The Dawn Of VotG.

[Honza]

>I took the VASL map of the Central Railway Station from OAF and blew it up to twice its original size so that the game pieces would be easier to manipulate. I played the OAF version of “The Valor of the Guards”

I was a subscriber to OAF for only about 10-12 issues, but I certainly got the right issues. I photocopied the CRS map to Red Barricades sized hexes then painstakedly colored it with felt pens from the art store with colors that matched the RB colors. Then I laminated it. It's still one of my most prized ASL possesions. Played it and was immediately hooked. When I heard that Tom was going to re-work CRS into a RB sized module I knew that I had to do everything in my power to be a part of that project.

I was always in admiration of the time and dedication that Tom and Don put into that module. I'm so happy for them to see such a spectaculor end result.

I spent about 45 minutes this morning cutting up A3 sized Art drawing paper (which is double American Letter size) and feeding it into my printer in order to get a bigger sized copy of the CRS map. I could blow up the hexes OK but the edges of the map kept being cut off. After a while it eventually dawned on me that my printer just does not do bigger sized images! :OHNO:

I may take the scan on file to a printers one day and ask them to do it.

 

[Honza]

I spent about 45 minutes this morning cutting up A3 sized Art drawing paper (which is double American Letter size) and feeding it into my printer in order to get a bigger sized copy of the CRS map. I could blow up the hexes OK but the edges of the map kept being cut off. After a while it eventually dawned on me that my printer just does not do bigger sized images! :OHNO:

I may take the scan on file to a printers one day and ask them to do it.

Just got back from the printers in town where they printed out the CRS map for me on 2 A3 size card sheets. The hexes are now quite a lot bigger than RB sized hexes and the colors came up a treat. :yummy:

 

[JG53_Jaguar]

VotG is right up there at the top with RB for me, two of the best HASL modules ever. I bought 3 copies to make sure I have enough for the rest of my life I see myself playing RB and VotG for a very long time to come. I can see how much time and energy did Tom Morin and his buddies put into VotG. I have even bought few Dispatches from the Bunker magazine issues because I wanted more VotG scenarios and also was very much interested to read Designer notes - great read! Island of Fire book from J. D. Mark is excellent companion to Red Barricades, now all I need is same kind of book on the subject of Central Stalingrad and I will be set

Thanks Tom Morin and everyone else involved to make such a great HASL module!

PS:Currently playing SASL mission for Central Railway Station #1 area of VotG map with my buddy Paullus.

 

[JG53_Jaguar]

The location of the Nail Factory was ...'nailed down'... during the playtest of VotG, IIRC, with an assist from research gleaned from L2s Streets of Stalingrad. It was all part of Tom & Co.s never-ending desire for absolute accuracy for VotG...

I would love to get my hands of L2s Streets of Stalingrad (2003 release)

 

[jwb3]

I would love to get my hands of L2s Streets of Stalingrad (2003 release)

I dunno about that. I have a copy, and while I don't think I want to sell it to you, I'd probably be wiser if I did! I expect it will see more use as a "research document" than as a game.


John

 

[Paul Saunders]

>I took the VASL map of the Central Railway Station from OAF and blew it up to twice its original size so that the game pieces would be easier to manipulate. I played the OAF version of “The Valor of the Guards”

I was a subscriber to OAF for only about 10-12 issues, but I certainly got the right issues. I photocopied the CRS map to Red Barricades sized hexes then painstakedly colored it with felt pens from the art store with colors that matched the RB colors. Then I laminated it. It's still one of my most prized ASL possesions. Played it and was immediately hooked. When I heard that Tom was going to re-work CRS into a RB sized module I knew that I had to do everything in my power to be a part of that project.

I was always in admiration of the time and dedication that Tom and Don put into that module. I'm so happy for them to see such a spectaculor end result.

I also got the original, coloured it to RB colours. The map was too small for the larger scenario counter density. Had it blown up and mounted.

We had issues with the way the rail tracks that crossed roads were treated as stone walls (hull down behind a rail line on a road seems odd, to say the least) and the fact that some of the buildings ran up to the board edge, making them very difficult to capture.

I have an abiding memory of a misdireected Stuka attack hitting one of my Stugs and eliminating my armour leader. I too have looked for comparisons between VoTG and the CRS maps. Some things have moved (the park, for example).

Cheers

Paul

 

[Honza]

I also got the original, coloured it to RB colours.

So am I right in thinking that the original map was black and white? The scans I got of the map are all in colour.

 

[Paul Saunders]

So am I right in thinking that the original map was black and white? The scans I got of the map are all in colour.

The one published in OAF was black and white. OAF published another map for Eben Emael which had been coloured and was then printed in Black and white for inclusion in the mag which resulted in an awful mess. I actually redrew that map from scratch and recoloured it myself. Thankfully the CRS map was black and white outline only.

Sounds like your scan was of an already hand coloured version.

It may even have been mine. Who did you get the scan from?

Cheers

Paul

 

[Paul Saunders]

I would love to get my hands of L2s Streets of Stalingrad (2003 release)

There are some games that you almost instinctively know are going to become sought after jewels.

SoS is one. I had the earlier versions but sold them on when the L3 version came out. It is spectacular.

The ultimate Stalingrad game.

Cheers

Paul