Making the British weird...

[Monster]

Hi folks, first post after lurking here for a while.  I was wondering: what have you folks done to put the weird into your British forces? 

I'm starting a WWW2 28mm skirmish game with a few friends soon and have decided to do a British force. I've got some BAM commandos on order and I've started reading Nuts! to learn the rules. In the next week or two we'll probably spend an evening in the pub and re-write history to suit our gaming needs.  However, although I know the general history of the WW2 I'm not an expert on it and I was wondering if anyone could give me some pointers on creating a weird but period appropriate force.  Any advice on figures, adaptations of the NUTs! rules or anything else would be very helpful.

I do have a couple of ideas already. First of all, a group of boffins with experimental radio controlled tankettes. Boffins with rather unpredictable bits of technology in general seems like quite a good fit for the British.  Another possibility is using Hasslefree Kindred as fey (or even just as hobbits) who have joined up in to defend the sceptred isle. I'm not sure if they look too First World War,but rules-wise I imagine they could just get some sort of stealth bonus.

Finally a specific question: which British walkers look most plausible in the opinion of the good LAFers?

[Steve F]

Spring-loaded anti-tank guns.
Witches leaking naval secrets.
Lord Lovat.
Bouncing Bombs.
Fighter-bombers made of wood.
Orde Wingate.
Floating harbours.

You don't need to do anything to make the British weird!

[ErikB]

You don't need to do anything to make the British weird!

No kidding.  They are a strange (though lovable) people.

[Raxxus]

the dust tactics walkers i think suit both british and american www2 forces (the british could have some added rivets or something like the older pattern tanks(lee.....) and a little less stowage,a more british paint scheme and a british mg instead of an american/british commander) but they could work with out any modifications.

also you could add some em2 armed commandoes for some more wierd stuff.

[Monster]

@Steve F: I shall have to go and look up the witches leaking naval secrets and Orde Wingate as I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about!

@Erik B: Yes, it's all part of our charm.

@Raxxus: Thanks for your thoughts on the mechs, the Dust Tactics ones are very pretty.  EM-2s are a good idea - I'd never heard of them before seeing the thread on this forum... In 28mm I think SA-80s should be a viable conversion.

[Steve F]

@Steve F: I shall have to go and look up the witches leaking naval secrets and Orde Wingate as I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about!

For the former, look under Helen Duncan, aka "Hellish Nell", the last person to be prosecuted under the Witchcraft Act 1735.

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

Howdy! Gears & Guts has some Weirdness for the British (and the Italians) coming later this year. The British Cavalier combat walker from Gear Krieg is getting the 1/56th scale treatment with a modified Early hull and turret, weapons, as well as legs. Here's some prototype shots:


Cavalier Mk III


Cavalier MkIII with twin MGs


Cavalier variants - MGs and Flamethrower

John Bell (aka the creator of Archie's Tenners, the British-focused Gear Krieg action strip in Aurora Magazine: http://dp9forum.com/aurora/) has been doing a fantastic job with blueprints and artwork, so this is going to be a very British-feeling combat walker. For example, optional weapons include the Blacker Bombard spigot mortar, 2lb gun, twin MGs, flamethrower, and twin Hispano AA guns.

Cheers!
John

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gears-Guts/229252220422916

[Monster]

@Steve F: Just looked up Hellish Nell - perhaps I'll have to get some witches for my force!

@SBMiniatureGuy: Very cool! When do you think it will be available?

[carlos marighela]

Mildly Eccentric WW2 doesn't have quite the same ring does it?

[Weird WWII]

Mad Jack is pretty British and weird!

http://www.weirdwwii.com/2012/01/john-mad-jack-churchill.html

Nothing more British then a long bow, claymore and bag-pipe toting killing machine,
Brian

[SBMiniaturesGuy]

@Steve F: Just looked up Hellish Nell - perhaps I'll have to get some witches for my force!

@SBMiniatureGuy: Very cool! When do you think it will be available?

We have the ShiKi Japanese walker up next, and then the Cavalier -- so first half this year.

[Raxxus]

also just noticed something i would call wierd http://www.warlordgames.com/16675/new-bolt-action-tulip-rocket/

[Steve F]

Mildly Eccentric WW2 doesn't have quite the same ring does it?

Perhaps not, but is building an aircraft carrier out of an artificial iceberg just "mildly eccentric"?  It makes a rocket base inside a dormant volcano seem sensible.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Habakkuk, in case you're wondering.)

[Hat Guy]

My Brits can call upon Union Jack and The Doctor for aid, but there's plenty more:

There were several Sherlock Holmes films set in WWII (and made during it)
The later (and much worse) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen books cover the League's activities in WWII
World of Darkness roleplaying books cover history pretty well, London By Night or Rage Across Europe would be worth a look
V for Vendetta is not WWII strictly speaking, but the Fascist overtones are helpful.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is set in WWII, just sayin'

hope that helps

[carlos marighela]

What makes things quintessentially British is the consumption of tea. What would make that weird would be if the tea was herbal.