With hindsight asking him to provide "5" or whatever number might have stopped the flood. Hindsight is always 20/20 of course 
I was hoping 'ideally a section and hq element' would have done... i meant platoon hq .
Chris obviously thought i meant divisional HQ 
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Noticed your post Steve.
Be *very* careful SH doesnt turn it into a 'lets shoot up the yanks' day.
At the last one he spent as much time taking pictures as they did training to the point where PBI had some practice 'shooting' amongst ourselves while we were waiting for them to stop fannying about and stick to the plan.
Good luck mate!
btw: much as i do like SH for being a 'dooer' i'm bloody annoyed that he called Rupes dvd shit and then tried to defend airsoft by puttin up a load of posed re-enacting pics and a 'acted' video.
Completely missed the point and bad form to show division in the hobby liek that by slating another players effort to show off your own.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Noticed your post Steve.
Be *very* careful SH doesnt turn it into a 'lets shoot up the yanks' day.
At the last one he spent as much time taking pictures as they did training to the point where PBI had some practice 'shooting' amongst ourselves while we were waiting for them to stop fannying about and stick to the plan.
Good luck mate!
btw: much as i do like SH for being a 'dooer' i'm bloody annoyed that he called Rupes dvd shit and then tried to defend airsoft by puttin up a load of posed re-enacting pics and a 'acted' video.
Completely missed the point and bad form to show division in the hobby like that by slating another players effort to show off your own.
Yep much in agreement with all the above ....I did suggest as a long term mate of Rupes I could ask him to do a SS Video if they wanted ...can't see that happening now.
It's annoying how the chaps didn't take the trouble to read your initial post Gadge that put the video into context but the outcome was inevitable.
Meh, as a spin off we had a good afternoon on Sunday for guest visits to the forum and web site - many more people are interested/intrigued by what we are up to than the 20 or so most vocal on the WWII forum. And it tickles me that many reenactors registered on our forum choose to hide their names. 
Regarding the Doughboys training day:
Rhys has just returned from a holiday in France and noticed that SH has 25 or so people turning up to the game day. Rhys had originally asked for a car load or ten max.
He's a bit stuck as to what to do as he knows that SH will call it all off if Rhys asks them to limit their numbers.
Unfortunately I think Rhys let it go a bit too far for too long, however, like me, he wasn't looking in the Axis forums for threads on this subject so he missed it.
I will insist that the day is run from the US point of view on the day and am tempted to post something to the effect with Rhys's permission, or get Rhys to post something and support him all the way.
Suggestions?
S
Stand firm but be polite, its what i had to do.
Get SH to agree to certain activities at certain times that you want.
But it looks like hes taken it upon himself to run all the US training, now I *know* this will consist of walking about an being ambushed or being attacked.
I can guarantee you you wont be the initiating side and it will all be 'reaction' to SS stuff.
I'd PM SH and ask to see the training plan for the day to check its what the guys want.
I was under the impression the just wanted a 'bonding experience' ooer and an opportunity to play together.
Basically it took all my tact and strength of will to be firm and say Chris we're doing *this* you guys can do what you like but I'd like it if we could stick to the plan. The plan was AM dry drills training, PM opposed exercise, last hour a quick skirmish.
We got it but only just and the opposed training was between ourselves as they were busy shooting 'cross or iron III' complete with russian extras.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
OK, from the US POV regardless, it will be a bonding experience. Sleeping and working together (argh, that's wrong) and having a laugh is what it's all about.
Most of them haven't been to any form of training so it doesn't matter a bunch what Chris does, they are working together. I say 'they' - I mean 'we' as Stephen and I will be there so there is the check and balance. And if you remember on both the first and second training days (actually I think you were only at the second Gadge) Stubble did do it on 'work and turn' so I'm sure it will be fair(ish).
Does Rhys not have an itinerary?
If Rhys has a problem Steve I'd get him to do the talking - if we get involved there is the danger it will turn into a 'CiA are against me' as happened before. And in any case, no posting on open forum.
No, the real problem for me is inviting the overseas crowd over - what the hell can they achieve? Christ, what a waste of time and money for them. It's not like it's a battle - I wonder if Stubble has made that clear to them?
Well, Rhys has said this:
to be honest I stressed to him before I want this to be benificial for us as well as him so he Knows we are expecting even training on this one and a even footing. if hes still going to deliver that regardless of numbers i dont mind. but if this is becoming more about the germans than the doughboys I'd rather change the date or cancel it.
let me know what chomley says and you think then we can decide. obviously im a bit new to organising and dealing with the multi sides etc so advice much welcome.
I'll pass on the above advice and get him to work something out with Chris.
