The 2024 Armchair Dragoons Fall Assembly will be held 11-13 October 2024 at The Gamer's Armory in Cary, NC (outside of Raleigh)
Recent Posts
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on Today at 02:31:30 PM »1829. Wilhelm Lorenz Sigismund von Schlichting was born, German soldier and military reformer who was sacked for criticizing military abilities of “Kaiser Bill” -
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was fond of ending the army's annual maneuvers by leading a grand charge, usually of cavalry, but occasionally by infantry. For example, during the maneuvers of 1888 he led two divisions of cavalry to "rout" the "enemy." Of course, being a bulb of notably low wattage, he did occasionally cause problems. For example, in 1893 he became disoriented during the "battle" and led his cavalry against his own infantry. But the following year he was again in proper form, and led his side to victory at the head of 60 squadrons of cavalry.
His successes were occasionally helped along by having the "enemy" troops switch sides indicated by arm bands of different colors in the midst of one of his attacks.
In any case, in September of 1904, Wilhelm decided to close the annual maneuvers with a grand assault by the Guard Corps. With sword in hand mounted on his steed, the Kaiser led the packed infantry of the Guard in an unsupported assault against the entrenched troops of the IX Army Corps, driving them from their positions at the point of the bayonet, without a shot being fired.
As one major "captured" during the grand assault observed, "Why do you Guardsmen bother carrying weapons, since you don't need them?"
Of course, this was hardly the proper way to prepare the Imperial Army for war. And while his antics say much about Wilhelm, they say even more about the alleged professionalism of Alfred von Schlieffen, the Chief of the Great General Staff. Although he privately expressed reservations about the Kaiser's games, Schlieffen, another supposed military genius, made no effort to put an end to them. Surprisingly, it was the allegedly inept Helmuth von Moltke the Younger who managed to get the Kaiser him to stop meddling in maneuvers.
It seems that one day Moltke quietly approached his Supreme War Lord and resolved the whole matter. Apparently he said something like, "Although Your Majesty and I both know you really can command the troops brilliantly, there are some small minded-people who might claim we've rigged the game to make you look good." This argument seems to have convinced the Supreme War Lord to lay off meddling in the maneuvers..
1959. US Army veteran Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" premieres on CBS, runs for four seasons [Still on the air in reruns, and spawned two successor series]
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was fond of ending the army's annual maneuvers by leading a grand charge, usually of cavalry, but occasionally by infantry. For example, during the maneuvers of 1888 he led two divisions of cavalry to "rout" the "enemy." Of course, being a bulb of notably low wattage, he did occasionally cause problems. For example, in 1893 he became disoriented during the "battle" and led his cavalry against his own infantry. But the following year he was again in proper form, and led his side to victory at the head of 60 squadrons of cavalry.
His successes were occasionally helped along by having the "enemy" troops switch sides indicated by arm bands of different colors in the midst of one of his attacks.
In any case, in September of 1904, Wilhelm decided to close the annual maneuvers with a grand assault by the Guard Corps. With sword in hand mounted on his steed, the Kaiser led the packed infantry of the Guard in an unsupported assault against the entrenched troops of the IX Army Corps, driving them from their positions at the point of the bayonet, without a shot being fired.
As one major "captured" during the grand assault observed, "Why do you Guardsmen bother carrying weapons, since you don't need them?"
Of course, this was hardly the proper way to prepare the Imperial Army for war. And while his antics say much about Wilhelm, they say even more about the alleged professionalism of Alfred von Schlieffen, the Chief of the Great General Staff. Although he privately expressed reservations about the Kaiser's games, Schlieffen, another supposed military genius, made no effort to put an end to them. Surprisingly, it was the allegedly inept Helmuth von Moltke the Younger who managed to get the Kaiser him to stop meddling in maneuvers.
It seems that one day Moltke quietly approached his Supreme War Lord and resolved the whole matter. Apparently he said something like, "Although Your Majesty and I both know you really can command the troops brilliantly, there are some small minded-people who might claim we've rigged the game to make you look good." This argument seems to have convinced the Supreme War Lord to lay off meddling in the maneuvers..
1959. US Army veteran Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" premieres on CBS, runs for four seasons [Still on the air in reruns, and spawned two successor series]
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Conventions, Clubs, and Events / Re: Armchair Dragoons Fall Assembly 11-13 OCT '24 • CARY, NC
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Today at 11:56:07 AM »Fall Assembly 2024: Counting Down to the Convention!
🎲
The last big update before we hit the show next weekend
📆
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/cons/2024fa-countdown2/
🎲
The last big update before we hit the show next weekend
📆
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/cons/2024fa-countdown2/
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The Modern World / Re: Armored brigade 2
« Last post by Barthheart on Today at 07:17:20 AM »Never played the first one. I have been watching this though.
If you really want a tactical level game you should try Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm. It’s really is the gold standard for mid-80s grand tactical combat.
I believe that’s that game you beat me 19 games out of 20 at
Oops!
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The Modern World / Re: Armored brigade 2
« Last post by bob48 on Today at 06:32:09 AM »Close result, then? 
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The Modern World / Re: Armored brigade 2
« Last post by Undercovergeek on Today at 06:30:46 AM »Never played the first one. I have been watching this though.
If you really want a tactical level game you should try Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm. It’s really is the gold standard for mid-80s grand tactical combat.
I believe that’s that game you beat me 19 games out of 20 at
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The Modern World / Re: Armored brigade 2
« Last post by Barthheart on Today at 05:30:11 AM »Never played the first one. I have been watching this though.
If you really want a tactical level game you should try Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm. It’s really is the gold standard for mid-80s grand tactical combat.
If you really want a tactical level game you should try Flashpoint Campaigns: Southern Storm. It’s really is the gold standard for mid-80s grand tactical combat.
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The Modern World / Armored brigade 2
« Last post by Undercovergeek on Today at 03:27:57 AM »https://store.steampowered.com/app/1934300/Armored_Brigade_II/
Due this month I believe
Not our usual 4x shenanigans I know
Having been chewed up and spat out at the strategic level by BH I wonder if he fancies the tac level
Due this month I believe
Not our usual 4x shenanigans I know
Having been chewed up and spat out at the strategic level by BH I wonder if he fancies the tac level
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Intel Dump / Re: Solo Wargaming Research
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 10:54:12 PM »Exploring Past Solo Wargaming Rankings
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/research/solo24-pastsurveys/
Quote
It didn’t take long to discover that Avalon Hill had indeed compiled “an informal rating of the suitability of our titles for solitaire and play-by-mail activity” way back in 1984
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/research/solo24-pastsurveys/
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Sci-fi & Fantasy Warfare / Re: Banquet for Fools
« Last post by Martok on Yesterday at 10:14:47 PM »That actually looks interesting; added to my wishlist. Nice find, Bawb!
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Sci-fi & Fantasy Warfare / Banquet for Fools
« Last post by bob48 on Yesterday at 04:12:51 PM »https://store.steampowered.com/app/3172700/Banquet_for_Fools/
I very much like this style of graphics.
I very much like this style of graphics.