The beginning

Screaming could be heard which everyone in the room tried to ignore. The Germans had broken through. Defeat seemed inevitable for the Allies. The screaming became louder, more insistent.

"I guess we had better go back to work," Dale sighed.

"Yes, I thought that I heard the boss screaming, uh calling," replied Rick.

John took a long, rueful look at the board. "A few more turns and it would have been all over for your pitiful American forces."

"That's what you think," replied Scott, thoughtfully munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "You still had to deal with my reinforcements that were going to hit your flank next turn.."

And so it began. Board games at work during lunch hours. First Panzer Leader, then Squad Leader. That was nearly 18 years ago. But it became quickly evident that an hour of playing a day was not enough, even though it was a good way to forget the rigors of work for at least a few moments each day.

From cardboard to plastic

The board games were moved to the home front. Wary wives looked on as new individuals were brought into the fray. Then one day, Scott suggested that the games could be enhanced by using scale models and pulled out a couple 1/35 scale model tanks.

A couple of quick games later, using some rules that someone had come across, and it became obvious that 1/35 was not going to work. That scale would have required a gymnasium to play them, plus the models were too expensive to build any kind of Army. The decision was made to go to 1/72 scale, with 1/76 scale used only when 1/72 scale pieces were not available.

Time passed. Other individuals were recruited. Some played one or two games, and then were never seen again. Some were not asked back. But others have been playing from that first day, hence.

One of the then, newer recruits (around 15 years ago), Alan, along with Scott, began revising existing rules as many of the game situations did not seem to meet certain combat situations. In time, the manual became more comprehensive and a wide variety of tables were devised to meet nearly every situation. It should be noted that the manual and rules are dynamic, changing as new situations and questions arise.

John (#2 - your humble webmaster) found a kit for creating houses and rubble and spent untold hours molding and creating them for the games. Dale, took on the task of trees and hedgerows.

More time passed. More members came and went. John (#1) was transferred to Alabama. Scott, changed jobs and went to Colorado. Rick, to Mass. Dale, found Amway and is rarely seen.

The coming of Age

Age was catching up with the group and playing for eight to ten hours, crawling around on a hard floor, was becoming... uncomfortable. The games were played on large patio and garage floors in the blistering Florida heat, the occasional rainstorm that turned one end of the "board" into a waterborne assault area, and during the relative cold, windy days of Winter.

1/285th

It was decided to buy a "few" 1/285 scale lead model and play them on ASL Deluxe game boards. The few peices quickly swelled to several thousand with much broader unit representation than could be obtained with the 72nd scale pieces. Games are played, on average, every six weeks or so. Not as often as we would like, but as often as is realistic in order to keep peace in the respective families. One or two of the members will design a game, based roughly on actual events (often using ASL scenarios as a basis for the game) and he, or they, would then judge the game, insensitive to the abuse and pleas from the players in their judgments.

They would draw from an inventory of several hundred models, representing the WWII combatant nations of America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Russia. After scouring the nation for every kind of kit available, Alan began ordering kits from, literally, all over the world. Both Alan and Scott also began modifying kits in order to create units that were not available in kit form.

Two new members, Paul and Doug, brought with them several hundred late war German and Russian armies of tanks, instantly augmenting the groups 1/285th inventory. Another member, David, also a long time collector, joined the group, again dramatically increasing the group's inventory.

Two other members, Dave, who left for Vermont and his other passion, Civil War Reenactment, and Jim, who is now playing in the sands of New Mexico, also left their collections, again augmenting the collection to the point that there are virtually no scenarios that could not be played.

Bill, and his son, Andrew, began carving and painting styrofoam boards into hills, valleys, rivers and roads, and took on the tedious task of cutting green wire bunt chenille into over a thousand trees. Buildings were purchased and painted. John (me) also took on the task of creating new boards, including a "landing area" board made of wood and styrofoam. Now, most of our games are played in the comfort of a living room or dining area on a large table.

However, when the weather is to our liking, we still find a way to play 1/72 scale and live with the consequences (knees and backs) for a few days afterwards, but with a smile on our faces. We do manage to throw in a few board games a year and most of us have computer war games as well, but that is no substitute for engaging friends in battle.

And so it is, to this day, that the members of Battle Group II: Alan, Bill, Byron, David, Doug, Paul, Rick (who returned), yours truly, John, and John (#1), Scott, Dave and Jim, Dale and Andrew, Nathan (Nate - Bill's #1 son), when they are in town, or are available, still fight the great battles and enjoy an enduring friendship, and a pastime that has not lost its appeal in over seventeen years... much to the chagrin of our almost understanding wives.

The latest addition to this saga, for anyone who managed to read through all of this, is this web page which we hope will inspire others to consider this most rewarding way to spend some quality time with friends. If there is anyone in the Tampa Bay area who would like to participate in one of our games we would welcome an e-mail from you sent to
BGII headquarters.

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