Note to Self: WWII Question to the Germans - "What was it like fighting the British?"

If you want to know the answer watch the video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDOWXeWFNJg

Spoiler alert: We can be beaten and pushed back, but somehow "we don't break like the others". We are annoyingly back the next day as if nothing happened! Importantly we don't know when we are beaten so - we tended to spoil the German's day and with it their Germanic plans for world domination!

Happy ending or am I believing an jingoistic urban myth (but from the mouths of Germans)?

MIT predicts 12 Plausible Endings to the AI Story (Spoiler Alert: Not a fairy story ending)

It does make me wonder. Don't the happy people at MIT have something better to be doing instead of re-running variants of "The Matrix" in their academic papers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLcrvMfHUJM

Other AI YouTube Memes: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9werF1SR3Ag

Wargames Atlantic Italians 28mm - Temperate Uniform (Painting Guide)

I have a project, a game and it requires these figures. Alternatively I saw these figures, they looked great so I decided I needed a project as an excuse to get this (see below, Wargames Atlantic - WW2 Italian Infantry): 

They were really nice to assemble and the Temperate Mediterranean (or summer Russia) option I chose meant that teh Alpini and Bersaglieri option remained on the sprue. It is a rich source of spares. As I was doing this as industrial process and the weather was good they got the light (Ghoul) grey spray can undercoat courtesy of Colour Forge (see below, whitened - ready for the painting tray or Christmas decorations. This undercoating was actually done "en masse" with various other pieces of kit that had been "assembled" for ages, their time had come): 

The Italian Order of Battle (OoB) was decided by a Chain of Command supplement/online (and is a peculiar clumsy Italian thing, technically with good LMG support but in the wrong place if you ask me - as they separate the LMGs out from the infantry squad and place it under its own command [a sergeant whereas the large ten man rifle section has a mere corporal shouting orders at it]). Note: The raw plastic which comes with a small base has been mounted on a bigger circular 25mm diameter base. PVA mixed with sand and light grit is spread over the bases for texture and left to dry. Vallejo Brown Wash (I have a large tub of this, creatively called Dipping Wash - you get the message) is applied over the figure and base. I find this gives a good "shade" start to painting the model and highlights its features nicely as the wash settles into the cracks and crevices (see below, ready for the painting tray): 

Next Steps: Follow the YouTube Painting Tutorial(s) from Sonic Sledgehammer. I used thi sfor my inspiration, but deviated to match the actual paints I had at hand (rather than slavishly going out and purchasing more - which is the way of madness [I have tread before]):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD1kMTbnc3I

Note: I recommend to follow the second video, see link below (but same Youtuber), as I believe he is using a pose closer Wargames Atlantic figure (despite it being a Warlord Games figure [?]) .. both sets are good figures but as I have the former Wargames Atlantic figure the second video makes more sense: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oqT5dDruU

Time to start assembling the paint list and applying it! This will be incremented over time as I paint the figure also serving as a "Note to Self". 

Note: I am doing them in squad batches, starting with a rifle squad of 10 Rifles and a Corporal (also with a Rifle).

STAGE ONE: Basic Paints

• [Step 1]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Fleshtone (72.044) is applied to the exposed flesh areas (Face and two hands gripping weapons) as the "shade" over the "shade" Brown Wash.
• [Step 2]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Flesh (70.927) .. (although it looks pretty light to me [compared to the "brown" Dark Fleshtone of Step 1], even after shaking the bottle) as the base flesh tone. Note this deviate from teh video as I had not yet found it! My one comment is that the flesh looks a tad light and I may wash it [interestingly Sonic Sledgehammer users Red Beige (70.804) one that I don't have yet!]
• [Step 3]: Vallejo Model Colour - Olive Grey (70.888) - using this as the "shade uniform" colour over the brown wash "shade" [note, in conversation with a another good hobby painter I expect to lighten this with (70.884) Stone Grey for base and highlight later but I am following the second video at the moment].
• [Step 4]: Vallejo Model Colour US Field Drab (70.873) for blanket at bottom of backpack - which to be perfectly honest looks like the brown wash over the grey undercoat, but tidies it up and makes the colour look more solid.  
• [Step 5]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Camouflage Beige (70.821) for central part of backpack and straps.
• [Step 6]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Field Grey (70.830) for the backpack blanket and water bottle. 
• [Step 7]: Vallejo Model Colour - Beige Brown (70.875) for the rifle stock (and also for facial hair, aka the stylish Italian moustaches. Note: Black and Grey Black also an option!).
• [Step 8]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black Grey (70.862) for the boots, ammo pouches and chin strap [I also used this for the bayonet scabbard I attached to some but not all infantry models].
• [Step 9]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black (70.950) for the rifle barrel and working parts 

