"Matchbox system in solo wargaming?" Topic

Can anyone describe this method to me?

I know Featherstone wrote about it in his solo book,but i do not have a copy of it,so could use some enlightenment as to how this system works.

Any info is apreciated.

Thanks,
MD

You require 36 empty matchboxes glued together to form a chest of drawers. (6 boxes high by 6 boxes across). Each matchbox is numbered from 1 to 36 starting at the top left across to the bottom right.

The campaign map is divided into 36 squares, similarly numbered. (low numbers represent North and High numbers represent South).

You then require two sets of coloured counters. One for each side. Each unit is allocated a number of letter and these corresponding numbers/letters are written on the counters. (do not write them in chronological order.

On the map in coloured pencil mark the forces of the two sides. Place your numbered counters in the boxes where your force is starting (i.e. if starting in the South boxes 31 to 36).

As you move from square to square on the map the counters are moved in their corresponding matchboxes. This continues until a counter enters a box with a coloured counter from the enemy. Both generals decide if they wish to make contact.

Thats it in a nutshell – hope this helps.

The Berthier Campaign Management computer program automates the matchbox approach. It is free can can be downloaded from
members.tripod.com/delyall/berthier/berthier.html

It can be used for solo gaming.

"As you move from square to square on the map the counters are moved in their corresponding matchboxes. This continues until a counter enters a box with a coloured counter from the enemy. Both generals decide if they wish to make contact."

I think I'm missing something. Why bother with the match boxes?

its not for solo play. its for two players who want fog of war but have no umpire.

It also works very well when the campaign is going to continue over several weeks/months as there is no need for recording the map locations of units each time.

The only time I have seen it used for solo play was as a one sided campaign (old Military Modelling article?). The actual units in the opposing force and an equal number of dummies were allocated to the area of the matchboxes designated as the defence position. The player then made his moves with his forces until such time as he reached the defense position and gamed on the table with whatever cam out of the box.

Thanks for the info on this—sounds like an interesting,creative way to handle solo encounters.

Have heard of berthier program,may look into it and how it handles solo battles.

MD

Get Berthier. Hey Toneeee.. when you make WinXP version? TC

I did check out the berthier page—as soon as I saw no Windows version and runs as DOS that did it for me—no go!
Still have nightmares about DOS and DBase2 from college!!!!!

If Tony Lyall does do a Windows version then I will try it.

MD

Windows XP version of Berthier?

companycmd – It would be a complete rewrite to do Berthier for Windows and I just don't have the time or patience I'm afraid.

thedrake – It may be DOS but most people find it works "straight out of the box" under any version of Windows (95 -> XP).

Tony

P.S. There was an article about using Berthier for solo play by Steve Hicks in Lone Warrior Issue 150 Vol 29/4 March 2005.

You can also find a brief note here
link

sorry DeLyall, I downloaded Berthier to my Windows XP and the whole thing crashed. No go. Too bad, it looked like a great piece of wargaming. Pity.

Look for a program called DosBox. It's a free dos emulator, and should work well for this type of program (it can be a little slow if you're trying to run a video game for example)