"One Hour Wargames Damage Markers" Topic

I worked up two different sets of damage markers for my battles of One Hour Wargames. The first is a set of figure bases painted red/white with a # inside them. The bases are from Mantic Games.

The next is a series of nails and beads. One inch nail adhered to the corner of a base. Add a red bead then the unit has taken 5 points of damage. Add a white bead the unit has only taken 1. I have several other colors of beads to choose from and may come up with some ideas for colors like a green bead would indicate a fantasy unit has been poisoned. Blue might be a buff or curse of some sort. Here is the same unit from above with beads to indicate 6 points of damage.

It is interesting to see how other users of the OHW rules have set about recording the casualties suffered by units. My choice was numbered, magnetic strength markers … but I like the look of your numbered marker and nail/bead systems.

They look very nice but keep the bandages close if you decide to go with the nail and bead system.

You probably should draw a line under the 6 and the 9 so that you can distinguish them easier.

I prefer rosters…been meaning to give these rules a try…

I use dice….

I use cardboard counters numbered 1 through 6.

I hate rosters and I'm suspicious of their accuracy anyway, so I think Brigadier General is on the right track here.

I agree with Big Red about that nail. I'm done adding real weapons to my miniatures. For some reason, actual blood looks unrealistic on the spears of my toy soldiers…

Personally I prefer "scenic" markers that are themed to the genre and blend into the table. The most generic markers I own are a whole set of rocks glued to flocked pennies with 1, 2 or 3 rocks per penny. It only took about 2 moderate crafting sessions to make them:

• primer the pennies, wait for them to dry
  
• glue down the rocks and flock the bases
  

The pennies were collected over time in the change bin (whether I wanted them or not!), and if you don't feel like collecting pebbles for free from the great outdoors, rocks can be bought at a craft store in the flower arranging section, or an aquarium shop.

If I needed "fivers" like the game above apparently does, I'd probably craft a set of something larger that also fits on pennies – tree stumps, craters, and burnt bushes would all be really easy. Or how about fallen logs? Go for a walk outdoors and collect a handful of twigs, and break them into 1" lengths. Terrain doesn't get more realistic than that…

- Ix

I use rosters. Unless you are playing with people you don't trust, what is there to be suspicious about?

Maybe use some flat head machine screws instead of those deadly nails.

I use tile spacers for individual hits and yellow and red markers for five and ten hits respectively.

I like the nails,but not attached directly to the figure base. I think in this case you could clip the point off the nail?

Why is everyone so afraid of the nails? One would have to really try to pierce themselves with it to be hurt in the slightest.

Anyway thanks for the nice comments and other suggestions. I really like the bead system and Hobby Lobby has a huge assortment that fits on the nails perfectly.

They look good!

I just have some scars on my wrist and hands from piano wire pike blocks. After a few times of donating blood in quantities adequate for a transfusion one can get a little nervous at the site of sharp objects.

James uses a similar system for his ancient naval games, apparently without excessive casualties to the participants.

I tried rosters once but as a solo-wargamer keeping up with both sides wasa bit distracting.