Would it be worthwhile adding a 'What if...?' board, where we could discuss things that were historically possible, but the Nation/Leader chose a different path?
For instance 'What If Napoleon doesn't invade Russia?'
QuoteFor instance 'What If Napoleon doesn't invade Russia?'
We wouldn't have the 1812 Overture?
That's... that's not where I was going with this... :'(
How about no Tolstoy's "War and Peace" then?
What if the U.S. allied with Germany in WW1?
Yes - that was a genuine thing for the British. Which is why we could use the board.
I don't think a dedicated board is needed for this. But quite happy to see individual threads.
What If I had not become a wargamer:-
I would have had 40 days of my life back instead of spending it on the forum.
I would have saved months of my life not painting and gaming
I would have saved a lot of money - but probably have got into more trouble by spending it on other things.
I would have something to go and do when Mrs Orcs was watching
I would have not made so many good friends.
I would have had a lot less laughs.
Agree, this thread should serve the purpose. We already have two hypotheticals posed.
To make a fairly uninformed attempt at the first.
As with hypotheticals, it brings more questions,
What would Alexander of Russia have done. Would he involve Russia more in the west (he had, I think, all sorts of entanglements with the German states) or would he move south and east? Or maybe simply modernize Russia? (The last I think, assuming he didn't buy any more of Napoleon's flattery)
Would Napoleon keep tight control of the German states and also send more resources to Spain and Portugal (maybe even himself) to deal with Wellington? (This would, to me, be the most interesting outcome)
Napoleon still had the enormous problem of the British blockade, would resources not wasted in Russia help with that problem at all? (I think not)
Would we have a dish known as Chicken Kiev? (Probably, not sure it has anything to do with Napoleon).
Quote from: Orcs on 18 December 2024, 07:50:28 PMWhat If I had not become a wargamer:-)
But are you a wargamer? What proofs do you offer? :P
He's got unpainted figures!
But what if there was no what if board?
Quote from: d_Guy on 18 December 2024, 08:03:39 PMBut are you a wargamer? What proofs do you offer? :P
I have so many unpainted 15mm Italian wars, I count it by the kilogram. last weigh in 8.5 Kilos
I have 750 28mm painted metal orcs for Lord of the Rings - Yet I still have 100 left to paint. I do paint a few as a break from other stuff
I have 7 large unpainted 10mm Armies from various periods.
I have my own loft over a large garage and my own den full of wargames stuff - yet I have managed to overflow into the house loft.
I have a collection of several hundred books on subjects from Biblical battles to heraldry to uniform guides to armies the general public probably have never heard of.
I rest my case. ;)
QuoteI rest my case. ;)
So, nothing about actually playing any games then? ;D
I should talk - last time I actually played a wargame was probably close to ten years ago. But, I am gearing up for a sci-fi skirmish thing using the Space Wierdos rules. Or maybe Grimdark Future: Firefight. Or possibly fantasy skirmish using Sellswords. Or Frostgrave. Or Rangers of Shadowdeep. Or Sword Wierdos. Or Age of Fantasy: Skirmish. Or...
Play actual games?
He's a wargamer, of course he never actually plays games, the hobby gets in the way.
Quote from: Raider4 on 19 December 2024, 07:41:42 AMSo, nothing about actually playing any games then? ;D
From original post
Quote from: Orcs on 18 December 2024, 07:50:28 PMWhat If I had not become a wargamer:-
I would have not made so many good friends.
I would have had a lot less laughs.
This was refering to the games
Quote from: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 18 December 2024, 10:39:03 PMBut what if there was no what if board?
We'll always have this thread.
Not unless I deleted it... 😈
Quote from: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 19 December 2024, 05:00:09 PMNot unless I deleted it... 😈
The raw exercise of power. I respect that.
Quote from: Last Hussar on 18 December 2024, 10:31:32 AMWould it be worthwhile adding a 'What if...?' board, where we could discuss things that were historically possible, but the Nation/Leader chose a different path?
For instance 'What If Napoleon doesn't invade Russia?'
Come take a look at my counterfactuals...? :-\
WhatIf2.jpg
Saw this in Tescos this morning.
Napoleon was at Trafalgar?
Quote from: d_Guy on 20 February 2025, 06:25:02 PMNapoleon was at Trafalgar?
Surely a mere technicality? ;)
If you put "What if Villeneuve had won at Trafalgar?" 99+% of anyone reading the the cover would think "Who the heck is Villeneuve?" :)
I suppose you can give it the benefit of the doubt as in those times Napoleon = France?
QuoteNapoleon was at Trafalgar?
My thought too. As to pts's point - French would have worked too
What if the Titanic hadn't sunk - whilst obviously quite significant for those on the boat - not sure how that would have had any impact on world events.
Somewhere I have a book called the Hinge Factor which looks at seemingly minor events (I think mainly from a military perspective) and how if they had happened differently there may have been significant changes in history.
QuoteWhat if the Titanic hadn't sunk - whilst obviously quite significant for those on the boat - not sure how that would have had any impact on world events.
It would have dramatically changed the storyline in the original
Upstairs,Downstairs not to mention making James Cameron a much less wealthy man. :)
Quote from: fred. on 20 February 2025, 07:16:50 PMWhat if the Titanic hadn't sunk - whilst obviously quite significant for those on the boat - not sure how that would have had any impact on world events.
Bastard Lew Grade would not have made Raise the Titanic
So he wouldn't have grabbed the resources ear marked for the third season of Space 1999 and a Maya led spin off.
and of course the fact that around half the "French" fleet at Trafalgar was made up of Spanish ships is sometimes put in the back seat too.
No one expects the Spanish Navy! :P
Quote from: pierre the shy on 20 February 2025, 07:13:53 PMIf you put "What if Villeneuve had won at Trafalgar?" 99+% of anyone reading the the cover would think "Who the heck is Villeneuve?" :)
Didn't know Trafalgar was on the Formula One race schedule in 1805.
Very good Will ;D !
Quote from: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 21 February 2025, 10:39:13 AMDidn't know Trafalgar was on the Formula One race schedule in 1805.
=O =O
He's much older than he looks.
Quote from: d_Guy on 21 February 2025, 02:43:42 PMHe's much older than he looks.
Depends if he is referring to Gilles or Jacques
Ah well, there goes another thread expertly derailed.
I think that a general 'What if' board isn't as useful as a 'What if' sub-board in a period board.
Tony,
But what if we hadn't derailed this thread.
I think having a "what-if" board is a good idea.
A lot of scenarios that I come up with revolve around "what-if" situations.
The French Admiral at Trafalgar was Pierre-Charles Villeneuve. The Spanish commander was Federico Gravina.
I wonder what Pierre-Charles Villeneuve would think if he saw his namesake driving a F1 car :-\