So hey happy, weird and occasionally normal readers, how goes it out there.
Having worked 7 straight days I'm pretty whacked. But looking forward to Friday and payday.
Why you may ask, well it's a hobby related and blog and besides my dogs and charity work (football don't count!), the hobby is the only other thing to bounce about.
So much thinking has gone on between myself and my better half carol. Mostly concerning new avenues of wargaming fun. Slowly its come round to Privateer Press and their games. Much talking later and it has gone down to hoards.
Its here we have a sticking point though. Playable fun factions for learners.
I have many moons ago played warmachine so i understand the basic mechanic and have a fair grasp on fury etc. But i have to learn Hoards and teach it at the same time.
Looking over the models we have it down to 3 sets of models each.
For me its
Circle (who doesn't love werewolves)
Trollbloods (just make me think drunk scots who got a little carried away with the blue)
Skorne (steampunk samurai....word)
For Carol its
Circle (uh oh see the problem developing)
then a join second between
Trollbloods (yup that problem) and Legion.
So with those clashes in choice i hit the proverbial wall. With only 3 days to payday...
Options i can see is to either
Go for the 2 player battlebox which seems fantastic value for money.
Or go for the slightly more expensive trollblood/circle warpack boxes and a separate rulebook.
But to be honest i don't truly know which is the better option, i hear from some that the circle is one of the worst starter sets in hoards and i don't want to taint the first ventures into the game with the feeling of an unplayable force.
For Carols part though she isn't as keen on the legion models as she is the circle, the legion seem to better suit her play style. She plays nids in 40k and believes in the charge forward and gobble everything up tactic lol.
Me I'm a little more cautions and a thinker, though i also like fun.
Comments are open and i welcome any thoughts from you the general wargaming world.
Regards.
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
Sunday, 9 June 2013
From the geeky kid to the bully. GW losing it's way
First off let me apologise for the lack of updates this week on the Dystopian Wars front. 7 straight shifts has destroyed what little hobby time i hoped to have.
I want to just say this isn't a straight up 'gw hate post'. Just the thoughts of a long standing and increasingly disillusioned gamer.
Somewhere in the darkest past, maybe 25 or 26 years ago now. I stumbled into GW Hammersmith. It was the first proper GW retail store and based on Dalling Road. All i had was a MK1 Landraider and a desire to learn more. I wont bore you with the whiffs and woes of time thought.
Fast forward to the current end of times.
Over the last few years i have struggled in the hobby in all ways to be honest. Now i have been an almost exclusive GW gamer, apart from Henchmaning for Wyrd, not much else has been played etc.
But just recently i got back to thinking what had changed and where my enthusiasm had gone.....
I'm no saying it's the same for everyone, but i think for me it's been the changes overall at GW.
The warning signs were there the day Andy Chambers and co walked off the good ship Workshop.
For me a minor irritant had been the 'bully boy' tactics GW have started employing over the last few years. Now I'm not meaning the whole chapter house crap, for me the had it coming as they were in blatant infringement of IP. I don't personally blame GW for protecting their IP, BUT i do think they have gotten somewhat out of hand in their approach to online retailers, bits suppliers and 'compatible part manufacturers'.
A big part of the hobby is converting that awesome mini, and now it seems GW want you to have to fork out £50 for that extra shield from the big kit box. For me bits suppliers don't hurt GW, they still have to get the bits, we still have to pay. But lets not get off track, it's one needle in a haystack of needles.
For me the biggest blow has been the stores.
My local GW is Norwich. Its not open Monday or Tuesday for starters, Monday is one of the few days off i get.
Then there is the destruction of 'veteran nights'. I used to work at GW years ago, vet nights were great fun. As an ex-staffer they were even more fun. Guaranteed games, banter and general hobby enthusiasm.
