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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: grant on 24 December 2013, 01:38:09 PM
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http://soldatetain.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/minimalism-and-wargaming/
I am trying to simplify my gaming life. Can it be done? If you have thought similarly, please have a read (it's not that long) and let me know what you think.
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Hey,
I totally agree with you. I've been gaming now for almost 10 years and have found myself flitting from game to game. After I read your blog I did a quick inventory of all the games I have. There is a lot of terrain and games I have not played in a long time, and I may have to retire from building terrain because at some point I'm going to run out of space. I'm going to donate some of my terrain and I've decided to switch to smaller scales. I've invested in some 10mm dungeon terrain to satisfy my fantasy interest, and I'm going to look into 15mm sci if.
I love 28mm, but it takes up so much room. My Innsmouth table is 3 full copy paper boxes. Good Luck!
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It is my considered opinion that minimalism is to wargaming as morris dancing is to being cool and hip.
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Interesting approach. 8)
I think the terrain aspect really is the key. :)
Terrain (especially my 25+ mm Adobe town) often determines what you do and in what sized space you play/store stuff.
While I can do Zorro, New Spain to historical Mediterranean era battles, Fantasy, SF, and VSF in the same 25+ mm buildings they really are glorified small unit skirmish games and not decent sized battles. Is that what I want or am I limiting myself? I think that would be the latter.
Aero is king to me but I find that there is the temptation to do 1/600th, 1/300th, 1/144th or 1/200th (I have seen claims of both for Wings of Glory/Wings of War *,) or even 1/72nd (local group, not me,) even there. I am currently entirely 1/600th for that and I hope to stick to that scale solely for winged warfare.
So of course, I do naval in 1/6000th... ::) but then I may just drop the whole naval war game thing in the future. :o That would be a minimal effort since I have such a (no pun intended) small collection of these ships.
Seriously, this is something I am dealing with from the perspective of retirement/space in an apartment versus the current 5 bedroom house with basement viewpoint so I have given much thought to this issue.
I really think I will end with several scales (mostly 1/600th historical armies, majority of battle forces in 15 mm [plus they would be good for SF skirmish, VSF skirmish, and Supers,] and, other than a much reduced "l1970s legacy" dwarf army - no more than a half dozen small {6 to 10 figure teams in 25+ mm.}
Potentially the 25+ mm figures would be for FRPG/Fantasy skirmish, SF skirmish, VSF skirmish, probably Zorro, possibly Supers, for playing games with people who game in that size figures - the Zorro figures could cross from RPG to Supers to VSF to possibly even FRPG so some teams may share figures. I currently know people who only play in 25+ mm sized games and I expect that will continue in my lifetime (though I seriously think it will represent more and more a reduced percentage of the hobby in the future) to be a significant part of the gaming scene.
Terrain will be mostly 15 mm and 1/600th since the 25+ mm figures are for potentially playing in other people's terrain/games. Selling/giving away the Adobe buildings will really be painful/difficult. :( :'(
While this not "one scale armies/terrain" that I originally considered I think it is realistic plan that emphasizes the realities of my life after 2016, (Good Lord Willing,) while allowing me to not shut myself out of cooperative/participation gaming with others who like the larger figures.
Gracias,
Glenn
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WW1 Wings of Glory Line « Ares Games
www.aresgames.eu/games/ww1-wings-of-glory-line
The WW1 series of Wings of Glory is an easy, fun to play, fast and furious system ... to play Wings of Glory, includes two airplanes in 1/144 scale, fully assembled ...
WW2 Wings of Glory Line « Ares Games
www.aresgames.eu/games/ww2-wings-of-glory-line
The WW2 series of Wings of Glory is an easy, fun to play, fast and furious system ... to play model in 1/200 scale, including a maneuver deck and gaming base.
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It is my considered opinion that minimalism is to wargaming as morris dancing is to being cool and hip.
War gaming nerds are seldom viewed as cool or hip in my experience... lol
Gracias,
Glenn
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Did the same this year myself. Almost.
Got rid of 6 painted and 7 unpainted armies and a heap of GW scenery (unassembled), seven rules systems and around 2000 unpainted (various) miniatures ranging from SotR, AEWW2, Necro, Inquisitor, all 40K, and stuff I've forgotten.
Kept zombies, various survivors/adventurers/Dr who types (all for 7TV/DWMG), some wild west and WW2 British Paras and German armies.
Its still a whole rooms worth but now most of its painted and the lead pile is around 200....
