Along with “Pass the Pigs” this has to be one of my all time favourite “beer and pretzels” games. When rummaging in the cave the other day trying to find the remaining Free Folk figures I came across this:

This was produced way back in 1978 by Chaosium Games and then I think reprinted by them in the late 90’s in their newsletter (not sure of the date).

Anyway the story goes that a rather slow-witted Giant named Thunderpumper was tasked with guarding a garden from eighteen pesky elves.

The giant is depicted only by his sandals as the elves work to tangle him up and make him crash to the earth.

Thunderpumper is not idle. He tries to collect elves with his swinging club and tries to mush the pesky “varmits” by stomping them with his big feet in an attempt to rid his masters garden of the invading elves.

The game easily fits in a zip top plastic bag and includes counters, playing board and a two page rules set that is lots of fun.

Many a wasted hour was spent in the University of Newcastle’s Student Union building playing games such as this! As the President of the student association I was lucky enough to have my own office and lounge area where the Wargaming club tended to congregate!

Above is a much more modern picture than this one in courtyard below!

I am not the blonde, but I am one of the four guys present! This is a student association chinwag on some deep and meaningful student welfare issue. Either that or we are just goofing off!

During one orientation week the wargaming club put on a participation game using small garden gnomes (150mm approx high), a large paper mache club and a pair of large sandals. The terrain was easy as we just purloined the courtyard garden area to played it in!

The dining area became the club rooms on a Monday night.

Acoustics and folk singers were all the rage!

And the 1979 Australian top 20 singles were:

1. Lay Your Love on Me – Racey
2. I Was Made For Lovin’ You – Kiss
3. Heart of Glass – Blondie
4. Some Girls – Racey
5. Born to Be Alive – Patrick Hernandez
6. I Don’t Like Mondays – The Boomtown Rats
7. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
8. Le Freak – Chic
9. Knock on Wood – Amii Stewart
10. Pop Muzik – M
11. My Sharona – The Knack
12. Make Love to Me – Kelly Marie
13. Up There Cazaly – The Two-Man Band*
14. Baby It’s You – Promises
15. YMCA – Village People
16. Stumblin’ In – Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman
17. Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
18. Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
19. Computer Games – Mi-Sex*
20. Bright Eyes – Art Garfunkel

That’s all I can remember because as they say if you can remember the 70’s you either weren’t there or were just bloody boring!