Extra bits added see reasons in STAGE 4 below: 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo Model Colour Cavalry Brown (70.972) it makes a bold statement. The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

So far so good, we have delivered a basic "base coloured" 28mm figure that resembles a WW2 Italian Infantrymen that would ret and hide on a wargames table because it does not impress the eye. My painted model differs from the one in video as I (foolishly?) also dipped the figure in Vallejo Brown Wash before painting (see below, facing front - rather basic and if truth be told a little "too green" in the uniform department - it needs to be faded):

And from the back (see picture below): 

This is where we differ from the traditional painting I grew up with through the first thirty years of my hobby. That was the "undercoat-shade-hase-highlight" mantra, where you effectively painted each figure three times (and wish your hobby time away). In the modern twentieth first century chemistry now performs "black magic on the figure.

STAGE TWO: Black Magic

Gather eye of newt and wing of bat and drop it into the boiling cauldron. Alternatively ..

• [Step 10]: Mix three drops of Army Painter Strong Tone Wash with two drops of Army Painter Mixing Medium which tones and dilutes the effect. Then smear it liberally all over the poor Italian Infantryman!
• [Step 11]: Let it dry for 30 mins! So go cut the grass of something and do not come back early!

What he looks like after the "Black Magic" chemistry has taken effect (see below, he is now certainly shaded but perhaps maybe overly so, he definitely needs highlighting with the "base colours" and perhaps additional highlighting, lightening the "base colours" to be done):

• [Step 12]: Do not panic, we are not finished yet .. so you have not ruined the miniature, as it still only looks half right! We now go back to Stage One and selectively repeat Steps One through to Nine again but this time selectively highlighting not completely covering!
• [Step 13]: Exception we have to do something different with the uniform, as it is still too green. Solution either mix [5:1] ratio of (70.888) Vallejo Model Colour Olive Green with (70.846) Vallejo Model Colour Dark Sand or (70.884) Vallejo Model Colour Stone Grey. This should "fade" the uniform"!
• [Step 14]: Highlight the rifle shiny parts with Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal (70.863).

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, starting to look the business):

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, nice detailing on the peculiar backpack - you get to like it n the end) 

STAGE THREE: Protect and Survive

• [Step 15]: Vallejo Fleshtone Wash (73.204) is applied to face and hands. Highlight with Vallejo Model Colour Dark Flesh (70.927) - believe me it is not dark, it is light!
• [Step 16]: Ultra-Matt Lucky Varnish (Ammo Mig) the figure, this is to dull down any glossy bits for consistency and give an invisible layer of protection [against greasy wargamer figures].
• [Step 17]: The eyes have it, crazy white sockets and black pupil [optional madness]. White horizontal slash  make and eye orbit area - then Black dot for a pupil. It will be messy. Dark Flesh around to tidy corners of eyes on face. 
• [Step 18]: Terrain basing, paint outer rim brown, two tone the brown on the base, flock and add a touch of static grass. 

STAGE FOUR: Experience told me this after painting some more figures!