Prompted to cut back by a bloody back injury that damaged nerves to my (painting) right hand.
I now paint like a lethargic, geriatric, zombified, slug.
North America now moves faster than I paint.
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I believe that a hobby is about doing what works for you.
If you enjoy the excitement of each new project, then don't worry about being a butterfly.
If you prefer a more ordered approach, then forum painting challenges or a planned event can be a great way of keeping focus, but if you stop enjoying it then don't beat yourself up.
Whatever floats your boat :D
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It is my considered opinion that minimalism is to wargaming as morris dancing is to being cool and hip.
I was going to use some of the money to buy a morris dancing outfit. So, you're saying that's a bad idea? Dang it...
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@janner - thanks man. :D
@Conq - I forgot I actually have all the Wings WW1 stuff too. That's a collection, though ... lol
@ben - scale is where I get stuck. I love the 6mm for the size, a full table is SMALL; but the infantry aren't big enough. Tried 15mm, didn't like them, so up to 28mm, but then a bigger table is needed... conundrum!
@jp672 - sorry to hear about your injury; it's an unfortunate way to have to cut back, I am grateful that mine is by choice. Hope things get better!
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I'm finding 15mm a little tough as well, just in terms of the miniatures themselves, the sculpts ( or my eyes maybe) just are not as detailed. For the price and the space though, it makes sense to me. We're lucky on this forum because there is so much in every scale, and every genre.
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I was going to use some of the money to buy a morris dancing outfit. So, you're saying that's a bad idea? Dang it...
Don't. Just don't. I used to work with a bloke who had a really bad fall and broke his leg. He went to see his old university supervisor and the conversation went like this
Supervisor: Good god what happned to you
Colleague (limping terribly): I fell and broke my leg really badly, and I can't mrris dance any more.
Supervisor: Oh well, some good came of it then!
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Don't. Just don't. I used to work with a bloke who had a really bad fall and broke his leg. He went to see his old university supervisor and the conversation went like this
Supervisor: Good god what happned to you
Colleague (limping terribly): I fell and broke my leg really badly, and I can't mrris dance any more.
Supervisor: Oh well, some good came of it then!
lol
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Don't. Just don't. I used to work with a bloke who had a really bad fall and broke his leg. He went to see his old university supervisor and the conversation went like this
Supervisor: Good god what happned to you
Colleague (limping terribly): I fell and broke my leg really badly, and I can't mrris dance any more.
Supervisor: Oh well, some good came of it then!
That was funny.
Gracias,
Glenn
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If I should go minimalistic I would choose a scale and a terrain/scenery/building type and then only game what would fit historically to that terrain. Now I am into snow, desert, forests, towns, medieval fortresses and god knows what. Maybe I should join you ???
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You know, there's one way you can play 28mm scale, have the capability to put just about any physical terrain on the table you want, yet store it all in a few simple flat boxes that take up little space:
Lego.
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You know, there's one way you can play 28mm scale, have the capability to put just about any physical terrain on the table you want, yet store it all in a few simple flat boxes that take up little space:
Lego.
It just doesn't float my boat for some reason. I think it is a cool idea (local war gamer is also Lego fanatic and he gave this really nice Zorro Lego figure which will debut some day a statute in a game) but I just never found it striking my buttons enough to make me want to convert everything to Legos...
Gracias,
Glenn
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The Lego thing is funny because I've used some of the weird pieces in some of my sci if builds!
I would like to have boxes filled with stuff to the rafters but it's not in the cards for me. My Dad is an amateur blacksmith and a bit of a hoarder (I'm not exaggerating). I've decided that to level out the stuff that I bring in by taking some of the stuff out that I'm not using anymore.
By the way, this seems like a great thread to sell some stuff! lol. Would any of you like to buy some terrain?
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I flit between 25/20/15mm scales. I like 25mm for skirmish, 20mm for larger zombie games and post-apoc and 15mm for FOW. Most of my major terrain is HO/1:72 scale buildings which I find quite easy to store. I cant see myself making any 25mm terrain aside from a couple of resin Dark Ages buildings before I make the move to Russia....
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As stated this hobby is different things to different people. It's only when you start eating your miniatures that I think your wargaming friends should step in.
I subscribe to the "sell it if you're not going to at least paint it in the next 5 years" doctrine. This has been easy for my 40k miniatures, but harder for the historical stuff. I figure that the "Damn, why did I sell those Romans" is countered by the "Glad I sold those Romans, as I can get the new ones out now".
