-
Well sadly, that's soon to be yours truly. We're moving to live near the seaside next month, my old cronies the Dynamic Dunderheads, may get to visit every six months and that's about it. There's a wargames club near where we are going, but I'd sooner stick pins in mi' eyeballs than join one of them again. So it's the lonely furrow of solo gaming, in which I need sage advice... What's the best way to proceed for lonely wargamers , some decent rules (any period as long as they're of the KISS principle) and are there any morale boosting plus's to 'walking alone, a man of steel'?
:'(
-
B&B in Blackpool? Maisonette in Clacton? Commanding views over Sunderland, the exciting, Vegas-like, lifestyle of the Greater Cleethorpes-Grimsby conurbation or just the quiet life on Canvey Island? The seaside is such an evocative term. Inquiring minds must know. :D
Good luck with the move and hope you settle in well.
-
Cleethorpes mate, from the new Emporium's window, I can see Viking Longships sailing up the Humber.
;)
-
I was hoping it would be a beach hut in Ynyslas. Oh well.
Best of luck in making the adjustment, hope things turn out for the good.
-
Thanks chaps, if I could only find a Lincolnshire secure unit that would take the Dunderheads on day release, job'd be a good 'un!
:D
-
Whilst I understand your sentiments about Wargaming Clubs, I understand their are good local societies, such as in Grimsby, that might be worth investigating if only to find like minded fellows to arrange your own games with?
-
Known a couple of the Grimsby lads for several years, they're top hole. No clubs of any ilk for me though...
for every member I'd cope with, they'll be ten wankers I'd want to strangle!
;)
-
You'll be too busy decorating the new place to wargame lol
But you could try OHW by Neil Thomas,lots of periods and lots of scenarios ,solo rules and lots of rule tweaks available online :)
Hope the move goes smoothly for you :)
-
Known a couple of the Grimsby lads for several years, they're top hole. No clubs of any ilk for me though...
for every member I'd cope with, they'll be ten wankers I'd want to strangle!
;)
Go to the club twice, reveal nothing, watch others playing and select carefully, then never go again. There are clubs, and then there are clubs.
-
You'll be too busy decorating the new place to wargame lol
But you could try OHW by Neil Thomas,lots of periods and lots of scenarios ,solo rules and lots of rule tweaks available online :)
Hope the move goes smoothly for you :)
Cheers R. I'm a big fan of OHW rules and have seriously thought about rebasing my different collections and playing solo using them. OHW solo rules really fulfil the KISS Principle I'm a big fan of...
just never thought I'd ever need 'em!
:)
-
Go to the club twice, reveal nothing, watch others playing and select carefully, then never go again. There are clubs, and then there are clubs.
Sooner try and convince Herself to wargame than join
any club!
:o
-
'Doom Squad - Solo Wargame Rules' ordered for starters, anyone had a pop at 'em?
???
-
'Doom Squad - Solo Wargame Rules' ordered for starters, anyone had a pop at 'em?
???
Got 'em, sadly not played it yet o_o, when i do i will post about it :D
Happy soloing
Glen
-
If I was doing solo games I would probably do something colonial where the natives are auto-activated. So maybe something like Sands of the Sudan?
-
If I was doing solo games I would probably do something colonial where the natives are auto-activated. So maybe something like Sands of the Sudan?
If you like Colonial games,TmwwbK rules has a "Mr Babbage" section on solo gaming. :)
-
+1 to TMWWBK. The 'Mr Babbage' system could be adopted/adapted to other periods.
A friend once proposed a solo (or at least everyone on the same side) for Viet-Nam.
he (quite rightly) pointed out it would be easy to programme IF players were the VC,
as the Yanks were more predictable. Stay behind the same bush long enough & even the
lowliest GI will call down everything from carbines to B52s on that position.
Along similar lines, get hold of that old, but very nice, set of rules 'Pony wars, or
B troop ain't coming back' In that players are US cav. al-la John Wayne & the rules handle
the pesky Indians.
You can also make use of friends who are no longer local. A friend of mine moved away before
I started a certain campaign. to keep him involved he became the distant Emperor, giving
orders to the field commanders. Frustrating for them, but highly amusing for me. That was in
the days of 'snail mail' only. It would be easier today with 'tinternet' & other techno stuff.
Finally don't forget LAF, etc. This has worked for me.
-
'Arry I think you've already joined one of the fastest growing wargames clubs.The "don't suffer fools gladly".
-
Ha! Ha! 'Pony Wars', forgot that one... wot an epic that was! I've got that set of rules still kicking about somewhere from way back in the day.
:-*
-
If skirmish is your ticket, Pulp Alley's solo rules have gotten very robust and the game's simple and adaptable to any genre or time period as always.
