The Doggerland Front; where are the Dutch?

[fred]

Thanks, not something I’ve seen in the UK. But an interesting concept to make a dirt track more durable. They don’t look that suitable for cycling on though, or is the layer of shells quite thin?

[area23]

They are perfect for cycling and the crackling sound brings tears of nostalgia to most Dutch people.

[Return of the Modhail]

Yup, schelpenpaden are a national memory.  Less ideal for soggy conditions and high traffic as the shells will simply sink into the ground under the weight of travellers.

I'm of a mind with the previous posters: Small outposts, not much more than a village police station or lighthouse at crossroads and important locations:  a lookout tower, and a small office/barracks for one or two people.  At more important locations: small barracks, enough to house a single squad of infantry/cavalry and a housekeeper.
And yes, "armenkolonies" or "veenkolonies" (aka paupers colonies) as well, as "terraforming" locations, similar to how they were used in the larger Dutch polders.

Knowing the Dutch, there will certainly be the occasional church or wilderness chapel dotting the land as well. Some Christian, but with influence of Doggerland, pagan or paganised ones will also occur.

All cool ideas for Doggerland terrain and/or scenarios: Maybe the wilderness chapel has attracted/angered a local entity and it is determined to defend the chapel, or punish any passerby for it's existence?
A pauper colony is under attack by sea creatures, do you help them, or use the fight as a cover for your raid?

And Dutch magic I assume to be either subtle and deceptive, to give an edge in trade or influence people, or folk magic dialled up to eleven, "wijze wieven" (wise women) who can do unusual, but not particularly flashy stuff. An old spinster in traditional dress that, if accompanying the troops, they always seem to reload faster, or their wounds somehow don't get infected, or the enemies fire is less accurate?
Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"? 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Thanks for the details of the shell roads.

Interested to see how you get on with this.

[Daeothar]

Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"?

Or how about a Papuan tracker/scout attached to a unit, to seek out tresspassers?

I love the idea of influence instead of direct flashy magics too btw; it fits the background much better

[area23]

Knowing the Dutch, there will certainly be the occasional church or wilderness chapel dotting the land as well. Some Christian, but with influence of Doggerland, pagan or paganised ones will also occur.

Good point. This is where saint Nicholas may enter the scene: One of the oldest saints in Christianity and used from the beginning to convert pagans, replacing Wodan. 

Something to think of as well is that Indonesia was still a colony of the Netherlands. Maybe, confronted with the awakening of magic in the Doggerland, some entrepeneur acquired some specialist support from a land already filled with mysticism, magic and "quiet power"?

Great idea!!

[zeppelfahrt]

but I am immediately hit by the sheer implausibility of a WW1 level of technology using hero ever donning a shield and sword,

but they are witch hunters.

[Daeothar]

Everybody knows witch hunters use swords! And torches. And thumbscrews. And battletanks. 

[Rick]

Damn and blast it, Daeothar - you got me hooked onto another game system!
I have managed to resist getting Lunar despite your (and others) wonderful posts but I bought the 'A War Transformed' book this evening (got a very good deal though  ) and have been busy digging out my Wargames Atlantic French infantry and some other bits 'n' bobs for a patrol! Now I have a suitable witch, some supernatural entities, a couple of squads of infantry and the makings of an hmg team! At some point I'll have to decide whether to paint them as Metropolitaine Infantry in 'horizon blue' or Chasseurs in blue coats and black helmets.
While I'm waiting for my book to be delivered, a quick question - are you limited to just 2 infantry sections or can you get more, aside from specialist teams and sections, that is?

[fred]

You can take multiple infantry sections - they are a Line choice which I think is unlimited (I don’t have the rules in front of me to check the list building rules in detail, but have checked my spreadsheet)

[Daeothar]

Damn and blast it, Daeothar - you got me hooked onto another game system!
I have managed to resist getting Lunar despite your (and others) wonderful posts but I bought the 'A War Transformed' book this evening

So besides being a bumbling hobbyist, I am now also an influencer! 

Welcome to the madness, Rick. So far, this game has been a completely theoretical excersize for me, but I do plan on eventually creating a small Dutch force. Just too much moon in the way right now

[Rick]

Yup, down the rabbit hole I go! 
First impressions - I need a better book on French uniforms; I don't think there was much difference between the Coloniale, Metropolitaine and Chasseur a Pied uniforms, other than a small brass badge on the front of the helmet (anchor, bugle and I forget the Metropolitaine one) but I think the Chasseur Alpin had the dark blue jacket and Blackened helmet. I'm edging towards a unit of Coloniale infantry, recalled to France as many of them were during the war.
I was leafing through a gem of a book I've got (the 'Times Atlas of the War' published soon after, I think) and noticed the fortifications around Belgium - Liege and Namur have about 10 each around them, but Antwerp had about 52 by my count - incredibly fortified. I imagine that's what Doggerland might be like - hastily constructed forts around the key approaches to the 'old' borders with a combination of aggressive patrols and fortified temporary 'marching camps' further forward. Oh yes, getting into it now!

[Daeothar]

That's the spirit 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Everybody knows witch hunters use swords! And torches.

https://www.wyrd-games.net/sonnia

[Rick]

Has anyone looked at aquarium ornaments, specifically shipwrecks (or bits of shipwrecks) as potential terrain ideas? I had a bit of a look on ebay but it's hard to judge size and scale (ok the wreck of the Titanic is way off scale, I get that much!).
Just an idea.