I have been reorganising my collection, prepping and painting as much as possible.
Painting a new thing each month has definitely helped, as has been joining this forum this year to get motivated. I may not be the best painter or modeller, but I'll be the best I can be.
(http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/team_america/images/taqt2_09.jpg)
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I try to go for table size as my filter. I try to stay away from everything more bigger than 3x3.
Luckily, my gaming club is 4 minutes away with the tram, and all gaming friends mostly live in this area :)
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I've started to simplify my wargaming life - I've converted my garage to a gaming room with a permanent 8x4 table and storage.
With a few exceptions, I'm sticking to 28mm as my eyesight doesn't let me paint the smaller scales any more. I've sold a lot of my 15mm armies and terrain already and will be selling off the rest next year.
Terrain does seem to be one of the determining factors. For me the terrain makes the game; good buildings, trees etc make all the difference. Personally I don't like to see well painted figures on felt cloths with plastic trees etc. So terrain has become the key driver in deciding what periods I game. I am building adobe/mediterranian houses so I can do Pirates, Darkest Africa, VSF, WW2 Crete/North Africa, western gunfights/Zorro, 7TV and zombies. My Robin Hood project requires different terrain but this will also allow me to do Medievals, Operation Sealion, Dad's Army, VSF and others.
So to minimalise my wargaming I'm sticking to one scale and only making terain when it can be used for multiple games/periods.
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Minimalism? why?
opimizing? of course!
play certain wargames in the appropriate tactical scale, with the appropriate scale of miniatures and the appropriate rules.
Means: don't waste Your time with trending
Examples:
28mm is for skirmish rules, not for waterloo. You like painting napoleonics, games skirmishes with them.
You prefer painting 28mm, play the appropriate wargames with it. Support friends who play napoleonic battles or WW2 Kursk, then you can join in. Concentrate on what You like to do most productionwise or playwise, and join others to do the other stuff.
Share your projects with others and let them participate.
We are only that many wargamers in the world, it is absolutely pointless collecting the same scale/period and then argueing about it which rules are best. Better cooperate. Every frustrated wargamer is a buddy less to game with.
Be friendly and appreciative and you will get to play a lot of games you wouldn't have wanted to collect.
On the other hand don't waste Your time with arrogant and manipulative assholes...
life is too short for that.
Wargaming miniatures is about the people you play with, the stuff you do it with is secondary.
I have never seen foodies in a restaurant discussing the cutlery they are using, they were concentrating on the meal.
They were also not spitting into the other's bowl if he appearantly enjoyed his food more....
but sorry, You were asking about the accessoires, not the spirit
happy holidays
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6mm skirmish game played on a 30cm by 30cm space. I wonder if there is a market in that.
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or there is.......
(http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/059/7/d/Worlds_Smallest_Wargame_by_keeper40k.jpg)
in 5mm
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all things in moderation.
That includes minimalist philosophy BTW.
I always say, "Everything in moderation... including moderation." lol
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6mm skirmish game played on a 30cm by 30cm space. I wonder if there is a market in that.
Why spend money to buy what I already have? ;) lol
Gracias,
Glenn
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I minimalised 20+ years ago. Single scale 15mm was the way to go. 15mm WW2, 15mm Napoleonic, 15mm Ancients/Mediaevals, 15mm Renaissance, 15mm Fantasy and 15mm Sci-Fi.
...so for minimalist just read single scale and about a 5% saving on some scenery pieces.....other than that just as much stuff as ever!
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I noticed a couple interesting points, especially about trends. Kickstarter has seemed to make things worse in the short run, although it provides a lot of new miniatures. I would definitely like to get more games in but my favourite part is building the terrain.
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I have been good though had a blip this year finally getting finances sorted out after divorce and part of the minimalisation was due to that ;D
So I have now
FIW British
Samurai
Fantasy highland dwarf army
Renniasance Orcs and Dwarves
Celtos undead
Celtos Gael
Still after many moons retained my Eureka Portuguese ;D
Retained my Quar - only a few bits still to do
Diversions
Dreadball - though as pseudo board game can play without painting :o
A few cowboys to get back into playing thru dead mans hand.
Beleive me that is minimalisation compared to what I have done in the past and the above 6 projects have been collected over the last 3 years and I tend to stick around these and add figures now and again. FIW being the only new project started this last year
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http://soldatetain.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/minimalism-and-wargaming/
I am trying to simplify my gaming life. Can it be done? If you have thought similarly, please have a read (it's not that long) and let me know what you think.