-
If skirmish is your ticket, Pulp Alley's solo rules have gotten very robust and the game's simple and adaptable to any genre or time period as always.
Seconded - although I have been lucky enough to be able to found a good group of crazies.
-
Mantic's The Walking Dead: All Out War includes rules on how to play solo if you like zombies! Although to be fair I adapted it for sci fi with aliens taking the place of zombies...
-
Sooner try and convince Herself to wargame than join any club!
:o
No-one said 'Join' - but if you want to see what the local pool of players is, then visiting, (not joining) a club is not a bad place to start. Or local(ish) shows? You can try before you buy in terms of checking out the local loons..
-
Got the outside of the new Emporium looking summat like...
;)
-
lol
Lovely murial!
-
Got the outside of the new Emporium looking summat like...
;)
You’re mad, .... but I like you!
-
'Doom Squad - Solo Wargame Rules' just arrived and I'm skiving off packing to have a read, and I'm impressed. I can see my teams being Highlanders and Gurkhas on the NWF, with the Mad Mullah's baddies popping up all over the place!
:-*
-
Your thoughts on it’s use re. sci fi, Mr Faversham? I’m likely to get it regardless plus Rangers of Shadow Deep - probably best that I embrace my hobby hermit status too!
-
In my 'umble opinion 'Doom Squad' could be tickled up into the outer reaches of the Pooliverse, admirably.
I'm already toying with the idea of mi' demented pepperpots invading planet Bonk and having at it with the Bonkers!
o_o
-
Bob and Dave in their new home at the seaside…
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/115939/3i4kf3ulrcwm7usou1wvfa0nwk48wkcj.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/115939/ontri1iuszkrjelcns32kygwn97n0xx1.jpg)
The Dook and Sergeant Quincannon in their new home at the seaside…
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/115939/6u1c5t0uubwk0pkhlnqr81y3h5czve2c.jpg)
:)
-
I'd back OHW rules. Does base size matter that much, especially for solo play? I've been using forces which pre-date OHW on 40mm and 60mm frontages, Don't seem to make a difference. Another thing about OHW is it saves some the pain of setting up and tearing down if the max forces sizes are used.
For the non-hysterical side of things HOTT (Hordes of The Things) is easily adaptable to solo play as the rules are very straightforward.
Biggest disadvantage to being solo player? Having to produce both sides in any conflict but it sure cuts down on force size!
Anyway best of luck with it all.
-
Biggest disadvantage to being solo player? Having to produce both sides in any conflict but it sure cuts down on force size!
That's never been a problem. I've always produced both sides for my games so as not to be reliant on anybody. Only downside...
the side I prefer has decently painted figures, the baddies, well they just look bad!
:)
-
The baddies tend to take longer as well :D
-
Can confirm!
-
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/qvjhfdosayzd2hyp8dae5l7gdny9y3hb.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/drz91uv3btbbgja6dkg7f4rec9b2g9fb.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/0v038qgp719fv98eshrjxnq1ya4d7cfz.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/uixg6wnfz8e7lpdwm6l52g963t59b7o1.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/19csnwy164qy8y25c2ggi1uq5z1aq9h5.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/ow054dih0p94h8ymsl15xbegemlssb6k.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/hovtv8vwg5fw89slpq0ha6ylbe7sld6v.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/5tr6096n3zlcrja3zjna10mtaazvo98x.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/s80ew8462ikbi0cnzpih1fyabpejvx94.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/yqjr4w5974oll4pfitrrrq6ugxgqpqkr.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/ighc0omwgzyaaajlh7q5o9u6nr6lqcit.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/tmrg1j671z09mn4gjzk1uvsj7h589pqd.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/rlbcb5kl18z4l05he0rrtlbcemjafta1.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/yaayqxv3xywe1u76vqh08a2jffmqqqjv.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/7dyqq44nisb7ketgwbz0ikgqdig8coi1.jpg)
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/116389/uwe1l4kdu682ttp60ajvkmhg75pklb8e.jpg)
;)
-
... What's the best way to proceed for lonely wargamers , some decent rules (any period as long as they're of the KISS principle) ...
Since you note that you generally have both armies anyway, another option is to use videoconferencing to add a remote player. We been doing this for years; most recent such battle report here:
http://sharpbrush.blogspot.com/2019/04/an-incident-from-not-quite-seven-years.html
-
I'm learning that the number one rule of solo wargaming is complete impartiality...
lol
-
Found this that I’d forgotten I had while unpacking a box in the New Emporium by the Seaside…
(https://forums.armchairgeneral.com/filedata/fetch?id=5129707&d=1563623735)
::)
-
I hate wargamers (massive bad luck with gamers being morons and nasty haters) and clubs are full of them. So im gaming on my own now. Been 5 months now with 7th edition 40k...bit of a nightmare with the rules being so dense but for now im enjoying it.
