I blame Mark Hides and indirectly Ken Reilly for this latest addition to my so called wargaming blog. Why? Because I have been listening to the Yarkshire Gamer podcasts on a binge session over the past month or so. I am up to episode 45 which is where Mark comes in. Alot of what he spoke about and obviously feels struck a massive chord in me. I too grew up in the wargaming golden age of the 80s. Everything was new and exciting. You had to put in a lot of work whether it be research in a library or finding the right figures or even scratch building or modding your own stuff. People were at the core of the hobby not commercial behemoths looking to fleece the young (and not so young) of their hard earned cash. Wargaming shows were a place to catch up, handle the merchandise and play a few games. Yes in those days you could turn up with an army based for WRG 5th/6th and find a willing opponent. You could spot them by the metal tool boxes they carried around at the shows. Anyway Mark fired some enthusiasm to at least start to blog today and hopefully more to come.
I havent written on it in a long while and havent felt like doing so. You see, I was a bit broken over the past few years and so have only slowly come back to wargaming with something approaching real enjoyment. The list of wargaming stuff I have done recently is small and pathetic but I have managed to do something...
I have been to a few wargaming shows including Attack! which always was one of my favourites. I've been to a trading show to sell some of my unwanted stuff which has involved me having to talk to people (gasp). I've gotten more involved with the Society of Ancients again and I've even done a few DBA competitions and actually enjoyed them (heresy). All this from a self confessed solo gaming curmudgeon.
Anyway, I blame/praise Mark for reigniting some of my enthusiasm for the hobby and to also call the modern era a bit crap and in no way as good as the 8os. I feel a rant coming on and will ponder that for my next post
Which will be this year...
