I was reading through the threads on the Derby show and it gave me an idea. Mind you it's always dangerous when one of us lot, wargamers! gets one of those but here goes anyway.
So scene setting. Navigated by combination of map and Satnav, asked the bloke on the gate where to go when down to last couple of hundred metres. Got to the place no problem. Disliked paying £2.00 GBP for a Sprite but payed it. Got distracted by shiny things on trade stands, so didn't really get bothered by sounds of racing cars or aircraft. Managed to resist going back to spend another £20.00 GBP quid at the Adler stand (could have used a few exampes here)
How does this relate to a wargame (or campaign) specifically and not just in general. Well….
I get a plus 1 on map skills, generally my units follow orders and go where I want them to. Those who got lost have penalties as they have the map reading skills of a second lieutenant.
Use of local inhabitants, +1 to info gathering and recce skills.
Price is relative, locals take advantage. Costs me between 1.5 and 2 times ammount to keep troops in the field because I payed the £2.00 GBP for a Sprite. Those who argued about price are at increased risk of guerilla attacks from price gouging the locals over supply.
When passing through towns my troops get an extra movement penalty from the distraction of the shiny things in shop windows (name me a wargamer who wouldn't get this penalty!) also -1 to recce skills as failed to notice indications of enemy(planes overhead) due to shiny things in the windows.
Manages to resist buying more of the the shiny things. So gets a -1 to actual ammount of supply needed by my troops. Counterbalanced by the +1 I'd get for having bought as much of the shiny things as I did before reaching this point. Gets another +1 to ammount of supply needed due to internet order going in in next few days.
Some other suggestions.
Complaining about the facilities. -1 to troop morale as you hole up in fancy hotel and fail to rough it with your troops in the field. Extra chance of getting fragged.
Stopping to chat in the aisle with your mates. Unable to organise march schedule leading to traffic james. Deduction to troop movement.
Wondering how many fights would be caused in clubs up and down the country if we applied real life characteristics, as voted on by other club members, to our generals. Pick one day for all the clubs to vote and the show afterwards might be a bit quiet. A and E on the other hand :-)
Anyone taking this seriously and actually thinking about assigning actual charateristics to their opponents does so at their own risk. The author takes no responsibility for anyone who paddles in the shallow end of the gene pool.
BTW, the 30 seconds of your life it took you to read this post you will so never get back.
