Designer of Historical Boardgames

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"Dear Zuluites
I, a member of this group of enthusiasts, am a world famous (yes, I am at that level . . .)
designer of historical boardgames (or simulations). (Attrached is my instant resume, among other attachments)
I have recently finished a design/game on Rorke's Drift that you folks might be interested in . . . I have attached the gamemap for the game for you to see and comment, and I do note that, in the game, each individual soldier at Rorke's has own "piece" (which shiuld provide some interesting 'discussion".I do not yet have a publisher for this game, but that should not take long (hooefully). If you have any comments, suggestions or interest of any kind, please feel free to do so.
Thank you so much,
Richard H Berg"

This guy is the real deal. He's been designing wargames for almost 45 years and his name is hallowed among wargaming grognards like myself.  Richard what we Zulu War fanatics need is a tactical level Isandlwana game or  a "Zulu War HexaGame with Rorke's Drift, Isandlwana, Hlobane  Kambula Gingindlovu and Ulundi. You might try selling it to Compass Games of Connecticut. They're also the real deal.

Richard
Your plan of RD is a little different in the detail to Chard's plan in terms of room layout and doors. Have a look at his account in the Royal Archives which is accompanied by several detailed plans of the interior of the buildings. I'm sure what you've done would provide for an enjoyable game but the purists will want historical accuracy and you can quite easily obtain it. Good luck!

Reply from Richard.

"Thank you folks for featuring me and my game stuff . .  .my gamemap is based on a large number of maps that I collected . . .as with any historical subject, they often differ. As I am looking to get a publisher for ZULU!, it is always open to change, etc etc . . . The same will be said for the Order of Battle for the "Brits", which include a counter for each individual present."

Best

rhb"

Richard
I'm sure all forum members would be interested to know what other primary-source maps of RD you've found apart from Chard's original in order to create your game-map. Looking forward to it!

Richard
A very common mistake that has perpetuated over the years is the semi circular barricade in front of the hospital.
In Chards original hand drawn sketch, submitted in his first report, page 14, There is no shaped barricade. There was however an outcrop of rock. That outcrop of rock was interpreted as being part of the defence by the draughtsman that formalised Chards sketches and over the years successive authors have perpetuated that error.
That particular map has been posted on the forum and is deemed the most accurate as being Chards very first sketch and drawn not to long after the incident.

Cheers

Hi,

My first thoughts are, as a wargamer (albeit not board gamer) of many years (too long) is that sometimes liberties have to be taken with 'terrain' or maps/plans.

In my RD set up, I have had to reduce the number of rooms in the hospital - to accommodate the miniatures, because some rooms were initially unoccupied and too make the game playable.

I once did a 'skirmish level' display game based soley on the hospital - with an in-scale (compared to figure height) hospital - so the building was much larger than an 'wargames' one. (its all about figure height to ground scale) but that was a game based around a small part of RD, with its own game mechanism

I'm not fond of the semi circular wall in front of the hospital.

My other thought is 1:1 for the defenders - is hellishly complex and depending on the game mechanism used perhaps long winded.

Games tend to be trade off between the historically accurate and the playability.

I look forward to looking at the mechanism & reading the reviews

Cheers

Simon

Sime
Unfortunatly as you may have picked up, this site is soooooooo about accuracy. We thrive on it, so when we have a self advertised 'World famous' historical designer , described as a 'hallowed big deal', one would expect a certain relevance to the subject being followed. Im not a gamer so cant really comment on its nuances but a modicum of research would have resulted in a more historically accurate representation. My funny old African brain would otherwise say why not play it on a snakes and ladders board?
But there again Im from Cape Town and what the hell do we know!

Hi Frank
The semi circular shape in the defences at the front of the hospital has been described as a Lunette , I've read it over the years in some of the books , many times it's shown in the Maps and isn't part of the rocky outcrop as it appears to be in Chard's Map dated 1881 in ' The Narrative Of Field Operations ' , also on Pge 266 of the Noble 24th there is a series of 4 sketches , I don't know the artist , not named , only states .. Copyright Stanley Evans , the Lunette is shown in 3 of the 4 pics . As you say it isn't in Chard's original sketch , that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't there , one only has to look at Crealock's painting of his , and the columns arrival at RD , where he hasn't put in all the mealie bag wall , which ran along the front to the hospital ! , that print ,  or for those who'd like to see what I mean,  is on the Front cover of Sonia Clarke's ' Invasion Of Zululand ' .  
90th

Hi Frank,

I spose that's why gamers differ from historians - I anguished for hours about what uniform/outfit (NMP or hospital paitent?) to paint a 30mm tall 'Lugg' in......apart from his woolly hat....because I didn't want to be savaged by some self styled expert at a show.....who had seen the film Zulu and knew all about it......

