Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Interwar => Topic started by: Vanvlak on January 19, 2015, 05:38:46 PM
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Since they have this in Australia http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=74815.0 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=74815.0), can't see why not here.
But I need some help guys: where does one begin with VBCW? There seems to be loads of books!
And - can it be scaled down to 10mm?
There are plenty of themes to plot out in Malta, including locals' factions:
The 7th June Brigade
The Italophiles
The Communists
The Catholic Regiments....
And a split between the colonizers would get these factions alinged for and against.....and I am sure a few Italians would come along a la SCW :D
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Pick a side and start collecting ;)
And if you are happy to write some background and as I presume there really aren't anything about such a setting for Malta, the world is yours to make :)
I see no reason why the setting wouldn't work with 10mm but how good 10mm is for smaller skirmish side of things?
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10mm doesn't really work for skirmish I think but vbcw has the larger scale Brigadier '38 rules that might be more along what is required?
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Thanks Kommando-J, will look it up.
Pocoloco - I am working on a skirmish in 6mm scale, so 10mm is a piece of cake ;) :D
Background - that is why I chose this (besides living here!). I have an idea of which factions exist, but little more -is there a useful reference?
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This could be really interesting... Malta is vital to maintain possession of the Suez Canal.
You can add the French to the faction list too, or at least backing a faction. A non-French friendly Malta, particularly a pro-Italian one would be a nightmare for them.
I'm not so doubtful 10mm can't be used for skirmishes either... as I've said elsewhere, it's more inline with actual table ranges for a couple of rule sets.
:)
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This will be interesting ;)
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This could be really interesting... Malta is vital to maintain possession of the Suez Canal.
You can add the French to the faction list too, or at least backing a faction. A non-French friendly Malta, particularly a pro-Italian one would be a nightmare for them.
I'm not so doubtful 10mm can't be used for skirmishes either... as I've said elsewhere, it's more inline with actual table ranges for a couple of rule sets.
:)
Yep, the Suez would be crucial - as well as control of the Med.
A French faction - good idea. Would generate some interesting local resistance, flamed by patriotic memories of the French occupation in the Napoleonic wars.
Potential forces so far, then:
Pro-Royal Family and some local nobs
Church of England
Communists - 7th June Brigade (named after the 1919 rising which left 4 Maltese dead) - backed by the USSR, who sees the acquisition of influence in Malta as a useful naval extension in the Med.
Italophiles who want Malta integrated with Italy, and their Italian backers
Francophiles fueled by the French alarmed by the Italian integration possibility
Catholic Front Regiments (interesting to see who they'd align with - probably the Italophiles)
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Pendraken miniatures make some nice 10mm stuff if that's your preferred scale. For 28mm you might like to take a look at my VBCW minis guide.
As for the background - it's yours to invent!
That's the basic rule of thumb for VBCW - it's your world :D
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I take it the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (aka Knights Hospitaller) will be involved somewhere. :D
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I take it the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (aka Knights Hospitaller) will be involved somewhere. :D
I some how think they will... I guess they'd like to return to the island.
jp1885 - thanks, I received my first small order today. Strangely it's this which made me think of getting into VCBW. Cart before the horse sort of thing!
Will certainly take a look at your guide too.
Rules wise - what is essential? I found the Brigadier '38 rules mentioned above, are those enough?
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I would start with the guide to the VBCW book
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=1
Secondly the fall of the Empire
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5524
In terms of rules perhaps a 10mm set would work best? There is a few guys who play 10mm VBCW on the VBCF;
http://vbcf.freeforums.org/index.php
Which i recommend to get ideas from. the source book Flags and formations might also be useful
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5235
Get the event cards from the VBCF as well for the character of the period, make your own too, I often find its the source card that make VBCW more than just the SCW in Britain, as well as the units of course.
Best wishes,
Thomas
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I would start with the guide to the VBCW book
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=1
Secondly the fall of the Empire
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5524
In terms of rules perhaps a 10mm set would work best? There is a few guys who play 10mm VBCW on the VBCF;
http://vbcf.freeforums.org/index.php
Which i recommend to get ideas from. the source book Flags and formations might also be useful
http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=5235
Get the event cards from the VBCF as well for the character of the period, make your own too, I often find its the source card that make VBCW more than just the SCW in Britain, as well as the units of course.
Best wishes,
Thomas
[/quote
Thanks, Thomas - useful stuff!
Cheers. :D
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Rules-wise, Brig 38 is for large, brigade sized actions, so might be good for 10mm. Also specifically written for VBCW is 'Went the Day Well?' which is designed for platoon sized games (30-40 ish figures per platoon).
