A birthday, a lot of lead and some new books

It's been a busy, though not very productive time since the last blog post. Haven't gotten much in the way of painting done, but I did get a test scheme of one of the Caliph's troopers for Djazlah done. I may highlight some of it a bit...but other than that, I am pretty happy with it and am going to use my new portable photo studio to snap some shots of it. Who says Ebay hasn't got anything useful anymore?

Also, I am very happy with the recent acquisitions I've made, a large Libmins order (probably the last one for a while), and a Battlefield miniatures lot I got second hand I'm splitting with Jage. Battlefield has some unique subjects, and I'm looking forward to my half of the figures. Hell, even the negotiations will be a blast.

Jage also told me he got the first of the 6mm he's painting for me at cost done. I am eager to see and photograph them. Future War Commander may happen sooner than we think?

My main addiction these days is Silent Hunter 4. Yes, that's right, I am happily sinking lots of the Japanese Navy and Merchant Marine. I'm running a campaign with an old S boat and I've already sunk:

At least a half dozen freighters (including one I had to shoot with a third torpedo, two didn't even slow him down...the third broke him in half!)
2 Tankers
God only knows how many Sampans and Fishing Boats
And the feather in my cap? 1 Takao Class Heavy Cruiser (ironic since three of the four in this class were sunk by US Submarines historically, I just did one in two years earlier)

The game's got some small frustrating factors, like a propensity to crash at times, (Save often) but it's pretty good, and there's nothing tenser than sneaking past the escorts at 3-4kts trying for that one good shot on a convoy.

Also received for my turning 36...yeah, I'm that old...was some books from Amazon. Not all have arrived, but I am working my way through Achtung Schweinhund!, and honestly, I really don't know why in the hell I didn't read this sooner. It's hysterically funny and poignant at the same time, though my collapse into near hysterics on the Metro probably scared some of my fellow commuters. My seeming lack of decorum was in response to the one scene where the young author tries to "bayonet" his grandfather in the groin. It's just priceless. His description of Airfix charades and the "Reich/Spice Girls" comment is comedy gold for wargamers. Not to mention his description of teenage model builders and their exposure to various solvents and other chemicals makes you wonder if we're all a bit addicted to what's IN the glue?

I've got the more serious work Tonight We Die as Men which reminds us, there was more than one company and one battalion in the 101st, no offense to Dick Winters and the rest of Easy Company. I am expecting a quality product from Osprey and I don't think they'll disappoint.

Well, that's all for now.

It's been 20 years?

I thought I'd post on this today because it's an event that really colored my gaming and young adulthood. I'm a child of the 1980s. I may have come of age in the 1990s, but the 1980s really were my formative years. Most of my favorite games are from the 1980s. I miss a lot of TV shows from the 1980s, even if they didn't always age well, and well, I still judge Presidents by Reagan.

The Berlin Wall coming down was to me, the end of an era. An era that could have ended another way, with missile trails and the crack-boom of high velocity tank rounds flying in both directions across the plains of North Germany and in the confines of the Fulda Gap. That would have ended one way in my mind..bright flashes and loud booms over the world's cities. I would have died faster than most. From 1981-1983, the years of maximum danger, as it turned out, I was a navy brat at NAS Rota, Spain. There was an SS-20 with our names on it. Every time I go to the Smithsonian Air and Space on the Mall, I make a point to stop and take a quick look at the SS-20 they have on display. It was a practice model. Never was aimed at anyone...but one just like it was. Sobers you a little. I still game the period. I always did..but gone, thankfully, was the prospect of this kid from Albany crossing swords with some kid from Kiev. Even with what's going on now, we're still better off the Cold War's done. I may miss it tongue and cheek, but miscalculation then had far larger consequences. To all the military professionals on both sides, thanks for doing your duty...and not allowing deterrence to fail.

The switch to plastic, has technology improved? Is the day of the soft plastic figure over?