The first figure I painted did not have a Red Devil hand grenade or a strap on its rifle. 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo model Colour Leather Brown (70.871) . The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

PROTOTYPE TESTER FIGURE: End Point

Note: Current status - I am still WIP through the Wargames Atlantic packet of  figures:

PAINTING ACTIVITY CHART:

Sections Done:

• None

Doing:

• Rifle Squad One (1 done of 11 Figures)

Still To Do:

• Platoon Command HQ (1 Figure)
• Rifle Squad Two (11 Figures)
• MG Section One (9 Figures)
• MG Section Two (9 Figures)

More videos from YouTube about Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv23vp4LEGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHWH50nRAY0

Painting Italian WW2 Infantry Article:

https://nodicenoglory.com/painting-world-war-two-italians/

Making the MMG: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q10w9RWSW5c

AI - An Inside Take (AI Developer Interview)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf2KFVcKQdQ

A self confessed nerdy AI enthusiast (saying which, I have a lot of empathy and respect for) who I would call at teh top of his games was at the leading edge, being completely honest about the hype and dangers of AI. Also being very honest about how little we know about their workings. Computer Science knowledge of ANN makes Physicists look good (as they guess about Dark Matter and Dark Energy). 

Diary of a CEO: Professor Jiang: World War 3 Is About To Begin, Let Me Explain! (Well you certainly got my attention)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTJGr78-zyw

His You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PredictiveHistory

Note to Self: Following this person ... Hannah Fry (Mathematics-Science)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iz6zFt7G3Kc

Interesting Science Info Youtube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@fryrsquared/shorts

Hannah Fry: Cambridge Mathematician, Science Evangeliser

Note: Panzer Taster - Please avoid the wargamer cringe at the beginning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSZN-Zs9No

Yes, I may even forgive her for showing images of a T-80, Pz I and a Pz IV Short 75mm which definitely were not worrying Allied planners in 1944) because she is a brilliant mathematics and science educator.

PS: I completely agree with her on the negative hypothesis on AI Agents. 

Nueralink Summer Update 2025 - Elon Musk (Wow)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FASMejN_5gs

These seemed a natural progression from "The Singularity is Nearer". These advancements seem nearly incredible. Direct mind interfaces seem to be teh way forwards.

So true .. Hobbies should be FUN .. good video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHAqhP8EeYQ

• Game and have fun!
• Model and paint to have fun!
• Retain the JOY!
• The doing counts ..
• Experience it for the fun of it - fearless and relaxing.
• Laugh and smile, enjoy .. and say I did this!
• Hobbies can be frivolous.
• The best hobbies are frivolous fun!

I LIKE that message ;) 

WW2 US Infantry Painting Guides from around the Internet (20mm)

The crazy "Project" a 1:1, US, WWII, ETO (Normandy/Germany), Infantry Company (minus the 60mm Mortar supports - that is a small follow on mini-project) painted in 1/72 from an assorted plastic figure collection of Revell (Ardennes), Italieri, Caesar and Plastic Soldier Company [PSC] (see below, the sunlight lit painting tray) :  

I have adopted the finish a small pilot (squad) batch then go into "death before glory" full factory production mode. It seems to be working but I have a tight deadline!

Painting Guides: 

First of all the one I ended up using (see below, designed for 15mm FoW figures but I used it for my 1/72 plastic miniatures): 

Vallejo Model Colour (majority): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-odbmMyyOeo

Gathered from my Internet searching a wealth of riches from other web-sites: 

Contrast Paints (an alternative I considered, but not for 20mm):

• https://www.wargaming3d.com/blog/speed-painting-wwii-infantry-with-citadel-contrast-paints
• https://www.reddit.com/r/flamesofwar/comments/o9eoxh/a_us_rifle_platoon_some_contrast_paint_and_an/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eai34eU6nA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOTnNmGZY7Y

Normal Paints: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2fdVyyudwc
• https://www.warlordgames.com/step-by-step-american-gis-by-sascha-herm/
• https://www.flamesofwar.com/default.aspx?tabid=110&art_id=444
• https://cracdeschevaliers.blogspot.com/2010/03/painting-by-layers.html
• https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235148918-a-paint-colour-list-for-british-german-and-us-uniforms-and-kit-by-nation-and-theatre-and-vallejo-shadow-highlight-mixes/
• https://launch.battlefront.co.nz/1247/

German (FoW) but a good painting Flesh Description: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dauzu7kc2u8

Lex Fridman interview - Ray Kurzweil: Singularity, Superintelligence, and Immortality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykY69lSpDdo

A heady mix of topics! Advised to watch and listen without alcohol!

