On an unseasonally warm October Sunday I journeyed to Newark for the second Partizan show of the year.
I toured the demos before checking out HLBSCo for some plastic figure possibilities – I drew a blank.
Simon of MeG is publishing a renaissance ruleset in 2024 (ReG?) and put on a demo he devoted some time to our conversation which I appreciated – I also liked the 30 year old hinchliffe figures below. It will be interesting to see the time spread and also focus of this rule set.
Overall I enjoyed this partizan although somehow I think I prefer the May offering-not sure why?
I also missed the 1848 Hungarian war table, never went back to biscotti for some sharp practice or go for the boxing although I did chat with quite a few people perhaps more than I normally do – that I think is a good thing in these testing times.
I do have a general idea about an order of postings, yet every now and again I get derailed. The usual suspect here was a wargame show – the other partizan. And that show found me browsing the extensive rulesets on offer at Dave Ryans Caliver Books stand.
I had seen this ruleset before, but moved on many a time. The cover was more Franco Prussian – I had kept avoiding this conflict simply because my interests were 10 – 20 years earlier and there seemed a gulf between these warring times: 1848 to 1870 was a transitional period especially for technology.
“There are you Guns” derives from the “General de Brigade” rules system
This time I looked through a bit more, no, I read the introduction. Somehow the words immediately offered something broader. Never judge a book by its cover they say.
Well the upshot was I parted with some “plastic” notes (I like to take a budget in my pocket – when its its gone, and it kind of adds to the immediacy of a decision) and this ruleset added to my burgeoning ruleset collection – yet again.
A few days later I set about reading the book cover to cover. Not usually my method – I often just get a few figures out and tinker with parts of a ruleset first off.
On this occasion I felt the ruleset could be read as a book. This was because the design philosophy as well as gaming examples are intervweaved amongst the rules chapter by chapeter.
Each chapter is self contained and includes contemporary illustrations and suitable military quotes of the day. It proved a good read.
When I had finished the book I put it to one side and got on with some figure painting. This was after a lay off, the usual “I was painting one day and the next – nothing”. I even had one unit just needing some base foliage adding – but no – production had ceased.
Then I suddenly decided I had to play a test game and yes I had to try for sufficient forces to look at the “divisional” set up. I felt anything smaller might not help me explore the rules sufficiently.
So “Blue on White” was born and I had one division per side comprising 2 brigades of infantry and artillery plus some divisional cavalry. I opted for most of the variables to match on both sides and also headcounts as well.
In effect I took out lots of variables regarding quality. I also discarded all the terrain rules by virtue of fighting the action across a plain.
The Battle of Gatehouse Road: Set on a small rise the road to the Gatehouse described a very low ridge.
The result was a long game where the game was left set up for several days – something I tend not to do. The reason was I felt compelled to find what the result would be by playing out the game.
The rules are not fast play and quick kills were not obvious where forces are very well balanced. At this point I should say that mostly smoothbore ruled the field. The exception was some muzzle loading riflemen. We are talking 1840’s not 1870’s.
I also suspect my use of the smallest size of units made the task of defeating an opponent harder. Although it should follow that units were eliminated quicker – which did not seem to happen.
I might just get a report out discussing the detail because I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the ruleset mechanisms.
So where do I reckon “there are your guns” (TAYG) comes out against the basket of rules I tested recently?
In short with an overall score of 25 its looking very promising.
“there are your guns” (TAYG 1848) ruleset scores
Criterion
Score
Production
4
Rule Philosophy
8
Game Mechanisms
4
Action Mechanisms
9
Total
25
At 25 this ruleset came in joint second
The best thing about the rules were their feel – having read quite a few books now around the mid 19th century – the rules seemed to reflect well the descriptions/opinions I have encountered. Now one test does not answer every question and crucially I had in effect boxed off 4 brigades against 4 others with some divisional command on top. No flanking and no variability in force quality. No terrain influencers either.
There are your Guns or TAYG1848 – I can never resist an abbreviation
Overall I will be using this ruleset but I am not yet sure how. They feel like they need a sizeable force on the table.
Blue (with a bit of Green) on White – who won? or in this case did the rules win me over?
Earlier this year I attended Partizan at Newark Showground. For the first time in many years I have made a second visit in one year – this time its the “other” Partizan.
Same location, same show – sort of.
The Autumn sun blazed through the south facing windows. I think that bright light helps – its uplifting. Except when your looking into the sun at the grasses selection on the Northumbrian Tin Soldier stand. You simply cannot please some people……
I enjoyed the Other Partizan. I almost feel Partizan in Spring was still all about what might be and was upbeat while the Other Partizan is no less upbeat but just maybe many gamers have now got stuff done and there is also an air of reflection maybe even planning thoughts for 2023…….
Here are some pics of things that caught my eye.
Participation Games
Back to Demo Land
Materiel
I turned up in time to get a free figure: The Empress Matilda.
I did buy a few items – nothing like some retail therapy.
Partizan at Newark Showground made a welcome return for me in 2022. Last visited in 2019 this show or rather the pair – “the other Partizan” that happens in the Autumn, had both become a regular destination for me.
This years show built on my trips to Vapnartak (masks still very evident as well as much caution) and Hammerhead (obvious relief as constraints eased) so I should not have been surprised that Partizan was “many in earnest”. I felt there was a lot of catching up conversation going on, which maybe meant slightly less participation? Yet the enthusiasm was so obvious – people discussing, looking and yes playing games – simple pleasures throwing dice and moving pieces.
And there was the other simple pleasure of admiring other peoples work. Conversations seemed easier and the enjoyment palpable.
For once I had no shopping list – 2 years of on online buying had emptied my pockets? Well no – quite simply I have been sticking to my projects and actually painting my figures and even gaming. That has meant less erratic moments for the Wargaming butterfly.
First up are the games that were on show. I concentrated on just a few for photos. on reflection mats seemed to be a theme for me!
The 40mm Mr Ian Smith and friends was a glorious display of Napoleonic soldiers and fantastic scenery.
The Immortals presented an excellent medieval action
Over to another Eastern European battle – no details gathered
Fast forward to 1833 and Westbury Wargames with their “two brothers war” in Portugal where all manner of nations piled in for another go just a few decades after Wellington and his Portuguese allies had fought their way through to Spanish held France.
And thats it. Well I did get distracted by mats and terrain this year. The terrain mats are a gift for the time hungry and space hungry gamer which is the most common type of wargamer I suggest. I think it is more the case that, at shows where displays are a product of a different amount of effort the textured cloths seem to be the better bet for “a look”? However I have seen some tables where the “hirsute” cloth swamped the poor figures who looked as though they were wading through 2m high grass.
All in all the displays I found were excellent and inspired me to wargame, which is what it is all about.
What did the other big sell do to me – the trader tour!
I impulsively fell for some pendraken and warbases material – invariably so. Usual suspects being bases plus some dice.
The man in the “corner” shop hailed from Birmingham and brought many an interesting box for the 1/72 gamer. They were at T22 in the trader zone – see map at the end.
I fell for this station……..
But was too late for its mate the Italian church – curses.
Chariobaude offers up a great range of painted Late Romans.
My current preoccupation is middle nineteenth century where in plastics you get the “plastic soldier review” much disliked Austrians. Failing this in 20-25 mm its really just Irregular Miniatures at each end so to speak 20mm or 28mm. I have posted a picture of 20mm Neapolitans posing as 1848 French at Rome elsewhere on this blog.
I will be back in the Autumn for the Other Partizan