Author: james
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World Building – Towns and Villages
One of the things that I often do when I am writing a story is to sketch a map of the area where the story takes place. This helps me to visualise what the characters will be able to see. The thing is though, you can’t just bang down stuff randomly (well you can, but…
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Book Review – Lion Rampant by Robert Woollcombe
 Lion Rampant by Woollcombe Robert My rating: 5 of 5 stars The author was a platoon commander in Normandy (going ashore on D+8) and then a Company 2ic from the breakout until the end of the war (although with six Company Commanders in six months he spent almost as much time in command as any of…
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Megagame Funeral Games II pt.2
This is the second part of my offside report on the Megagame Makers megagame ‘Funeral Games II’ which I played in on Saturday. It covered the period following Alexander the Great’s death and the struggle by his successors to attain power. In the first half of the game I played Antipater, until he died of…
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Megagame Funeral Games II pt.1
Today I played in the Megagame Makers ”Funeral Games II” which was the second outing of a classic Megagame of what happens after Alexander the Great dies. As such it involves a mix of military operations, politics and personal relationships to cement power and block others from achieving it. My starting role in the megagame…
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Remembrance Challenge
We took our cubs to the local war memorial in the Church just down the road from the Scout Hall. Before we went we”d got the cubs to make a wreath of poppies and to write a message on it. Each boy did his own personal wreath. We then went on a walk down the…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 10
Third week of October 1914 BEF Report to the War Office The Belgians on our left were attacked and driven out of their trench line, and retreated towards Calais. The BEF left flank is, although entrenched, hanging in the air again. BEF reserve troops are at St. Omer. A request to the navy is made…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 9
Second week of October 1914. BEF Report to the War Office BEF’s part of the front aint as big as we thought it would be, we cover it to Bapaume. Team Control Gloss Well this was where I stopped following the team very closely and handed over to Paul, one of the map umpires, for…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 8
The first full week of October 1914. BEF Report to the War Office Orders are to entrench from south of marshed terrain In Dixmuiden towards Arras. Right flank tries to attempt a limited attack from Arras and surroundings directioned to the east to conform to the German line. It seems that a solid trench line…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 7
29 Sept to 4th October 1914. BEF Report to the War Office Some more confusion, Germans frontline is from the Marsh area (Dixmuiden) to the South, direction Arras (which the Germans appear to have abandoned?) which means that the British advanced somehow without orders to do so. It seems that a change in warfare is…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 6
The last full week in September 1914. BEF Report to the War Office 30th September 2014 While taking the new positions, the BEF was attacked by the Germans, Arras was lost but the German casualties were high. British right flank doesn’t have contact with the French. On the political point, the Belgiums requested to the…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 5
Third week of September 1914. BEF Report to War Office 23rd September 1914 Situation Due to the fact that both the Belgians collapsed to the left of us and to the right of us the French 6th Army were thrown back as well, the BEF was in a difficult position. With bravery and in coordination with…
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Megagame: Iron Dice – Turn 4
8-14th September 1914. I didn’t get a picture of the main control map this turn, so you’ll need to use your imagination. BEF Report to the War Office 14th September 1914 Situation We have attacked the German First Army on our Right flank. They were numerically superior (Five Corps to our three) but we managed…