I was very reluctant to post anything other than the comment telling people that 'this was a US training day so they shouldn't expect it to run like a game day' in the Kampfgruppe forum.
Ta
S
To be honest - it's only seems German biased because Stubble has been 'selling' the event and Rhys hasn't.
So, how about a positive push from the US POV and get a few more to turn up? That's something we can do, right now.
Don't let Rhys get the idea it isn't his event or he'll turn tail - he seems to be wavering at the moment. He has got two CiA members with him on this - we can sort it!
Nah, he's on it.
He did say that if Chris was going to fuck it up he'd rather cancel it and re-book, but I just told him it's his event and he should be firm with him.
The geographical spread of the US doesn't help matters.
We got it but only just and the opposed training was between ourselves as they were busy shooting 'cross or iron III' complete with russian extras.
PMSL on that one ....coffee on the keyboard moment !
No, the real problem for me is inviting the overseas crowd over - what the hell can they achieve? Christ, what a waste of time and money for them. It's not like it's a battle - I wonder if Stubble has made that clear to them?
They are only coming ot lend authentic German voices to the making of the video , they are photowhores too
Incidentaly, Stubble had this post in the Doughboys forum, so Rhys should have been clear
viewtopic.php?f=41&t=2944
I've given Rhys a marketing plan to get things moving on the US side. Have to say I'm a bit disapointed given that it's his training day other people have done all the organising - if stuff isn't plastered all over the forum by the end of today I'll do it myself under his name.
Give Stubble his due - he has got shit sorted... (regardless of the motive )
Oh yeah its one of the reasons i like him so much.
I have a lot of time for people who do rather than talk.
'Make it happen' has always been my maxim.
Incidentally the furore over the 'shit' airsoft vid now seems to have degenerated into a stitch counting esque argument about sights on an mg42 and which group of *re-enactors* are doing it wrong.
Talk about dog eat dog....
Even with a prime target to be unified against they still have to snipe at each other - truly amazing.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
Yes, a bit embarrassing isn't it. Pleased with Poacher and Dolby's considered responses in airsoft's defence - not that we need defending, but you know what I mean...
There's quite a few guys supporting the airsofters on that thread... only a couple of detractors and one of those has changed his mind. (much to my surprise considering who it is... I do wonder if he knew that I was partially responsible for the Brit Training day whether he'd have said the nice things he did considering the slating I understand me and TFSS have had from him behind my back... politics, politics, politics...)
There's a lot of prejudice against airsofters in the re-enactment community. Most re-enactors contact with airsoft up until now has been with guys in inappropriate modern combats and dodgy weaponry "crashing" re-enactment events. Kids shooting at them at Beltring and other such nonesense.
It really is a case of educating them that that is not what we're about. But we're winning...
Rhys PMd SH and got this reply which seems pretty fine:
Hi Rhys,
Don't worry about the disparity in numbers, as I've said we've got our own training to do as well as yours and that is going to involve platoon movement and attacks. Before anyone would assault a prepared defensive position you have to have a massive numerical advantage or you don't get anywhere, we're probably looking at 20 max for this as people tend to drop out, for whole plie of reasons, at the last moment.
Whatever our numbers it won't affect what we want to try and do with you guys, that is-
Patrols and anti ambush drills
Squad movement
Ambush tecniques
Section in defence
To be honest I think that's enough for one day since you want to squeeze in range work in the morning, I know from experience we'll be struggleing to get those few things done in time.
Yes the German's are well aware that this is a TD and are coming along for a bit of a probe before more of them come in the summer for one of the larger events
Yes two of my mates are coming to help with your training and one still is and the other is an ex para.
So, if we kick off with your range stuff for one hour starting at 9.30 and finish at 10.30, that's going to be up to you to run we won't be part of it. Then two 1 hr sessions as above followed by an hour for , lunch. Followed by a further 2 1 hr sessions. Finally, we'll do a prepared defensive position with shell scrapes and the SS will do a platoon attack, one shot one kill play dead when hit as realistic as we can make it. I'm getting a price quote for a mortar and smoke bombardment as a finale, so there will probably be a small pyro charge of a couple of quid per man, but its well worth it, believe me. Hope this helps.
Yes, that's what I was hoping to see. Feck me, more paras - is that good or bad?
Look for the scar on their foreheads... 
Seems fair enough (i think he was upset i refused to pay for a mortar barrage at the last one).
One of my beliefs though is that anything we teach or do at training days should in some way benefit play.
Be that camaraderie and elan from drill, better looking kit from demo or small unit tactics.
I question the benefit of platoon sized assaults, its rare you get a section in one place let alone 30 guys
My initial reservation about mortars was that although it will look pretty it has bugger all relation to playing the game, it doenst help players become better at anything other than brushing mud off their clothes.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
