battle.

Sunday 10 April - a hypothetical battle set in the Franco-Prussian War period.

Both games will be held at our usual venue at a hall in Little Gadesden village, near Hemel Hempstead. Start time will be 11 am and finish mid-late afternoon. Cost for the day is £5 a head (to cover the hire of the hall), but may be less if there's a good turn-out.

Martin

An excellent ACW game yesterday. Many thanks to Paul Dowden for running it.

Next kriegsspiels are on:

Sunday 10 April - set during a hypothetical war between France and Lorraine/Austria in 1858. Further details soon.

Sunday 29 May (probable date, but still to be confirmed) - Another ACW game

Both games will be held at our usual venue at a hall in Little Gaddesden village, near Hemel Hempstead. Start time will be 11 am and finish mid-late afternoon. Cost for the day is £5 a head (to cover the hire of the hall), but may be less if there's a good turn-out.

Have opened a list for the April game, and will do so for May once the date is confirmed. Post here or let me know direct if you're interested. Newcomers welcome.

Martin

Our May date has now been confirmed, so we have two more before the summer break. We would like to get an idea of numbers for both games, so if you are hoping to come will you please email me direct at martin_a_james@tiscali.co.uk . Newcomers are always welcome, so if you would like an idea of what to expect, please drop me a line too.


Sunday 10 April - Moselle frolics
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This is a hypothetical game set in the 1850s. War has just broken out between France, and the Duchy or Lorraine plus their Austrian allies. The frontiers have been closed for 2 weeks, and although hostilities have not yet commenced, these may be expected soon with the opening of the new campaigning season. This is a traditional kriegsspiel, and players will command a mixture of infantry battalions, cavalry squadrons and artillery batteries.

Ideally we will need two opposing commanders who are able to do some pre game briefings / moves via e-mail.


Sunday 29th May - Jackson Rides Again, The Valley Campaign
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Take command of Jackson or the Union forces tracking him down the valley. The game will use the actual maps drawn at the time to help Jackson win the valley campaign. This will be a small game based on the forces available at the time (1862) players will command brigade size forces in the Shenandoah valley.

Ideally we will need two opposing commanders who are able to do some pre game briefings / moves via e-mail.


Both games will be held at our usual venue at a village hall in Little Gaddesden village, near Hemel Hempstead. The hall is modern, dry & warm, with plenty of space and a large well-equipped kitchen. Start time will be 11 am and finish mid-late afternoon. Cost for the day is £5 a head (to cover the hire of the hall), but may be less if there's a good turn-out. First-timers get their initial game for free. We provide tea, coffee, milk & sugar.

Martin

It has long been a tradition for our group to break during the game for tea, coffee, biscuits & cake.

This has rather withered on the vine recently, partly perhaps because we have been starting our games mid morning (rather than mid afternoon as we used to), so we are normally finished by about 4.30 pm, which was when we used to have the tea-break.

I think there are 2 issues:

(a) Whether we want to have a specific break at all in future? Doing so does provide the umpires with a breather, and also allows everyone to socialise a bit as well as to play/umpire. At the moment we normally only get together as a group at the debrief at the end, when we are focusing on what happened during the game, and folks are getting ready to go home. OTOH that would take time out of the game, and we now have a large kitchen which is available to all the whole time, which we did not used to have. There is also sufficient space in the hall and adjoining room so that attendees can chat about non-game stuff during the game, if they have time.

(b) Whether to have food and what kind? We encourage players to bring their own lunch, but in the past ran an informal system whereby attendees were encouraged to bring some cake or biscuits to contribute to the communal afternoon tea. Would people like to resuscitate that, or is it a bit unhealthy? There is always the option of bringing fruit, or something savoury for those who prefer. Another possibility is that we could provide a few packets of biscuits out of the charge we make for the game. We already provide tea, coffee, milk & sugar on that basis, so I could always adjust the charge up a bit.

Thoughts & suggestions welcome.

Martin

Personally I prefer to bring my own sandwiches or whatever though I have also provided biscuits before.

I also think that having a definite break is a good idea but I wonder if we could start earlier - the days seem rather 'tight' to me.


Cheers ...