But finally there's the trend in staff now. As a member of staff and as a customer i used to love banter with the customer/staff/fellow gamers. Talking army tactics, painting ideas etc etc. Nowadays it's a case of. of your struggling with that eh...here but this, oh and this and don't forget this. I got more years in the hobby than most of the staff have in their lives. I think i can figure out whats wrong with an army. If I'm talking about my list/scheme it's because I'm trying to share hobby enthusiasm, not looking for the auto build costalist.
I do love the background of Warhammer/40k etc. But for me a combination of the above has reached a point where i feel GW's policies are in danger of destroying the hard work of those who went before them. I find no joy in visiting the store, reading White Dwarf or getting 'buy this' mind waves off their blog.
A large part of me regrets parting with nearly £250 in gw a month ago, but maybe given time i will find some joy in returning to the High Elves of Ulthuan. But a large part of me doubts it.
I know some of you will say, just go to the indy stockist. Hey i live in Norfolk and we have NO indies. I could order online i know, but then if i am going to order online i might as well look into the other games out there that also lack 'bricks and mortar' stores.
Well that's my little rant over with me thinks. Im' off to trawl the internet and see what games might tempt me. Maybe Warmahoardes will call or something. All i know is my GW stuff is now on indefinite hold until something refreshes my desire to play the game.
I will of course continue posting on this blog as i want to share the adventures in Spartan games and others.
I want to just say this isn't a straight up 'gw hate post'. Just the thoughts of a long standing and increasingly disillusioned gamer.
Somewhere in the darkest past, maybe 25 or 26 years ago now. I stumbled into GW Hammersmith. It was the first proper GW retail store and based on Dalling Road. All i had was a MK1 Landraider and a desire to learn more. I wont bore you with the whiffs and woes of time thought.
Fast forward to the current end of times.
Over the last few years i have struggled in the hobby in all ways to be honest. Now i have been an almost exclusive GW gamer, apart from Henchmaning for Wyrd, not much else has been played etc.
But just recently i got back to thinking what had changed and where my enthusiasm had gone.....
I'm no saying it's the same for everyone, but i think for me it's been the changes overall at GW.
The warning signs were there the day Andy Chambers and co walked off the good ship Workshop.
For me a minor irritant had been the 'bully boy' tactics GW have started employing over the last few years. Now I'm not meaning the whole chapter house crap, for me the had it coming as they were in blatant infringement of IP. I don't personally blame GW for protecting their IP, BUT i do think they have gotten somewhat out of hand in their approach to online retailers, bits suppliers and 'compatible part manufacturers'.
A big part of the hobby is converting that awesome mini, and now it seems GW want you to have to fork out £50 for that extra shield from the big kit box. For me bits suppliers don't hurt GW, they still have to get the bits, we still have to pay. But lets not get off track, it's one needle in a haystack of needles.
For me the biggest blow has been the stores.
My local GW is Norwich. Its not open Monday or Tuesday for starters, Monday is one of the few days off i get.
Then there is the destruction of 'veteran nights'. I used to work at GW years ago, vet nights were great fun. As an ex-staffer they were even more fun. Guaranteed games, banter and general hobby enthusiasm.
But finally there's the trend in staff now. As a member of staff and as a customer i used to love banter with the customer/staff/fellow gamers. Talking army tactics, painting ideas etc etc. Nowadays it's a case of. of your struggling with that eh...here but this, oh and this and don't forget this. I got more years in the hobby than most of the staff have in their lives. I think i can figure out whats wrong with an army. If I'm talking about my list/scheme it's because I'm trying to share hobby enthusiasm, not looking for the auto build costalist.
I do love the background of Warhammer/40k etc. But for me a combination of the above has reached a point where i feel GW's policies are in danger of destroying the hard work of those who went before them. I find no joy in visiting the store, reading White Dwarf or getting 'buy this' mind waves off their blog.
A large part of me regrets parting with nearly £250 in gw a month ago, but maybe given time i will find some joy in returning to the High Elves of Ulthuan. But a large part of me doubts it.
I know some of you will say, just go to the indy stockist. Hey i live in Norfolk and we have NO indies. I could order online i know, but then if i am going to order online i might as well look into the other games out there that also lack 'bricks and mortar' stores.