Navy Fleet Design and the Lessons of (Science Fiction) the Trillion Credit Squadron Talk: 2020 by Phil Pournelle

Note also see future post: https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2025/03/note-to-self-trillion-credit-squadron.html

I was intrigued with the following talk by former USN Commander Phil Pournelle discussing future fleet design, but drawing also on ideas from Science Fiction, games and literature. In particular work associated with the AI pioneer and Computer Scientist Doug Lenat who used a Science Fiction game (Traveller: The Trillion Credit Squadron) as part of evaluating his research tool, Eurisko. This was way back in the 1980's (see link below, note I have heard Commander Pournelle speak several time at the Connections UK Professional Wargaming Conferences, and he certainly knows his stuff and he is an enlightened professional who welcomed input from the recreational side of the hobby - at under 15 minutes, it is well worth a listen to): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7Z4PMcgFIGE&t=12685s

The whole conference had a "what can we learn from Science Fiction" theme to and is available online (see link below, something for me to chew on over time): 

https://cimsec.org/navycon-2020-navies-science-fiction-and-great-power-competition/

Phil confessed to having a long addiction to Science Fiction (his late father Jerry Pournelle is a Science Fiction author as he is himself), an interest which goes back to the 1980's where he played Traveller [and other game sci-fi games systems] but of particular interest to the above conference was Traveller, specifically - Traveller: The Trillion Credit squadron (aka big space fleet battles, using miniatures). Due homage was given to the late Doug Lenat who "computed" a winning TCS Competition Fleet [twice, Origins (San Mateo, California) in 1981 and 1982] using his post-doctoral computerised research engine (a sophisticated logical theorem and problem solving tool called Eurisko, an extension from his PhD work AM [Automated Mathematician], 1977). The Lenat/Eurisko duo produced a novel counterintuitive solution that went for "many smaller [75]" instead of the "few large [20]" space ships. 

Footnote Addendum (see comments from Martin Rapier and my reply): Small is a relative term, Lenat/Eurisko fleet had as its backbone 75 "Eurisko Class" ships each 11,100 tonnes (but no jump drive which saved a lot of "tonnage") so not really small "patrol craft" in the scheme of things (?) discuss, but very much cheaper in cost than say to a Battleship (I must admit I am struggling for an appropriate word to call the "big space ships" so Battleship will do - but I know it is wrong). You can have almost four Euriskos for each bespoke Battleship (there I used the word again) and "Euriskos" carried the equivalence of one big weapon each.

So, instead of the few expensive "all singing, all dancing ships of the line" dreadnought star ships (Battleships?) and some accompanying cruisers/destroyers there was a "mosquito fleet" of heavily armoured, almost immobile bit  gunboats (see below, a rather pristine looking copy of a Traveller book and Doug Lenat with his charismatic trademark smile - Lenat famously said the work was 60% Lenat and 40% Eurisko, he basically kept the machine from "going off the rails" adding additional heuristics as needed [he even showed his work (on Eurisko) to Richard Feynman, who was suitable impressed with its "almost creative power" at problem solving]):   

Lenat's research took him away from TCS and he disappeared to a remote part of the Texas dessert for forty years (which sounds rather Biblical) doing research underwritten for the most part by the USN (emerging with a product called Cyc). Meanwhile, for Phil Pournelle there were other Science Fiction Game Systems of that era to play. they also showed similar "lots of little" beating "the big" meme -  despite this not being the original Games Designer's intent. A game called O.G.R.E. getting a specific callout for the "tons of speedy hovercraft option" that so enraged the "big O.G.R.E. tankers" that the game's designer Steve Jackson created a subsequent errata to "try" and reduce, or rather moderate their "too successful" anti O.G.R.E. capability - which it has to be said, it only partially succeeded at). Where most players borrowed from the genre like Star Trek and focused on "the sexy big Enterprise" ships, Phil saw the ungodly potential of tooling up many small patrol ships with weapons to be able to take out squadrons of Star Ships when they came too "planet side close" (see below, Phil obviously enjoyed endless hours spent  in intergalactic mayhem and destruction with the occasional model-making/painting thrown in - Note: examples include both tabletop and computer games - I suggest you hear it "on tape" through Phil's own words on the YouTube link - see first link in article): 

