tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post6569903179854434686..comments2024-03-01T02:57:28.885-08:00Comments on Glorious Little Soldiers: How many rules do you need? Big Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-79787279640060187572017-06-19T10:08:02.504-07:002017-06-19T10:08:02.504-07:00Phil not complaints merely observations and delibe...Phil not complaints merely observations and deliberately over the top extrapolations-<br /> I'm happy for instance that the rise of GW was after my time as a beginner as I can't imagine actually being bothered with it in the gaming sense. Back in the 802s and 90s it was seen over here in the UK as for kids yet in the 90s when I did shows in Essen and Eindhoven it was played by adults which really took some getting used to.. Still not sure that GW IS wargaming.<br /> There is of course no problem for games players/consumers and on one level no problem at all really but as I said at the beginning its fun and interesting to speculate.<br /> I still think that the "consumer" end of the market is getting narrower but upon reflection that is probably normal as companies all leap upon perceived bandwagons.<br /> The downside assuming there is one- is the narrowing of knowledge in favour of dice rolling.<br /> As you may have gathered I'm not in this merely to roll odious cubes- or even polyhedrons about the table. Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-39118250472499235062017-06-19T04:10:20.599-07:002017-06-19T04:10:20.599-07:00Norm- As you may have gathered I was being partly ...Norm- As you may have gathered I was being partly satirical.Though I will never understand this "gaming" thing about rolling dice done it once done it forever dice rolling is not an intellectual pursuit ! <br /> Nevertheless in the short to medium term you are correct though I'm not quite sure how "diverse" all these supposedly popular skirmish -a-likes are.<br /> I've been a user of Dave Brown's rules off and on for years from General De Brigade onwards and have drunk more than a few beers with him over the years though not recently.<br />Since I sell goodly numbers of 15mm Napoleonics almost certainly not<br /><br />I wonder if part of the "problem" is simply that many magazine artilce aC just LOOK sop samey - the latest WI dropped on the mat this morning to be greeted by me with a yawn.. There may be 3 or 4 pages to read in it but all the self-satisfied stuff in there just puts me off (why would I care about what their "facebook friends" bought at Salute? )<br /> You see diversity I see a narrowing of approach to a more coomercial game-centric "public face" whatever happens in private- but of course it is what individuals do that counts Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-41050563164688593172017-06-19T04:06:31.133-07:002017-06-19T04:06:31.133-07:00Perhaps HG Wells also complained about the state o...Perhaps HG Wells also complained about the state of wargaming during his old days? No more big lawns, no more big Britains toy armies, no more firing toy cannons ... ?Phil Dutréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13607941040736764291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-17094572531693224442017-06-19T04:03:55.166-07:002017-06-19T04:03:55.166-07:00Honestly, I don't see what the problem is.
Al...Honestly, I don't see what the problem is.<br /><br />All these commercialized products (plastic or not, simple rules or not ...) are the proof that wargaming has become popular. Wasn't that what all wargamer's were dreaming about back in the 60s or 70s?<br /><br />I started miniature wargaming in the late eighties, and I was happy there was something called GW. It was all I knew that existed, because it was too difficult for a youngster to delve into historicals right away. Where would I have started?<br />Now there are dozens of commercial entry points in the hobby, and that's a good thing.<br /><br />Will wargaming still exist as a hobby 20 years from now? Yes of course. Commercially, it might be a different format, but there will always be the guys who research a period, write their own rules, paint their own models, because it's fun to do. As in any hobby, you have to make a distinction between tinkerers and consumers. Consumers (and consumer product) come and go, but the tinkerers will always be there.Phil Dutréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13607941040736764291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-68219681166234431992017-06-18T22:35:32.833-07:002017-06-18T22:35:32.833-07:00I think all that we are seeing is a popularism of ...I think all that we are seeing is a popularism of 'military themed' games, I suppose like risk was all those years ago (and still selling), though with a bit more meat on, nicer figures and more of a traditional style wargame setting.<br /><br />I don't think 'big wargaming' has gone away, its just that game diversity has expanded and everyone has more opportunity now to play the kind of game that they want, which I suppose works well if the person you are playing against also likes it.<br /><br />I think your vision of the future is unnecessarily bleak. I know that for as long as I can, I will play the games I like, but I also just like to see others gaming what they like. There is definitely new blood in a new generation and while that style of gaming may be different, it does at least keep alive the ethos of gaming, rolling dice, making decisions and being with like minded friends.