"A Month from Hell" --

Well that is how my wife described it . . . and we are very glad that February is over.

On the evening of the first I started bleeding heavily from my rear end. A trip to Emergency and I was admitted to Hospital, where I continued to lose blood. I know that they gave me at least nine big bags of fluid over the two days I was in.

On the second, my wife's father (age 95) passed away. It wasn't unexpected, but it was still a shock for her on top of my being in Hospital.

Mid-month I underwent a colonoscopy to find out why I was bleeding . . . and a few days ago we got the result. I have colon cancer . . . well, more correctly rectal cancer.

So the next step is an MRI to see how extensive it is and if it has spread. Then radiation. Then surgery . . . and I'm a poor surgical risk even though I've lost 35 pounds over a three-week period (because I'm still pushing 300 and I'm in my sixties).

It is quite a shock. I'm not in pain. I'm weak because my hemoglobin has dropped so low because of blood loss . . . but other than that I feel fine . . . well, except for the stress and not knowing how things will turn out.

And, thankfully February is over.

Whatever your faith, your prayers are welcome.

-- Jeff

2 New Table Top Teaser Mini-Campaign --

Not everyone has access to Charles S. Grant's wonderful "Scenario" books . . . so Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has crated a "Table Top Teaser" mini-campaign using Charles S. Grant's original "teasers" as published in magazines back in the late 1970's.

Fortunately Steve-the-Wargamer has (with permission) posted these online so that anyone can use them without needing Grant's later Scenario books.

• initial scenario -- (TTT) #3 The Advance Guard Action
  
• second scenario -- (TTT) #5 The Dawn Attack
  
• third scenario -- (TTT) #10 Rear Guard
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #4 Hold Up in the Badlands
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #8 The Hasty Defense and Relief of a Town

This Mini-Campaign has also been added to my post of the earlier ones (using Grant's books) so that all of the "Mini-Campaigns" are in one place.

Additionally Cesar Alfredo Paz has created another "Mini-Campaign" using "Table Top Teasers" which is available here.

-- Jeff

Several "Mini-Campaigns"  --

Below are links to responses so far to my call for "Mini-Campaigns" based on linking scenarios from Charles Grant's "Scenarios for Wargames" and other scenario sources.

What I think strikes me most about them is how different their choices and paths are . . . they should provide much fun for those who play them.

I would ask that if you play them, please post feedback on the creator's blogs . . . the URL links are in parentheses below.

After the initial scenario, those following are not in order since most chose the "tree" format where the result of the scenario affected which scenario was played next . . . so don't look at them as being in sequence . . . in fact, depending upon the results of various scenarios, not all will be played in any one campaign.

Note -- I will endeavor to add future "mini-campaigns" to this post as they arrive.

Steve (Steve-the-Wargamer) set his three-scenario Mini-Campaign in 1705 during the War of Spanish Succession:

• initial scenario -- #9 Attack on the Camp
• next scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
• final scenario -- #16 Reinforcements in Defense (2) off table

Peter Douglas (The Single Handed Admiral) set his "Barolo" campaign in an "Emperor vs Elector" setting:

• initial scenario -- #20 Reserve Demolition
• other scenario -- #21 Bridgehead Breakout
• other scenario -- #13 Last Stand
• other scenario -- #19 Assault River Crossing
• other scenario -- #16 Reinforcements in Defense (2) off table
• other scenario -- #18 River Crossing
• other scenario -- #1 Positional Defense (1)
• other scenario -- #15 Reinforcements in Defense (1) on table

Ross Macfarlane (Battle Game of the Month) set his "Comox Valley Campaign" in a Colonial (or Ancients) setting . . . but it could be played as Horse & Musket too:

• initial scenario -- #30 Ambush (1)
• other scenario -- #4 Holding Action (2)
• other scenario -- #13 Last Stand
• other scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
• other scenario -- #34 Swampland Action
• other scenario -- #32 Wagon Train
• other scenario -- #33 Convoy Action (2) -- Evacuation
• other scenario -- #42 Advance Column

Jim Pitts (Col Campbell's Barraks) has posted his "Linked Mini-Campaign" on his blog. Like most it has a flexible order, so don't take these scenarios as being in order.

• initial scenario -- #41 Chance Encounter
• other scenario -- #3 Holding Action (1)
• other scenario -- #4 Holding Action (2)
• other scenario -- #1 Positional Defense (1)
• other scenario -- #2 Positional Defense (2)
• other scenario -- #5 Rear Guard (1)
• other scenario -- #6 Rear Guard (2)

Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has posted his 1804 mini-campaign based on a British force in France trying to fight its way to safety with yet a different starting scenario.

• initial scenario -- #42 Advance Column
• other scenario -- #50 Horse and Foot
• other scenario -- #8 Dead Ground
• final scenario -- #6 Rear Guard (2)

Ed Youngstrom (Landgraviate of Hesse-Fedora) started his "Ladder" campaign using the "Table Top Teaser" from Battlegames Magazine, then used Grant's "Scenarios for All Ages" to complete his "ladder".

