I've not played 7TV for ages, and I've had everything painted and ready for running the Vlad's Army feature pack for a similar time.
So, when Matt became available for a game at short notice, I suggested we take a trip to wartime Britain and visit the stoic defenders of Walmington-On-Sea as they confront something that will send chills down all of their spines.
And I'm not talking about Private Fraser.
Cue the music and title sequence...
In the first scenario, the Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, a Home Guard patrol sets out to investigate a possibly enemy landing near the home of Private Godfrey and his two sisters.
Due to the amount of other people who show up in the game, I can only assume there was some kind of parish council meeting taking place.
The Home Guard must protect the civilians and drive off the undead invaders, which seem intent on slaying or converting all that they encounter.
The Home Guard patrol dispatched to the enemy landing site included the following personnel:
- Sergeant Wilson
- Corporal Jones
- Private Pike
- Private Godfrey
- 5 Home Guard Reservists
They spread out along the road and advanced cautiously towards the unknown threat.
Meanwhile, the vampiric minions and their local turncoat allies included:
- 3 Nachtjager Kommando Vampires
- 3 Half-Blood Turncoats
- 3 Wolves
- 6 Totganger Zombies
It's not clear why the Germans had disguised their glider as a Spitfire with American markings. Possibly it was to sow confusion. However, it's more likely to do with the limited budget available to the BBC props department in the early seventies.
Upon arriving at the cottage were met by Godfrey's sister Cissy, who volunteered as a nurse at the local hospital, rushing out to greet them.
She informed them of the aircraft that had come down and the odd shapes seen loping through the fog before pointing out that her guests at the parish council meeting had scattered and were probably lost in the darkness.
"Would you mind awfully rounding them up and dealing with whatever is out there?"
With that, and without Captain Mainwaring around, Sergeant Wilson politely asked his men to commence the search. Pike and a detachment spread out and explored the garden, the rest of the men stayed back to protect Cissy and Corporal Jones ran off into the trees shouting, "Don't panic!"
Meanwhile, by the glider, the Vicar had fallen into the clutches of some of the vampiric minions, namely a group of half-blood fifth columnists who had rushed out to greet their masters' arrival.
"I must say, I'm very disappointed to see you here Mrs Von Gruber, I shan't be asking you to organise the jumble sale again."
The Vicar's life was saved when the dulcet tones of Jones' less than stealthy search technique drifted through the night air.
He and another captive were quickly bound and gagged as the forces of darkness moved out towards the cottage.
The Verger was found cowering behind some plant pots. When questioned he said, "the Vicar's going to be very unhappy if he's not rescued."
"Why?' said Mr Jenkins, the tailor.
"They're going to eat him."
As the Nachtjager and it's minions reached the fence rifle and SMG fire pierced the night and a Half-Blood and a Wolf were brought down.
But the Nachtjager Kommando inhumanky shrugged off bullets and swooped towards one of the Reservists, ripping out Jenkins' throat as the Verger looked on, aghast.
Almost immediately, Jenkins rose up again, an unhealthy parlour to his skin and a fell light in his eyes.
"Excuse me, sir," said Sergeant Wilson, calmly, from behind the Verger, "if you wouldn't mind following me," and led the terrified man to the fence, where an ad hoc firing line had been assembled.
Wilson gave the order and gunfire ripped into the Nachtjager and Jenkins, and the poor tailor died for a second time that night.
Meanwhile, Corporal Jones, who had been giving a good account of himself, found himself surrounded. Contrary to his own advice, he did panic and ran off into the trees to escape death.
Reviewers have since commented that it seemed implausible the Jones would survive such an encounter, however, it has been pointed out that Jones was a fan favourite, but also that Clive Dunn was still in contract.
With the undead on the advance, Wilson ordered the retreat in order to protect the Verger, Cissy and Godfrey's other sister, Dolly, who he had slowly retrieved from the cottage, along with his trust cricket bat
"You took your time in there, Godfrey."
"Did I? I must have dozed off."
Suddenly, something strange can over the Verger. His breath became raspy and he leapt for Sergeant Wilson, trying wrap his hands round the throat of the Chief Clerk of the Bank.
"Do you think that's wise? Is this about the refused loan for church roof?"
The Verger's attack was brought to a halt with a loud think, when Godfrey, of all people, struck him on the back of the head with his cricket bat.
"Godfrey! That was a bit heavy handed, wasn't it?"
"Well, sir, my sister Dolly was telling me that he'd been rather rude about her buns."
Another Nachtjager had crept up on the Home Guard, using the cottage as cover. However, its clever ruse was countered in a shower of glass as Pike ran into the cottage and emptied his SMG through the window.
"Don't tell mum, Uncle Arthur."
Having learned from the fates of their fellows, more of the vampiric host were creeping up through the trees.
A wolf burst out of the undergrowth, but was surrounded and brought down by the men working together.
Meanwhile, Mr Norris, the Headmaster of St Gavin's School, was found hiding in the shed and met a grisly fate.
Shortly afterwards he had joined the enemy forces as a mindless slave, a fate which would have amused many of the boys.
Realising that they would be unable to rescue anyone else, Wilson gave the order to leave.
However, he was grabbed at the last minute by the undead Norris and was unable to retreat as the last of the Nachtjager closed in.
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