"Sun Never Sets" Topic
4 Posts
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| rdg1125 | 05 Nov 2025 8:28 p.m. PST |
This week I was going thru an old folder on my hard drive. One of the files was a set of rules for a campaign game called "The Sun Never Sets". The campaign rules were used in conjunction with "The Sword and The Flame" tabletop rules. A couple of questions. Has any one had any experience with these rules? They seemed perfect for constructing a good framework for campaigns. The down side seems to be the rules required a number players (around 10 I believe). Also, I remember having a map to go with the rules. I've lost it over the years. Any chance the map is still available? |
 ColCampbell  | 05 Nov 2025 8:39 p.m. PST |
That is a Virtual Armchair General rule set by Patrick Wilson. You should be able to contact him through his web site or email here: TMP link Jim |
| Mad Guru | 06 Nov 2025 2:27 a.m. PST |
IMHO they are a great set of campaign rules. I participated (long long ago as a high school student!) the very first time they were used and the resulting campaign and its many and varied tabletop battles -- played using the original TSATF rules in what at the time was still the game room in the back of the Complete Strategist on East 33rd Street in NYC -- were lots of fun, despite often being at least somewhat unbalanced. The ultimate version of the game does require a large number of players, each simultaneously taking on two divergent roles as (1) British garrison commander or co-commander in one Theater of Operations; & (2) Local commander or co-commander opposing expansion of the British Empire in another Theater of Operations, far removed from the first. I played as one of the 2 Afghan leaders and a commander of the British garrison in China & Burma. Everyone also serves as a member of the British Parliament, voting on the military budget and how to allocate it. This second aspect was vital, as someone who played the Boers would not want an increase in the Imperial garrison in South Africa, while the MP who commanded local forces in Sudan would not want money to be spent building a gunboat to send down the Nile in support of operations against the Mahdi, and the Afghan leader would not want to pay to raise new local ally units in India -- I remember voting against that one! The overall concept of the campaign system (& probably a lot of the specific rules) could be used in a variety of other eras -- the Roman Senate during the Republic or the U.S. Congress during the Indian Wars leap to mind. Maybe for Medieval Italy with all players voting as part of the Signoria of Florence, and simultaneously running one of the other city-states? Actually that strikes me as a pretty cool idea. Of course, the challenge is always finding enough players, but the truth is, you can still use the system even if the parliament or equivalent legislative body isn't fully staffed. The rules include a lot of info/technical data for the late 19th Century British Empire and a movement and supply/logistics system that ties into the resulting tabletop battles in a relatively simple and elegant way, at least as I recall. They were originally written to create games to be played using TSATF, but I think it would be relatively easy to port over TMWWBK or any other tabletop rules set to play the resulting battles with. Though if you want to use the best colonial wargaming rules, you will of course stick with The Sword And The Flame! |
 The Virtual Armchair General  | 06 Nov 2025 9:59 a.m. PST |
The computer assisted solo version of the game is nearing completion by sculptor/rules author Chris Ferree for optional use with the major 15mm Colonial wargame figures range under the same umbrella title, "The Sun Never Sets." And while one of the best aspects of the campaign game system, the large number of active players is still a hindrance, save for wargames clubs, etc. However, the current 40th Anniversary Edition includes rules that allow as few as two players to carry on a military campaign against one another in their choice of the major theaters of Empire. Full details of the rules, in both PDF and Print Editions, may be found via this link The many maps, map counters, Event Deck, and record forms are all available as PDF's for self-printing (far cheaper than now commercially possible--alas!). By Jingo! TVAG |
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