[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hello, Mike:

I read your introduction with interest (all the way across the Atlantic!). I, like you, have a military background (retired Army officer; combat veteran; battalion command). I also like certain historical periods, perhaps: ancients; Arthurian period; Napoleonic; AWI; ACW; and 20th century. However, I also am drawn to a series of games sets, rules, and scale–all available from Warlord Games. Right now I am working on developing early and late WWII orders of battle for Polish military ground forces. I am planning–along with members of our club (check us out online at sjgaforum.discussion.community)  a series of battles of an early WWII campaign (Invasion of Poland) and Market Garden; plus the Polish 1st Armoured Division history as part of the 1st Canadian Army.  I also enjoy the Konflikt 47 game system and concept of peeking at the alternative history, of sorts, of WWII. For a break, I will try even fantasy games with the shared good cheer of others, especially Dracula’s America.

I attach a photo of a recent K47 game: Soviets v. Germans, Central Poland, 1947

Best of luck in your gaming pursuits,

Sam Wilson, LTC, USA (Ret) & Member of the South Jersey Gamers Association (SJGA)

 

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Samuel V. Wilson, Jr..

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[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Herr Krauter,

I read your post with interest. I began my relationship with Warlord Games 5-6 years ago through the BTGOA portal. I had freshly joined a club and one of the old hands (a now retired foot surgeon) game-mastered a pretty straight forward engagement between Algoryn and Boromites. It helped that he was a very good painter, as well. About 8 of us gathered around a 7×5 foot table, playing on a 4 x 6 mat with suitable terrain, and we basically went at it–all for the first time. I was hooked from then on. Since then, I have gotten involved with TOH, BA, and K47, collecting and building armies, being very satisfied with the quality of the product, the gaming systems, and the customer service. Currently, I have Ghar Empire, Ghar Rebellion, and Concord armies; the latter still need painting up but I collected all that I need for it. If we can ever get past the pandemic several of the club members would like to do a campaign, among us we have the original six/seven armies on hand. I hope y0u find some playmates as it is a lot of good fun, lends itself to masterful tactical play (I am a retired army officer), and still retains enough surprise and chance to keep everyone engaged. In short, I really like the game system.

Best of luck and good gaming,

Sam Wilson, New Jersey, USA.

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[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

I take a different point of view. What you have here is an attempt at a” mini-barrage.” A barrage is a deliberate, multiple artillery/mortar round strike. It is orchestrated to optimize/concentrate damage at a particular point, unit, or time in the battle. For a barrage to go into effect, the target needs to be under fire observation when it receives a direct hit, so that  it is “registered.”  Then the second phase of the same fire order, “Fire for effect!” is transmitted. and multiple rounds can be fired at the registered point simultaneously by the remaining weapons in the unit. How does this translate into a BA/K47 order and outcome? 1. Unit receives a fire order; 2. The target is under fire observation.  3. A single round is fired. 4. If it scores a hit, the target is “registered.” 5. Remaining mortars are fired in unison. 6. Hits are recorded and translated into appropriate pins. 7. If enough pins are racked up the target tests for morale or it can be destroyed. 8. (Do remember to take target cover and/or armour effects under consideration when computing hits and effects).

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Jim,

Hi! My name is Sam Wilson. I live in New Jersey. I play BA and K47. And my prime interest is WWII in Burma, too. My father was a Merrill’s Marauder, a 1LT at the time. He led an intelligence and reconnaissance platoon for the 1st Battalion all the way to Myitkyina before he was evacuated, being medically tagged “AOE”. . . accumulation of everything! To help me with my campaigning, I painted up Nisei as Chinese Nationalists. And I also use some Chindits and Gurkhas. I also had some Brits painted up as Indian army squads. So far I have hosted BA battles to represent actions in the first two campaigns: Shaduzup and Wallabum. I am pending doing the Myitkyina camapaign. All of these, as you probably know took place between February and early June of 1944.

I belong to a group . . . South Jersey Gamers Association (SJGA) we have an online forum: sjgaforum.discussion.community. Check us out!

