Some Thoughts on My Rules --

Over the past few months I have been particularly enjoying Ross Macfarlane's discussion of rules on his "Battle Game of the Month" blog. He, along with Bob Cordery's "Wargaming Miscellany" blog, have had me thinking about my "Tricorne Wars" rules.

When I first wrote them one of my goals was to replicate the steadfastness of line infantry and the slow wearing down of their resolve . . . and I feel that in a way I succeeded in doing so.

The problem is that that also tended to slow up games. Units took hits and then rallied in place too often. Ross and Bob have me re-thinking that approach. I need to keep in mind the fact that I'm writing "game rules" not "copying history".

While I'm not quite sure just how I want to deal with this, I do know that I want to. Mind you there are lots of parts of my rules that I really like . . . but they do need some work in light of my recent convictions.

Finally, if you have not yet read Ross Macfarlane's most recent reworking of his "Hearts of Tin" rules, I certainly suggest that you give them a read. They were primarily written for the 19th century but will flex a bit on either end of that.

-- Jeff

(OT) A Poem of Mine --

The following is a poem I wrote . . . and read to my dear sweet wife on our first night together.

NIGHT SONG

- - copyright 1995, as an unpublished work, by Jeff Hudelson

Come walk the sky with me, My Sweet,
Let's see what wonders we shall meet
As we set forth at setting sun
And journey through 'til night is done.

We'll leave our clumsy bodies here
And dance tonight by yonder sphere.
Oh, yes, of course, I mean the moon,
That giant pearl that's rising soon.

So close your eyes and breathe out deep;
Let your skin feel Wind's mighty sweep.
Now just let go -- and drift aloft --
Carried up by moonlight soft.

You need not fear the ground below
When souls do walk the ether flow.
So open now your spirit's eyes;
And see the sights full of surprise.

See there that beauteous rosy glow?
It's where the sun just set, you know;
And still the clouds are glowing bright
With yon Apollo's fading light.

On other hand, where moon doth gleam,
We shall set forth 'long heaven's stream.
And sail into the starry dark --
Until we hear the song of lark.

For lark doth warn of rising sun;
And by dawn's light we must be done.
For Faerieland of glitt'ring sky
Begins to fade when sun is nigh.

But still there's time for us to dance,
Come, Sweet, we must not lose this chance --
Throw fear and caution far away,
Tonight it's time for us to play!

Below you, see the lights come on,
Houses lit with electric dawn.
They are but pale reflections, Love,
Of all the stars now bright above.

So let your slender spirit soar
And drink in the wonder evermore,
For all these stars are yours to keep
Within your heart when sound you sleep.

It is my joy to share with you
The sights that only gods can view.
Your hand in mine, we'll journey far,
Even unto the farthest star.

With wonder for our spirits' fuel,
We'll journey out where comets duel.
And talk to constellations bright
As, Dear, I give you all this night.

Ram, Bull and Twins, plus many more
Are here to share with you their lore.
Behold them there, before our eyes,
They've seen so much they must be wise.

They know of ancient mysteries:
They've seen the sights on heaven's seas:
They've watched as Civilizations fall;
And heard nine billion babies squall.

But all their wisdom is but lies
When measured 'gainst your smiling eyes.
Drink moonlight with me, Gentle Heart,
and we shall give cold stars a start.

For fires within me strongly burn
To dance with you in swirling turn.
To sing your beauty to the sky;
And share the bed wherein you lie.

Where better than where stars are dust,
Should ever we find to share our lust --
Our lust of life, of music, joy,
And what are we, but girl and boy?

I give to you, My Gentle Sweet,
All the wonders we've yet to meet.
And ask so little in return,
Please share the heart for which I yearn.

Our spirits journey side by side
As we do take this nighttime ride;
So let our souls give joyous birth
Unto our bodies back on Earth.

There let us join both hand and heart
And Life Together let us start.
Then let us sing out to the sky
Just like the sound that's pealing by.

What sound is that, in heaven's sphere?
Please let it not be what I fear.
Our lives are short, as is this night,
And that sound gives me such a fright.

It is, alas, I know, the lark,
That calls us back from heaven's spark
Unto our bodies far below.
Yet of this journey we shall know.

For this night's dance is ours to keep,
Until we're call'd to Eternal sleep.
So, Dear, I give to you this song,
To keep this night forever long.

I love you deep and long and true --
Body and Soul -- I truly do.
So let me give to you, My Love,
Heaven and all the stars above.

(OT) EARTHQUAKE --

So there I was, sitting at my computer when all of a sudden my head felt funny. My balance was off. I felt wobbly . . . like my inner ear wasn't working. This went on for a good 30 seconds or more.

Well it wasn't me. We had a 6.4 earthquake about 85 miles due west of us (and about 14.3 miles deep). But unlike some of our fellow wargamers in New Zealand, neither myself, my house nor my "toys" suffered any damage.

Earthquakes are funny things in that it really depends upon underlying terrain as to how much or how little one feels. Apparently some folks a hundred miles farther east felt it more strongly than we did.

I am in Courtenay, BC, Canada . . . on the east side of Vancouver Island (which is different from Vancouver -- which is on the mainland, not on the island). Click on the above image for a slightly better view.

Again, there is no damage to my toy soldiers.

-- Jeff

1st Colonial Campaign Game --

We played the first battle of our Afristan Campaign on Monday. A report on the action can be seen on Colonel Hud's Colonial Blog.

-- Jeff

(OT) Public Service Announcement --

My faithful "PC Concepts" ergonomic keyboard has finally packed it in after 15 years (and several computers). During that time my wife has worn out three (much more expensive) MicroScrap ergonomic keyboards.

Well they still worked for her, but the keyboard letters had worn off. If this has happened to you, there is a company that has come to the rescue.

"Buy PC Supplies" sells peel-and-stick keyboard letters that work very well. That's how we rescued my wife's MicroScrap keyboard this last time . . . and how we will now resurrect one of her old discards which I am currently using in place of my old faithful keyboard.

Sure, most of the time we all just "touch type" . . . but then there are those weird "codes" that we have to type in sometimes . . . and we need to look at the keys.

Anyway, the keyboard stickers are $17.95 USD plus shipping . . . a heck of lot cheaper than buying another MicroScrap keyboard with its planned obsolescence.

-- Jeff

New Colonial Post --

For those interested in my Afristan Colonial Campaign, I have just uploaded the results of the February 1876 turn. Click here to go to the post.

-- Jeff

Starting My Colonial Campaign --

Well I've just started my Afristan Campaign over on my Colonel Hud's Colonial Blog. It is designed for myself and three other local gamers.

Afristan is a fictional large island in the Indian Ocean. It is ruled by a much-hated Sultan who has asked for British help to keep the lid on.

Interestingly enough various areas of Afristan have been settled by tribes and clans that echo the various natives that Britain faced in Africa and the Northwest frontier of India.

Anyone who wishes to copy this campaign for their own use is certainly welcome to do so. I should note that while I've modified the system found in Stephen Luscombe's Jarania for my own circumstances, that work inspired my own.

Finally I began painting my first couple of units of Zulus this past evening, since I do not yet have any painted.

Note -- I have now posted the January, 1876 Results on my Colonial Blog.

I have also posted the February 1, 1876 map, which you can see at left. (Click for larger view; click again for an even larger image.)

-- Jeff