I reckon it could be played on a snakes and ladders board but its probably a bit extreme.

I'm not into board games (though there is little difference between them and the 'wargames' I used to play - apart from the malady caused to my mind, wrecking my eyesight painting and probably giving myself lead poisoning over 40 years - as compared to buying a ready made game) but I have never heard of this fella.

The earnest members of this forum could make a super accurate - new version (script/screen play) of the film Zulu (with myself staring - of course) but it would be dead boring.....most of it at night, very few deaths (amongst the Brits), no 'front rank fire' etc, no 'ingomane' and above all no Ulla Jacobson.....I could go on but I have been distracted by Ulla....

But true maybe he should have tried a bit harder with his plan/map but from a gamers point of view its a fair representation (not as good as mine..... - mines got a plank!) but if I was going buy the game (which I'm not) I would be too upset at the extension to the wall.

Cheers mate

Sime

Quote
" if I was going buy the game (which I'm not) I would be too upset at the extension to the wall.

Not if you were a Pink Floyd fan,

How I feel about historical board games.
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Steve

Frank Allewell wrote:

Quote
" if I was going buy the game (which I'm not) I would be too upset at the extension to the wall.

Not if you were a Pink Floyd fan,

Sorry Frank, I meant to say ".....not be too upset...."

God I hate Floyd.......could never get into them.......

rusteze wrote:

How I feel about historical board games.
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Steve

I love that chess piece......

Just out of interest have you ever played one? or do you just not like the idea......some people struggle with the idea of wargaming, board gaming, re-enacting etc without trying them - I'm the same with Nicolas Cage films.....

Hi Sime

My feelings about war board games are not particularly rational! But I find them unconvincing because of the obvious constraints and limitations imposed by the nature of the beast. I get bored with Monopoly and Cluedo as well! Although I say it in a hushed voice, I feel a bit the same about toy soldiers although i recognise the skill that goes into producing them. What's the difference, you might say, between that and producing a painting? And you are probably right. To get down to a very basic question - what is the more informative and insightful, War and Peace or the History of Napoleon's March on Moscow? Tolstoy might be regarded as the ultimate war gamer!

Steve

Hi Steve

Personally I feel that producing a painting is much harder than painting a wargames figure - after all depending on the casting - the detail is there for the painting to paint as best he can - doesn't matter if you dry brush, ink wash, layer or whatever.......its rather like painting by numbers (which is the limit of my artistic skill). My painting of figures is all smoke and mirrors & illusion.....

I'm not sure wargaming/board gaming is insightful or informative at all - its rather like saying that Tafl gives you an insight in Anglo-Saxon warfare. Gaming doesn't explain why a battle was lost, however if the game/rules are well designed - historical deployment, terrain and a direct recreation of troop movements should result in a historical outcome.......but that's where the random factors (dice/cards or whatever) come in

I think that wargaming gives (or gave - being as I have largely given up) me the desire to find out about historical subjects, though it could be argued that my love of military history (albeit strictly amateur) initially caused my hobby......

I am always fascinated by what people see in their own & other peoples hobbies/pastimes.......I can think of nothing worse than trying to drown a worm on a hook and despite some of friends trying to explain what its all about, I find it unfathomable.

Cheers

Sime

I don't disagree with any of that. Human beings have the capacity to analyse and understand better through interaction with others, particularly when there is a common interest or endeavour. It is why informed speculation and the construction of credible alternative scenarios is to be very much welcomed. I do accept that war gaming can have just such an effect.

Steve

" informed speculation and the construction of credible alternative scenarios "

A perfect description of my hobby, in addition to copious amounts of Chardonnay that is.

Unwelcome in certain areas however.

Fair enough Pete, tho i'm surprised that you think seasonal adjustment disorder
is a real condition, speaking for myself.. i love all the four season's.. and i'm
most definitely not SAD.