The more I think about it the more I see that miniature gaming is the perfect hobby:
It has a game at its heart. Competition and games are as old as the hills and an intrinsic part of most people. We like to have contests.
It is creative. You can recreate a scene or spectacle. Painting and creating, making terrain, scratch building, modelling, whatever you like.
It is social. At its best it is done with like minded friends. It is also a way of making friends and getting out of the house if you are lucky enough to have a wargaming club within striking distance. Even if it is just an excuse to meet up with old friends that is a good thing.
We like collecting stuff. Most human being have had a collection of something at some stage, a draw full of keyrings or beer mats or photos. The urge to amass a bunch of things and categorise them certainly appeals to many people. Wargaming has this and how!
It feeds off other hobbies. An interest in history, or Star Wars, or creative writing, or button counting all are useful. Any artistic leaning is a boon.
It is an excuse to play with toy soldiers. The childhood fantasy writ large. Who wouldn't be thrilled being involved in such a thing. The sun has set and the waxing moon casts its white light over the ranks of French and Austrian cavalry, glinting off the cuirass and drawn swords, as the two sides prepare for a titanic clash:
Will the Austrian horse hold off the French to let their army escape or will the French be able to sweep the Austrians before them and get into the retreating column and precipitate a rout? Only one way to find out ... fight!
