Monday 22 December 2014

Oporto 1809 - Miniature Wargames, the Director's Cuts.


January 2015 issue of Miniature Wargames has the third and final instalment of the series of three articles looking at the Oporto game run earlier this year.

This final article shows the way the game played with one of the four play tests we ran, written in the form of an account from the people involved, that is the little 18mm chaps on the table, with some insightful comments on what the rule system was doing at the time.

One aspect that I was keen to illustrate with playing these games with Carnage & Glory is the way the rules system helps to add the extra drama to the game, in the way it simulates all the "friction" and stress caused to the armies.

http://www.carnageandgloryii.com/

Obviously, with a limit on what you can include in a series of three articles, decisions had to be made on what pictures to include to illustrate the action, and for regular followers of this blog I know you will have seen my previous reports without the Seminary building on view. The amazing model was made by James Sharpe of Oshiro Model Terrain.

http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/

When I could include the model in the game, I decided to let Miniature Wargames readers have first view with the final play through report of the scenario that I ran with my two sons Tom and Will back in September. If you want to see the game report, you'll have to get Miniature Wargames, which with all the other good stuff it has will make a jolly good read over Xmas.

All the files for the game can be found in the side bar on the right under My Scenarios, which include the orders of battle for Carnage & Glory, the PDF briefings and the Cyberboard map used for off table troop movements.

However as a little thank you to all the people that joined me on the project here on JJ's, I thought I would put these extra pictures up from the final game, a bit like the "directors cuts". There are a lot of pictures as I wanted to give myself plenty of options as to what to include in the article. Points to note are that these pictures were taken under my new daylight bulb lighting for the room and, with use of the mini tripod and timer for better clarity, after a crash course in photography from some one who should know about this kind of stuff, Mr Guy Bowers editor of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy" magazine - cheers Guy, but please note any "duffers" are down to me and my journey from the bottom of the learning curve. Lots of pictures, enjoy.

















































That's Oporto done and dusted, and normal service will resume with our progress into the Tagus valley in the summer of 1809, with Sir Arthur Wellesley's Peninsula Army and the Talavera campaign.

12 comments:

  1. Fantastic game photos, Jonathan! Your Oporto was really a work of art! Glad to see it recognized as such.

    Well done (again)!

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    1. Thanks Jonathan, appreciate your comment. Have a great Xmas

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  2. This must be one of the prettiest games of the year in my view! It all looks immaculate - congratulations and well done of the magazine exposure, you must be very proud?
    So, what's next on your Napoleonic game list JJ? We demand to know!
    Have a bloody marvelous Christmas Sir, best wishes Jeremy J

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    1. Cheers Jeremy, that's very kind. Well stay tuned for a series of games going into 2015 accompanied by the build in of the units to go with them that will culminate in a refight of Talavera with about fifty units a side. Should make a jolly good hard pounding of a game.
      And a very fine Christmas to you too sir. Happy wargaming in 2015
      Jonathan

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  3. I am really impressed by the quality of these pictures...gorgeous!

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    1. Hey Phil, thank you. The lighting in the room has made a huge difference and the timer used with the tripod allows more detail. I keep hearing Guy Bowers saying "let the camera do the work". Have a great Xmas.
      Jonathan

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  4. Now that's what wargaming is all about! Well done, that man!

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    1. Hi JR, thanks mate, glad you like it. Napoleonics en mass, amidst the smoke of battle, the perfect game. Living the dream,
      Happy Xmas and here is to more fun in 2015
      Jonathan

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  5. Majestic !!
    Great scenery with beautiful grounds and figures.
    Rightly deserved to be published in a magazine.
    Congratulations for the work and Merry Christmas!
    Simmy

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  6. Cheers Simmy, much appreciated and a Merry Christmas to you
    Jonathan

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  7. Looks fantastic...well done on completing such a great project.

    Have a great Xmas & New Year

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    1. Hi Giles, thank you, and well done on spotting the tiles, I'd been racking my brains on how best to model that river up to then.
      Hope you've had a great Xmas and wishing you a great New Year
      Cheers
      JJ

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