I'm going to speak on this because of my experience with the Valiant 20mm WWII line (they're closer to true 25mm IMHO, but that's my only complaint about these figures.) and the new plastic Battletech miniatures that have been released as a proof of concept from Catalyst Games. I am very intrigued by this development in the hobby with the advent of very high quality hard-plastic customizable miniatures for the rest of the hobby. The 40K crowd has done this for years, and I think that's where the prejudice against such things has come from. Personally, it's a development, in this era of rising commodities prices, that I can only approve of. It will also make the hobby more accessible as now teenagers can use their plastic modeling gear to work on their armies! Customizing their armies will become easier as well. For all of us conversion happy folks, this can only be a good thing.

I do wish the intermediate scales, aka 15mm, especially sci-fi got some of the same treatment. I do wonder how much cheaper this high impact plastic process is cheaper than the traditional resin and metal parts for vehicles is?

I do think the hard plastic trend for wargaming will continue, and I do think it might become the industry standard, as it looks as if the detail on these figures is captured better than the traditional soft plastic we see.

I do want to see what happens when my Battletech 'Mechs arrive. And I do promise a full review.

As for the Valiant, I found the figures to be an extremely easy build. The hard plastic took glue well, and with a little light scoring to the gluing surfaces with ye standard ol 11 blade, I couldn't have asked for an easier build. The figures scale well with the true 25s I still have left, not very many, but they're not going to fit in with either the 28mm lines on the market, or any 20mm lines I happen to be aware of. The details are excellent, and historically correct, frankly, I think the detail holds up better than on some lead I've seen out there. And, with typically 50-60 figures in a box, you can build a skirmish army in the scale with one box. So, if it's a bit pricey, it's worth it. I find that the amount of weapons and equipment found in the set are ample and in some case, more than ample, I've used some of the extra heads and gear to do some conversions with other figures and vehicles I have. Used in limited quantities, it all comes out in the wash. What flash there was, and there wasn't a lot, was easily removed with ol'number 11 and a measure of patience. My sanding was minimal and I don't recall that many, if any mold lines.

Gamer Drama, how much is self-inflicted?

The term Gamer Drama comes from my wife. But yeah, it's there, whether it's the group that acts like six year olds that makes you embarrassed to know them, or the internet forum where people take jokes out of context, or worse yet, make insane accusations?
Yeah, we've been there.

But is it all really necessary? Is this being part of a passionate hobby full of people who do get interested in topics great and small? We're a small hobby demographically. And, if the statistics I keep hearing are any guide, then we're not getting any younger either. And that's the sad part. Must we as a hobby turn on each other because of issues great and small? Look, I'm guilty too. There are games where it's "wind him up and let him go." But, I am trying, maybe it's the wisdom one begins to get in their 30s as one realizes, this hobby has good and bad..but must we let our experience with the bad be the deciding factors in our treatment of each other?

This isn't a "let's all get along" speech. That'll never happen, and if it did, we wouldn't have much to game. The fact really is this: We're too small a hobby to let grudges carry on for long. Don't like a game or somebody in particular? Don't game it or don't play with that person. It's a hard lesson to learn, and it can leave you lonelier in the end. But at least you have your respect. Or, as my wife puts it.."arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics..you might win, but you're still retarded." Perhaps that's not the most PC way to make the point, but I like it blunt myself.

And what the hell is this hate specifically for one website or another? A twisted form of marketing? Don't like a website? Don't go there. Sorry but this one just mystifies me. Isn't the internet the limitless frontier? Lately all I've been seeing is a lot of "this town ain't big enough for the both of us."

SCORE!!!

Guess I found a way after all to get to Baltimore this weekend! I am going to be taking the B30 from Greenbelt Metro, to BWI and then a light rail connection to Camden Yards and the CC! Talk about doing one's research, eh? Guess I get some historicals goodness, and talk about low cost solutions for Historicon next year! Now, if I could get somebody interested in sharing the hotel room I have reserved that weekend in the adjoining hotel....

What's been going on and future plans.

