Frankly I couldn't agree more I know a good few chaps and groups who without a shitpot of cash to throw at the job have produced some cracking games and have fine collections mostly or indeed entirely through their own efforts rather than just ordering it done and then taking the credit or being a commercial outfit and again just ordering it done and taking the credit.
Now my own postion is between two fires as it were but at various times I've done several of these "interviews" and to be honest they can be a bit of a 2 edged sword if you are not careful.
Most recently I did one for an American website who couldn't get it out of his head that I wasn't a "Games Designer" and couldn't really understnad that the soldiers were not solely games markers for some Game I wished to promote... nuff siad.
I did 2 "Interviews" for MW under the previous Editor both were more commercial in nature- one looked at my casting process the other was a sort of History of OGUK but had a good bit of my personal Wargames vies in it
Further back in the 90s I did 2 distinct pieces for Military Iluustrated (a Mag that at its best beat the crap out of all the rest) One on "My Favourite Battle- I chose Edgehill- and another again on the Genesis of Old Glory .
The point here is that you have to be careful- it depends upon the questions. I remember being asked by a Yorkshire TV reporter why all the people at a show (Elvington I think) were male this at the height of PC My answer BTW was something about "Women mostly not being that intrested in Military History but there was no possible objection if they were"-an answer I still stand by incidentally.
So if any aspiring article wrier out ther wants to give such a thing a shot- you listening Robbie??
Here is my personal list of chaps or clubs who fit the bill.
In no order and all of these lads are known to me personally all are Friends so this list is entirely personal
The"Like A stonewall" group based around Mansfield in Notts- a great bunch of chaps I've known for the best part of 20 years. They put on cracking show games in all sorts of periods often with several thousand figures on the table- see their old games on the Articles and "Hot lead Action" buttonsd on the OGUK website.
Dave Huntley- the Northumbrian Wargamer- see his blog. I've known Dacve for years and hes has some cracking gear and plays and runs some good games- see his French Rev. collection on this blog as well as all the multitude of stuff on his own.
My mate Kelvin Pickup He has a huge Waterloo set up- best opart of 20,000 28mm figures and raises a lot on money for various charities .
Peter Bradford and his group - Their Gettysburg game is great to play and thier Jousting game won Best Participation at Donnington.
and of course Robbie ans the Independent Wargames group. Gawd know how many toys Robbie John and Colin have between them... I think they need to put themselves about a bit more...
All of these chaps nad groups have one thing in common. They do their thing simply because thet like it. None of themm have a commercial axe to grind or product to push and are not in the habit of brown- nosing either.
Afternoon Andy,
ReplyDeleteYou're a bit of a bugger really. I hadnt really put a list together, but I just thought it would be nice for wargaming posterity to put together a series of 'meeting the wargamers' type of thing.
Amongst my initial thoughts were, the gents at Pendraken, Ian Kay and father, yourself, Paul Stevenson, the gents at Reiver Miniatures, Dave Jarvis, Harry Pearson, Graham Cummings, the gents who put together the old Stockton show and others who have yet to spring to mind. You will notice that they are all Northern based, and thats purely because of where I live.
Its just the kernal of an idea really.
Thanks Robbie.
And Derek Sharman?
DeleteIt's a good idea. Back then in the French magazine Vae Victis, there were articles about armies and players ho played them in competitions. I wasn't interested in the comp part, more so in the why they were playing this particular army, eventhough they were losing quite often. It was good to read about loved armies, memorable games...
ReplyDeleteNow I could make a comment about the North/South divide and we Northern gentlemen just get on and do what we enjoy? That is the research, the painting and the game. No quick fix or adrenalin junkie here, no need for self glorification, just let the game speak for itself. Those demonstration games I have done have been made all the better by the people who have commented positively and by being able to say yes we made it, we painted it and we play it and that is sufficient
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments chaps-Sebastien I'd forgotten the Vae Victis series- though I do get the mag. Probably my French isn't up tto it.
ReplyDeleteThe only point I'd make about my list is that I deliberately only included chaps who have or had no commercial interest.
Which is why no reiver or Graham or indeed Derek Sharman Pual Stevenson .etc etc.
Though a series entitled
"NOT THE NOTTINGHAM MAFIA" or "Wargaming outside of Nottingham does exist " might be fun .....
On the whole I'm in full agreement with Graham here.
Unfortunately we have the "Celebrity Cult" to thank for a lot of todays nonsesne and always remeber some of the chaps who think they are "celebrities turn out to be right cults....
Any fame would do me, transitory or otherwise. Once again an interesting viewpoint and worth some thought.
ReplyDelete