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Wargame Rules / Sci-Fi
- Review |
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| The Hammer's Slammers Handbook |
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| By: John Lambshead & John Treadaway |
| Info: Vehicle Designs & Easy Play Game System |
| Cover: Soft |
| Contents: 48 page book. Glossy finish with some colour photos |
| Price: £10.00 |
| Review sample provided by Pireme Publishing |
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Displaying Reviews: 1 - 1
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Average Reviewer Rating:
 
Number of Reviews:
1
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Perfect For Newcomers to Sci-Fi Wargaming
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Reviewer
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Reviewed by Antar Howarth (info@totalmodel.com) July 20, 2004
I must confess that before receiving this booklet I had no idea who Hammer's Slammers were or are. After a quick search on the Internet, however, I learned that the name refers to a collection of stories about a futuristic, elite armoured regiment. The novels were written by US author David Drake who served in Vietnam and Cambodia in the early 1970's. His work has a tremendous following on both sides of the Atlantic and has already influenced several board and electronic games.
The booklet measures approximately 170mm x 245mm - which means it falls (roughly) somewhere between A4 and A5 in size. It has a full-colour glossy cover. A cursory flick through the pages also revealed many more colour plates within. Indeed one of the first things you notice about this book is the quality of it's production. There is either a photo or illustration on almost every page. The layout is neat and well constructed. It is - in every sense - a very professional product. It will, therefore, come as no surprise to learn that it was put together by Pireme Publishing - the people behind the successful "Miniature Wargames" magazine.
The book kicks off with a brief introduction to the Hammer's Slammers world and it's factions. It then goes on to introduce the weapons and combat vehicles of the age along with some of the more colourful military characters who employ them. This includes a look at the main man himself, Colonel Alois Hammer, who - in the time-honoured tradition - was born into a common family and rose through the junior ranks at the academy to rub shoulders with the toffs at the top. They don't like him - he doesn't like them - but everyone knows he's a military genius and all would be lost without him. A short historical account of his military campaigns is also provided. It goes without saying that Mr Slammer is a bally hero.
All of this background information makes for a very entertaining, if slightly predictable, read. The vehicle and weapon reference data is also nicely done. Authors John Lambshead and John Treadaway have compiled a wealth of information about every aspect of each system, which may or may not prove useful, but certainly adds flavour to the proceedings. This data is often accompanied by illustrative artwork, especially in the case of the vehicles, which is first rate.
In an attempt to bring Hammer to the miniature battlefield the authors appear to have joined forces with two model companies. Both "Ground Zero Games" and "Old Crow" produce 25mm models and figures for the game and painted examples of their products can be seen on many pages. Unlike some other rule books, however, the authors have ensured that the models are painted (and photographed) to the very highest standards. The value of such quality "eye candy" cannot be emphasised enough - especially when used to inspire and tantalise would-be gamers looking for a new project.
The actual game rules are very, very simple. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Each opposing force is divided into a tactical units (TU) - which represents the smallest part of the army that may be controlled independently. Each unit is composed of either a vehicle, a fixed weapon and its crew or a section of up to 4 men. There are only 3 movement rates used in the entire game; one for troops, one for slow vehicles and one for fast vehicles. Just when you thought it couldn't get any easier, you learn that each weapon has an infinite range - so there's no need to reach for the measuring stick for each and every pot-shot either.
Rules governing leadership, close assaults and weapon effects are also provided but are - at best - pretty slim.
When I first opened this review copy I really didn't know what to expect. As it turns out I've been most pleasantly surprised! The booklet packs a lot of good quality material into 48 pages. The text provides an interesting read and some of the photos and artwork are right out of the top drawer. It's clear that the authors and publisher have tried to go that extra mile to produce a quality product - which they've most certainly achieved. Although the rules may be a bit lightweight they're also the perfect introduction to the world of sci-fi wargaming. Indeed, if you have a 12 year old nephew who's starting to show an interest in the genre, this book could be the perfect gateway.
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22
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people found this review helpful
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