However many other Interwar/WW1/WW2 rules can be tweaked to VBCW, including Bolt Action, Chain of Command, World Aflame etc etc.
As my learned chum says above, pop over to the Very British Civil Forum, take a look and say hi!
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Jolly good idea this. Might I suggest you track down a copy of the Junta board game if you can find it. Just replace the board games combat with minis fighting and make a new map (its area based so this is actually really easy) using Malta. Instant campaign and political system for your game.
In part inspired byyour Australian VBCW too, Scurv :D
Thanks for the info jp1885, will pop over to the VBCF.
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On rules, My suggestion is use what you like and what you feel works. If you have a set that you use regulary use them. As said the event cards are the key items as they give the flavour to the game which I fear rules dont do. There is a free set hidden somewhere? Go hunting on the VBCW site and please ask questions we try to help
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On rules, My suggestion is use what you like and what you feel works. If you have a set that you use regulary use them. As said the event cards are the key items as they give the flavour to the game which I fear rules dont do. There is a free set hidden somewhere? Go hunting on the VBCW site and please ask questions we try to help
Will do - it does seem the event cards are a must.
I am currently using no rules regularly, although I can be accused of owning many!
Last I played ( over a year ago now) was 40k, so not quite ideal....
But I own a copy of T&T to begin with, so there's a start.
Thanks :D
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I would rather game malta VBCW than aussie VBCW. the idea of a 6 or 7 way fight on something small like malta is intriguing.
Which rather goes against my vision of breaching the Victoria lines :D :D
Seriously, I am planning on easily storable stuff (hence the 10mm approach), and there's loads of potential here. Although I aim to include a handful of tanks, these would be distributed amongst the forces - there's not enough space (or the right sort of space) for a tank battle here! And I can have agents coming in furtively by sea from Italy and all that stuff too.
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I would say tanks are a must so you could have that amazing brickwork cammo the brits had for malta but doing that in 10mm scale.... o_o
what was malta's population back in the mid 30's?
Ow, you rotter, I was thinking of dozens of ways to avoid that camo. :'( ;D
For the uninitiated:
(http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/gb/MatildaII_MakIII_Malta.png)
Population: around the 250,000 mark in the '30s.
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1930's Camo is different again, worth google a search. Some amazing ideas
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1930's Camo is different again, worth google a search. Some amazing ideas
True - I had seen a few unusual ones way , have to retrace the site.
But it would be interesting to speculate whether the rubble wall camo would have appeared in the late '30s instead of during the war.
Thanks for proposing I be let off the hook though! :D ;)
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sounds like a very interesting setting for VBCW. Look forward to following your thread. Welcome aboard.
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sounds like a very interesting setting for VBCW. Look forward to following your thread. Welcome aboard.
Thank you - I must say the VBCW chaps are the politest yet, and seen in the context of the exemplary LAF, that's something! :)
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The Malta camo talk reminds me of this awesome diorama:
(http://i25.servimg.com/u/f25/14/15/16/45/40739_10.jpg)
Stand back from your screen and look.
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Yep - it does work, doesn't it?
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They would...
meanwhile I havedug up a trio of old Chenillettes d'Infanterie Renault type UE and amtrying to decide whether they're 10mm or 15mm scale - the latter, I think.
I also have an Indian elephant: what do I do with that in Malta?!
But - on a more positive note - I have received from Pendraken a couple of Renaults FT17, a Vickers E type A and (my favourite, if hopelessly obsolete and out of place) a St Chamond :D
Now I need troops.... and a truck or two.
This would be nice, but I have more chance of getting thast pesky rubble wall camo right than doing this:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4114/4806832810_3166c507ab.jpg)
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aint nothing that cant be made better with the addition of a vickers gun.
Praise the lord and pass the ammunition!
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If we are being true to the times, we should not be discussing 'the elephant in the room'. ;)
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I admit I'm not too sure either. No reason we can't discuss fascists, real or otherwise.
Maybe he was just joking and we're not catching on?
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Okay guys, that fell flat... I was joking. 'The elephant in the room' is an idiom for something that is so blatantly obvious or apparent, yet is being ignored for some social or political reason. A lot of it went on back then. An example would be old Colonel Blimp, asleep at the club with his trousers unbuttoned leaving him 'exposed'; everyone can see it, but nobody wants to mention it to another, nor indeed cause the colonel embarrassment by pointing it out to him... apply it to any glaring social phenomenon, or event, as you wish.
Forget I said anything... :)
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It is a strange world the 1930's the british and this comes out in the VBCW. Each faction plays out its role in a P G Woodhouse way. Just remember VBCW the world you want to create and enjoy.
