Friday 22 March 2013

New Blood, Bilge & Iron Balls page

As some of you may know, I am the author of the naval wargame rules, Blood, Bilge & Iron Balls; published by Pen & Sword Books. The rules are slowly gaining interest with the public, age of sail is a fairly niche sector of our hobby after all, but enough people are getting involved for me to need to make a FAQ sheet and even new optional rules. One player in particular, Mark Ashley, has played enough to request extra rules for Spanish national characteristics and Shore Forts whilst my good friend, Clint, (http://clint-anythingbutaone.blogspot.co.uk/) has decided to use the rules for his club game at Broadside 2013. He has also asked for extra rules on double shot guns....dodgy stuff....

To make things a little easier, I have now created a BBIB resource page on this blog. The FAQ's and new optional rules will be there and other useful game stuff will be added to the Free download page. This will be updated as new rules, resources or anything else BBIB related becomes available. If there is anything you would like to know about the rules or would like a new rule considered, please let me know. I would also love to publish your battle reports here, with pictures if possible, or anything else you have that relates to these rules. One of the biggest issues that have affected sales has been the lack of in play game exposure, it would be great to provide some examples of actual games here so don't be shy and share!

One thing that I was pleased about with the rule book is that it came with ships...albeit 'Top Down' paper ones that could be cut out (or downloaded) and and used straight away; no painting or fiddly assembly required. I still use versions of these ships, laminated to protect them a bit, as they are free and do not look too shabby; at least I think they look good but then again it was me that designed them :) I have seen that you can now get 'Flat' Napoleonic ships, upright 2D rather than the top downs I have. These will be a lot easier to get started with than 3D models as there is no assembly but I can imagine that they will be tricky to paint up.....but then again... 

http://www.warmodellingminiatures.com/index.php?id_category=81&controller=category&id_lang=4


This 1st rate costs 6.90 euro (gawd knows!) which is about £5.90. Now I look at the site a bit closer, they are all the same price no matter what the rate. This seems quite expensive given that you are already a whole physical dimension down but they will be a lot easier to put together and they are the same 1/1200 scale that most wargamers favour. I imagine that a fleet could be put together really quickly though....I miss seeing the masts, the ratlines are perhaps a little heavy, but what do you think? Of course, you can download paper based flat ships from the Junior Generals website 


Are we ready for Flat wargames? Are these a bit 'old school' these days given some of the fantastic sculpts we have become used to...and seem to expect?

9 comments:

  1. Firstly thanks for the link back. (Really appreciated). Secondly Double shot might be dangerous/dodgy, but we both KNOW Steve would try it, on his "Ram ships!" (And yes I know all Steve's ships are Rams!)

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    1. Hi Clint,

      Indeed we do, young Steve is nothing if not predictable!

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  2. Hi Alan,

    I think any alternative to paying out large amounts of cash for the very best models has got to be a good thing. I can't be the only soul that has the odd unpainted Langton vessel knocking around in their metal store. Low cost means our hobby is more accessible surely, and if I was still a young wargamer I think the magazines would make it look a pretty intimidating one to start up.

    So, these 'flats' seem like a pretty good compromise to me, and once you're into a game and getting a hammering I find you forget how well painted or pretty the opposition are.

    As it happens I have another couple of possibly commercial ideas i wouldn't mind chatting through with you when we next get together.

    I know how much you and Mark like my ideas!!!

    Top stuff as always,
    Simon

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    1. Hi Simon,

      You make some very valid and reasonable points there, not really looked at it from that angle before but your are quite right. These almost pornographic images in the mags are indeed depressing, even for us old timers, what do they say to the younger gamers?

      Given my painting skills, or lack thereof, the idea of painting a 2D ship that doesn't riging does have some appeal...one of the reasons i made up the 'cut out and play' ships in the rule book. These new flat ships look good enough to me, it would be interesting to get one and see how it paints up...hmmmm

      As for the possibly commercial ideas, you interest me strangely! And yes...we do like your ideas; its just that they leave us mega-enthused and over excited...then the headache and nose bleeds start....... I look forward to having a chat tonight!

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  3. hi, first of all, please let me hail and praise you for your work on Blood, Bilge & Iron Balls. Actually, if I had known about this book before Sails of Glory, I would have bought your rules and then looked for ships separately.... however, as it is, I am happy enough as I love the lovely models I have in my collection and will simply `switched ships` with my fleets and now plan to use your rules instead. I like the look of the rules so much in fact, that I bought a second book and will be giving this as a Christmas present to my daughter`s fiancé.

    Your add on rules for shore batteries really encouraged me to use your rules (I was sorry to see them left out of the main book).

