Lou Coatney's THE GAZALA GALLOP: A [FREE] World War II Boardgame [War Game] Kit
NOTE: I have stopped work on this version of the game. Go to BasicGazGall.htm instead. It is simpler, like 1st Alamein, and no less historical.
A Note on Copyright
THE GAZALA GALLOP is COPYRIGHTED -- NOT Public Domain -- and FREE under the following conditions:
- Schools, libraries, and museums are free to make and keep copies for in-house educational use or nonpermanent loan/circulation ... in gratitude for the fine education and research assistance I have always received from such institutions.
- An individual is free to make one personal copy of THE GAZALA GALLOP for his/her own personal use.
- All other rights -- including publishing rights -- are reserved to me.
Dedication:
THE GAZALA GALLOP is dedicated ...
A. as a token of remembrance to the soldiers of the British Commonwealth - Australian, British, Indian, South African ... and New Zealander--and of Greece, Poland, Free France, and finally the United States ... who fought and defeated the Axis on the first "Second Front" of the Second World War: North Africa.
B. to my children Rebecca, Robert, Rohan, and Johanna, in the hope that they may never have to go through a world war:
The more we learn about the Second World War, the better our chances that it will be the LAST world war.
But first....Manual Games (Boardgames) vs. Computer Games -- Points to Ponder:
- Boardgames are directly interactive with/against an opponent and friend, and command in warfare often proved to be a psychological, as much as material, contest.
- The components and game system of boardgames can be completely seen and understood. This enables the player-student to see how the historical situation's variables (of supply, weather, terrain, etc., for example) are (or could better be) inter-related. Moreover, you have an in-person opponent to teach you the finer points of the game.
- A manual game's components are far more enjoyable to use--especially in the case of games using 3D miniature tanks and ships--than a computer screen.
- Small format manual boardgames like THE GAZALA GALLOP are very portable ... and of no interest to thieves and burglars.
- Computers can take care of bookkeeping and calculations. (Although this is convenient and can speed gameplay, it really doesn't help basic math skills. Anyway, a well-designed boardgame requires minimal bookkeeping and calculation.)
- Computers are ideal information/intelligence "screens" between human opponents--and/or can be an opponent, itself--providing a more realistic "fog of war" command experience. (Unfortunately, computer game designers sometimes give the computer secret advantages and information in their game systems, if producing an artificial intelligence (AI) decisionmaker proves too difficult.)
A Request: If you do assemble and play this free game of mine, PLEASE let me know at ELCOAT@hotmail.com what you think of it and whether, after more than a couple games, you think one side or the other has an advantage. Thanks!
And now: Here are THE GAZALA GALLOP's components, to print off and assemble so that it may be played. Players-students will also need a single six-sided die (or chits numbered 1-6, to be drawn out of a hat) for the randomized combat results tables.
- Gazala Gallop Calendar - very functional.
- Rules (17Sep11): About 10 pages, including index, notes, etc.
- Charts and Tables, Terrain Effects, and Game Sequence
- Allied and Axis Units (17Sep11)
You will want to print the units off at maximum size possible and then photo-reduce them from that, for best detail/quality. 5/8"--15mm--wide is about right. Allied units should be printed/photocopied off onto tan paper/cardstock. Axis units should be printed/photocopied off onto gray paper/cardstock.
I recommend the revised version, right below.
I'm thinking the German recongruppe should be broken down into the 3 divisional recon battalions with 1-5* factors ... to cover Afrika Korps' flanks ... and that the PzDivs should be upgunned to 6-7-4s.
- REVISED Allied and Axis Units (11Nov12)
You will want to print the units off at maximum size possible and then photo-reduce them from that, for best detail/quality. 5/8"--15mm--wide is about right. Allied units should be printed/photocopied off onto tan paper/cardstock. Axis units should be printed/photocopied off onto gray paper/cardstock.
NOT WORKING, as you can see, and I have encountered this kind of thing on here before.
- Mapboard
You will want to print this off as large as possible, and you should enlarge it with a photocopier after that. Ivory is an excellent "desert" color.
Comments by myself and others about the game can be read on ConSimWorld
If you are a friend, and/or if you would like to share info and ideas about military and naval history and game designing and cardstock model shipbuilding, and/or you have any questions about THE GAZALA GALLOP feel free to e-mail me at ELCOAT@Hotmail.com
Thank you for your interest in THE GAZALA GALLOP!....:-)
(17Sep11, updated 9Nov12.)