Was there any "earth-bound" evidence of historical equivalent in "the many beating the few" .. Phil showed a USN WWII ship production data table for all naval construction. There was a trend away from the production of the sexier end [battleships, aircraft carriers and cruisers. even destroyers], to patrol -craft . These categories had a huge increase in numbers (but not necessary greater tonnage) . It was the sheer "amount" of smaller ships and "other" types, with a parallel to the many Shermans tanks beating the few but better Panther tanks on land (see below, hmm, I can see the point Phil is trying to make - but you are excluding aircraft from this assessment and other in the Pacific Theatre of Operations .. and perhaps the European Theatre of Operations working under different dynamics - the land example also has its problem, Eisenhower called the Sherman an "artillery tank" not a "main battle tank", most of the time tanks did not fight tanks but supported infantry who appreciated a nice bit of 75mm HE direct fire support to knock out that German machine gun nest that was being so troublesome):  

Interestingly Phil brings in one of his significant mentors from the USN Naval War College .. Captain Wayne Hughs .. and focuses on his salvo equations ("first effective salvo" winning a battle - ambush style in particular) and the relationship between the potential damage delivered from a small ship, especially in ambush prone littoral settings, where as Phil puts it "most people live" (see below, a footnote being appropriate force composition is essential, you don't want to have the wrong stuff in the wrong place defended by the wrong things .. and by definition leave it vulnerable to "mosquito fleets" .. yikes): 

This chart Phil used still worries me very deeply (see the picture above two and repeated below), because it is conflating all "operations of war" under one banner (akin to just computing the greatest Lanchestrian "fighting power" and saying that is "job done"). It is the interactions between the types of ships that matter too, critically so. Even in Traveller's Trillion Credit Squadron it was not just the Lanchestrian equation of force at play ["fighting power squared"] that won one Lenat/Eurisko its battles and two TCS titles. There is a hidden but very important lesson to be learned in the first Tournament Fleet Battle Final. True Lenat's Eurisko fleet fought and won the final .. but Lenat was worried because .. it faced off against a very different style of opponent. On a superficial examination, it looked like a near identical fleet [one that came from a fertile mind of a teenager without the aid of vast PDP computer time from a university - so true respect to him (who he was and what became of him I know not)]. Yet .. Lenat sighed in relief .. the opponent's fleet was not exactly the same  as his. On the surface in one aspect it actually looked better, its Lanchestrian Fighting Power was higher, as it had more or slightly more powerful little fighting ships - its composition is sadly lost in the deeps of time, we only know of Eurisko's fleet listing). What am I getting at? 

Lenat/Eurisko did not win by a random chance (rolling good dice) despite starting teh battle at a slight disadvantage in Lanchastrian Fighting Power strength. Yes, read that again. My conjecture is that Lenat/Eurisko's fleet actually looked a weaker fleet! We can imply that the other fleet was in fact stronger because, Lenat has spent "points/tonnage" on non-Eurisko class ships. The question is "why"? Wasting points like that would lose battles by reducing your fleet's Lanchestrian Fighting Value? [If this is incorrect it is my bad, but I think it holds water!] But it had teh opposite effect. 

Lenat's Eurisko Fleet won because it had other "minor part" players that critically turned the tide of battle for him. The special ship in the first final was a "life boat" or "defensive shield" which if deployed correctly shielded the fleet from further damage. So, when the fleet was being beaten (yes "when", not "if" - assume during the course of the battle your fleet can be "placed in a losing situation" bu gos play from teh other side). This "shield" allowed the Lenat/Eurisko fleet to retire behind a shield and rebuild a badly damaged fleet in "game-battle time" (not campaign time) and then be ready to "go again". Yes, Lenat/Eurisko had a "repair ship" capability too. The nameless teenager's fleet was based on one good idea and over optimised for it - but Lenat had revised and refined his ideas further, by a proces that was effectively "Red Teaming". Eevry potential fleet solution was tested against "all other potential fleets he could think of" - rigorous and diverse testing. 