Hey all,
Well, I am winding down the summer. It's been a good, but quiet summer on the gaming front. Fall with Assembly Point and the HMGS gaming day in Baltimore seems to be offering more exciting opportunities. My hobbies have taken a slight backseat as I have had some medical issues to take care of..they're minor, but a sign I am not getting younger.
I managed to finally get my hands on some VERY nice M4A1s with 76mm...now, I'd like to get some more M4s and M4A1s as I've been inspired to get working on building up enough to do a platoon or two from my Grandfather's old division. There is a lot happening on the 15mm front, and the lead pile grows...so I'd really better do something to cut it down to size.
An apology to Dwin..those minor medical issues precluded us getting together this past Friday. Give me a call when you can.
I want to talk about this blog as well. I know again, this is sort of my place to muse about doings in the hobby, and that I've been quiet these past two months, but I want to hear from you, the reader a little bit about things you might want to read. There's a lot on the plate and I do want to make time for it..but isn't that what winter's for? Catch up on the painting and such to get ready for next summer's con season? I will say I appreciate the support I received from many of you out there. Considering the path I have taken lately, it's been good to see I am not alone in my assessments of the hobby. Keep the comments and well wishes coming, and here's to a more active September!

A Wargamer's Philosophical Journey

Hello all,
Since I last wrote, I recently got a MP3 player from Sony for my birthday (thanks Mom!) and in between enjoying movie soundtracks, Evanescence, AC/DC and Billy Joel, I have been enjoying the fine Meeples and Miniatures podcasts from Neil Shuck. I really got a lot out of the "View from the Veranda" shows he did with Henry Hyde, editor of Battlegames magazine. The shows were full of erudite discussion that has had me thinking the last two days..Henry's assertions during the second show, which was on ethics and morality in gaming was correct about GW's background being abhorrent, more so than historicals in some cases, and that it's not written from any sort of literary idea, but from a marketing background. The discussion also about the differences in UK and US gaming cultures are also profound. I like the point made that it is extremely difficult to break into the US market, and that most folks are forced to play what's popular because that's what the stores are carrying, and that's what they're playing.

Now before somebody says "Dear god, Panzer's become a pinko!" or something, hear me out. Games where the background is "war for the hell of it" tend to run out of ideas fast, and often require a reset with, you guessed it, a cataclysmic war that does little but cause the game to hemorrhage fans like an arterial bleed. Some of you can guess what games I am referring to, but I won't call them out. I've done that enough.

I understand, companies need to make money, but does it have to be at the expense of a good story? I dunno. But enough of my lamentations. Here's what I am vowing to do about it.

1. I intend to follow my heart when it comes to gaming. I'll play what I enjoy, doing it the way I want and not marrying myself to a single game system like a sycophant.

2. I intend to not let myself get stuck only buying "THE APPROVED LINES". If somebody makes figures for the period better, then by god, I will buy them. I applaud Battleground/Flames of War for bending here. I understand their "no pictures on the website" policy, they are trying to make money, after all, but understanding, it might be cheaper/more feasible to go with QRF or Old Glory, for example (a strength of historicals).

3. I intend to support games that tell you two things, One "Play the game, not the rules" and two "Don't like it, change it!" Among those I can think of doing well right now are Too Fat Lardies, Ambush Alley Games, Ground Zero Games, Specialist Military Publications, to name a few. I think the new outcome driven rules get to a realistic outcome without a lot of hassle. They are adaptable, hell, with Ambush Alley's Force on Force, it's a case of WHAT CAN'T IT DO! It's the Gerber tool of wargaming. Another good rules set is Fistful of Tows II which has SPEED as it's mantra. You really can do a division in contact game in three hours. Name a sci-fi game that can match that lately. The sci-fi market has sadly gone in the other direction, going so crunchy and enamored of the toys the troops are using that they forget that it's still up to the scared kid with the bayonet to take the ground in the end.

4. If I don't like something...out it goes. You all know my issues with certain background fluff with a game I won't mention. Well, when I get the time..I am going to write my own. Already doing that with some like minded friends for Twilight 2000 based on stuff that came out after the Cold War ended. Once you buy that gaming product, it's yours. Use it as you will, if you can't use it, sell it and find something better!

We need to demand excellence from our hobby, especially now with dollars tighter. I am tired of spending $40+ on gaming products and getting little meat on the bones. The above manufacturers deliver more meat than anybody these days, and even with AAG's price rise, I'd stack Ambush Alley or Force on Force up against some of the more popular commercial products...I think AA and FoF would beat them silly.