Let me know how you approach gaming in Burma. I would be interested in knowing.

Meanwhile, good gaming!

Sam

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hey Mark and John,

Given my rather large holdings of various groups under the TOH rule sytem, I now can announce a second Erehwon army in my inventory: Samurai Erehwon! Looking forward to blooding them in the New Year!

Happy New Year you two!

Sam

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hi, Errico:

The 14th Indian Division of the XVth Corps fought in Burma, especially along the southern coast of Burma.It was especially active 1944-45. I have had some of my British figures painted up as Indian Army troops because I focus on Allied-Japanese conflict in Burma. (My father was a Merrill’s Marauder). I also painted up my Nisei figures as Nationalist Chinese to represent the Chinese Army in India (CAI), trained and commanded by General Joe “Vinegar” Stilwell.

Good Gaming,
Sam

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hey Tim & Kris (and other WoE-ers),

Here’s the latest addition to my monster/monstrosity inventory:

Meet MEDUSA!

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[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Kris,

Yes. TOH is Test of Honor, formerly produced by WLG. Now, under separate proprietorship. I love the nuances of it. The scenarios are pretty cool, too. Does not take a lot of figures. For me, what makes a difference is period terrain–not a lot, but period and culture specific. Doesn’t hurt to have a little Japanese cultural music in the background, either. I find it relaxing and still thought provoking. The different kinds of unit sets each add a different flavor to the play: ninjas, monks, etc. It is all very subtle.

Sounds like you are live somewhat remotely to the vestiges of civilization. Is FLGS, Flagstaff? Does this mean you live not far from the Arizona border? I lived in Southeast Arizona for a while, at Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista. About 75-80 miles Southeast of Tucson and 20 + miles west of Tombstone. High plains area. Cochise and his folks roamed the area. This is why I also like old West games–even though they are highly mythical and romanticized in their assumptions and scenarios. Dracula’s America (DA) adds some fantasy and mystery to the mix. Quite enjoyable. 7-8 figures to a side. Check out the rulebook.

Don’t “punch” those cattle too hard.

Sam

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hi Kris,

From Cape May, New Jersey. I have recently turned to WoE for some fresh entertainment in my game club (sagaforum.discussion.community) that meets monthly. I have played with the Undead, the Elves, and the Olympians against the Knights, Orcs, and Wood Nymphs, respectively. Warbands. Have had loads of fund. Being a big fan of Antares, I found the transition to WoE to be greatly facilitated. Tim has helped me–via this forum–on several occasions as I climbed a quick learning curve, too. Our group has had a lot of fun incorporating various monster/monstrosity figures into our play. As an old retired guy with a military, teaching, and park ranger careers behind me I find that I enjoy an admixture of military, fantasy, and sci-fi in my gaming broth. By the way, I tip my hat to you teaching the young ones the joys of table top gaming. Our group keeps talking about the need to do that, too. Be safe driving through the mountains especially as fall and winter are coming. (I am up in Alaska right now visiting my son and grandchildren for three-weeks. The leaves are already beginning to turn!). Keep us posted on your exploits with WoE and other Warlord games. I play TOH, K’47, BA, BtGoA, too. (I also enjoy Dracula’s America). Good gaming!

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

You guys are a riot. I can just imagine my tough, shield wall hoplites, holding the front line center of the battlefield in the thick of a stalemated shoving match, looking back over their shoulders and yelling out to the war band lord: “Oi, we want our Blinky!”😂 (that’s me laughing at my own joke).

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

The other evening I had a good exchange employing my lightly armored Olympian centaurs (with spears) against a Wood Nymph Guard unit in the light rough. The guard were the attackers, coming out of hidden ambush; their chances looked good numbers wise; but they got checked with casualties. As first round victor, my followup HTH inflicted even more casualties. However, it got reciprocally bloody in the next turn when my opponent drew the initiative and decided to counter-counterattack. Mutual losses wrecked both units for the rest of the game. Still, I like my centaurs, they are surprisingly agile while having some heft. They can take a punch and return the favor. Kinda like light knights of a sort.

