OST Stalingrad

Old School Tactical is the series title of a WWII tactical boardgame system that to date has core modules dealing with east Front 1941 - ‘42 and West Front 1944 - ‘45. Each core module has associated expansion modules and this post is based on the Stalingrad expansion, which has just come back into print.  

Designed by Shayne Logan and published by Flying Pig, the system is immediately identifiable by the large mounted game boards, large attractive game counters and a ruleset that is very accessible, especially considering how complex this genre can get.

With the Pacific core module on the horizon, I have been re-establishing my familiarity with the system and thought a post about the Stalingrad reprint worthwhile.

Please use the ‘read more’ tab for the rest of this post. 

1066 - Not Hastings!

It is a beautiful morning in mid August 1066. The sun is bright, the birds are singing with the corn wafting gently in the breeze, a perfect moment for battle thought Ivor Bigbutt, local commander of the West Rottington Array.

For some months he has been in dispute with Anglo-Saxon Thegn, Walter the Tight Wad, over the payment of tribute and with the harvest approaching, Bigbutt feels a reminder as to who is really in charge is due!

With a fine body of cavalry, well supported by heavy infantry, Bigbutt set out for Dungborough yesterday. His route was to take him over Little Bump Hill and onwards to the settlement of Piggy Longton, the main town of Dungborough, to make a demonstration of force and intent.

However, Walter, aware of this raid, has brought local shire forces to block the advance and is already astride Little Bump Hill to intercept Bigbutt.

As the two armies face off, Ivor Bigbutt still fancies his chances in taking the slightly high ground of Little Bump and humiliating Tight Wad.

It looks close, with the local turf accountant Filthy Giles, taking bets of just 1:1 evens on the fortunes of Tight Wad. Will Walter the Tight Wad have his purse strings cut? Has Ivor Bigbutt become too big for his trousers? 

Please use the ‘read more’ tab for the outcome of this escapade.

My new Pocket Armies project

After some pondering, well in a fact a few years worth of pondering if truth be told and a recent discovery of some old simple Wars of the Roses rules that I wrote years ago, I am going to start a succession of smaller projects that will sit under an over-arching ambition of getting several army pairings together, from different periods, for some fun games that aesthetically appeal and won’t take up too much gaming time or space (he says, foolishly ever hopeful!).

SU 122 from a Pegasus 1/72 kit

I will be building some ‘Pocket Armies’ in the larger scales, while using the smaller setting of the kitchen / dining table and trying to create a sense of something a bit grander than skirmishing.

This first post is just an introductory article that gives some thoughts, observations and ideas on getting the project up and running. So if you fancy joining me on a gentle ramble of plans, intentions, dreams and wish lists, then please use the ‘read more’ tab.