VBCW - can anyone explain it?

[Matthew83]

Hi all,

I've noticed a lot of postings regarding VBCW and am slowly developing an interest from afar.
From what I gather, it's a pre WW2 fascists vs marxists game, googling brings up some scenarios and figures but I'm still trying to understand what it's all about.
Can anyone direct me to an idiots guide so I can get a better understanding and tell me who produces VBCW figures?


Cheers

Matt

[B.E.A.R]

The best advice I can  give is read the pot on here and the Gentlemens Wargame Parlor and also pick up a copy of the main book of supporting back story from Solway Crafts and Miniatures. here are the appropriate links:http://solwaycraftsandminiatures.webs.com/ and http://gwargamesp.18.forumer.com/index.php? Hopefully others on this forum can give some advice as well.

[Matthew83]

Will check them out, the look very informative.

Cheers

Matt

[joroas]

Watch the King's Speech.  The premise of VBCW is that the Edward wouldn't abdicate and splits the country into support and opposition.

[Orkdung]

You'll want to hit the Gentlemens Wargames Parlour (as of 1/26/2012: 1900 CST it is offline)

 This is the miniature guide: HERE

 Its 1938 and Fascists, Royalists, Communists, Anglicans and everyone in between battling it out for King or Country...and then stopping for tea, naturally  


.

[Matthew83]

Thanks for those.

Ork, can you tell me who is fighting who, are there alliances or is it a free-for-all?

It's a very interesting concept but I find it confusing.

Cheers

Matt

[Orkdung]

 The Royalists (Edward VIII royalists), who hold much of the regular army are teamed up with the British Union of Fascists who are fighting the Anglicans (Anglican League), who are opposed to the King and his marriage to the American tart.

 Some cities have broken away to become "free States" or City-states; Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Norwich, Portsmouth and Liverpool to name a few. These folk are mostly "communist" and have taken arms against the BUF in retaliation for what they have done to the Labour movement and workers associations.

You've got your Landed Gentry assisting parliament types...or the King, for the right price...or Albert and the Albertines (Prince Albert has returned to clean things up (so instead of House of York vs. House of  Lancaster, you now have Windsor vs Windsor)...or the local bishop if they are feeling religious that day...or again enough coin fills their pocket, or they're handed over the lastest racing auto.

 There are Free Scots, and Free Irish, Free Cornish, Cornish Royalists, Nationalists, Anarchists, Sell-coats, cut-throats and everyone in between vying for freedom from the oppressive government run by Mosely.

Its all very tongue in cheek, at the end of the day everyone pops down to Mrs. Miggins for tea and crumpets and a good fag.  

 Watch some Black Adder, Dads Army, Jeeves and Wooster, Richard III, and the Kings Speech, stir, simmer and that's about what you have.

 It's good to have an imagination and an interest in history and research when jumping in.  Because eventually, when and if you start building an army, you'll come to find just building isnt good enough, you'll want to know the history of the army you are constructing, so you find many people delving into old books and searching the net looking for information about old military units and old buildings and what was in towns and cities (train routes, shipping companies, historical homes..etc..etc..)

  

 Many folk get together and hold large gaming sessions for campaigning.
 
 To Date there are have been:

 Sussex Campaign
 Somerset Campaign
 Kent Campaign
 Severn Valley Campaign
 
 to name a few...

[Matthew83]

Perfect, thanks.

I see many gamers are using their imagination and creating their own units, I like the idea of that.
The artistic licence VBCW allows is definitely for me.

So,  I'm off to jot down some ideas and get the sourcebooks.

Cheers

Matt

[nicknorthstar]

Hi Matthew

A lot of VBCW players come our way, have a look at the Great War Miniatures WW1 http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=20&cat=153&page=1 ,
the Artizan Design Thrilling Tales, http://www.artizandesigns.com/list.php?man=12&page=1
the WW2 British and French from Crusader Miniatures http://www.crusaderminiatures.com/list.php?cat=9&page=1
plus we've a range of interwar AFVs http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=117&page=1

We also stock the books from Solway http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=21&page=1

If you've time to browse through my site, you'll find a few hidden gems like the International Brigade figures that are perfect for the VBCW.

Nick

[Hammers]

I perceive, as a Scandinavian, VBCW as if PG Woodhouse wrote a script on the War of the Roses, music score by Noel Coward. The cast is all old Shakespearian actooors. Plus Benny Hill.

[Arlequín]

I perceive, as a Scandinavian, VBCW as if PG Woodhouse wrote a script on the War of the Roses, music score by Noel Coward. The cast is all old Shakespearian actooors. Plus Benny Hill.

Of course there are others who take it far less seriously than this...  


The idea was, as Orkdung says, was to base it on a potential civil war essentially caused by the abdication crisis. A lot of players have just taken their own locality and established a storyline for it. They've then gone off and dug into local history to come up with all sorts of odd stuff (some of which actually existed); a militant sect of tree-huggers, or an occult society or two not withstanding.

You can play it as you like. At its simplest level, you could game it as 'Government' forces against 'Rebels' (pick a colour), or you could add in more factions to suit. Obviously there are some factions who will not ally, but there is leeway for a complicated set of alliances and Byzantine treachery... or you could just have the local Special Branch men shooting it out with a gang of gun-runners... all your call.

There's no right or wrong way to play it.

 

[Rob_bresnen]

VBCW is like a historic wargame, with all the research, detail etc. Only its in a fictional world, so no one can tell you that your stuff is 'wrong'. Best of both worlds, in my book. The GWP forum is very friendly, and there are regular games across the country, which are unimaginativly called 'Big Games'.

[carlos marighela]

Watch the Ian McKellen version of Richard the Third, I suspect the fad started there.

[Arlequín]

Watch the Ian McKellen version of Richard the Third, I suspect the fad started there.

Yes, that had a lot to do with it. Over three and a half years down the line though, I'm not sure 'fad' is relevant any more. Like it or loathe it, VBCW will be around for a while I think.

 

[Hammers]

My forces, so far, consist of:

-The girls of St Trillians, student militia, (feminist/anarchist/anti-authoritarian)
-Textile Workers Union Militia, Ladies Undergarments, section 62, Totleigh-In-The-Wold. a.k.a. "The Close Support" (Socialist)
-The Earl of Sidcup's Phalanx, "The Black Shorts", (BUF, fascist)
-The Duke of Nutherland Kennel Club of Monimasket (independent, liberal)
-Totleigh-In-The-Wold Constabulary (government)
-The Joneses (Welsh Gypsy, independent/anti-authoritarian)
-the Alec O'Hall familly (Irish Tinkers, independent/anti-authoritarian)
-Totleigh-In-the-Wold Cricket Club Volunteer Grenadiers (independent, conservative)
-Coldstream guards (royalist)

plus a number of characters.