Matchbox Challenge - Finishing up (Part 5)

The final step of the matchbox challenge was for me to write up the rules (click here for post on rules). Since I do not have access to a printer yet (our household goods are sitting on Wellington docks waiting for customs inspection) I had to handwrite everything. I realised it has been half a century since I have handwritten any rules, aside from brief reminder notes. The last time was in my early teens when I copied rules from the book “Practical Wargaming” borrowed from the library. 

In a previous post I mentioned that the best way to save space seemed to be by unfolding the outer matchbox cover and using it to write the rules on. This idea needed a slight adjustment, as the rules did not fit. To solve this problem, I extended the paper covering the matchbox so it still wraps about the “drawer” and, with my neatest and smallest handwriting, I managed to fit all the rules. There was sufficient space to add a couple of tables. The finished matchbox is held together with a paper band.

The finished wargame in a matchbox. The matchbox is held together by a paper band.

With the paper band slid off, the rules and contents are revealed.

The rules are all written on the outside of the outer part of the matchbox which has been covered in paper and extended so all the rules fit. 

The flip side.

The contents

Some final notes…

I am considering adding an elastic band to the contents to represent river sandbanks. It would just fit inside the box or could be used to hold the box together, offering a more robust alternative to the paper band I made.

This has been an amazing challenge posted by The Duchy of Tradgardland and came at the perfect time for me, as my wargaming supplies have yet to arrive. Most of the challenge was completed using readily available materials: paper, colouring pens, card, a matchbox (of course), scissors, and string. I did have to purchase a glue stick and some Milliput epoxy putty used for making the ironclad models.

There is the option of using the upturned drawer of the matchbox to make a fort and to add a fort status card to the game (see photo below). Forts played important roles in the riverine battles of the ACW.

The damage rules from this game will work their way in my Mech game rules, as they are much more interesting and narrative-driven than my current system. Once that is done, I can return to my Mech campaign, which has been on hold while I worked on this challenge.

A rubber band is used to represent a sandbank in a game.

The rubber band fits snuggly inside.

A flotilla of ironclads try to pass a fort.