<br /><br />I think there is still plenty of old style gaming going on, the popularity of the recent General d'Armee by Dave Browne would appear to support that (as with his previous ACW set). I have just started out on a 15mm Napoleonic journey, I can't be the only one ... can I?<br /><br />So I think wargaming is still fairly safe, there are just many ways to do it.Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-57471216426234239842017-06-17T02:23:29.991-07:002017-06-17T02:23:29.991-07:00John Thanks for that. It is nice to know you are n...John Thanks for that. It is nice to know you are not the lone Heretic in the Church of G.A.P. or indeed in the Cathedral of "Game Design" <br /> I have to say that with rules such as Lion Rampant and Cold War Commander I sort of resent being taken for some kind of fool who can't read a long book without pictures in it. When it comes to Medivals am I not capable of reading Oman of Curry?(the game designer obviously is not) and with the Cold War Macksey or Hackett> or for the Civil war - and PL Young or Turton or Reid or Wanklyn or indeed many other blokes in all periods.<br /> Are these knowledgeable people to be set at naught simply because some cheap little "game" is "popular".<br /> I don't think so Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-19845528031116143162017-06-17T02:14:15.361-07:002017-06-17T02:14:15.361-07:00So some of them are thick enough to think we will ...So some of them are thick enough to think we will fall for the excuse that an 8 page "rulebook" can be interesting and period relevant? Oh dearie me the loonies are now in charge of the asylum if they REALLY think we will fall for that one.Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-58436342250598016942017-06-16T12:31:19.296-07:002017-06-16T12:31:19.296-07:00Andy, I enjoyed reading your "rant" and ...Andy, I enjoyed reading your "rant" and found myself nodding in agreement (although my afternoon nap in my comfy chair was long overdue, so it could just have been time to fall asleep anyway)! I rarely buy published rules, but the few I have recently bought kept me busy trying to actually find the content relevant to the games!<br />Thanks for taking the time to share your views!<br />Cheers,<br />John<br />Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01561923330906108609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-6788321468808482362017-06-16T02:26:13.899-07:002017-06-16T02:26:13.899-07:00Absolutely. Make it and they will buy. What made m...Absolutely. Make it and they will buy. What made me giggle is that some are claiming they buy it for the rules. So there are no simple rules out there? Neil Thomas? Want squares? Bob Cordery has been doing that for years. And you can get a chess set from Poundland for... £1.<br />Just came back from holiday and my hobby needs were fulfilled by the book shop in Mevagissy; I can thoroughly recommend James Hollands Battle of Britain. It's made of real paper with words and stuff. Otherwise, I put my raincoat on, went out and had fun with the family.Jeffershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319010033525561907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-13763644661252586302017-06-16T01:27:54.331-07:002017-06-16T01:27:54.331-07:00Jeffers. The point of course is that TB is by G.A....Jeffers. The point of course is that TB is by G.A.P's . There is no other reason for its existence. The fact that it is plastic crap is beside the point.<br /> You are of course correct- there is nothing within that box that an averagely knowledgeable bloke could not do if he wished.<br /> I'm still not convinced as to why you would need to but there you go. That is probably because I come from the history and model soldier end of this hobby rather than the gaming end.<br /> In terms of the actual games I'm entirely with Andrew the tekkie.Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-52619438887856096972017-06-16T01:22:19.172-07:002017-06-16T01:22:19.172-07:00Colon- of course it may all just stay the same- mi...Colon- of course it may all just stay the same- mind you with both of us at 89 then we may need the automatic Kermode. My favoured brand will be the Hewlett Packard "Turd-away" though you may prefer the Avery Hardol "SHYTE-GON" At 89 we may have more pressing concerns ..... Hope not thoughBig Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-91173831677470530972017-06-15T13:52:22.758-07:002017-06-15T13:52:22.758-07:00Had a look at the Travel Battle reviews to see wha...Had a look at the Travel Battle reviews to see what the fuss was about. Nothing was on the telly the other night so I thought I would devise my own travel battle. I managed to fit two 10mm 1866 armies suitable for One Hour Wargames, rules, dice, basic scenery and a small mat (admittedly brown, but it was the right size) into two Really Useful Boxes. Easily cart that around in a small sports bag, but when I travel I'm normally doing things for Her Maj or with the family. I ended up with something far more flexible than TB and that can expand easily.<br /><br />So what is the point of a sh***y plastic base with odd-sized figures that you can do nothing else with? Or am I missing something?