The Great Wargaming Survey

[Just John]

Just done, only problem I had was that when I tried to select 'other' for  where I live the survey kept forcing me to choose one of the preset answers. That didn't get me off to a good start  but I rallied towards the end and gave the Belgians a good scare. Oh hang on, maybe I shouldn't have filled it in while watching the football 

[elysium64]

done

[Mr. Peabody]

Good old WSS. 

[Praefectusclassis]

Old, old? I'll have you know that I seem to be exactly on the top, or slightly to the left of, the curve according to the survey! 

As to the preset location answers: that was an error in our setup that cannot be changed, so I've made that question not required. That allows you to skip the presets and just use the comment section.

[Hu Rhu]

Done. I agree about a greater range of questions especially on miniatures, wants, favourite (and unfavourite) companies etc.
I also happen to think that WSS is the best magazine on the market but would like to see it every month.  Pretty please.

[Praefectusclassis]

Thanks! And noted. Not likely to happen in a standard magazine form, however, but, and also...

[Captain Blood]

On the subject of magazines, I went into W H Smiths at Victoria Station the other day - it's a BIG branch of the UK's biggest newsagent.
They didn't have the latest issue of WS&S, or Miniature Wargames with Battlegames, or Wargames Illustrated for that matter. Not a single wargames magazine in fact.
They didn't have Military Modelling either (do they still print that?) - only 'scale models' or somesuch.

But I did count 15 - yes, that's 15 - model railway titles.
I find this incredible.

I mean, I know I move in wargames circles, not model railway circles, but is railway modelling really like 10 times bigger and more important as a hobby than wargaming and military modelling?
Amongst all my many hundreds of friends, families, work, social and community contacts down many years, I've met co-incidentally several other wargamers and modellers. But I can't think of a single person who did or does model railways.
And yet as a hobby, it seems to support this vast publishing industry well stocked by all the newsagents.

Weird. Why?

[Praefectusclassis]

That's pretty easy to explain without revealing any secrets.
- Yes, the model train market is bigger, but mostly I'd say the advertising market is bigger. Think of all the big companies that produce stuff, and how expensive it is. No cheap MDF buildings here, or GBP7.00 packs. More valuable advertising = more magazines = more magazines less dependant on actual copy sales.
- What most people don't know is that WH Smith is not a single company. All WHS at train stations, airports, and such are part of a separate WHS. Publishers already pay for the privilege of getting their mags in 'standard' WHS. To get it into the 'travel' variety is more expensive again, riskier and combines really good locations (Victoria Station, Departure lounges) with really bad ones (say arrival lounges that everyone leaves asap). Hence the lack of proper magazines at Victoria Station...

[Captain Blood]

Interesting explanation. Thank you 

[Praefectusclassis]

I'd seen similar questions on TMP in the past. Figured it was time someone explained it.

[Blackwolf]

Amusing.I felt like I was taking a psychology test

This is what I learn't;

 I have too much money
 I am fussy
 OCD is common amongst gamers,although my gaming is really only an adjunct to my painting and modelling.
 I am a middle aged fogey

 Cheers

 Guy
                             
 

[Praefectusclassis]

The prizes to be raffled are:
- SAGA Great Hall by 4Ground
- 1000pt British Airborne BA Army from Warlord
- Two copies of the two upcoming Osprey rulebooks
- Books from Casemate
- Pirate set from NorthStar

[Mason]

This is what I learn't;

 I have too much money
 I am fussy
 OCD is common amongst gamers,although my gaming is really only an adjunct to my painting and modelling.
 I am a middle aged fogey                        
 

I apparently learnt that my twin is in Australia, and he is called Guy!
 

[Blackwolf]

I apparently learnt that my twin is in Australia, and he is called Guy!
 

 

[Archie]

That's pretty easy to explain without revealing any secrets.
- Yes, the model train market is bigger, but mostly I'd say the advertising market is bigger. Think of all the big companies that produce stuff, and how expensive it is. No cheap MDF buildings here, or GBP7.00 packs. More valuable advertising = more magazines = more magazines less dependant on actual copy sales.
- What most people don't know is that WH Smith is not a single company. All WHS at train stations, airports, and such are part of a separate WHS. Publishers already pay for the privilege of getting their mags in 'standard' WHS. To get it into the 'travel' variety is more expensive again, riskier and combines really good locations (Victoria Station, Departure lounges) with really bad ones (say arrival lounges that everyone leaves asap). Hence the lack of proper magazines at Victoria Station...

Thanks for explaining that. I will stop wasting my time popping into railway WHS in the hope of finding a decent magazine!