Well that's my little rant over with me thinks. Im' off to trawl the internet and see what games might tempt me. Maybe Warmahoardes will call or something. All i know is my GW stuff is now on indefinite hold until something refreshes my desire to play the game.
I will of course continue posting on this blog as i want to share the adventures in Spartan games and others.
Monday, 3 June 2013
D.I.Y miniature light box
So work sucks, we all know that so enough said there.
After last nights poor pics, i decided to resurrect my old DIY light box. Only it was more destroyed the done.
No problem though, i would just make another. Then i thought hang on, why not share it and maybe help a few hobby fanatics along the way.
So here it is. The not so milky light box.
Step 1. Purchase a large milk container and drink the contents. I prefer to do this with something we Brits call Tea.
Once empty you should have one of these.
Technical eh...
Brace yourselves it only gets worse.
Step 2, remove the lid, then find a point about half way up (in this case there is a nifty little 'indent' all the way around for me to follow). Make a small hole, then use scissors to cut the carton in half. Like so
Rocket science this one eh!
Step 3- line the base and back with some white card, i use blue tack to hold it in place.
Something like this.
Step 4 - Position lights close to the sides of the box, i use 2 angle necked lamps to light up my light box. The plastic acts to diffuse the light and even it out.
Step 5 - enjoy the fruits of your labour. This small box is useful for small miniatures only, maybe a 6 pint carton would work well for slightly larger models. Bigger than that, is still a quest I'm on...though i do have an idea....
Oh btw, unless you want a funny smell and a visit to the dog house courtesy of your parents/other half....i would suggest washing the carton out multiple times before letting the lamps cook it.!!!
Just for the sake of comparison.
Normal not light box set up pic
And light box pic
I hope this helps some of you out there.
After last nights poor pics, i decided to resurrect my old DIY light box. Only it was more destroyed the done.
No problem though, i would just make another. Then i thought hang on, why not share it and maybe help a few hobby fanatics along the way.
So here it is. The not so milky light box.
Step 1. Purchase a large milk container and drink the contents. I prefer to do this with something we Brits call Tea.
Once empty you should have one of these.
Technical eh...
Brace yourselves it only gets worse.
Step 2, remove the lid, then find a point about half way up (in this case there is a nifty little 'indent' all the way around for me to follow). Make a small hole, then use scissors to cut the carton in half. Like so
Rocket science this one eh!
Step 3- line the base and back with some white card, i use blue tack to hold it in place.
Something like this.
Step 4 - Position lights close to the sides of the box, i use 2 angle necked lamps to light up my light box. The plastic acts to diffuse the light and even it out.
Step 5 - enjoy the fruits of your labour. This small box is useful for small miniatures only, maybe a 6 pint carton would work well for slightly larger models. Bigger than that, is still a quest I'm on...though i do have an idea....
Oh btw, unless you want a funny smell and a visit to the dog house courtesy of your parents/other half....i would suggest washing the carton out multiple times before letting the lamps cook it.!!!
Just for the sake of comparison.
Normal not light box set up pic
And light box pic
I hope this helps some of you out there.
Kingdom of Brittannia Battlegroup wip
So a quick update for the weekend.
I got started on the Dystopian wars models (yay me).
I must admit that the models although small, are fantastically detailed. Even the little frigates which are tiny have a fantastic amount on them.
I can however see my sanity as well as my eyesight going before i finish lol. So to try and prevent this i stepped back and tried using a heavy amount of inking and drybrushing to bring out the detail and prevent me going cross eyed.
Here's a couple of (admittedly very poor) pics from last nights progress.
They are very much work in progress, but its a start and i hope to finish them as the week goes on (far too many work shifts this week booo)
I was asked about my technique for them thus far. Which i described on the relevant post, but will happily share here.
The red and Wood are both really really simple.
The red
Base coat of Khorne red. You could paint this on, i use an airbrush for speed.