He analysed his losses as much as his victories. When Eurisko was fighting Eurisko in a multiple simulation this was a hard thing "not to do" - you see the reason for your loses as well as your wins).

Despite a small loss in the optimal fighting strength, Lenat deliberately incorporated other ships types in the Lenat/Eurisko for special vital roles", for example such as a "lifeboat killer" that were never used in most competition play to my knowledge, but needed to be included for "completeness". That is to say  to be called upon if needed - their role was a  contingency against a certain type of fleet turning up (see below, look again at the chart, the "chart" hides many interactions that run deep about the historical period. Be careful what you wish for based purely on a surface reading of the chart - you need to understand the history (and I know Phil certainly does, he has the sea legs and been tutored in teh ways of the US Naval War College); his "good enough and in sufficient quantity" meme is very valid. In fact it sounds like the USN C-in-C  Admiral King said in 1942,  when he wanted an "offensive spirit" to emerge from teh USN in 1942, now and not next year. True there were plenty of ships destined to come online 43/44 but they could all be lost if they came onto a  chess board set up for failure [to their collective credit Admirals "King-Nimitz-Spruance-Fletcher-Halsey" got the victories of Midway and Guadalcanal under their belt, despite the "Europe First" soldier friendly camp in the Supreme Allied High Command holding sway]):   

Coming back to ship specifics, your ability as a ship to survive damage only slowly increases with size/tonnage, but the ability to inflict damage is not so constrained .. firing more missiles is cheaper. Phil highlighted an interesting dilemma for those living and working in ships in the "missile age" (see below, the bigger the ship the easier you are to be found and hit .. hmm .. what is the optimum size to be, or "how many small but expendable ships is best" - it circles back to Lenat and the question he was trying to answer, what is the best fleet composition to have?): 

What does this mean for shipbuilders and navies? The Death Star dilemma ... which implies a navy must have enough ships as to not get too precious about losing one of them, because if that is not the case and you are too precious about your ships, your follow-on actions, albeit well intended, are naturally going to try and make the ships "better defended". This will actually make them even more precious to you, so paradoxically you cannot risk them where they are needed. They will be a bigger resource grab on your budget and more paradoxically a better target for hostile powers to sink and really hurt you. Care for your ships but they are to be used. Tonnage however is subject to the law of decreasing returns on protection levels (see below, in the end a "Death Star" is created and we all know how this ends, as it becomes something the Empire simply cannot afford to lose - but will. Footnote: "Use the Force Luke" .. but remember Luke has to hit a very small spot and got one shot at it - not easy but not impossible): 

Alternatives? There is the "Shell Game". Can you find the target like finding a pea under a walnut shell, you are never quite sure what is under each shell so to be sure you have to hit everything which is beyond your offensive (first strike) resource capability  This benefits lots of small craft over few of the large (see below, just like the proposed MX ICBM deliver system of the 1980's - it impossible to hit the American ICBM missile with 100% certainty [and therefore stop a retaliatory attack]. All by just adding a few more possible launching sites - the MX ICBM  is listed as a reason why the (First) Cold War ended, as economically the Soviets could not afford the logical counter to it, which was a lot more expensive offensive first strike missiles): 

But are .. you putting a best case scenario forward for the "little guys". I mean a "heavy sea" can swamp them right? But as time goes on they are getting better. You can cram them with missiles and when the conditions are favourable they are devasting, like Landsknecht Doppelsoldners they have "their day", a gad-fly brief summer day, whose life is gone in a flicker of the eye (see below, life would be certainly exciting to say the least on one of these in a combat zone):  

But how can these "little ones" travel and victual? (see below, there is always a larger "mother" to hand", which can cross the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, dropping off their charges and stay around to supply): 

There is also stuff that is just living on the drawing board or virtual reality simulation today (see below, the student projects of today, are by graduation tomorrow's naval craft living and breathing in the water [for example The Minuteman Missile Corvette Concept Ship]): 

