Monday 4 March 2019

Gaming aids and supporting diversity

Here at the Burrow I have many friends coming to wargame every couple of weeks or so. My table is built with my needs taken into account and is therefore quite high to minimise bending and over reaching. However as the table is six feet wide several shorter players with a correspondingly shorter reach or without 'gibbon arms' find it difficult to reach the central area of the table. Also, as the onset of middle-aged spread and the consequences of too many years of beer and pies some gamers can't stand quite as close to the table as they were used to. With that in mind I have provided the following accessories to assist.

Ideal for pushing units around the table that are otherwise beyond reach. Most effective when table is covered with a terrain mat to reduce friction. Best used when figures or units are based on sabots for ease of movement and to minimise damage. Works well with bases of multiple figures. Whole regiments, even brigades if using 6mm, can be moved all at once without the player suffering any potential injury or exacerbation of pre-existing conditions.


Often used in conjunction with the croupier's stick, this handy children's step can assist gamers with lower back problems when attempting to move that 'just out of reach' unit. The tabletop takes on a whole new dimension when seen from the elevated heights of this gaming aid.
Both the above devices will be available to players when we next convene for a game this coming Friday.

10 comments:

  1. Using a Croupier’s stick is an excellent idea!

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  2. The croupier stick brings to mind all those scenes of toy tanks, ships, and/or planes being pushed across giant maps while the generals looked on in the war movies of my youth. Very cool!

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  3. Being one of the more "rotund" players - whisky and beer, not so many pies - I like the toddlers step idea. We use these at the Grimsby club for much the same reason.

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  4. I like the idea of the stick, although the temptation to bang your opponent on the head could prove too tempting!

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  5. One normally gets the butler to deal with such inconveniences...

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    1. Aly, I did think of that but my old family retainer Butler has been broken through over use and I can’t get a replacement.

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  6. I find having a taller chum very useful in moving figures I can't reach!

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  7. Yes indeed. Personally I tend to give priority to inviting those of more normal size whenever possible, handing out leaflets on sensible diet and exercise to others, and for those who really can't manage I have a little stool, a small step ladder and a grabber tool operated one-handed with a lever (really for those with a challenging manual manipulation problem). However, I do make exception for rotund visitors if they are also art clients :-)

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  8. Great ideas! I like the idea of getting up steps for a better view of the battlefield.

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  9. One day we will all have personal drones that can move the figures for us.

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