From: richard@tga.u-net.com (Richard Gadsden) Subject: Re: Intro games for 10 year old? > As a former 10-year-old wargamer (ten years ago), my 4,143 Turkish lire: My first proper wargame at 12 was 1776. There was a series of books released in the UK when I was about 8 or 9 that were sort of pictorial history books with cut-out cardboard counters and maps inside the books for some fun wargames. I remember four of them and each had four mini-wargames inside. I remember a Normandy landing game in which the Allies didn't have any conventional tanks (only Funnies) and always got creamed by the Panthers. I also remember an Arsuf game that was beautifully balanced - the knights were fast and powerful enough to cross the map, but the infantry and the baggage train wasn't. But, if the knights got out of contact from the leader (+2 bonus for being adjacent to Richard - meant for a kind of command-control problem) then the best of the Saracens could cut them to pieces. Very well-designed game - especially as the Saracens were faster then either knights or foot soldiers. Quick, easy to play, romantic bit of history (especially if your name is Richard) but you had command-control and supply, manoevre and a very tight time limit. Of the 16 games - and most of them were fun - easily the best. I lost these books a few years ago and very much regret it. Does anyone esle remember them? -- Richard Gadsden "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire From: "Louis R. Coatney" Subject: Re: Intro games for 10 year old? Richard, Good call! We have talked about these Usborne Battlegame Books, by Andrew McNeil, on CONSIM-L before. Besides being fascinatingly illustrated, they have good historical commentary. I think they are long out of print. I have 2 of them: 4, World War II, containing the games ... Winter War (Germans defending against Russians) Carrier (Pacific amphibious and naval surface/air) Air Assault (B-25/B-26 bombing mission) and the Normandy game you were thinking of, Beach-head 5, Fighting Ships Viking Raids (strategic) Silver Fleet (Spanish galleons vs. Dutch privateers in/around Cuba) Frigate (sort of a cross between MB's old and new BROADSIDES games) Battle for the Med (Air/Sea Strategic). Blurbs for the others are 1, The Wild West ... includes hunting and railroad-building, Billy the Kid's greatest gunfight, and Red Cloud vs. U.S. Cavalry games 2, Knights at War ... includes jousting, siege warfare, border lord vs. raiders, and "Richard Lionheart's crucial battle against Saladin." 3, Galactic War ... with a fascinating menu, as well. Usborne Publiishing was at 20 Garrick St. in London. Does anyone know who Andrew McNeil is/was? Lou Coatney, mslrc@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu From: "Marychurch, Mark MS" Subject: RE: Intro games for 10 year old? Richard said: >There was a series of books released in the UK when I was about 8 or 9 >that were sort of pictorial history books with cut-out cardboard counters {snip} >I lost these books a few years ago and very much regret it. Does anyone >esle remember them? Actually there was five. The topics were; Wild West, Knights/Medieval, Space/SF, WWII and Fighting Ships. The fifth came out a little later than the rest. I can't recall the actual publisher (Orbit/Orbus?) and the titles of each are a little fuzzy; Fighting Ships, Wild West and WWII were their actual titles, I think. I got all except the Wild West :( including a second copy of the Space book which had had some pages torn out before I got it :( I loved them at the same relative age. Some of the games were a little too simple/silly even to a 10 year old :) but some like "Arsouf" were brilliant little games. Even several years after when some buddies realised I had them, they went "Siege!", "I'll be D'Assault", "I'll be De Fender (sp)" so they probably still get a play somewhere, hopefully. All except the Wild West one were reprinted about five/six years ago, I recall seeing them at my friendly neighbour gaming den at the time. Don't know if they still are around. I keep glancing at general bookstore clearances in the kid's section for them as well as second hand dealers so I can complete the set. No luck so far. I'd be a little lost if I lost my copies now as well. Mark Marychurch