Save the Date! BBB BASH DAY V, Daventry, Sunday 19 May 2024

[Chris Pringle]

The next "Bloody Big BATTLES!" (BBB) Bash Day convention will be hosted at Battlefield Hobbies, South March, Daventry, Northants NN11 4PH, UK, from 09:00-17:00 on Sunday 19th May 2024.
www.battlefieldhobbies.co.uk

Meet the BBB author and scenario designers. BBB produces playable big battles in a few hours, proving that big battle wargames can be fast and furious fun, while still being historical and a good contest. Join in our multi-player games of entire famous (and not so famous) battles from the nineteenth century and beyond: American Civil War, Napoleonics, Franco-Prussian War, and no doubt some more obscure conflicts all likely to feature. For previous Bash Day reports see here: https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/search/label/Bash%20Day

The next scenario book covering Napoleonics will be released in 2024. We hope the author will be present and a scenario from the book will be available to play. Exact list of games being offered will be announced nearer the date. General plan is to have a morning session and an afternoon session, so you can get two full games in a day.

Open to all – veterans and newbies equally welcome – game sign-up on the day, but to help us plan, please express interest by e-mailing us at bbb.bashday@gmail.com if you want to play, run a scenario, or both.

[Leon]

Thanks for the info and good luck with it.  If you ever fancy running a demo day up at Pendraken HQ, just shoot me an email. 

[Chris Pringle]

Thanks, Leon. I'm sure we're still up for a day at Pendraken HQ in principle. I'll give Colin a nudge and see if he's recovered from running Bash Day IV yet.

Cheers!
Chris

[Leon]

Thanks, Leon. I'm sure we're still up for a day at Pendraken HQ in principle. I'll give Colin a nudge and see if he's recovered from running Bash Day IV yet.

Excellent!

[Chris Pringle]

The programme of games for Bash Day V is coming together. Here's the latest announcement. Sign up soon - places are limited.

===

The Bloody Big Battles Bash Day has established itself as a highly entertaining wargames convention for veterans and new recruits alike. Come to Bash Day V at Battlefield Hobbies in Daventry on Sunday 19 May and find out for yourself!

(See the BBBBlog post about it here:
https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2024/03/bbb-bash-day-v-daventry-sunday-19-may.html
We'll try to keep this updated as games are finalised, etc.)

There is no need to know the rules, just dive in and enjoy the historical battles on offer. While BBB games have clear objectives and victory conditions, this is not a tournament but an opportunity to discover history, banter with like-minded souls, and revel in the (mis)fortunes of war. BBB is easy to pick up and the games will be multi-player, so you will have experienced gamemasters and fellow players to assist you. The rules won't get in the way of your tactics!

There will be time for you to play at least two in the day, maybe even three, and discover how a single ruleset opens up so many different gaming possibilities. Games available will probably include, among others:

Napoleonic: Hanau. (From the forthcoming book of scenarios for the Emperor Napoleon's battles.) BBB lets you fight even the hugest, such as Borodino or Bautzen, in just 3 or 4 hours. Feel the thrill as you shift whole corps from sector to sector and enjoy the ebb and flow as titanic armies slug it out!

Sikh Wars: Mudki. Still Napoleonic weaponry but with a very different flavour. The asymmetric nature of these battles – small but high-quality British and EIC forces against less well-trained but more numerous opponents with lots of cavalry – produces truly fascinating tactical challenges!

(possibly) 2nd Italian War of Independence: Montebello (1859). Small 'training game', tremendous fun, pitting ponderous raw passive Austrians against outnumbered but aggressive French in a clever tactical puzzle.

(possibly) Austro-Prussian War: Langensalza (1866). Another fun tactical puzzle / training game, this time with Prussians fighting a delaying action against the Hanoverian army.

American Civil War: Brandy Station, the largest cavalry battle of the ACW. Tons of movement and action all over the pitch!

Franco-Prussian War: we will have not just one but two FPW games. From the Imperial phase of the war, Mars-la-Tour, as Bazaine's army tries to escape west from Metz while the Germans rush up to cut him off. Play outnumbered, beleaguered Germans or passive, indecisive French! Then the republican phase will be represented by Champigny / Villiers, the largest French sortie from besieged Paris – featuring forts, gunboats and railway guns!

Zulu War: Isandlwana! A battle that needs little introduction. This game shows off Bruce's gorgeous 28mm figures and went down a storm as a participation game at Colours last year!

Details of venue, timings, etc:

When: Sunday 19 March. 09:00-17:00 (games start ~09:30+). Whenever you turn up and however short or long a stay you can manage, we will do our best to fit you in.

Where: Battlefield Hobbies, South March, Daventry, Northants NN11 4PH.

How: turn up on the day, or (better) sign up in advance via the Battlefield Hobbies website (tab through the Events list to May) and pay £7. GBP
https://battlefieldhobbies.co.uk/our-events/
Spaces are limited and half have gone already (per 7 March). Book early to improve your chances of playing your preferred games.

Who: to express interest or ask questions, contact us at bbb.bashday @ gmail.com .

Read about previous Bash Days to get the flavour here:
https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/search/label/Bash%20Day

[Chris Pringle]

NB - 19 May, not 19 March (as incorrectly mentioned at the end)

[Chris Pringle]

The Alma and Balaclava now added to the agenda. These are Matt Bradley's outstanding work, as showcased on his 'Pushing Tin' blog:
https://pushingtinwargames.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-alma-1854.html

Bash Day blog post updated accordingly:
https://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com/2024/03/bbb-bash-day-v-daventry-sunday-19-may.html