Richard

Martin wrote:

Sunday 29th May - Jackson Rides Again, The Valley Campaign
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take command of Jackson or the Union forces tracking him down the valley. The game will use the actual maps drawn at the time to help Jackson win the valley campaign. This will be a small game based on the forces available at the time (1862) players will command brigade size forces in the Shenandoah valley.

Ideally we will need two opposing commanders who are able to do some pre game briefings / moves via e-mail.


Martin

This appeals to me as I played Jackson (so to speak) a long time ago and failed miserably, so I would like to have another stab at it. I also fancy being a 'top dog' for a change.

Richard

Dear Martin

Suggest we all stick with tradition and bring either biscuit/cakes (with the numbers attending not too many each!).

If sweets are not ones favourite something savory - pringles, nuts etc. Or heaven forfend some fruit!

Cheers

Steve

That chimes with the comments I've had directly from folks, so let's do that and see how we get on. If you're coming to the next game, please try & bring something for the communal afternoon tea.

I've also received some requests to continue with an actual refreshment break mid game. I can see the advantages. What I plan to do this Sunday is to play it by ear. We have a lot of game to get through, but if we can maintain a good speed, then it may be possible.

Martin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16572454@N06/sets/72157626469717366/show/

Enjoy...

Sunday 29th May - Jackson Rides Again, The Valley Campaign
-----------------------------------------------------------
This is the last game before our traditional summer break.

Players will command brigade size forces in the Shenandoah valley in 1862. Take command of Jackson or one of his subordinates, or the Union forces tracking them down the valley. The game will use the actual maps drawn at the time to help Jackson win the valley campaign. This will be a small game based on the forces available at the time.

Ideally we will need two opposing commanders who are able to do some pre game briefings/moves via e-mail.

The game will be held at our usual venue at a village hall in Little Gaddesden village, near Hemel Hempstead. The hall is modern, dry & warm, with plenty of space and a large well-equipped kitchen. Start time will be 11 am and finish mid-late afternoon. Cost for the day is £5 a head (to cover the hire of the hall), but may be less if there's a good turn-out. We provide tea, coffee, milk & sugar.

The game is several weeks away, but we would like to get an idea of numbers, so please post here or contact me direct at martin_a_james@tiscali.co.uk if you’re interested. Newcomers are always welcome, and get their first game for free.

Martin

Richard wrote:

Martin wrote:

Sunday 29th May - Jackson Rides Again, The Valley Campaign
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take command of Jackson or the Union forces tracking him down the valley. The game will use the actual maps drawn at the time to help Jackson win the valley campaign. This will be a small game based on the forces available at the time (1862) players will command brigade size forces in the Shenandoah valley.

Ideally we will need two opposing commanders who are able to do some pre game briefings / moves via e-mail.


Martin

This appeals to me as I played Jackson (so to speak) a long time ago and failed miserably, so I would like to have another stab at it. I also fancy being a 'top dog' for a change.

Richard

Richard if you are there that day you can take the Jackson role.

I will not need commanders before hand as I am trying to design something that can be played from the aspect of just turning up and minimal briefing. I am also planning just a 4 hour time slot for game play which will allow more time to discuss and have a formal break.

I had better get it down on paper...

Looking for 4 players and 4 umpires but could maybe do more if people chime in early enough.

MJ

Well I'll definitely be there. Phil & David are possibles.

Martin

This is the last game before our traditional summer break.

Already! I have not managed to get to any so far this year. Any idea yet about the autumn? Is there still a collect from the station option?

We're talking about a September game, but no date has yet been set.

Yes I can collect from Harpenden Station, but subject to capacity constraints of course

Martin

MJ1 wrote:
Richard if you are there that day you can take the Jackson role.

I will not need commanders before hand as I am trying to design something that can be played from the aspect of just turning up and minimal briefing. I am also planning just a 4 hour time slot for game play which will allow more time to discuss and have a formal break.

I had better get it down on paper...

Looking for 4 players and 4 umpires but could maybe do more if people chime in early enough.

MJ

MJ,

I expect to be there. The lack of preparation required beforehand also appeals to me!


Cheers,

Richard