Greetings…
Recently my friend David from the excellent blog Miniature Minions organised an internet play by mail game of the battle of Vimeiro for a few of us lucky chaps…
The game was organised and played out by David in the United States and gamed by chums in England,Scotland and New Zealand.
We were all give an aerial view of the battlefield showing our initial depositions and then photos from our commanders point of view, which we used as a basis for our orders… Yes Old School… Big Time… And splendid fun…
We sent our orders off and hoped that they would be interpreted as we intended….
The result was a game that really brought in the sense of the fog of war…
Here are a few shots from my point of view…of course in no particular order thanks to bloggers inbuilt randomiser feature…🙄
If you wish to find out how things turned out and see more of David’s wonderful collection of toys….please pop over to David’s blog here…
http://miniatureminions.blogspot.com/
For more on Vameiro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimeiro
The game took quite a few weeks to work through and went very smoothly thanks to all of David’s hard work… This was also made more impressive by the fact that he paused the game so he could pop off and have some heart surgery done 😱😳…
Honest it wasn’t our fault.
Thank you David…You are a star.
All the best. Aly
This is a great way to game. Was your role to submit orders to David and then he adjudicated orders and resolved any combat?
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a great way to game Jonathan.
DeleteYes we submitted our orders to David and then he resolved everything at his end.
All the best. Aly
That must have been a lot of work for David, but I bet he had as much fun as the participants when enacting your orders. What a brilliant way to do things!
ReplyDeleteI think it kept him out of trouble for a while…
DeleteI imagine he found our attempts at period language quite amusing as well.
All the best. Aly
It did keep me out of trouble and the language used was one of the best parts! You guys really got into the feel of things!
DeleteWonderful work by David and your gaming colleagues across the globe Aly. Lovely looking game.
ReplyDeleteAll the hard work was done by David…I just joined in and had fun.
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Amazing! First off hope your friend David is doing better! Great looking game and figures. Players attending from around the world is incredible.
ReplyDeleteDavid is doing well Mark…
DeleteIt was a very enjoyable international game.
All the best. Aly
Pah, what's a little thing like open heart surgery. Actually the game was a great way to recover from that surprise and now I am almost back to 100%. Thanks for the well wishes!
DeleteHello there Aly,
ReplyDeleteThat looks absolutely splendid old chap! What a magnificent effort from David especially given recent circumstances - it must have been a blast to do and surely must have set some kind of global gaming record!
All the best,
DC
It was a lot of fun to take part in…but all the credit goes to David… not only for putting it on and doing all the actions and reactions but also for herding four wargames cats and dealing with surgery.
DeleteAll the best. Aly
The cat herding was one of the more fun elements of this game. I was remarkably pleased how quick folks were to respond and get their orders in!
DeleteVery Old School all round as you say, but still heaps of pleasure I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteHeaps of pleasure indeed David…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Lovely old school/ new school mash up, splendid shiny troops too!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Yes a nice retro approach combined with modern technology…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Looks like a magnificent event to participate in Aly!
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed Keith…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
By mail ... BY MAIL! A few days ago we were reading an article from the Seventies that dealt with games played by mail and we were wondering: "But how was it possible ?!". Now we have an answer.
ReplyDeleteThe oldest of us (R), who in his adolescence still knew letters, postcards, orders sent by mail (not email), also understands the beauty of waiting and letting the right time pass ...
Great idea David, bravo!
It was Play by Mail with a modern twist…and brilliantly done by David…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
I think if I tried to do this by international mail I would have popped! So many pictures!
DeleteIt is surprising how much fun these things can be.
ReplyDeleteI've played games sending email orders and played in some small pbm campaigns but the closest I've done to a pbm battle was to send my deployment and orders to a stand-in general who either could not understand my 'brilliant and cunning' (sic) orders or would not. (Cue Flowers of the Forest...)
There is a lot of fun to be had indeed and David managed to interpret my my cunningly cunning orders…
DeleteI say cunning but what it really was, was… “Shoot at the French”😂…
All the best. Aly
Wonderful looking game, Aly. I think my only true regret from the deep pandemic days (besides discovering canned chili con carne) is that I was never able to organize a hidden movement, remote wargame like this. I hope it was as much fun as it seems - and I'm sure it was.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a lot of fun…
DeleteAll thanks to David’s hard work.
All the best. Aly
Sounds very challenging for all.
ReplyDeleteChallenging but fun…😁
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Stirring stuff. Nothing like a big Napoleonic game with lovely glossy figures to rekindle one's wargaming mojo. A very interesting idea too.
ReplyDeleteVery true Bob…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Ooooooo ... shiny!!! :-) Classic!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed…Shiny and classic 😁
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Thanks for spreading the word Aly and appreciate all of the kind comments!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you David… for all the effort you put into a splendid game…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Aly, what a fantastic sounding game and a wonderful idea to bring friends around the globe together. Love the Old School vibe. I also feel your pain having struggled with the randomiser!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Meic