Heavy ink wash of Nuln Oil and allow to dry
Moderate drybrush of Khorne Red, focusing a little heavier the lower down the hull you get.
Final very light drybrush of Wazzdakka Red to pick out the rivets and raised areas, also used on the front and back edges where the port and starboard hulls meet
For the wood, it's a technique i stole of my fiancee Carol.
Base coat with Averland Sunset, usually takes a couple of coats as you want an even colour.
Very heavy ink wash of Seraphim Sepia and leave to dry.
A final note would be that all those paints are from the newer GW range. Like myself a lot of you out there probably still use the older stuff too. So i dug the conversion chart up as i know not everyone would have it easily available.
Enjoy your week all, i hope to post some more updates as the week goes on, if time allows. But seeing as it's Monday, remember the weekends already a day close than it was yesterday
I got started on the Dystopian wars models (yay me).
I must admit that the models although small, are fantastically detailed. Even the little frigates which are tiny have a fantastic amount on them.
I can however see my sanity as well as my eyesight going before i finish lol. So to try and prevent this i stepped back and tried using a heavy amount of inking and drybrushing to bring out the detail and prevent me going cross eyed.
Here's a couple of (admittedly very poor) pics from last nights progress.
They are very much work in progress, but its a start and i hope to finish them as the week goes on (far too many work shifts this week booo)
I was asked about my technique for them thus far. Which i described on the relevant post, but will happily share here.
The red and Wood are both really really simple.
The red
Base coat of Khorne red. You could paint this on, i use an airbrush for speed.
Heavy ink wash of Nuln Oil and allow to dry
Moderate drybrush of Khorne Red, focusing a little heavier the lower down the hull you get.
Final very light drybrush of Wazzdakka Red to pick out the rivets and raised areas, also used on the front and back edges where the port and starboard hulls meet
For the wood, it's a technique i stole of my fiancee Carol.
Base coat with Averland Sunset, usually takes a couple of coats as you want an even colour.
Very heavy ink wash of Seraphim Sepia and leave to dry.
A final note would be that all those paints are from the newer GW range. Like myself a lot of you out there probably still use the older stuff too. So i dug the conversion chart up as i know not everyone would have it easily available.
Enjoy your week all, i hope to post some more updates as the week goes on, if time allows. But seeing as it's Monday, remember the weekends already a day close than it was yesterday
Thursday, 30 May 2013
who, what, where...oh hey hi..Paint rack MKii
Been a quiet few weeks on here.
But that's not really a reflection on life.
Hobbywise i got smacked by a massive bunch of distractions. Work and getting settled into m new role as a fishmonger and butcher.
Dog rescue work and ending up fostering a mad but gorgeous 2 year old gsd, who went off to his new home happily on Sunday...much to our distress and many tears. We thought that was then end of it for a while...but we now have a 13 month old gsd boy coming in to stay with us as of tomorrow.
That should be enough eh. But for my sins i'm a QPR fan...stop laughing its been a painful enough couple of years, but hey we took 7 of 14 points against Chelsea over the 2 seasons, so not all bad :)
But back on the hobby track. Well i have completely fallen out of love with 40k in all its guises. So a new throw of the dice has been needed.
I purchased Star Wars X-wing.
What can i say about this game. Fun, Fast, Furious and absolutely fantastic. As pick up and play games go, its an absolute winner and i highly recommend it.
I also finished both my own fantasy army and my fiancees army to 2400 points....now i only mean in terms of purchases. Construction and painting will happen in due course.
I have also decided to try out Dystopian Wars by Spartan Games. I am sat patiently (or not so in reality) waiting for the postie with my goodies, the rulebook, Kingdom of Brittannia and Empire of the blazing sun battle group sets.
I will give my thoughts on the game as soon as i have a chance to play it through a few times.
So that's a lot of flitting about. But i did manage something productive too.
NEW PAINT RACKS!!!
The MK1 paint rack seen earlier in the blog just wasn't cutting it in terms of storage and last ability..it was beginning to fall to bits. So something needed doing, it also meant de-cluttering the paint area.