• initial scenario -- (Mag) Pontoon
• other scenario -- (Ages) Rearguard
• other scenario -- (Ages) Assault on Prepared Position
• other scenario -- (Ages) Hot Pursuit
• other scenario -- (Ages) Chance Encounter
• other scenario -- (Ages) Making the Best of a Bad Job

Dr. Vesuvius (The Axis of Naughtiness) used Grant's "Programmed Wargames Scenarios" for his "Continuing Diplomacy" mini-campaign for solo play!

• initial scenario -- (PWS) #11 Crossroads
• other scenario -- (PWS) #18 A Hasty Blocking Position
• other scenario -- (PWS) #5 The Weak Flank
• other scenario -- (PWS) #1 Hill Line Defense
• other scenario -- (PWS) #7 Two Sides of a River
• other scenario -- (PWS) #6 Crossing Point
• other scenario -- (PWS) #8 Fighting Through
• other scenario -- (PWS) #9 Island Stand

Ross Macfarlane (Battle Game of the Month) has also posted a Horse & Musket mini-campaign for solo gamers using Grant's "Programmed Wargames Scenarios". Interestingly enough it also starts with the same scenario as Dr. Vesuvius' mini-campaign above . . . although it then proceeds differently.

• initial scenario -- (PWS) #11 Crossroads
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #1 Hill Line Defense
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #2 Broken Ground
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #3 Pass Clearance
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #5 The Weak Flank
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #6 Crossing Point
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #7 Two Sides of a River
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #8 Fighting Through
• possible scenario -- (PWS) #9 Island Stand
• final scenario -- (PWS) #4 Holding Action

Conrad Kinch (Joy and Forgetfulness) has also crated a "Table Top Teaser" mini-campaign using Charles S. Grant's original "teasers" as published in magazines back in the late 1970's. Fortunately Steve-the-Wargamer has (with permission) posted these online so that anyone can use them without needing Grant's later Scenario books.

• initial scenario -- (TTT) #3 The Advance Guard Action
• second scenario -- (TTT) #5 The Dawn Attack
• third scenario -- (TTT) #10 Rear Guard
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #4 Hold Up in the Badlands
• possible scenario -- (TTT) #8 The Hasty Defense and Relief of a Town Additionally Cesar Alfredo Paz has just created another "Mini-Campaign" using "Table Top Teasers" which is available here.
  

-- Jeff

Mini-Campaign Challenge --

Most of us are familiar with Charles Stewart Grant's wonderful book "Scenarios for Wargames".

I propose using it . . . or rather the scenarios in it to create some mini-campaigns . . . a series of logically linked scenarios that will provide the framework for a series of games.

Sure, Grant and Phil Olley have done something similar in their volumes "Raid on St. Michel" and "The Annexation of Chiraz" . . . and they are wonderful . . . but I'm looking for some simpler, quick and easy solutions that we can all use.

So here is the challenge . . .

Create a series of three to seven scenarios from Grant's "Scenarios for Wargames" that will make for a logical simple mini-campaign of linked scenarios.

You can even, if you like, make a "campaign tree". That is to build it in the format of "if Red won Scenario A, go to Scenario B . . . and if Blue won, go instead to Scenario C, etc.

Let's see what you can come up with, okay?

====================

Also, an update on my health. I feel much better although I tire almost immediately due to my heavy loss of blood. The hospital has changed my visit to the operating room from Monday to Wednesday, when they will hopefully find out what's wrong with me.

-- Jeff

Our Wedding Anniversary --

My darling bride, Loraine (known as "Lani") and I were married 15 years ago (January 8, 1997).


Tonight we went out to dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate. And yes, that is prime rib on our plates (yum!).

There hasn't been much to report on the wargames front lately. Between the Holidays and my health, I've not played anything for a while . . . but Murdock, Pete and I have tentatively set up for either painting or playing on January 22.

My wish is for all of you to be as happy in your relationships and my wife and I are in our marriage.

-- Jeff

Merry Christmas to All --


I hope that you all have a wonderful day today. May the joys of the Season and the innocence of children wrap you in a warm happy mood . . . and may it continue into the new year.

And may all of that New Year bring each and every one of you good health and pleasant times . . . with lots of new toys and memorable games.

And, finally, yes, that is me in my "Santa" guise . . . and it is okay to smile at this funny old fat man . . . I don't mind at all.

-- Jeff

Our 2011 Christmas Trees --

Last week we got both of out trees up.

Our "inside tree", as seen at left, is about an 8' Fraser Fir. We like them because while they are fairly full, they do have spaces where you make place ornaments "inside" them.

(note: try clicking on image for a closer look . . . well depending upon just how Blogger is treating photos today)

Our tree is mostly decorated with red and/or white ornaments . . . although there are many "specials" that we've acquired over the years.

This year's "special" is pretty much right in the middle of the tree. It features a cameo. As my Grandfather told me (and he said that his had told him), "the men in our family have always given cameos to the women they love".

Now while I've given my wife a few cameos, this was the first time I found one for our tree.

Out on our front porch we have a 6 1/2' artificial tree that must be close to 15 years old.

We have found that some larger seemingly garish ornaments (when seen up close) look good from the street.

A few of our other trees may be seen in some of my older posts. Click here for the 2009 tree. Click here for the 2008 tree.

Here is wishing that you may have a wonderful holiday season.

-- Jeff