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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: mongers on August 02, 2013, 07:59:01 PM

Title: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: mongers on August 02, 2013, 07:59:01 PM
This might interest and repel others here for the wrong reasons.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F68942000%2Fjpg%2F_68942967_10294019.jpg&hash=295b5e2d945af577e4449c189a9d3434a8049f21)

Quote
It is a century since HG Wells published the first proper set of rules for hobby war games. There's a hardcore of gamers who are still playing by his code.

Pine tips are stuck in the grass to represent trees. Roads are laid out with trails of compost.

This is the Battle of Gettysburg, with Union soldiers on one side and Confederates on the other. But the soldiers of this new Gettysburg are 54mm (2in) tall and mostly made of plastic.

The battle is taking place between a group of enthusiasts in a garden at Sandhurst military academy under the rules of Little Wars, devised by HG Wells in 1913.

War was then looming in Europe and Little Wars was both an expression of Wells's passion for toy soldiers and to his fears over the coming slaughter. The science fiction author even believed that war games could change attitudes.

"You only have to play at Little Wars three or four times to realise just what a blundering thing Great War must be," wrote Wells.

.....



Rest of article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22777029 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22777029)
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: Ed Anger on August 02, 2013, 08:08:09 PM
I'd replace the cavalry with my daughters My little ponies, but they'd be eaten by my son's dinosaurs. Rawr.
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: Malthus on August 02, 2013, 08:12:39 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 02, 2013, 08:08:09 PM
I'd replace the cavalry with my daughters My little ponies, but they'd be eaten by my son's dinosaurs. Rawr.

Sounds like one of Timmay's alt-histories.  ;)
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: MadImmortalMan on August 02, 2013, 08:13:10 PM
There is an awesome shop full of miniatures next to Buckingham Palace at the guard barracks. They sell only that. South side of the park I think.


Edit: Google-fu says it's this (http://www.yelp.com/biz/guards-toy-soldier-centre-the-london) one.
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: Neil on August 02, 2013, 08:20:34 PM
Toy soldiers?  Miniature battleships are better.

Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: citizen k on August 02, 2013, 09:27:23 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 02, 2013, 08:13:10 PM
There is an awesome shop full of miniatures next to Buckingham Palace at the guard barracks. They sell only that. South side of the park I think.


Edit: Google-fu says it's this (http://www.yelp.com/biz/guards-toy-soldier-centre-the-london) one.

Cool.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mklmodels.co.uk%2Fekmps%2Fshops%2Fmklmodels%2Fimages%2Fht-infantry-indian-officer-and-4-sepoys-5175-p%255Bekm%255D300x225%255Bekm%255D.jpg&hash=128cf156dc947cefe694ca8846b60302360b122d)

Baluch Light Infantry Indian Officer and 4 Sepoys
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: grumbler on August 03, 2013, 07:49:18 AM
Why anyone would still use Little Wars as a rules set baffles me.  It is a great little book (available at Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3691/3691-h/3691-h.htm (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3691/3691-h/3691-h.htm)) but a terrible set of "rules."  Pretty much any alternative would be better.
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: grumbler on August 03, 2013, 08:01:55 AM
Quote from: citizen k on August 02, 2013, 09:27:23 PM
Cool.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mklmodels.co.uk%2Fekmps%2Fshops%2Fmklmodels%2Fimages%2Fht-infantry-indian-officer-and-4-sepoys-5175-p%255Bekm%255D300x225%255Bekm%255D.jpg&hash=128cf156dc947cefe694ca8846b60302360b122d)

Baluch Light Infantry Indian Officer and 4 Sepoys

"Cool" 'till you look at the prices!  :lol:
Title: Re: 'Little Wars' 100 Years On.
Post by: The Brain on August 04, 2013, 01:36:36 PM
Did he ever grow up?