Much trawling of the web, various stores and dark recesses of the mind eventually lead me to Homebase.
I didn't take any pica along the way when making these racks. But i want a third one and will try to remember when i do that one.
Needless to say they are pretty easy to make, even for the less DIY skilled like myself.
All that was required was a wooden slat storage unit like this
It comes flat packed which makes life easier. The bits you need from it ate. 2 'side' supports, 1 shelf support and the 9 individual shelf slats.
I simply used the side sections to create the frame. Then spaced each of the slats an even distance apart (that would fit the required paints) and screwed/nailed the slats into position. The little mini side shelf support was used as a wall mount, simply centred on the top shelf, then screwed in place. This provided a panel that could be used to secure the whole unit to a wall.
The description is a bit vague, but i will try to do a step by step when i make the next one.
In the meantime here's some pics to show the finished projects.
This is the first one, 8 equally space shelves, each holds up to 2 rows of 24 gw pots.
This is the second one, made for my fiancee. She wanted 1 less shelf, so that she could use the extra space for largest pots and/or models.
And here they both are fully in position and stocked up :)
So that's pretty much it for now. I need to wait for the dystopian wars delivery, brace for the arrival of our second foster dog tomorrow and then try to find some real hobbytime....
But that's not really a reflection on life.
Hobbywise i got smacked by a massive bunch of distractions. Work and getting settled into m new role as a fishmonger and butcher.
Dog rescue work and ending up fostering a mad but gorgeous 2 year old gsd, who went off to his new home happily on Sunday...much to our distress and many tears. We thought that was then end of it for a while...but we now have a 13 month old gsd boy coming in to stay with us as of tomorrow.
That should be enough eh. But for my sins i'm a QPR fan...stop laughing its been a painful enough couple of years, but hey we took 7 of 14 points against Chelsea over the 2 seasons, so not all bad :)
But back on the hobby track. Well i have completely fallen out of love with 40k in all its guises. So a new throw of the dice has been needed.
I purchased Star Wars X-wing.
What can i say about this game. Fun, Fast, Furious and absolutely fantastic. As pick up and play games go, its an absolute winner and i highly recommend it.
I also finished both my own fantasy army and my fiancees army to 2400 points....now i only mean in terms of purchases. Construction and painting will happen in due course.
I have also decided to try out Dystopian Wars by Spartan Games. I am sat patiently (or not so in reality) waiting for the postie with my goodies, the rulebook, Kingdom of Brittannia and Empire of the blazing sun battle group sets.
I will give my thoughts on the game as soon as i have a chance to play it through a few times.
So that's a lot of flitting about. But i did manage something productive too.
NEW PAINT RACKS!!!
The MK1 paint rack seen earlier in the blog just wasn't cutting it in terms of storage and last ability..it was beginning to fall to bits. So something needed doing, it also meant de-cluttering the paint area.
Much trawling of the web, various stores and dark recesses of the mind eventually lead me to Homebase.
I didn't take any pica along the way when making these racks. But i want a third one and will try to remember when i do that one.
Needless to say they are pretty easy to make, even for the less DIY skilled like myself.
All that was required was a wooden slat storage unit like this
It comes flat packed which makes life easier. The bits you need from it ate. 2 'side' supports, 1 shelf support and the 9 individual shelf slats.
I simply used the side sections to create the frame. Then spaced each of the slats an even distance apart (that would fit the required paints) and screwed/nailed the slats into position. The little mini side shelf support was used as a wall mount, simply centred on the top shelf, then screwed in place. This provided a panel that could be used to secure the whole unit to a wall.
The description is a bit vague, but i will try to do a step by step when i make the next one.
In the meantime here's some pics to show the finished projects.
This is the first one, 8 equally space shelves, each holds up to 2 rows of 24 gw pots.
This is the second one, made for my fiancee. She wanted 1 less shelf, so that she could use the extra space for largest pots and/or models.