-
Enjoying playing with yer toy sowjers is wot it's all about!
:)
-
"Don't just stand there, get one up!"
So I did…
(https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/hm_bbpui/118646/fh99po7kp48epn5b5ynstwlulpyc7m0b.jpg)
;)
-
Impressive setup Harry, both the figures and the 1:1 stuff. And an impressive breadth of subject matters.
The British Airborne stuff particularly interests me, so if you get chance to take / post more photos of that it would be great.
As to solo gaming, I find impartiality hard... I also find with solo gaming that it sometimes just becomes a process of rolling dice and remembering rules. Whereas in a normal game you spend some time wondering what your opponent is going to do and needing to counter it. It feels important to try to create this kind of switch between doing and thinking in a solo game.
-
With the exception of a couple of visitations from one of the Dunderheads I've been at solo-wargaming for sixth months now.
Verdict... it's crap!!!
Either I'm missing something fundamental, or the joys of solo-wargaming, is a myth put about by them as has no mates to play with?
:-[
-
Have you got a partner Harry? I often thought about playing games with my wife,ahem.
-
I'm not a big solo player, as fortunately I have a local group of mates to get games in with. But on occasion I have played solo games.
Often I have found they become a bit mechanistic, and all I am doing is rolling dice, and stuff just happens.
But I have found with the Dungeon Saga board game, this plays pretty well solo - partly because it has fairly short, time listed scenarios with an obvious goal, and the party of adventurers are meant to win, so a bit of bias is allowed, and I have found that I play the game a bit slower and think through each turn. So my suggestion is have a scenario, perhaps even a mini campaign, and play the game by playing each side properly in each turn (even if you favour one side, actually think about the moves each side is making).
-
Commanding views over Sunderland
lol lol lol
Commanding view of Sunderland lol lol lol
-
I actually really enjoy my solo war gaming, Harry, I’m sorry you don’t feel the same. For me I get to exercise my imagination even further when the wee brain is thrashing away at itself. It would be nice to game with others but at the same time I’m then stuck waiting on convenient timings and being a nice person ;D
-
Your plight may get me to break down and work on a solo version of FfoL.
-
I have done solo wargaming where the enemy are auto activated in the Pony Wars/Sands of Sudan style and that’s good fun.
-
Your plight may get me to break down and work on a solo version of FfoL
ooh, yes please
-
Good news is, one of my old wargame cronies is coming over to stay a couple of days in early December. So there’ll be a proper, traditional Crimbo Wargame with Psycho Santa putting in his usual appearance.
:)
-
Perfect Birfday prezzie from Herself to bring a tad more ambiance to the New Emporium at the Seaside!
:-*
-
That looks great :)
SWMBO refuses to buy me anything hobby related apart from the odd book. I did get some paints once which was something lol
-
Thanks, I'm chuffed to bits with it. Herself's a crafter and seems to instinctively know wot will fit.
:-*
-
Don't think Bob's too impressed with the Parachute Regiment's new headgear!
:-[
-
I realise this is some years too late (I hadn't seen this thread before), but to answer your original question about recommendations what to do in that situation, I can only offer my own observations. I've been a "billy no-mates" ever since I first went to school, so solo-gaming for me is the norm, rather than the exception.
I started getting interested in wargaming about a decade ago, and in that time I have had a bit of success wargaming via video-conference, with the occasional far-away friend I've made. I set up the game on my table, with two opposing forces, put a webcam on a tripod facing the table, then I call up my friend on Skype/Zoom/whatever, and let him order the troops around and I do all the physical movement. It's not perfect, but better than nothing at all.
However, my family life is rather too busy for that now, so I have resorted to solo wargaming in the brief windows of time I can snatch it (few and far between). Some wargames cater for solo play, but for ones which don't, I've tended to -- Gollum style -- play both sides, switching personalities between turns:
(https://deepheepblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/gollum.jpg)
Works a treat!
Just kidding; it's really boring. Games designed for solo play are probably the best bet.
-
Well, being three years along your journey to the seaside, how is it going as far as having gaming mates in your own vicinity? Or are you still relegated to the rare visit from your old chums?
Also, and you are well along this path, an alternative to 'solo' play is setting up games, taking photos and posting up narratives for others to enjoy - and you to refer back to - showing off your figures and your sense of humor and adventure.
There is more to this hobby than just the games - though that does bring in the best part of the social aspect (and can, sometimes, lead to the worst of the social element). But most of our hobby time is of a solo nature anyway. The research, buying, painting, basing, terrain building can all be purely solo (or not for some) and only the actual game brings in others. And those solo elements can be 10:1 or even 20:1 against the game time.
Hope you've tumbled to some local gaming friends who provide some entertainment on the gaming front at least somewhat regularly.