That bastion of wargaming, the Chico Game Club, recently held their 2001 CGC Party, lovingly dubbed "Dave Worley's Backyard 'Nam Game in Brad Steven's Dad's Back Yard".  This event was an exercise in backyard wargaming, a nearly lost tradition.  Okay, technically we held it in a front yard, but the concept was the same.
 
This year's event featured those amazing 1:18 scale "action figures" from 21st Century Toys.  These figures come fully painted and poseable, with extra arms and weapons, and the range includes vehicles and helicopters as well!  (For those interested, they make a line of 1:18 scale stuff for WWII as well.)

Each of these games featured a force of US Marines fighting against the North Vietnamese, in the form of NVA and VC troops.  The battles ranged from the small, involving infantry only, to the huge, featuring about 30 VC/NVA versus a dozen Marines, an M48, a jeep, and two Hueys!
 
Combat was resolved with BB Guns and other toys.  The rules were simple, and very fast playing, in spite of Dave's insistence of reporting every action on his portable karaoke machine...

Below are some photos from the event, with some short descriptions of the action.  Enjoy!
 
Jochen samples some of Dave's authentic Vietnamese hootch, brought straight from the mother land itself!  Meanwhile, Brad practices some of his best Jimmy Cagney impersonations...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dave Worley, one of the CGC Founders (or "Flounders", if you like), in authentic period garb!
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The NVA prepare to defend the bombed out town!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wow, camouflage really works!!!  These are three Vietnamese soldiers (both NVA and VC), hidden in the "jungle".  Sometimes, you could be right on top of a figure without seeing it!
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
More shots of the VC sneaking through the jungle up on the Marine's flank.  The VC won this scenario...
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General Bobby Allen of the USMC demonstrates his skill with the US issue .45.  In spite of the gross inaccuracy of these BB guns, Bobby managed to cap off three of the enemy with his first round of fire, taking the initiative early for the Americans!
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some of Bobby's handiwork...
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This guy bought it inside the doorway of a building.  I don't know what Bobby was taking to make him such a good shot, but I want some!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
More USMC inflicted carnage - all on Turn 1!!!!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks to my daughter Karly, we had a Tiger to stalk the jungle!  Every turn each side would Row-Sham-Bow to determine who had control of the Tiger.  The winner got to control its movement when its card came up.  On the very first turn, things continued to go against the locals as the Tiger attacked (and ate) this poor VC wandering through the jungle!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
During a break in the Action, 2nd Lieutenant William O. Johnson poses with his namesake.  Helmet supplied by Mr. Surplus of Durham.  Shirt by K-Mart.  Smile by Colgate.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MORTAL COMBAT!!!!  Brad and Robert fight it out in the heat of the jungle.  I can't remember exactly what happened, but if I had to put money on it, I would bet on Brad!
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DON'T BE GAY BRAD!!!  In spite of my clever hollerings, Brad managed to hit my guy, standing about 3" away...  In spite of his anglo appearance, Brad made one hell of a guerilla warrior!
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here's Brad firing after a few drinks...
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
...and here he is after sobering up some.  Hey, it's just like being there!
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The back side of Hanoi Jane's head.  In spite of the local's best efforts, they could not keep the Marines from coming to take her away to stand trial as a traitor.  Hey, we can dream, can't we!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I don't remember eating anything that looked like this, but apparently we had some of this stuff at the game.  The ants loved it though!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
More close combat, this time between Brad and Billy.  Has anyone noticed that Brad's in most of these pictures?  What's up with that Dave?!?
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dave and Scott serenade the rest of us with the magic of Dave's karaoke machine...  After awhile, we were forced to fire warning shots at Dave's beer to get him to stop!  Unfortunately, it didn't work, and yours truly ended up singing a duet of "What's New Pussycat" as a sign of acquiescence...
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bruce, who said he'd be there, then threatened not to come, but ended up showing up anyway, fit right in with the theme of the day!  Here he is either calling in some artillery on the NVA position, or ordering a beer from the bar.  It turned out that Dave's karaoke machine was good for something after all!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finally, as if there weren't enough shots of Brad in action already, here's another, final one!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
See you next year!
 
- Rod
 
 
P.S.  If you would like to see a more conventional CGC wargaming event, click here.