The original concept of developing Bush Wars at the NWA was to run a “Wild Geese” display game, which we finally achieved a year or so ago at Little Wars.
From the genesis of the concept up to that display game point, Bush Wars trundled along until an unexpected explosion of interest in 2016. Lots of people jumped on board and started developing their struggling Imagiafrican nation.
One of the underlying guidelines was that equipment was limited to 1st world power’s surplus. No top line, state of the art military ordnance. Secondly, it had to be something that had been used HISTORICALLY. No fantasy/sci-fi stuff.
Making things up, with a passing resemblance to something that did exist, is NOT within the spirit of Bush Wars.
Simply put, Imagiafrican nations are poor. They should use 1st world equipment that is regarded as surplus, cast-off, hand-me-down or just downright obsolete.
Finally, we have used “Force on Force” rules, and currently “Wars of Insurgency”, both of which are platoon-level games. Unless someone has a set of rules that are company-level, allow for massed armoured formations, air-to-air combat, naval warfare and whatever else, why are people insisting on buying massed armoured formations, flights of aircraft and flotillas of naval craft? Why?
Yes, I’m guilty of that, but I had a plan. Sticking to that plan means I have been overtaken in the arms race. I thought I was crazy but looking at my Imagiafrican colleagues, I’m the most sane out of the whole bunch.
So, in closing, use historical equipment. Stop making things up. And please find a set of rules we can all agree on for company-level games with all the bits and bobs as listed above.
- Tom Chenu: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with a lot of that diatribe. It's imaginary, so we can do imaginary things. If you wanted realistic, you should have used real nations.
You should be happy with the enthusiasm with which so many members have grabbed the idea of an imaginary nation and created fully fleshed out backgrounds, flags, characters and orders of battle. It's gained a momentum beyond what you may have originally intended, and grown into something larger. And I love seeing people stick with their chosen theme.
I think people have especially fallen in love with the idea of being to create their own armies - our own little bit of highly enjoyable megalomania. These various military forces have expanded in size and breadth and depth. Will it all end up on the table? Who knows, but it has been a heap of fun.
Yes, I like the idea of it being kept within the realms of realism and time period, but people wandering off down other paths has been amusing to watch, as you can see by their immersion and enjoyment.
Hopefully we will find a suitable company+ level game later (or I finish the bloody rule set I started), but for now we are still happy playing at the entry level of platoon skirmish with WoI.
Just relax a bit, and let people have their fun - and enjoy the mammoth beast that is NWA Bush Wars that you inspired!- Mike Fly Gołdyn: For stating that you don’t agree with a lot of what was written, you seem to be in a similar frame of mind regarding the concept.
If you were looking for a “Secrets of the Third Reich” type alternate history, you will not find it here. Bush Wars was never designed for that and I personally will not be going down that path.
The real Africa already offers enough crazy but real ideas without us launching off on some fantasy/sci-fi/Frankenstein-esque tangent.
Your Omovan army is both bewildering, due to immense size, and admirable. Does it really require ahistorical equipment?
Finally, Bush Wars was to be a simple distraction. You’re right, I never imagined this result. But I prefer to keep it grounded and I would use the KISS principle, not complicate things by using equipment that never existed.
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