I don't really want a serious side for this period of gaming way to many issues so I tend to take a light hearted view of it all.
Googling Malta 1930 on images turned up some great refernce pics. Even Cricket teams! they make figures for them! Love the idea of a St Charmond. Got one myself but in 28mm, Used by my Anglican League force. Bishop of Lichfield dont you know!
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Okay guys, that fell flat... I was joking. 'The elephant in the room' is an idiom for something that is so blatantly obvious or apparent, yet is being ignored for some social or political reason. A lot of it went on back then. An example would be old Colonel Blimp, asleep at the club with his trousers unbuttoned leaving him 'exposed'; everyone can see it, but nobody wants to mention it to another, nor indeed cause the colonel embarrassment by pointing it out to him... apply it to any glaring social phenomenon, or event, as you wish.
Forget I said anything... :)
Well that shows mods are taken seriously! And it didn't fall flat - in fact it was almost funnier this way lol lol lol
I needed that today anyway... and I liked the circus idea. I already am building a human cannonball cannon for another scale, why not 10mm as well? >:D
Tym: yep, and trams and football and parades and grotesque masks and a bazillion things. The Anglican League St Chamond - any pics?
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Certainly my dreams of a career in stand up comedy lie in tatters. lol
But any way.... this could be good. Big enough to fight convincing actions at whichever level you like. Outside interference is limited by geography and its small enough to really go to town on your movers and shakers.
:)
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Certainly my dreams of a career in stand up comedy lie in tatters. lol
But any way.... this could be good. Big enough to fight convincing actions at whichever level you like. Outside interference is limited by geography and its small enough to really go to town on your movers and shakers.
:)
And anyone who wants to interfere just ships in*.
Small is beautiful :D
*Edit:
Or drops in - I just remembered I own one of these, and 1:144 is reasonably close to 10mm scale.....
(https://s1.scalemates.com/products/img/2/7/4/143274-11132.jpg?nr=04021&company=revell)
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you could have a nice eboat/mtb like conflict in the waters around the island too
Sorry Scurv, missed this post - yes,that's a splendid idea actually - hmmm....
Meanwhile, my small order of VBCW books has arrived, and this includes The Concise Sourcebook, Went the Day Well? and Tales from the Fall of the Empire Part1.
My hiatus resulted from an unusually cautious approach (for me): waiting for the books to try not to mess up my allocation of models.
Surprisingly, Malta gets a mention in the Fall book, and even more surprisingly my thoughts of a governor aligned to the King OR to the Anglicans materialised in the latter form - which is brilliant. The Fall book says the French would cautiously support the anti-Fascists, so now I have two factions:
1) the Governor's forces with some French support in the form of the (useless?) St Chamond, not to mention the Vickers.
2) the local uprising by the Italophile nationalists (they did exist in real life) and the church (Catholic), making a bid for unity with Italy which is strongly supported by Italy (also pandering to the Fascist monarchists by opposing the Anglican governor). Italy sends a couple of Renault FT17s (which were in real history in use by Italy).
So the tanks are settled, the aeroplane will probably be scenery, although it could support the Italophiles. All I need are troops. And a communist faction....
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There are always communists. ;)
Look up Dom Mintoff and Paul Boffa and the trail should lead from the socialists of the Labour Party to more hardline elements.
Mussolini's interest in Malta would have bordered on an obsession if he thought there was a chance of bringing it into the fold too.
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Sounds like a very good basis for a VBCW campaign. Or should that be VMCW?
Plenty of believable factions, who hate each other, and have the means to fight each other.
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Don't know if you've seen this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422579428&v=ne6PodCVYEo&x-yt-cl=85114404
Looks a good video for kit ideas
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Sounds like a very good basis for a VBCW campaign. Or should that be VMCW?
Plenty of believable factions, who hate each other, and have the means to fight each other.
I thought of VMCW, but decided against as Malta was part of the Empire back then, and is well within the context of the BCW.
Arlequin: Communists - labour hardline and more, a 30's author in Malta, Juann Mamo, published a very controversial book which could be considered Marxist, and I'd like to include him as a character. The real chap was mysteriously found dead during WWII.
CaptainBigglesmay, thanks, hadn't seen that. I'm familiar with the location, it's on the Victoria Lines - very nice setting for a VBCW scenario!
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As there seem to be less than two dozen Maltese surnames to serve the entire population, I suspect you could have a faction per family clan. Psaila vs the Grech clan. Falzons vs Attards, Borgs vs Gaucis , etc, etc, etc. :)
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As there seem to be less than two dozen Maltese surnames to serve the entire population, I suspect you could have a faction per family clan. Psaila vs the Grech clan. Falzons vs Attards, Borgs vs Gaucis , etc, etc, etc. :)
Heh - I could.