Sometime the "little guys" are .. not so little (see below, an Ambassador Class Missile Corvette is not a speedboat or experimental catamaran - it can cruise quite long distances and packs a punch): 

But if needs must [Minuteman Corvettes] can be transported piggy-back style (see below, that is "one heavy ass" lifter of a ship - something of that type of 'thing' brought back a Type 42 Royal Navy Destroyer all the way home (UK) from an embarrassing "holed below the waterline" incident in the southern hemisphere): 

Therefore we are now back to the Trillion Credit Squadron (TCS) situation again, as a Lenat/Eurisko produced a "tug carried fleet". Eurisko Class ships got to places by using drop tanks. Once there in the battle they were immobile gun and missile platforms until the battle finished, rotating and tactical thrusts to position line of sight was all that was needed. See what happens when you tap into the genre of science fiction gaming, played in a way you it "dares you to think in the art of the possible, even if that is highly unconventional" and then see "if it is plausible within the rules of the game". There was an interesting interlude when a man called Doug came into town with an interesting horse called Eurisko that could "run fast". Lenat was prepared to follow the answer to the end with an unconventional answer to the TCS Fleet Problem (risking mockery from his academics peers, by playing games). The fleet problem is there, waiting for more innovative answers. However I think the last word should be left with Mr Jerry Pornelle, Phil's late father who obviously encouraged and inspired his son to be curious and imaginative, an author of works of Science Fiction in there own right (see below, "total respect" and I am going to look forward to reading them!):   

Afterall who does not want to hear a good story, best wishes to you all and thanks to you for reading if you have got this far!

Trillion Credit backlink: 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveller_Adventure_5:_Trillion_Credit_Squadron

Footnote: 

Legend has it, as written in his own words, Douglas Lenat was asked not to enter the the Origiins TCS Tournament in 1983. If he did organisers said they would just cancel the event. So Eurisko didn't enter, it retired undefeated, with the honorary rank of Admiral. Sadly I think we were all the lesser for that as who knows, Lenat never said a fleet devised by Eurisko could not be defeated, after all in its training - Eurisko was always trying to defeat itself as well as everybody else it knew of.   

De Havilland Vampire Video!

Hmm, just prowling the internet and You Tube and this came up after an unrelated video .. (see below, the previous video was the final battle scene in the film Gladiator, so don't ask what bizarre connection the AI came up with to prompt me with this): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWgd9yj-cJ4

Looks like a modelling project has list been born, as I am pretty sure I have one of these in an old Airfix kit in the loft (see below, one I didn't do in my youth as I was only interested in WW2 propeller planes):

Model on!

That's Interesting: An International Warhammer Conference Captured on YouTube

Here it is in all its glory (see link below): 

https://www.youtube.com/@warhammerconference

The first video (see below, included so you can get a feel for it):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KNs_Gnq1Z8

I have to say that I am fascinated! In know 40K in particular is so old it has its own creed and history within its history. Fascinated to see the dedication and interest this generates!

The Conference of Wargamers (CoW) 2024 - Initial Reports (from other Bloggers)

These are the early sightings of Conference of Wargamers (CoW) 2024 reports: 

• David Burden's Tweets https://x.com/hashtag/COW2024?src=hashtag_click
• Trebian's blog https://wargaming4grownups.blogspot.com/2024/07/conference-of-wargamers-2024.html
• Not Quite Mechanised blog https://notquitemechanised.wordpress.com/2024/07/18/conference-of-wargamers-cow-2024/
• Games We Play blog https://tgamesweplay.blogspot.com/2024/07/conference-of-wargamers-2024.html
• James Langham's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@jameslangham9854

I also need to post my own in due course, but the Games We Play blog covers my War Plan Orange (The Great Pacific War of the 1920's [Hypothetical]).

Is NATO ready for War?

What a question to ask! So what's the answer then?

https://www.youtube.com/live/bFs8cPOa1_4

Note to self: KCL Wargaming Network Videos, Journals and Books

Some old links to Professional KCL Wargamining Videos and Articles:

Video: 

Perla, Peter. “The Art and Science of Wargaming to Innovate and Educate.” King’s College London, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxLQmPA1-4o. 