<br /><br />On the plus side, I'm taking Minime to Bovington in July for her first wargaming show. She loves history, my toy soldiers and playing Neil Thomas, so all may not be lost.<br /><br />Jeffershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319010033525561907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-86501300593219160672017-06-15T09:15:23.771-07:002017-06-15T09:15:23.771-07:00I agree it's not particularly bleak in my gami...I agree it's not particularly bleak in my gaming universe. In 30 years I shall only be 89 so will ne interesting to see how the hobby has developed. 😉Colin Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650235978313356607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-85770339281095298252017-06-15T08:48:46.593-07:002017-06-15T08:48:46.593-07:00I should have said, all shows I look at as a punte...I should have said, all shows I look at as a punter bore me senseless. I am offended by my own lack of writing skills! DELETE! 😀Andrew the Tekkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757282676248834026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-89388634428940770532017-06-15T08:47:01.812-07:002017-06-15T08:47:01.812-07:00Reading this reminded me that I think I still have...Reading this reminded me that I think I still have your copy of CWC. If I do, you are welcome to have it back, we have plenty of Andrex for now. If you find the suggestion of me returning it offensive, I shall delete my own comment! 😉<br />In all seriousness though, most shows bore me senseless now. Apart from book dealers, I rarely buy anything. The trend towards pre-packaged crap (here's looking at you, Travel Battle) just makes it worse. Either one box for £50 or two figures and a plastic base for not much less...<br />Nope, "my" hobby, as Steve says, is fine, and will be until I am no longer around to care. Until then, give me a few mates, a decent table, some pints and a beef buttie and I shall be fine!<br /><br />Andrew the Tekkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01757282676248834026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-18847305288590841402017-06-15T08:04:19.521-07:002017-06-15T08:04:19.521-07:00Ross - it depend which bits you mean currently the...Ross - it depend which bits you mean currently the historical side is healthy here too - but in 30 years this may not be so. History is being marginalised educationally and politically so I extrapolate to extremes for laughs but with a possibly serious point under all the giggles. and guffaws. Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-10660411766353774072017-06-15T07:58:23.178-07:002017-06-15T07:58:23.178-07:00I didn't say I CARED at best it just bore me ...I didn't say I CARED at best it just bore me witless. I might take issue with leftie teachers in the 60s - I was there mate and most of the buggers I had to put up with would have made Hitler blush! Especially as some had served in the war and "disapline" was in their genes..... I actually see that as a phenomenon of the late 70s - to 90s and mostly dead now at least at "street" level though the chattering classes still hold to it at parties as long as it remains fashionable.Big Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235478427317774609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-31866690769002026742017-06-15T06:30:42.775-07:002017-06-15T06:30:42.775-07:00For God's sake go and have a beer... :o)
&q...For God's sake go and have a beer... :o)<br /><br />"sci-fant skirmish -a-likes" is the key to the 'issue' (or is it?) - we are on the tail end of 30+ years of social engineering that started in the late 60's and has increasingly demonised war, warfare, military activity of all sorts, and especially the glorification of it, or Heaven forbid glory/follow the standard/chivalry... generations of left'ish teachers have done for the young... as a result "sci-fant skirmish-a-likes" thrive because they are not threatening because they are not 'real' war and therefore OK to play.. the market will grow and grow, with all aspects of it flourishing... rules/figures will need to be of that ilk or yes, you may as well go to the shows with a shopping basket on your bike handles as that will be all that you will sell... do I care? No... *my* hobby is just ok thanks... and it will disappear when I shuffle off this mortal coil... and I won't care! :o)Steve-the-Wargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780195401099519720.post-68947870018983870902017-06-15T06:06:57.848-07:002017-06-15T06:06:57.848-07:00You certainly make things sound bleak on your side...You certainly make things sound bleak on your side of the pond. <br /><br />The historical side is still healthy over here though the non-gamy portion is perhaps not what is once was in our memories but then I seem to recall some very gamy behaviour in the age of the the serious historical game so perhaps that's the Rose tint fading. <br /><br />That said, it is the small side of the hobby I'm sure, which is fine by me. (Allows me to think of it as the Elite?) I know enough younglings following the historical wargaming path to feel at ease about at least another generation. <br /><br />Reading books is a different issue.Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.com