Slitherine

Hi everyone,

I recently released a new book on WW2 wargaming that, while it deals with the miniature side of the hobby, also looks at adapting real life tactics to wargaming in general.

Battlefield Academy (and Close Combat) players will find some of the concepts useful. But before I do a shameless plug, is there a different forum to post in, or would the mods prefer I don't post it at all?

However, in the spirit of honest communication (and as an author working on my next book, I am curious) - do you think real world tactics DO convert to Pc gaming and tabletop games?

I think when a game gets it right, some of the real-world concepts convert. I'm a believer that BA has done a great job in this regard. I hope they keep true to form for BA2 and not get outside the box too far.. features are cool, but the modders show that a simulation/fun-to-play game can be combined and still give a feel for tactics and equipment differences without bogging down with poor or complicated interfaces. We're bogged!! lol

I think that's a good summary - when the game gets it right, some concepts (not all) convert.

And if you do go too far you will end up bogged down. I suppose that's where playability and common sense come together

Plug away!

What's the name of your book? I typed "Malty666" into Amazon and got something completely unexpected!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... s=malty666

Hahaha - well I guess its nice to be associated with multi-orgasms, but that's not my claim to fame.

The book is Wargaming World War Two

The link is: http://www.amazon.com/Wargaming-World-W ... 484868803/

You can also run a search on "Justin Tonna" (which is me) and its available on all the different Amazon sites for those that live around the world.

How the hell do you wargame on Malta? I am living in a city with half as much inhabitants as Malta - never found a single wargamer here

There are actually a very active couple of clubs here - about 100 or so wargamers in those pools. And I also do a lot of solo waragming when I don't get the time to play.

I think that GW products made the hobby popular - and we gently ease the younger ones into historical wargaming then.

Best thing to do is find history buffs - they normally convert well into wargamers

dickesKind wrote:How the hell do you wargame on Malta? I am living in a city with half as much inhabitants as Malta - never found a single wargamer here

In the experience of war, Malta is somewhat special... It's the only place where the entire island was awarded the George Cross (in 1942)... At the crossroads of the Med, it's been repeatedly besieged by unwanted enemies, with the determined and resilient Maltese always emerging victorious... often after enduring the unendurable... Type 'siege malta' into Google... An amazing people!!

Thanks GottaLove88s!

Yes, we have been known for sticking things out. Despite the massive bombing of the island, it does also feature some stunning 16th Century military architecture that always puts me in the mood for a wargame. Now where did i put that "WW2 Invasion of Malta" scenario I was playing with... Crete all over again...

Do you play Flames of War? I have followed this for a bit, but have not built an army or have played. I have always found table top play pretty neat, but very difficult to find players if in remote areas(like me). Thanks for posting.

No I haven't gotten into flames of war - on tabletop I play NUTS a lot

Well you've intrigued me enough to order your book off of amazon.

I never became a table-top gamer but I played one on tv. I would often 'game' against myself and sometimes tinker with making my own war game rules and try them out as potential games. While I preferred WWII over any other conflicts, I usually could not source enough vehicle models in HO or 1:72 scale to my satisfaction. My first and best model tanks came out of a boxed game though, called "Battlefield Panzerforce"; this was probably my first war game experience lol. Actually it was quite an interesting game, as it was carefully balanced and it actually gave you a feel for the difference between Tigers and Shermans, still have the game here in my cellar:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7153/panzerforce

While I'm on the subject of youth and war gaming, what I really tended towards besides casual gaming rule writing, was figure painting. But I usually spent my time on the civil war and medieval guys, lol:


1:72 scale, I ran out of steam about 300 figures into the Army of the Potomac, lol...


25mm collection of fantasy and medieval guys. about 250 painted and like 400 unpainted

I feel fortunate to still have all these figures from my more youthful days, pretty irreplaceable.

First of all - thanks on the book. do let me know what you think of it (and do be honest)

As regards getting in to WW2 tabletop wargaming - I would recommend a good solo system like NUTS - I play it in 1/72. Am currently moving house so all my figures are packed away. But new house has a couple of rooms dedicated to wargaming. Looking forward to that...

I do really like Battle Academy when it comes to PC gaming - just enough detail to feel chunky, just enough playability to be fun.

Really like those figures - don't ever get rid of them. You'll regret doing it. I speak from experience having once liquidated my entire collection (I needed the money to buy the wedding rings when I got married), then when my fortunes increased, I bought the whole lot back (and then some). Felt like a bit of me was missing without them.

Hey, just looked up "Nuts" an wasn't aware that it was a "card driven" game...looks neat.
Was wondering if you play "Up Front"? I play it a lot on Vassal...will have to see if Nuts is available on Vassal.

Hi k9mike - I'll have to give up front a go on Vassal.

Not aware that Nuts is on it - not the 2nd edition version at any rate

Yah...just looked in the available "Modules" an Nuts! Ain't in there...
Hey Justin...nice figures...done good.
Mike

I myself am I Great War Gamer. What do you think of Axis and Allies?

I have one set of that - my greatest peeve with it is that with 20 minutes research on the internet you can get some near unstoppable strategies for specific scenarios because of fixed deployments.

Otherwise it's a fun game.

Only downside for that game is that I mainly focuses on the 5 Great Powers ignoring other minor yet important forces during the war. Only when smaller scenarios are made do they show up

Axis and Allies was my bridge from Squad Leader to computer gaming. It was the first game that my son and I both liked. (BTW we are regular opponents in BA)