Return of the wargamer

In a lounge far far away.......

cue star wars music.

After my long winded rant yesterday about the struggle to get games and the poor local club, i sat down and took a bit of a look at the options.
I have been wargaming since i was 10, that gives me 26 years nearly 27 of constantly being involved, be it as a hencman for wyrd, a full time red shirt at GW or a geeky little kids in the local game store.
It's a long time and a long commitment, let alone small fortune and big part of my life.

So what could i do.
Give up, possibly but i don't really have many other hobbies outside of the hobby.
Nut up or shut up, another possibility. Simply put, suck it up and get on with things.

I took the nut up option.
First step google. I had a good idea of local clubs from my henchman work. Though i had only visited a couple i knew others were out there.
Then came finding one that fit around our lives.
Work. kid, dog, not being a driver all work into the equation of finding a club.
But maybe the gaming gods finally turned their smiles on me. For the first club i clicked on was 'coltishall cowards'.
Based a short train journey away, easily done in 15 minutes, it also checked the box of being a Friday night club, the only night we can get a baby sitter.

So off went an e-mail, a bit of a feeler for what they played and how they were run. A few hours later, a friendly reply and the decision was made to go and see.

Those who read yesterdays whine, would know my experience of the local club.
Well polar opposite was the only fitting description. On arrival a few people introduced themselves, showed us around, introduced others and made us feel very welcome indeed. Banter was exchanged and by 8pm carol had been dragged off for a conquest style game and i was sat down playing 'star wars-x wing' by FFG.

I kinda needed to pinch myself as it was like the twilight zone.
We only intended on staying an hour to get a feel for the place, in the end we were there 3 hours. We started to make our excuses as we needed to get the last train home. But here i was almost blown away as several club members offered a lift home and went on to offer lifts into the club as they came through/near our town.

What madness is this. Coltishall Cowards isn't as its name suggests in Coltishall, it moved a few years back to a town called Wroxham, but it elected to keep it's name. It is in travel terms a mere stones throw away and yet it couldn't be more different from the local club.

I must extend my thanks to all the guys at Coltishall Cowards club. For making us feel welcome, for the games, giggles and banter. But most of all for providing a salty old sea dog of a wargamer, with a fresh hope and new lease of life.

Btw, Star Wars - X Wing... if you haven't tried this game yet. DO SO NOW! It's, fast, fun and easy to pick up and play. The models look great straight out of the box and the play system is a real change and makes for some great scenes. I'm sold on it and come next payday i will certainly be getting at least the basic set.