What game or games are being proposed for this show next year?
Not long to go if figures and scenery are required.
I can give some sketchy outlines here Les.
I will say some things to see if they are correct or can be modified. Provocation.
1. Miles and Colin are putting on Monte Casino or Berlin?
2. Dave and Ben are doing a game?
3. Big Mike and Richard are putting on Airwars games?
4. Myself, Stewart and Nigel et al will put on a game if the "must play both days" and "not club games" criteria change. Therefore probably no game.
I await those better informed to brush over this.
martin :)
I would be fascinated to know the definition of a club game??????
I think the show wants spectacular games . ie lovely to look at. I can see why that might be desirable. The visitors will enjoy that spectacle.
However, I would rather chat to players about a game that can be played by average gamers with average resources. ie what rules are you using? How much for a normal set up? How long to play a game? are there a lot of local players of this game? Can I join in today?
If those are all ticks then good news.
I have little interest in knowing how a person collected 5000 figures to play on their 10 x 8foot table. Impressed yes, interested no. But good luck to them.
If there are no club games, then that might diminish the number of game(ers) present?
But, the show is not run for me.
I wish the show well. It should be a big success.
martin :)
Ben and I will not be putting on a game at 'Beachhead 25' unfortunately, have not had the time or enthusiasm.
D&B
That is a shame but understandable. Big games are a lot of work Dave.
martin :)
Agreed, Ben is busy working on his masters this year so doesn't have a lot of free time to help, plus my gaming interest hasn't been there this year. May do Madrid 1936 for 2026 if its on!
D&B
A Madrid game would look nice. Great back story too.
martin :)
Perhaps clubs themselves should put on small shows/open days if they have their own venue or are able to book a small hall. There don't even need to be any traders there if it is to get people interested or in having a go. We used to do that at Liverpool in the 90s. There were a smalll number of traders - 5 or 6 - but it was more about getting people to see how the games actually work. One of the chaps even ran a painting demo and tutorial. I remember talking to two German boys about the FPW game I was demonstrating, and that makes me think of a game I was interested in at Vapnartak about ten years ago. I wanted to ask about the game but was confronted by a sea of bent backs with not even a spokesperson nominated by the group. Could not fathom why they had bothered to transport everything to York just to behave as though they were at their club. That is what I would think of as a club game.
Myself and Colin are putting on Monte Cassino for the weekend.(as this game is already done and can be run by 2 people if needed)but all are welcomed to join in if there ! As many things have happened to people, this year for many varied and different reasons mainly family commitments the work on the the origin project has been put back. So maybe do the Berlin game April/May next year at Entoyment then put it on at Beachhead for 2026 if the usual crew are all committed?
I know Colin has started work on the Reichstag building, thanks to Richard for supplying the File. Also planning and placement of the rest of the board is on going ? But we need to work out how big the Reichstag is ? Then the Kroll Opera house, Ministry district and the diplomatic area and the park. But this is slow going at the moment.
So hence we have made the decision the game had to be put back for a while.
But it will become a game at sometime?
Thanks to those that have chipped in for now.
Miles
Sounds good miles.
Who is building the Russian army?
martin :)
Richard has been putting together a Russian army.
Miles
Any updates on games at the show.
I think it goes like this...
Miles , Colin and Simon +? putting on Monte Cassino for both days.
martin, Nigel and Stewart doing AK47 on the Sunday only.
Dave and Ben visiting.
John there working on a trade stand.
Big Mike and Richard are putting on Airwars games?
martin :)
It sounds as if we're rather taking over the show, between us!
Simon
John not attending.
John
Whoops, sorry John.
martin :)
Obviously a good and dynamic gaming group.
The show does not want "club level games" which might stop some local groups from taking part?
Commercially, the show possibly wants to cater more for GW style players. that is their target audience(?)
I will still spend some money there on a mat, paints and other odds and ends that might catch my eye. On average, I spend £60 a year there, which is not much but might help the traders.