 

Wong, Yuna. “Developing an Academic Discipline of Wargaming.” King’s College London, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwa02IMRZ_k. 

Journals and Books: 

Barzashka, Ivanka. “Wargaming: How to Turn Vogue into Science.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 15, 2019. https://thebulletin.org/2019/03/wargaming-how-to-turn-vogue-into-science/. 

 

Hirst, Aggie. “States of Play: Evaluating the Renaissance in US Military Wargaming.” Critical Military Studies (January 9, 2020): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/23337486.2019.1707497. 

 

Hirst, Aggie. “Play in(g) International Theory.” Review of International Studies 45, no. 5 (December 2019): 891–914. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210519000160. 

 

Sabin, Philip. “Wargames as an Academic Instrument.” In Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming, edited by Pat Harrigan and Matthew Kirschenbaum. MIT Press. 2016. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/zones-control. 

 

Sabin, Philip. “Wargaming in Higher Education: Contributions and Challenges.” Arts and Humanities in Higher Education 14, no. 4 (October 1, 2015): 329–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022215577216. 

Cold War Era - CNN was prepared for "The End of The World"

Leaked from the archives of CNN and preserved for all to see on You Tube (see link below): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iawzxof 1OdWW4

Thank you and "Good Night".

Thanks to The Atomic Hobo for the "spot".

Gawd bless the internet!

To Clip or Not To Clip .. Board Game Counters .. That is the Question!

Although I do like my modelling (ahem, understatement) and my table top wargaming - along with plenty of models, even better when serendipity strikes and I get my to play with my painted toys on table too - I also enjoy SPI, Avalon Hill and GMT board gaming. I think it's that formative teenage Squad Leader experience coming back to me. Counters in place of figures is one thing (and sometimes a tactical board game gets brought to life on a table top), but it then begs an awkward question If you go all-in on models and bother to shade/highlight them and then lovingly flock your bases (and what is not to like about a good flocked base). Should you not really go the extra step in board game world and clip your counters too? (see below, the raw tatty square look fresh from the counter sheet that we all know and love):  

But look, a small matter of a clipper and a bit bit of counter TLC - a few (four in fact) corner snips and the ugly ducklings are transformed into deluxe state-of-the-art swan (or "melee markers" in my case)  that could be auctioned off at Christie's or proudly used at a convention (see below, what a change, smooth in the hand): 

Half tongue in cheek perhaps, but well why the hell not - apart from the thousands in my combined board game collection. Does it also remove the need for tweezers? [I am not going there!] I await for the Internet to speak back to me in due course .. "profanity filter now engaged"! I also believe there is already a high quality You Tube Channel devoted to this subject ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pho7cql_H0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyjGxdp4Z4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJY2MJRj2V8

Thank you Ardwulf!

Vietnam War - US News Broadcast of the (Surprise) Tet Offensive (NBS News Saigon) - You Tube Footage

Sometimes history is thrust upon a sleep walking nation and they are rudely awakened to unpalpable truths (see below, incredible News footage from 1968): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wA8n114eYXc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

Amazing that was shown as a "special broadcast" to the US people outside of direct political control!

Thoughts on Urban Operations - Board Game

Is this "the one" for Urban Operations - could be, as the pedigree of  Sebastion de Peyret is first class (see below, does it not look good and sexy, but how do you play it?): 

Nuts - Game Publisher Web-Site (currently waiting for a Version 2 printing in 2024, I have the original version 1): 

• https://www.nutspublishing.com/eshop/urban-operations-en

Board Game Geek reference (what do the other folks say about it?):

• https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/179251/urban-operations

The box is a collection of magic tricks to me. Excellent reference material, historical and hypothetical (Cold War gone Hot Style), innovative game play, fog of war and realistic decision based (without the benefit of being a 10,000 foot tall general). The pain is sitting down and learning the mechanisms well enough for quick play.

Learning Videos: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vymjMXayZE
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3zVbjLjvSI

Links to other resources, would be much appreciated!

Additional Link (27/08/2023):

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtlKZ6haJsQ