And here they both are fully in position and stocked up :)
So that's pretty much it for now. I need to wait for the dystopian wars delivery, brace for the arrival of our second foster dog tomorrow and then try to find some real hobbytime....
Saturday, 2 March 2013
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.
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.
Friday, 1 March 2013
clubs that aren't clubs, just cliques
Recently i have been doing a lot of thinking and not a lot of hobbying and absolutely no gaming and it got me wondering.
I read an article by Jeremy Vetock in white dwarf a couple of months ago, about his little group of friends and fellow hobbyists. In truth it didn't so much as strike a note, as it did strike up an entire orchestra.
You see i live in what is jokingly referred to as one of the biggest towns in North Norfolk. It had a wargaming store all of it's own many moons ago but that was lost. It did though leave behind a club.
Outside of this, the nearest clubs and stores are about a 20 mile hike if not more.
With all that considered you would think the club would thrive.
It doesn't, on average it's lucky to get about 8-10 people in a week. But why?
Simply put. it's a clique of gamers and not a club.
They play 40k and that's it. Every now and then when the moon and stars align, 1 or 2 might venture a game of WFB. But god forbid you step outside that norm.
But lets step back in time a little.
Back to late 06. I move to the hobbity town of North Walsham from Milton Keynes.
I was spoilt in MK. I had a network of wargaming friends, 2 vibrant, dynamic clubs that played everything from dbm, to 40k, to flames of war and everything in between. We also had a couple of good stores that supported that need.
Every few weeks we would all get together (my own little circle of friends) and throw down a painting evening instead of gaming. It drove us all on, it got armies painted and it inspired you to work it over the next couple of weeks.
All in all it was gaming nirvana.
Then i split from my wife and had the choice of being homeless or moving up to my parents to get back on my feet.
From gaming nirvana to the unknown...soon to become known hell.
I'm not an overly shy person, i worked at Games Workshop, spent a few years full on in your face as a senior paintball marshal too.
So as soon as i could, i looked into the local scene. Found the local club, packed up my khador army, space wolves and dwarves, along with my flames of war 7th armoured brigade. I wanted the variety in case a game was going.
Nervous anticipation kicked in at the thoughts of new people and new challenges as i walked into the club.
Boom that was all shattered.
You know that scene in the westerns, where the stranger walks into the bar and everyone just stares....well that was the scene as i walked through the door. Every set of eyes stared at me, uncomfortable....i checked my coat in case a bird had crapped on me or something. It apparently hadn't.
I tried my best to strike up conversations and failed...talk about hard work.
So i sat at the painting table and cracked out some models...maybe i could spark up some interest. A few curious glances at my 40k were had, but everything else was passed over like some sort of plague victim.
I was getting the jist of the group.
So the following week i turned up with just my 40k army, in my gw backpack and waited. Games unfolded and still i waited. Tried approaching a few people and still i waited.
This went of for a few weeks. Only the club 'chairman' made any real effort and spoke to me despite my efforts.
After about 5 weeks i gave up, slunk home and pretty much quit wargaming unless a friend was visiting.
Swirly smokey fadey in and out effects and come forward to 2010...yes that's 4 years of not really gaming.
I got talking to my now fiancee carol. Both of us former wargamers. Introduced her to my few visiting friends from MK and sparked her interest.
We both rebuilt 40k armies and got to grips with the game again. I also discovered Malifaux and became a henchman to promote the game.
With a new drive we both headed out to the club. Screeech boom. Just like before the western scene repeated itself. The same people, no fresh blood, no new faces.
Attempts to demo the game ended in tragedy, rocking up with my own terrain etc didn't work.
Eventually i gave up trying at the club and haven't been back since.
So we fade in the swirly smoke and come to today and my feelings and thoughts.
Try as i might i cant seem to find drive or inspiration to do more than a brief visit to an army. In truth i feel like the hobbyist within me is dying a slow painful death.
Am i outgrowing the hobby, i don't think so as i still love everything about the games i look to and want to try.
But a distinct lack of playing and varying opponents is killing the hobbyist.