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Last evening, I war-gamed a round of WoE at a friend’s house. I used my newly minted Olympians; my foe was some nicely painted Wood Nymphs–weird but nicely painted. It was a rather original scenario–the entire Woodland Nymph war-band was on “Ambush” oders to begin the game. My muscle bound and multi-faceted Olympians were the invading force coming into “Woodlandia” on one road in a long column, seeing nothing, knowing nothing, except that I was going after a magic mushroom sited all the way diagonally across the terrain. Apparently, it was the source of, well, what made people “happy”? Needless to say, I immediately felt like I was on a “search and destroy” mission a la Vietnam. The nymphs were hidden just like the Viet Cong I chased after. I don’t know which was the more frustrating chasing after real live guerrillas or sniffing out Wood Nymphs on a beautifully designed and heavily-wooded terrain landscape. I had the power and numbers, to be sure; my foe held the element surprise throughout. I have to admit that I was not having fun plodding through the gorse until my Cyclops showed up on the board (for the first time ever). He made my day in what turned out to be a rather sanguinary stalemate. We’re talking about ranged attacks (boulder heaving) and H-T-H (which I would imagine involved using anything he could get his brutish hands on). He wound up giving my demoralized Olympians something to cheer about, taking down their highly-pumped and lethally designed champion Mano o Mano; and then essentially halving a large archery force that previously had decimated my Harpies with two stunning boulder barrages in back-to-back salvos (he’s a Mod 2.) Time ran out before final resolution could be achieved, but everyone was impressed with the Cyclops, owner, game master, and opponent. I gotta come up with a name ’cause wherever I go with this force I am taking my robust and spell-happy wizard (seer) and ???, my trusty Cyclops, ’cause we don’t need no stinking’ Lord or Hero with him board! Naturally, I overstate the case, but you get my drift?

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

I recently had a squad of K47 Italian Centurion Heavy Infantry painted up to be used as an allied force for my K47 German army in future games. I really liked their design–a subtle mixture of ancient-and-future-tech, in my opinion. Has anyone had any experience with this unit? Any pros or cons to offer? I would be interested in anyone’s thoughts or experiences. Thanks in advance for any replies

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Tim,

I monkeyed around and figured out how to merge the Monster warband with my Olympians, once you told me where to look. Thanks. I appreciate your help with a couple of these issues.

Sam

[Samuel V. Wilson, Jr.]

Hi, Sam Wilson here. K47 is one of my favorite rule systems. I like it because it merges history with Sci Fi, and a little fantasy, to boot. To me, K47, as a derivative of BGA, parallels the lastest derivative game development, WoE–from BtGoA. This way of game evolution certainly makes learning rules, capabilities, and thereby tactical play easier and fun. It’s also lighter on the pocket book I thank WLG for moving in this direction. My interest in K47 centers on the Japanese role in WWII. My interest comes honestly; my father served in Burma as a young officer with Merrill’s Marauders. So, I built my Japanese K47 force around my earlier accumulated BA figures; ditto, for the Americans, using my Merrill’s Marauders figures as the core element. It did not take long for my to expand into German K47: a fellow club member sold me his K47 collection lock, stock, and barrel at a very acceptable price. So, I have a third army, now. I am augmenting the latter with some specialty figures and vehicles from time- to-time when I can find a good price.

Not long ago, I designed a scenario that pitted the Axis (Germans and Japanese) against British and American Allies centered in Northeastern India (the Axis were attempting a strategic link up). Standing back-to-back, literally, the allies were endeavoring to deny this objective. It was an exciting contest, back-and-forth, decided in the end with the narrowest of Axis victories: by ONE POINT! This club game episode is documented in there AAR section of our on line South Jersey Gamers Association forum– sjgaforum.discussion.community. Check it out.

Looking forward to sharing insights, tactics, and good ideas in this K47 forum.

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