The show is in a great venue.
I have booked parking at £15 for the day 8am to 6pm. An expensive area to park in.
I think it will be a nice day out. I enjoy the chat.
martin :)
Considering a journey down on the Saturday night for this.
The Bournemouth show is putting our games near to each other. That is nice of them.
Do note that Miles' PBI is there both days. Do see it.
martin :)
A fun today today. Thanks to Les, Colin and Miles for playing with me; to Richard and Big Mike for chatting to us as they put on a great airshow next door and to those who popped by to chat, including Dave, Ben, Derek and Matt.
I really liked the look of this Pacific War game:
(https://i.postimg.cc/xXHZ88p4/20250208-115925.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXHZ88p4)
Simon
We had a great and often nail-biting Monte Cassino game.
A few pictures:
(https://i.postimg.cc/nXY6TMKQ/20250208-145426.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nXY6TMKQ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gwjNR0gp/20250208-145415.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gwjNR0gp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sG4pbFTK/20250208-144532.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sG4pbFTK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Lg9T96YG/20250208-143338.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Lg9T96YG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d7cGQtgn/20250208-142115.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d7cGQtgn)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WDstfDBR/20250208-142110.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WDstfDBR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4njyR2DQ/20250208-111823.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4njyR2DQ)
Simon
Who won Cassino?
Did you spend any of your pocket money?
What looked at several times to be against the odds (there was a small number of critical assaults or shots during the game), the Germans won, and quite well.
Miles threw really well on the victory dice to salvage some pride, but the scenario turned into something of a meat grinder. It would have helped their cause a bit if the Brits had thought to rush forward and grab the crossroads objective in the town, rather than spending their last turn in (admittedly remarkably successful) shooting.
The Monte Cassino objective square seems to be the key in this scenario. Colin successfully assaulted under smoke. The Germans weren't expecting a short assault from up the cliff (our one moment of slight controversy?) but rolled 5 sixes in a fevered defence. So did the Brits (off rather more dice), so lost that assault. Until we realised that the Germans only had 5 bases in any case, so got wiped out and lost instead.
Luckily, some Allied HE got deviated next turn onto the one remaining British base in that assaulted square and killed it. Whoops.
A potentially game-winning assault into that same square from a fresh British platoon in the last turn of the game failed, since the Germans had finally remembered to pin it, which their opponents failed to clear, thus preventing the Brits from making the assault.
It was a good game, and the rules flowed easily. Lots of time to chat, see the show and spend pocket money (brushes and sci-fi grass tufts in my case).
Simon
Very good game, the Germans had this time come to the table as Veterans as well, which makes it's harder for the attackers. But it is a game that ebbs and flows which it should do.
Simon forgot about the cliff ( mountain side) is not impassable? As it would have made the table be cut in 2 ? But it's a very Rocky hill so making it when entered you can't go any further that turn ? But because we managed to smoke it saved the poor chaps being shoot at while sat on the mountain side. Then of course having survived? On their next turn doing a short assault !
The only thing Simon forgets if you put anymore restrictions on the Very rocky hill sections, once entered it would be impossible to either go back or forward ? Which would be detrimental to the game system ?
I made it so you couldn't Rush up from the town and quite literally step into the Abbey from that direction? The only way to do that is to follow the road which is the longer route in ? So effectively walking through the front door ? Any other route you are forced to stop until your next turn ? To make going up the mountain side a bit more difficult, relealisticly !
But still a good game and a good German win
Miles
Just breakfasting then I'll be over to the show.
Can you pay on the door do you know?
It was a very good show.
Plenty of games to see.
I saw WW2, Franco Prussian and Napoleonic. No ACW, ECW, Colonial, Western, Renaissance, Ancient,WW1 ,Naval (not skirmish) battles. All not seen.
Not many club games though.
Sean, Les, Richard, Big Mike, Miles, martin, Nigel, Mike, Colin and Colin all there.
martin :)
Really enjoyed it even though I ate something that strongly disagreed with me yesterday!
