Oddly Enough ...

OAFS Photo

At yesterday's pity party (hey, calm down, we've all been there, amiright?) the inimitable Beans had this to say (in part, he usually has a LOT to say. Not that I have any problem with that.) -

Other than wearing a tinfoil hat, or perhaps discovering the listening devices around the house, I have to wonder how Beans is so prescient at times. Maybe's it just because he knows me so well. I'll leave that for another time ...

Anyhoo, see that opening photo, well, it's part of a game system I acquired well before I retired. I wanted to make sure I was well-stocked with things to do before the regular paycheck stopped coming in. (Okay, I still get regular paychecks, they just don't have the growth potential that a paying gig may - or may not - provide. Still, looking ahead I was.)

Now this system, Commands & Colors from GMT Games, I had first heard of from a friend of mine out Chicago way. He used to play it, sang its praises he did. After a bit of research, I decided to lay down some cash and acquire the base game.

Only to discover that there were a number of expansion sets. Being OCD and not wanting to miss anything, I got them all, with one exception which is still in the works out at GMT. I'm on the list to get one using what they call the P500 Pre-Order system. Which works like this - games which are no longer in print can be resurrected if enough people order them. Also, new ideas are proposed which will then be put into work if, again, enough people order them.

It's called P500 because to have a shot, the game has to make the "500 people have pre-ordered it" benchmark. Then the design or reprint goes ahead. Beauty of P500 is that the cost of pre-ordering is a lot less than once the game goes into production. And you don't get charged until the game is ready to go out the door.

Sweet.

Anyhoo. The system makes use of hex maps which can be configured to match the terrain of an actual battle (or you can "roll your own," so to speak). The units are colored wooden blocks upon which stickers are placed. You see, the colors match the nationality of the army and the stickers denote the troop type.

You've got your infantry, your artillery, your cavalry, and leader units. The latter provide benefits to the units they are with. (Hhmm, I wonder if any game has crappy leaders depicted which hurt they units they are with. Now THAT would be realistic as well!)

Now the stickers you have to apply yourself, which may seem like a lot of work, and it is, but it's the sort of thing I rather enjoy. (Jeebers Sarge, what's wrong with you? Nothing, I'm the McClellan sort, great organizer, crappy combat leader. DAMHIK. Okay, The Missus Herself kicks my ass in the few board games she will deign to play with me. She's bloody vicious!)

Here's a photo of the sticker application in progress for the first game module -

OAFS Photo

Note, the X-Acto knife is not for cutting the stickers from the sheet, it's for lifting the stickers cleanly from the sheet. And no, I have not cut myself yet. I am being painstakingly careful, don't want blood on the units now do I?

On the right is the British Army, the brown blocks are for their Portuguese allies, some of which have already had their stickers applied. Those somewhat ominous stacks of blue  blocks looming in the background? Why, that's the French Army waiting for their uniforms and weapons to be issued. (That is, have the stickers applied. Don't ask what goes through my head when I'm doing this, I have a very vivid imagination. And yes, Napoleonic era music may, or may not, be playing in the background. Often enough, I'm the only one who can hear it.)

First module nearly done, have these left to go -

OAFS Photo

That's the Generals, Marshals, & Tacticians module (extra bells and whistles, a couple of new units), then the Prussian, Russian, Austrian, and Spanish armies. One thing I will note, is that I was sore disappointed that there were no Scots Highland units in any of those boxes. Nope, none. Nor were there any King's German Legion.

Those are coming in that P500 module I mentioned above.

Come on GMT, I'm waiting to hear the skirl of the pipes!

So yes Beans, I have lots to keep me busy.

 En avant!