I don't really expect any answers, i guess i just needed to vent or rant or something. But if your thinking about starting a club up, please try to avoid letting it become like Blackfish gaming club in North Walsham is.
I read an article by Jeremy Vetock in white dwarf a couple of months ago, about his little group of friends and fellow hobbyists. In truth it didn't so much as strike a note, as it did strike up an entire orchestra.
You see i live in what is jokingly referred to as one of the biggest towns in North Norfolk. It had a wargaming store all of it's own many moons ago but that was lost. It did though leave behind a club.
Outside of this, the nearest clubs and stores are about a 20 mile hike if not more.
With all that considered you would think the club would thrive.
It doesn't, on average it's lucky to get about 8-10 people in a week. But why?
Simply put. it's a clique of gamers and not a club.
They play 40k and that's it. Every now and then when the moon and stars align, 1 or 2 might venture a game of WFB. But god forbid you step outside that norm.
But lets step back in time a little.
Back to late 06. I move to the hobbity town of North Walsham from Milton Keynes.
I was spoilt in MK. I had a network of wargaming friends, 2 vibrant, dynamic clubs that played everything from dbm, to 40k, to flames of war and everything in between. We also had a couple of good stores that supported that need.
Every few weeks we would all get together (my own little circle of friends) and throw down a painting evening instead of gaming. It drove us all on, it got armies painted and it inspired you to work it over the next couple of weeks.
All in all it was gaming nirvana.
Then i split from my wife and had the choice of being homeless or moving up to my parents to get back on my feet.
From gaming nirvana to the unknown...soon to become known hell.
I'm not an overly shy person, i worked at Games Workshop, spent a few years full on in your face as a senior paintball marshal too.
So as soon as i could, i looked into the local scene. Found the local club, packed up my khador army, space wolves and dwarves, along with my flames of war 7th armoured brigade. I wanted the variety in case a game was going.
Nervous anticipation kicked in at the thoughts of new people and new challenges as i walked into the club.
Boom that was all shattered.
You know that scene in the westerns, where the stranger walks into the bar and everyone just stares....well that was the scene as i walked through the door. Every set of eyes stared at me, uncomfortable....i checked my coat in case a bird had crapped on me or something. It apparently hadn't.
I tried my best to strike up conversations and failed...talk about hard work.
So i sat at the painting table and cracked out some models...maybe i could spark up some interest. A few curious glances at my 40k were had, but everything else was passed over like some sort of plague victim.
I was getting the jist of the group.
So the following week i turned up with just my 40k army, in my gw backpack and waited. Games unfolded and still i waited. Tried approaching a few people and still i waited.
This went of for a few weeks. Only the club 'chairman' made any real effort and spoke to me despite my efforts.
After about 5 weeks i gave up, slunk home and pretty much quit wargaming unless a friend was visiting.
Swirly smokey fadey in and out effects and come forward to 2010...yes that's 4 years of not really gaming.
I got talking to my now fiancee carol. Both of us former wargamers. Introduced her to my few visiting friends from MK and sparked her interest.
We both rebuilt 40k armies and got to grips with the game again. I also discovered Malifaux and became a henchman to promote the game.
With a new drive we both headed out to the club. Screeech boom. Just like before the western scene repeated itself. The same people, no fresh blood, no new faces.
Attempts to demo the game ended in tragedy, rocking up with my own terrain etc didn't work.
Eventually i gave up trying at the club and haven't been back since.
So we fade in the swirly smoke and come to today and my feelings and thoughts.
Try as i might i cant seem to find drive or inspiration to do more than a brief visit to an army. In truth i feel like the hobbyist within me is dying a slow painful death.
Am i outgrowing the hobby, i don't think so as i still love everything about the games i look to and want to try.
But a distinct lack of playing and varying opponents is killing the hobbyist.
I don't really expect any answers, i guess i just needed to vent or rant or something. But if your thinking about starting a club up, please try to avoid letting it become like Blackfish gaming club in North Walsham is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)