Borg would win, they outnumber the others badly.
And I'd be very much a loser having a locally rare Brit surname I inherited from great-great-grandad.
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Borg? I thought I'd ended up on the wrong board for a moment. ;)
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Borg? I thought I'd ended up on the wrong board for a moment. ;)
Which brings up a funny true story:
Some years back - over a decade now - in an election one of the parties had a billboard with a huge cube and some sort of slogan. The cube was very tech-looking, and surely enough someone or other sent a letter to the Times to suggest that said party want to assimilate voters with their Borg cube.
So far so good.
A couple of days later an obviously quite irate correspondent wrote to the editor in reply to the above letter, angrily asking why his small company had been dragged into a letter on partisan politics published on the pages of the Times.
His company made ice cubes, and its name wasn't overly imaginative. Furthermore, Mr Borg was clearly not a Trekkie.....
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There are always communists.
Truer words wuz nivver spoke!!!
Sounds like a very good basis for a VBCW campaign. Or should that be VMCW?
Plenty of believable factions, who hate each other, and have the means to fight each other.
Might I be allowed to submit to the mélange: Pantellerian Mercenaries!!
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/Pantelleria-Stemma.png)
Gotta have some Carthaginian representation after all, eh wot!!
I'm following this with great interest, as I dare not participate!!
Valerik
"Remember, Rome wasn't burned inna day"
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Looking to start playing VBCW this thread caught my interest! My brother and I started discussing the idea of putting Malta into VBCW. We didnt want to see anything too drastic happening to our beloved island so our games will be quite light hearted, like a kind of Maltese 'Allo 'Allo set in the VBCW universe. Our plot line is going to be based around the real political conflict that occured in the late 30's over language, namely the obolition of Italian as the official language and being replaced with Maltese and English.
So, we would have two main factions - the Nationalists backed by the Italians and the supporters of Stricklands Labour Party. In real life the British sided with Strickland as strengthening ties with the fascist Italians was not desirable, however in the world of VBCW and a Mosely governemnt in England we are allying the British with the Nationalists as well. This makes them very powerfull. So we have a strong fascit backed faction and an underdog 'workers' faction. Keeping it light hearted though of course as I said before so we will also have a small communist faction (largely inefectual, sitting around in the local bars spouting retoric and nothing much else). Also due to the strong Royal Navy presence in Malta before the hostilities began we will have as small enclave of Albertines, these will be British and Maltese 'toffs' full of blaster (plenty of retired old British officers) but again not much else. We'll have to have a bar similar to that of 'Allo 'Allo where all the intrigue goes on as a neutral zone (this will of course be located in the infamous Strait Street)
Now to source some figures. There are plenty of nice partisans around in 28mm but I'd like to find some that arent wearing as much warm clothing. Would prefer to find partisans in rolled shirt sleeves, no jackets etc.
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Now to source some figures. There are plenty of nice partisans around in 28mm but I'd like to find some that arent wearing as much warm clothing. Would prefer to find partisans in rolled shirt sleeves, no jackets etc.
Bob Murch Pulp sailors!!
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/resized/pss1x470.JPG)
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/pss2.JPG)
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/resized/pss5x470.jpg)
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/pss7.jpg)
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/resized/pss3x470.JPG)
A few over-dressed matelots in the bunch, but overall good for sunny climes!!
& universal enough to make an appearance most anywhere in the '20s-'70s.
http://pulpfigures.com/products/category/12 (http://pulpfigures.com/products/category/12)
When a man's able to paint 'em they go quick & are fulla character!
(http://pulpfigures.com/files/resized/pbtbutton.largex470.jpg)
http://pulpfigures.com/products/category/16 (http://pulpfigures.com/products/category/16)
Also RN types, including a landing party, & army lads it tropical kit, with Sikhs & Scots too!! More'n a few packs & plenty of individuals to staff your VMCW!!
Bob Murch is Da MAN!!!!
Not sure who to use for those pesky Pantellarians though....
Valerik
No connection other than a very satisfied repeat customer
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Nice one Valerik, I hadnt seen this range of figures before! There are definatly some ideal characters in the bunch and ac few will work with the application of a knife and some miliput (something I have been prepared for) a few moustaches and maybe some hat swaps and we're there! Thanks for the link
Oh thats annoying, just had chance to follow the link and these figures are from Canada, which will involve shipping (and customs fees no doubt) Northstar over here in the UK has just started carrying Pulpfigures but they dont have this range yet, so I think I'll email them and ask if they plan to as I'd really like to get these.
Last time I bought figures from across the pond the fees cost more than the price of the figures!