Readymade Kriegsspiel "blocks"

[King_Rufus]

Some readymade "blocks", suitable for printing out on transparencies and then cutting up, have been posted down the page at http://chingfordgames1.homestead.com/kriegspiel.html

The commanders names have been designed to double up as far as possible for ACW as well as traditional Prussian battles, but there are some blank "anonymous" blocks also, which can be named according to one's own preference.

Also some naval flotilla chits here.

[stoffelbier]

Folks,

This looks like the place to be: www.photoncutterstudios.com

Beautiful looking pieces !

[James Sterrett]

They are that nice in person, too -- I haven't managed to take photos that show them off better than Tom's, but we ran a game with them yesterday and they were great -- much appreciated by everyone.

[PhotonCutterTome]

They are that nice in person, too -- I haven't managed to take photos that show them off better than Tom's, but we ran a game with them yesterday and they were great -- much appreciated by everyone.

Thanks for the kind words James. I now have the complete listing created, including the very small bits I was worried about going up the vent. I found a way to do those also.

Thanks you for the kind words. I am glad they were appreciated.

Tom

[James Sterrett]

Tom & I had a side discussion about getting better pictures of these pieces up; I will be sending him some snapshots from the game we ran last month so he can post them.

What I don't think comes through in the photos -- and certainly comes through in none of my attempts at a photo -- is how sturdy these blocks seem to be.

The image on the top isn't a sticker or a decal; the process makes it part of the block. The coating on it shrugged off some accidental ballpoint pen markup... I just wiped it off with my thumb.

The block material, HDF (high density fiberboard), isn't nearly as dense as lead, but they have real heft compared to cardboard counters.

In addition to the blocks, the various rulers came in very handy. They may not look very sexy in the photos but everybody oohs & aahs at them in person. (They are far better than the hand-scrawled or print-out rulers we used before. )


Given that I like playing Kriegsspiel, but don't like painting miniatures (I still have a fair few unpainted lead blocks because, despite a crying need for more pieces, I never got round to painting them), these are a great solution. I get to skip the painting and go stright to the playing.

[MJ1]

They do look great and I will be working with some club members to see what sort of order we can make for some.

I would also like to some generic modern blocks which can be used for modern KS games like WW2 / Vietnam. I need to work out what is needed and see how best we can do them. I will be in touch with Tom at some stage soon...

[James Sterrett]

Tom's put up two of the pictures I sent him, on the
http://www.photoncutterstudios.com/1894/1852.html site.

They are from a battle fought on the Metz index maps a few weeks ago.
The top one shows the umpire map, and the one at the bottom shows the Blue
main body commander's map.

At least at the scale I've got the index maps printed out, the curved
movement rulers (which were made for the Meckel map), are a
good-enough approximation of movement every 15 minutes on the Metz
index map. (If memory serves, the math actually worked out to every
16 minutes or so.)

[henridecat]

How heavy are the blocks?

[Martin]

Tom has kindly provided an indication of costs for UK orders:

"I am presently charging $.30 a piece. The more blocks the lower the price. Shipping would be around $6.00 - $8.00 range. It would take a lot of blocks to drive the shipping above that. A set of 9 infantry, 2 cavalry, 2 artillery and 2 exchange pieces (60 pieces in all) in red and blue with the blind set is $18.00. When we start getting into really large quantities the price comes down. If the shipping is less I charge less for it."

Martin

[James Sterrett]

I don't have a good scale to weigh them. This gives you numbers, which may or may not help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardboard -->

"...the density of hardboard is 31 lbs. or more per cubic foot (500 kg/m³) and is usually about 50-65 lbs. per cubic foot (800-1040 kg/m³). "

I, at any rate, am not using pieces that are a square meter in size.

They are wood, and at the high end of the wood density range. They are definitely less dense than metal blocks; you can't put one of them on a rolling map corner or edge and expect to hold it down. However, they're a lot more dense/heavy than the cardboard counters from an Avalon Hill-style wargame.

Not sure if that helps.

[PhotonCutterTome]

The weight is 1 oz (28.35 g) for 20 infantry blocks. I hope that helps.

Regards,
Tom

[mpegham]

These blocks look great, ideal for the more cack handed ! Do the blocks come with the unit numbers on ? I am keen to order some and would like an indication of price and for postage to the UK. Do you accept paypal payments ?
All the best
Mike

[James Sterrett]

These blocks look great, ideal for the more cack handed ! Do the blocks come with the unit numbers on ? I am keen to order some and would like an indication of price and for postage to the UK. Do you accept paypal payments ?
All the best
Mike

Yep, the unit numbers are on them as-shipped.

I bought them in sets such that I had all the numbered units in duplicate pairs (one for the umpire map, one for the player map), and a number of blank units equal to the total number of numbered units. (Blanks for general purpose use.)

So, to have 6 half-battalions in a brigade -- 6 pieces numbers as I Brigade, 1 through 6 --

I'd get two of each numbered block, for a total of 12 numbered blocks in two identical sets of 6; and 12 blank blocks.


On a related note, Tom did a test with a Sharpie, and found you can wipe Sharpie off the front face with alcohol. A cavalry squadron of mine bravely volunteered to undergo this procedure, and, indeed, rubbing alcohol takes dried Sharpie right off the face of these markers, with no apparent ill effects.

[Martin]

What's Sharpie, James? Some kind of pen?

Martin

[James Sterrett]

A Sharpie is a permanent magic marker. In the US, at least, they are in the enviable but uncomfortable position of being popular enough that Sharpie is in danger of becoming a generic term instead of a brand name.

These are the usual kind: http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Fine_Point_Permanent_Marker.html

If it matters, I used one of these: http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Chisel_Tip_Permanent_Marker.html

More info than you really wanted?