Year Four

Apologies, I was too busy glugging Lemsip and mopping up snot in late December to put together the usual end-of-year digest. As my sinuses no longer feel like treacle-soaked sponges, my throat like a frogspawn-filled flute, here’s a belated look at some of the more substantial things posted on Tally-Ho Corner during Year Four.

2024 was the year the noble pastime of defoxing went from being an indoor pursuit to an outdoor one. One sunny morning in June, Roman and I secreted a solid ‘gold’ fox ‘Somewhere in England’. Over the next two months defoxers pored over five specially constructed puzzles, searching for clues to the Fox d’Or’s whereabouts.

The golden statuette was eventually located in the crotch of a venerable Wiltshire beech tree by friends of gifted defoxer, Froggster.

Not a million miles from the Fox d’Or’s hiding place is the unremarkable bridleway where, in March, I happened to run into four rather famous and frightening horsemen. The climate crisis… the dearth of famine games… our medium’s coy depictions of war… the resulting two-part interview explored some fascinating subjects.

In Feb I crossed the Irish Sea to orchestrate a pair of Seventeenth Century scraps that, despite leaving indelible marks on Ireland and England, have never centrepieced a PC wargame. Williamite Wargaming with Pike & Shot was half history lesson, quarter After Action Report, and quarter billet doux to a favourite battle sim.

A couple of months after visiting Eire, Roman, myself, and a group of brave/foolhardy Cornerites strapped ourselves into the Tally-Ho Corner Tours Beaver for an air safari through southern England. During a two-part ramble from Oxfordshire to the Jurassic Coast, numerous chalk hill figures were buzzed, much historical trivia was dispensed, and significant quantities of lardy cake and craft beer were put way.

Between August and November, two competing teams of Comment Commanders tackled the same bijou Combat Mission: Afrika Korps scenario in slightly different ways. While the dual format made it a little tricky for spectators to follow the action, the contest proved tight and there was no shortage of nailbiting moments. Ultimately, one team’s ability to take flags and top foes at a very low cost to itself, proved decisive.

Guest writers Martynas Klimas and Arrigo Velicogna added some welcome internationalism and freshness to THC’s output last year. Martynas’ essay on Lithuania in Games and Arrigo’s review of Stout Hearts are well worth a read, if you missed them.

In September, a surprise detour into European politics raised the odd eyebrow, but highlighted an issue I feel deserves scrutiny. The EU’s approach to boosting the games sector is demonstrably unfair and unproductive. Unless Europe’s games press start pointing this out and suggesting reforms, things are unlikely to change.

A switch in early summer to daily posts meant there weren’t all that many Dusty But Trusties, Demo Discs, 3x3s, and A2Zs last year. If you missed meatier features, please make your feelings known in the traditional manner. If dissatisfaction is widespread, I’ll revert to bigger Flare Path-style Friday articles from here-on.

As ever, comments from airlifters will be read with particular interest. THC wouldn’t exist without the regular financial support of these splendid individuals.