Warning! Minimalizing your waregaming may lead to chess.
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It could be worse I tell the wife, I could spend my money on booze and women. Or hand bags and high heels.
Wait, what?
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Many years ago an old wargamer said to me NEVER ever SELL any of your figs 1 Day you will regret it so I have never done so..
What i have in the shed, attic ,under floor boards ,cupboards and in the van..
Its all 15mm
Fields Of Glory ( 800pts = around 300 to 400 fgs
New Kingdom Egyptian 800pts+
Median 800pts
Early and Late Achaemenid Persian 800pts
Early and Late Carthaginian 950pts
English 100 years war. 800+pts..
Mongols 850pts
Samurai 800pts
FoGR
German Protestants 1000pts
AWI
British Grenadier.. British and Rebels WIP.. have 20+ bn british(350 figs ) and 30+reg. yanks (600 figs )
Napoleonic .. Age of eagles ..6mm and 10mm Astrians Corp++ and 10mm French corp++
General de Brigade French and Prussain Divisions 15mm and 1812 Yanks 9 bn 250 +
Crimean... POW: Turkey and French.armies
WWI 10mm German
WWII 8th army 1st div 1940 to 42 .
Fantasy
Hoards ( They be Dragons) Orcs 800+ pts FOG
Flintlock 25mm goblins
Blood Bowl Orc team
SF
Full thrust_- Kra Vak fleet + odds and sods
Stargrunt.. NSL 25mm platoon...
6mm GW Epic/Dirtside.. Space marines and Imperial Guard armies .. (lots)
End of the day If I really want it I can find room for it.
It could be worse I tell the wife, I could spend my money on booze and women. Or hand bags and high heels.
Or footie or golf :) :)So she knows the bobby moore having a box here or there, is part of the hobby so she just cracks on with it ! :D :D oh and me gaming 1-2 times a week as well but then it get me out the house and not down the pub. ;)
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There have to be limits
(http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/tcr/lowres/retail-selling-sales_patter-sizes-services-customer_service-tcrn622l.jpg)
If the eye can identify the stand/miniature it is not too small.
Gracias,
Glenn
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Bezzo, that's a brilliant idea!
I have a dedicated gaming room, so for me it's not about size, actually. My current two projects are 28mm WWII (Germans and Italians to be painted for Russia), and 6mm Arab-Israeli, primarily for Yom Kippur. My feeling is that I should dump the 6mm, the more I think of it, but I really enjoy painting 6mm. Odd.
Anyway. The sell-off of unneeded items continues, it's really feeling good to pare down, and I am actually a bit better off in the cash department, too. :D
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I nearly succumbed in Hobbycraft today. I've been down-sizing my collection for some time now, on the basis that anything I haven't painted or looked at in five years can be safely got rid of.
So far so good.
However, when faced with a bin of 1:144 scale Revell model planes for £2 each ... oh, but that was a close call. They looked so cute!
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Luckily I haven't actually needed to downsize, since up until recently I was only into one game, Mage Knight. Pulp Alley has committed me to a second game, but I'm trying to make as much of my terrain as possible serve both games.
Since I live in a rather cramped apartment, conservation of space is mandatory for me. God knows enough shelf space is already taken up by my and my wife's obnoxious MTG collections.
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A fun realization tonight: I no longer have any Warhammer Historical rules. All sold! Also, the only thing from GW that is left is my Lord of the Rings/Hobbit collection.
Progress, and concrete at that.
A fun blog update tonight too: http://soldatetain.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/my-favourite-book/
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Congratulations Grant. Have you seen the new Kickstarter by.... lol
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Congratulations Grant. Have you seen the new Kickstarter by.... lol
(http://www.myalbum.ca/Photo-GEVWP7K8-D.jpg)
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I heard, 8mm Renaissance Inuit road wars. What every wargamer needs. :D
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I tried converting my Late-Medieval Sami, but the company said they wouldn't be 'official' figures and wouldn't be allowed.
Still, the 'Megaplastic' models* shown on the site look great.
*Models shown on kickstarter only available when kickstarter reaches the $40billion target; models shown are prototypes sculpts in 1:4 scale; sculpts are rendered in white metal, not the recycled windscreen wiper blades used to make 'Megaplastic'.
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I am in! Just signed up and the stretch goal of the genuine igloo is all mine! I hope it doesn't melt before it ships. Also a pound of muktuk to use as gaming hills stretch goals.
Oh, and if you have 10mm, they won't work by 20%. ;)