    Just one question if I may please, what is the earliest period you consider your rules would adequately cover. Might they work for 1715 and the golden age of piracy? Also, what is the latest period you think your rules can manage, 1812, or beyond still?

    Thank you for a truly great looking game.

    Steve :)

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  4. hi, first of all, please let me hail and praise you for your work on Blood, Bilge & Iron Balls. Actually, if I had known about this book before Sails of Glory, I would have bought your rules and then looked for ships separately.... however, as it is, I am happy enough as I love the lovely models I have in my collection and will simply `switched ships` with my fleets and now plan to use your rules instead. I like the look of the rules so much in fact, that I bought a second book and will be giving this as a Christmas present to my daughter`s fiancé.

    Your add on rules for shore batteries really encouraged me to use your rules (I was sorry to see them left out of the main book).

    Just one question if I may please, what is the earliest period you consider your rules would adequately cover. Might they work for 1715 and the golden age of piracy? Also, what is the latest period you think your rules can manage, 1812, or beyond still?

    Thank you for a truly great looking game.

    Steve :)

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    1. Hi Steve, thanks for buying the rules and the great comments! I am really pleased you like them, they didnt really get much of a promotion on release by Pen & Sword and appeared without much comment. That said, as time has gone on, everyone seems very pleased with them. I get a lot of comments and game pics sent through, which is always nice to see. Models are always a problem. I wrote the rules but don't actually have any model ships at all, I use the paper versions stuck to wooden bases. Well done with getting a wargame friendly prospective son in law too! I hope you have some great games, let me know how you get on.
      The shore batteries were very much an afterthought, if I am honest. A gamer contacted me and asked about them so I added them as an extra. I am always happy to discuss the rules and help out with questions whenever I can, feel free to get in touch as you need. alanabbey@btinternet.com . Now, to the questions you did ask...

      The earliest period for the rules. Hmmm, I would play them for late 17th Century but would tweek the rules a bit. No caronades, no ship over 50 guns, possibly 64. to make the game last though, I would use the heavy ship stats but reduce the number of guns, I would also take out the marines.
      The latest period. I would go beyond 1812 very happily, up to the point at which iron and certainly steam starts to appear. Actually, I have used the rules as they are to fight a sci-fi space battle using some plastic spaceships a friend had. we allowed the guns a 180 degree (ish) firing arc though. To be honest, with a few logical tweeks here and there the rules can be useful for even WW1. Just redraw the ship plans, tweek arks, and allow for a few different gun sizes with range and etra damage cards....and so on.

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  5. hi Leofwine, thank you so much for your quick and in depth reply. Most appreciated. Forgive my tardy reply to YOU, I was so busy this last few days, I never had a chance to get back here to check until now.

    Yes I know Penn & Sword didn`t really seem to do an amazing job of promoting the rules as much as I believe they deserve, but I AM very happy to see many people using them. I have seen many favourable on line mentions of BB&IB on gaming websites and blogs, and I think their popularity is slowly growing. I know I for one will be mentioning them a lot in my own website (and blogs), and I intend to do some rather neat batreps and indeed, a full campaign utilizing and showing just how flexible the rules really are.

    The inclusion of the beautiful colour ships in your book, which book owners can simply photo copy, cut out, mount on card, and use to play games right away TRULY makes this book a complete hobby in a single book. Literally everything a gamer needs to get started... and boy you include a lot of ship cut outs, entire fleets worth; in this day and age where everything is so expensive, and the hobby so hard to `get into` from scratch, your book is a godsend and amazingly good value (and what an attractive cover my hardback copy has - pride of place in my game book library, that's for sure).

    Your words about time frames (late 17th century - and onwards to the first ironclads) encourages me mightily, and persuades me beyond any shadow of doubt that I might have had, that this IS the rule set I will be switching to and sticking with from now on. Like I said, my daughter`s fiancé (now a keen gamer.. since I got him into it hehe) REALLY wants to get involved in `the age of sail` naval gaming, and I couldn't resist picking him up a copy of your book as well... hell, there`s method in my madness: I figure I just recruited a new fellow gamer into the noble and gentlemanly art of naval wargaming ^^

    I will write to you in depth on your private email if I may, and to check I have it written down correctly, and share a few of my website links with you. (and discuss the possibility of me writing an in depth review of your rules). I haven't added them here as it would not be polite of me to promote my own places here.

    Thank you, and all the best,

    Steve :)

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  6. Hi Stevie, I am in no way jealous that you have a gaming son in law....okay...maybe a bit...quite a big bit... :( With a bit of tweeking here and there BBIB can be twisted into many uses. The basic mechanics would even allow you to play out space games although I admit there would need to be a fair bit of fiddling here and there. I very much look forward to seeing your reviews and batreps, could do with some decent reviews on the pen and sword website and even amazon!

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