In the spring of 2004 the success of I Ain’t Been Shot Mum was such that people were crying out for scenarios and expansions. As a stop-gap we decided to produce a Summer Special e-magazine packed with all sorts of goodies to titillate the gaming palette. It was an immediate hit. The special format allowed us to go further in exploring ideas than a magazine article limited to a few pages, but it didn’t demand a whole book on each and every subject covered. As a result its been a fantastic vehicle for presenting “big ideas” such as comprehensive mini-supplement and expansions to open up new periods. Funnily enough, that very first special included a Spanish Civil War expansion for I Ain’t Been Shot; our last supplement back at Christmas last year did the same thing for Chain of Command with results that can be seen strewn across the web as Chain of Command seems to have become the “go to” rules for the conflict. So it is that the Special format keeps on coming up trumps.
Of course a ten year anniversary is a big deal for anyone, and we wanted to make this one a Special Special. Thanks to a wide range of enthusiastic contributors it really has hit that bench mark and even exceeded it. Amongst the glittering jewels you’ll find some real classics. Our great friends Dix Bax and Therry van der Burgt from the Netherlands have produced a superb translation of Dux Britianiarum for Samurai warfare in the 15th to 17th centuries which had me reaching for my credit card and tying “28mm Samurai” into my browser. Tom McKinney’s Dyle Line campaign is a wondrous piece which combines all I love about historical research and wargaming. Tom’s use of sources really sets the scene for what is a superb looking campaign. The same can be said for Pat G’s Home Guard campaign, again researched using the Nottinghamshire Home Guard records and period maps. What’s more, there is an interesting tie-in with Kelham Hall – the spiritual home of wargaming and host to Partizan!
But it is unfair to pick on just a few pieces that have caught my own eye. The range and variety means that there must surely be something in here for everyone. Let’s take a look at the contents:
Introduction. Nick says hello.
Westwind. A complete Chain of Command mini-campaign set in East Prussia 1945
Seven Spears. A truly magical conversion for using Samurai with Dux Britanniarum.
Do Some Dinging C Company. A Charlie Don’t Surf scenario from Operation Colorado in 1966.
Robin Hood’s Black Gold Home Guard versus Fallschirmjager mini campaign for Chain of Command based on original defence plans for Nottinghamshire.
The Siege of Augusta. A multi-player scenario for Sharp Practice in the American War of Independence.
Big CoC in Africa. A fantastic report of a post-colonial Africa adaptation for Chain of Command which has been impressing the Australian show circuit.
Carribean Broadsides. A squadron action for Kiss Me Hardy.
It’s the Chindits! A great new list for Chain of Command with several Chindit force options and three distinct support lists for the varying operations undertaken. There’s a smashing little scenario added on to give them a run out too.
Hurricanes over Hal Far. Bag the Hun looks at the siege of Malta and presents three scenarios for air war over the Med.
Circle the Wagons. A Chain of Command scenario for fighting in Benouville in June 1944. A 70th anniversary scenario.
The Roundwood Report. Blogimpressario Sidney Roundwood chats to Big Rich about how he writes rules. So top tips for would be rule designers.
Strawberries for Elephants. A spectacular full campaign for Chain of Command set on the Dyle Line in 1940. A great example of gaming interwoven with superb historical research.
Giarabub. In the deserts of North Africa the Australians face the Italians in the aftermath of Operation Compass. A scenario for IABSM
Sawrms for Q13. A look at using swarm type forces for our popular Sci-fi rules.
OML2. A report from a great Lardy Games day in the West Country. With cakes!
Vacquevill. A second 70th anniversary game, this time for IABSM as the Yanks fight their way inland from Omaha beach.
It’s 139 pages in total and each one packed with goodies. Not a single page of adverts to be seen. My only warning would be that this Special will surely have you reaching for your credit card and buying figures for new projects. It certainly lightened my bank account!
Interestingly the march of technology over the past ten years means that the Special in its electronic format appears even more ever-green. The e-format makes reading on the train to work on your tablet or iPad a real perfect combination. So, here’s to the next ten years!