Quite
a bit really, some of it even wargames related.
The
past month or so has been a bit of a smorgasbord of events, including
hospitals (not me), mortuaries (not me – I think!), house moves
(again, not me), disputes with neighbours (strangely, not me either)
and not forgetting Christmas.
Going
to follow the usual pattern of 'wot I got for Christmas' and then on
to the usual fantasies. So, had a nice haul of goods and, strangely
for a blog like this, only one wargames related gift. The overall
total was certainly a collection worth having and I'm pleased as
punch. The wargames present is best described as a 'birthmas' gift
from my son who had been badgering me for weeks for some idea of what
to get me for my birthday (November) and Christmas. I finally got
round to giving him a list for my projected Prussian force C1806 and
received a couple of pounds of AB pewter in exchange. Proper chuffed.
This was followed up with a copy of Al Murray's book 'Watching War
Films With My Dad', one of only two books received this Christmas.
Now,
it's certainly a niche book and not to everyone's taste either
because the subject doesn't appeal or you don't like Al Murray, but
I've started reading it and find it enjoyable. He writes pretty much
the way he speaks so it's almost like listening to him talk you
through it.
This
is actually Al Murray but the way and not 'The Pub Landlord'. He
strolls along discussing Airfix kits and Action Man as well as some
bloomers in war films and dismissing some awful titles from the
Hollyweird catalogue. However, it's much cleverer than it first
appears and draws in a variety of topics such as how generational
change has led to a view of the Second World War which is far removed
from that of our parents.
It's
not belly laugh funny and not intended as a comedy piece at all, but
it certainly generated at least a smile a page for me. I've certainly
recognised myself and a few others in it so far and I think it's
worth giving a go. It'll almost certainly be in libraries by now (if
you've still got one near you, that is).
As
many of you will know, the world's gone completely mad with this
Analogue Hobbies' Painting Challenge, well sixty one people
have and they're (mostly) going flat out in the pursuit of glory and
painted lead. Personally, I'm far too indisciplined to follow such a
path: I'm still trying to convince myself to base the Maine
battalions I painted recently. Real life does tend to get in the way
though and I do get seduced away by books and films too as well as
other pleasurable things. I am, however, ploughing on with the
Bloggers for Charity painting quota for the 2014 demo games and,
when these are put to bed, I'm likely to start on my new 14th
Brooklyn ACW figures from Forgotten and Glorious. Lovely figures,
very cleanly cast. The company has also got an Iron Brigade funding
campaign underway.
 |
| Swiped from the Forgotten & Glorious website. |
About
a month ago I went across to a mates' house in Welsh Wales (it's
'English' Wales really) for a couple of days for an old school style
game.
 |
| He hasn't got a bloody clue! |
Good
fun and the food and beer were good, but it's not really my thing to
be honest. However, the important bit it that he's thinking about
making the rules available on the net free of charge. This will come
as no surprise to anyone who knows him, but might be something of a
shock to the more money or kudos driven. The rules have been at least
three or four years in development and now look nothing like their
original form, but they do work, they're simple (but not
unsophisticated) and, if you're experienced enough, reasonable easy
to adapt/modify without destroying their balance. So, we're still
thinking about the best way of doing this, but watch this space for
more details later.
Now
then, I've been thinking again. During the course of that weekend
foray (and other conversations) it became clear that there's a
certain cachet to being a wargamer. True, it only has value amongst
those of the wargaming persuasion and many proud wargamers wouldn't
be so proud if it came out in mixed company and it can be a deal
breaker in some situations: “Have you seen my 28mm Seleucid
Companions?” doesn't seem to have the same innuendo as “Have you
seen my etchings?” - or, God forbid, maybe it does. Nevertheless,
solo gamers are a type sometimes sidelined, tournament gamers can be
looked down upon, wargame developers revel in the esoteric and so on.
So, what is a wargamer? If there was a Euro-standard for such a beast
or there was some financial benefit to being a wargamer, how could
that animal be defined? Is a solo gamer a lesser being than a club
gamer and which clubs are more desirable to seek membership of? Is a
fringe interest more or less beneficial to the hobby than mainstream
periods? Do 'rule mechanics' gain extra kudos? There are league
tables, mostly associated with particular rule sets, but do they show
anything other than who's best at playing to those rules or, possibly
more accurately, of those players who have access to sufficient
opposition, enter tournaments or simply can be bothered, who is best?
National
associations have tended to be eschewed: a natural reaction by a
group which can't even agree on a common set of rules for a given
historical period or conflict and certainly can't seem to decide on a
definition of what a wargame is. Ergo can anyone define a wargamer?
