. Now as I type this I'm not at all sure where it will lead, It is merely "stream of consciousness" writing - a bit like James Joyce's virtually unreadable book "Finnegan's Wake" - which I had to suffer many years ago
Now having only managed to play three games this year- well play , actually one. Umpired two is more accurate. Perhaps I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms- its been a very poor year for actual games.
No ones fault really - other chaps have lives and sometimes getting all the various TWATS in one place simply hasn't been possible.Playing away as it were not often an option as I don't drive. Any how games at the pub are - here's that word again -FUN .
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| 1/100th Hurricane. I fancy a bash at air warfare- different, something I've never done so far . |
Having said that I couldn't be one of those blokes who play once a week or more- the repetitive tedium of the dice rolling alone would drive me to drink . A game a month is plenty either played or umpired.
Now it's true I do find the actual playing often quite repetitive. There comes a point in most- if not all- games where experience tells you how it will go - once the tipping point is reached for instance - yet in the past I've heard chaps drone on about how it should be played out "just for the game " and defying any military logic- well no thanks dice rolling is neither FUN or even amusing merely causing monstrous ennui after a while.
So unless there are reasons set into the scenario to keep going until chucking out time I won't, as boredom may have set in after 3 or 4 hours playing or my voice may have given out after the same period of umpiring unless suitably lubricated.- not always by any means but the possibility is there.
So chaps a question- in all sincerity- for a change- whats in the game ? and just the game. I've got a handle on the history part - and I have a handle on the pint and chat with you mates part and I have a handle on the modelling and painting part- the toy soldier bit. I seem to have lost my handle on the actual playing- at least when I'm not doing it-
I've seen chaps get really intense when actually playing- not nasty- well not much but just intense as if it matters yet sometimes- not always but sometimes all I see is the repetitiveness of move 1 orders-move roll dice - fiddle about- move 2 orders - move- roll dice- fiddle about, move 3 repeat but slower, with more fiddling move 4 repeat but with more fiddling about move 5 drink pint ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ !
Now when Umpiring its a bit different there is a lot more to do - Move one- Watch in serene detachment as both sides ignore the scenario notes. Move two gentle reminders sent out Move 3 - watch them " Fall into the pit that they have digged" giggle whilst supping pint .Move 4 Descend upon the hapless player like the Wrath of God.......
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| 1/100th Fiesler Storch- recon and observation Same scale as 15mm . Easy meat for a Hurricane .... |
Now by no means all games run like that- it depend on the players but as a general rule I find that the more "game orientated" a player or players are the more likely tedium is to set in, Fortunately most of our group are pretty much "period orientated" so often the mere game mechanics will take second place to the "period feel" - said mechanics being in theory the way to get the period feel so if the mechanics are out of sync then change 'em forthwith ...
see my Teeny-weeny tanks post. for an example of changing during the game.
Of course the attitude will depend upon what you want form your wargames- what the overall objective is if you like , not of any given game but of your participation in the hobby .This seems to me top be a perennial question which rarely if ever gets answered fully if at all .
If you are "minimalist" - the games the thing , playing is all rules are Holy Writ then fine that is your choice you must have a way of handling the tedium but most of the chaps I know just are not like that nor am I.
They are just as interested - if not more so- in "period" rather than simply the mere gameplay.. So from my perspective are far more "The Complete Wargamer" that I would try to be.
Now I've just this minute finished reading Robbie Roddis latest post on
"The Independant Wargames Group " blog and -I can see where he is coming from - though his reasons appear far more serious than mine.
For myself its possibly because I've been at it since 1970 off and on and whilst most changes in the hobby have been really beneficial the change in the "character" - or lack thereof of some of its more whiney participants has not.(Or perhaps I actually mean the increase in available technology that allows them to whine Hmmmm!! or indeed me to have a small rantette !! )
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| Some of my 15mm Desert Rats- these haven't been out on the table for a couple of years. Maybe they should |
The current trend for overly serious, seeking to take offence, anally retentive Know- nothings has got my goat more than a little of late. Indeed in all walks of life we see the continual Rise and Rise of Po- Face so why not Wargaming.
But Hey ! I'm a big Lad I'll get over it .And yes I'll stick pins in 'em where I can so when you are in the Trenches you get shot at ... but...
The Resistance Lives On
Indeed mostly have before I typed this- I've some new toys to paint and a few new ideas I want to try out . So staying in the hobby always seeking for alternatives to the samey -gamey rut
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