I picked up my Peter Pig order which Nigel had kindly sorted for me.
Played a great game of AK47 with Martin. My team of advisors and me won the game. I'm not giving them any of the credit though ;D It's the first time I've won a game so I'm going to bask in the glory of victory.
Things looked awful at the start as Marrtin whittle down my Regaulrunit leaving me two militia units and 3 units of Technicals.
Through excellent generalship gritty determination and sleight of hand I managed a good win after setting some buildings on fire, destroying some militia early on and then throwing the kitchen sink at Martin's professionals.
Really enjoying new AK, as I've said elsewhere. Looking forward to playing a lot more.
I think Simon you were right. Sunday once Martin and the rest joined us, we were a very big crowd. Nice to see our 3 tables all together.
It was nice to see Les and thank you for your help over the weekend.
Also to see Sean a very rare visit?
All in all a good weekend.
A good crowd from the "Friends of Peter Pig" at least 10 + of us over the 2 days, which is a good showing from us all !
It was nice to talk to WSS as they showed a good interest in Monte Cassino and Mike and Richard's Air war game, with both of our games having quite a few pictures on their Facebook site.
Also the lighting was better at Beachhead than at Farnborough's Warfare ?
Miles
(https://i.postimg.cc/1V3d43Qm/IMG-5159.png) (https://postimg.cc/1V3d43Qm)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vgzjQ6C2/IMG-5166.png) (https://postimg.cc/vgzjQ6C2)
My 1/600 WW2 Air War game was launched at the Beachhead Show. The 'Target Ahead' rules – fighters v bombers - were well received, and I am very grateful to Richard, Robert and Ian who ran the participation games and chatted to the public so enthusiastically. Richards extensive collection of 1/600 aircraft certainly drew in the crowds, and it was good to see so many of the RFCM group at the show, including Dave and Ben who both led a squadron into combat. We were next to Miles' excellent Monte Cassino game which graphically demonstrated the after-effects of a visit from the USAAF.
If there is sufficient interest, I will run an Air War Day (or half-day) at Entoyment. Let me know here if you're interested.
The next two rule- sets covering close support and naval air combat are due out later this year. The 'Target Ahead' rules are available in PDF format on the 'Wargame Vault' with free updates and discussion forum. A second print run of the rules is planned so please message me privately if you want a hard copy.
Thanks again to all those who have helped in the development of these rules.
Mike
Some Pics of the Air War game at the Show, including Ben Leslie's custom-made markers for the game.
Mike (https://i.postimg.cc/4mBC9gKg/Beachhead-2025-Richard-Robert-and-Mike.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mBC9gKg)custom made markers
(https://i.postimg.cc/211zj60J/Beachhead-2025-Richards-extensive-aircraft-collection-drew-the-crowds.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/211zj60J)
(https://i.postimg.cc/zLnY3RKd/Beachhead-2025-Ben-and-Dave-joining-the-squadron.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/zLnY3RKd)
(https://i.postimg.cc/D8WD8XKq/AIR-WAR-MARKERS-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D8WD8XKq)
It looked very good, Mike, and certainly drew in the crowds!
Simon
Ben and I really enjoyed playing this. Mike if possible could you please PM me with the costs for the rules and the markers as we would like to buy it next month?
Dave and Ben
Well done Mike in bringing your rules and game to life
Enjoyed playing the game and watching the development
Will you put it on at the Weymouth weekend?
Stewart
It was good over the Weekend to have our games together.
Sunday was quite good when Martin, Stewart, Nigel and Mike Joined us, with AK 47.
We took up a nice little lump of the Gaming space I thought with our 3 games also games across the spectrum. Made me feel quite proud how many RFCM group members were there gaming across both days.
Yes Mike like Dave and Ben how much for a printed copy and counters please ?
Also hopefully the other Ben can bring out some counter sets for AK and PBI ? As with the Air War they look good as a package?
Miles