[Sticky] Now renamed the general conversation thread

*Sigh*

PBI have issued a 1am curfew on drinking for Freshman.

I'm still confused as to how they're going to run a multi-scenario PBI-style GAME in those tunnels!

S

Yeah, should be "challenging", although I daresay the punters will heap praise on it no matter what, which kind of winds me up.

I saw Webby and Yith talking to Jamie at Drakelow and the conversation stopped when I got too close to them. I expect PBI to put a game on there at some point. Gadge itimated it as well, when I spoke to him last week. Now THAT will be a clusterf**k if it's mission based!

I was a *lot* more unsubtle. I just walked up to Yith at the Loop and asked him how long it would be before PBI ran a game there now that CiA had. He had a face like thunder when I said that.....

Because it's true!

On the subject of pbi getting CiA "sloppy seconds", I've been pm'ed by BedsnHerts about helping out at a combined German/PBI training day. The site? The one we were going to use for our "all forces" one. I've asked for dates and am awaiting a reply. Not a peep from gadge on this, as I expect he wants a big announcement after freshman, to keep himself in the glare of publicity . I've told Martin I'm happy to help the Germans.

I'm afraid I gritted teeth yesterday at the AFRA AGM - as PD announced exactly what I was proposing for us to do and at the same site.
I imagine that is where the idea for the site has come from - has Martin contacted PD by any chance?

Gah, we could have done all this if only someone had done a site recce!

Yes, he said PD had sorted the site out. I'm waiting for a reply from Martin re: what month they're planning it for.

I wouldn't worry about what we could have done. We've got our events planned out for this year, so no big problem. Pbi will run a shit day because none of them has any knowledge or leadership skills and they're airsofters in denial anyway and, PD will bore everyone to death with his own self importance. I've only said I'll be involved because a)it's free for me!, b)to spy on the "enemy", c)to meet up with friends and d) to make sure the Germans kick pbi's arse in the "exercises".

Dave, FFS. It was more than just a site recce that was needed!

Nope, site recce required - if OK then we could move forward. Months ago.

Well, judging by the website and reenactor comments, the site is good for drill and barrack living stuff and having your picture taken with period items but, of zero use for proper, tactical training, ie, "how to fight", which is what most people seem to enjoy the most. Many of our members aren't interested in the "reenactor" stuff. Personally, I'm now glad we didn't run anything there and are doing the Jedburgh stuff instead, which I'm really enthused about. It pushes the boundaries of previous training and is new to everyone. I'd rather get stuck in than spend hours listening to some tosser doing irrelevant drill lessons to puff himself up.

From previous experience of training days involving "enthusiastic amateurs", they lack focus and any real structure to make people remember what they've learned. The "lessons" I saw Gadge and Yith do were shocking and they would have failed any proper military instructors' course.

That's why I wanted to do it properly! No matter, it's academic now...

Nope, site recce required - if OK then we could move forward. Months ago.

Yes, but the point is, none of us could make it could we?

Plus, the Milton Hall one will be as good as anyway!

That's why I wanted to do it properly! No matter, it's academic now...

But my point is that gadge and yith will make a mess of it, because they won't involve anyone who will steal their thunder when it comes to the Brits. They'll want to swan about, wearing rank that they have no knowledge or skill to underpin and, using poor teaching methods, coupled with incomplete knowledge, they will make a hash of it. Whether the punters notice or not, is another matter!

Plus, the Milton Hall one will be as good as anyway!

Milton Hall will be infinitely better, because it's relevant, interesting and taught by people who know their subject matter.

Martin just got back to me. The dates they're thinking of are either 17/18th April or 24th/25th April. Ring any bells?

We need to get people paid up for Milton Hall as soon as I can confirm camping availability and price. Otherwise, we may lose people to the pbi bum bash.

Did you tell him its right adjacent to our training event?

Oh yes, I did.

Hmm. I take your point. When are you thinking of opening bookings for Milton Hall?

They probably don't overlap quite so much as they cover very different things, but I'll try and see if there's a better date. Trouble is PBI want to go to pretty much every 1940s event on the calendar this year, so there's not a huge amount of options for them. Ah well.

My reply

We were thinking the end of the month for Milton bookings, once we can confirm price and camping availability. It won't attract masses of people because of the specialised content and relative "toughness" and I think that's a good thing. However, another event so close to the date is bound to have an impact on numbers.

To be honest Martin and you can tell Gadge this if you want (he knows my opinion), PBI need to make their minds up where their priorities are. Are they WW2 airsofters, or are they reenactors? Gadge gave CiA a LOAD of grief for organising the Boryszyn Loop a month before Freshman, yet he won't baulk at the idea of "getting in first" with other stuff, as at St.Lo (2 weeks before Ariel). If going to railway events, etc, is their main priority, then great, more power to them. If not, then the airsoft calendar doesn't revolve around PBI (nor the 16th SS for that matter) and they should bear that in mind. Most of their members are CiA members as well and were well before PBI came along. Gadge and I have spoken recently and he was assuring me that he wanted to work with CiA, not against us. Making British players choose between training events close to each other somewhat goes against what he said to me.

Why not just do a dedicated German day? You don't have to have allies present. The camp only charges £150 for 10 people, so, it's not that much to organise a smaller get together and do more focussed training, rather than have an eye on a "timetable".

To be fair to Gadge he did alert me to how close the 17th / 18th is to your gig. It is a bit annoying having to factor in the Middle Wallop Steam and Traction Engine Extravaganza into the diary.

I guess we don't HAVE to have PBI. It's just nice to shoot at people wearing the right stuff. Dog Company maybe

or Doughboys without Yith...

My slightly manipulative reply....

Fair enough if Gadge brought it up, I'll thank him when I next speak to him.

What is it about Yith? (Apart from his inability to hold his drink or his tongue? Or teach anything properly? ).

I agree, it is nice to have proper "enemy". However, with a change of headgear and a jacket, it's perfcetly possible to rotate people playing the enemy (it's how we did it in the army sometimes). Or, here's an idea. How about something aimed at training for the Kasserine pass game? Gives the yanks a rare chance AND lets Jerry wear his DAK kit more than once this year. No need to work around the PBI schedule and those PBI members who don't do steam rallies can come as well (many of them have yank infantry kit and some have German kit too). Just a thought.

Yay, it worked!

Hey Pete,

After some discussion we'd like to check your availability for 29th / 30th May and run it as a pre- Kasserine Pass game with Doughboys if we can. This will work even if that game gets spiked.

Are there any things on my draft syllabus that you'd like to to change or add to?

If you need any help with it, I'm potentially free then too.

I pm'ed Martin to confirm your availability Steve. He should be pm'ing you on the subject at some point.

Yes, except he's talking to me about devising and running training for the Doughboys, which I really don't have time for......or the ability to be honest!