Donald Featherstone's Advanced Wargaming
A Campaign Concealment Map Wargaming Idea by Ed Saunders
First printed in the Wargamers's Newsletter issue 185 and is reproduced by permission of the editorOne of the very first British wargamers back in the early 1950s, Ed Saunders was a regular contributor to the original WARGAMES DIGEST. He has always been a most stimulating companion and wargamer and I owe a very great deal of my basic knowledge and enthusiasms to Ed - without his early assistance I might well have abandoned the hobby! D.F.)
The idea is based on the matchbox concealment method mentioned in one of Don Featherstone's books. The basic requirements are a shallow tray 3' x 3', and 144 3" x 3" squares of hardboard or thick card to cover the bottom of the tray, which is painted in matt white or covered in white paper.
The 3" squares are placed in the tray and the required map painted or drawn on them. Each square is eventually numbered. The map is utilised in this way. Suppose each player divides his army into 3 corps. Each player secretly pencils in the corps number under the map square of his choice on his half of the map, OR the square chosen can be drawn by secret ballot. It is best to have the corps in well separated squares at the beginning of a campaign. Corps ought to be kept in separate squares until contact is made. Although of course campaign moves can be planned so that corps do get into close contact, following thus, Military Practice, Separate to Move, Concentrate to Strike.
For this system one does need a trustworthy opponent because each player while moving his own corps secretly can take a peek under his opponents map squares. Movement is carried out in this way. Each player prior to the opening of a campaign plots the moves of his corps square by square. Each corps is given one dice throw per game-move until a total is reached which enables it to move to the next chosen square. Totals needed to move out of a square which has roads will be 9. If a road is not available double that total will be needed. These totals can of course be varied according to the needs of the player or if recce troops are used ahead of corps then a lower total is best.
The dice move Idea can also be used in reverse if need be.. For instance you might get into contact with an enemy corps knowing full well that your own corps is sadly understrength and lacking in morale. So once again throw dice to move out of a square but if the opposing player gets to his total first you have to fight.
This variation of the matchbox idea can be used also for sea war and any other scheme needing concealment without an umpire.