Happy New Year 2025
It seems that "the old order changeth" whether we like it or not. Of course we still have egotistical madmen running countries - Putin, Trump, Kim Jon Un, et al.
Mere wargamers, like ourselves, cannot change anything significant on the world stage so we have to concentrate on our hobby. Trouble is that the ground is shifting even there. Look at the number of figure manufacturers that have gone out of business and others that are following closely behind. The cost of postage and petty (EU & US) regulations are also making everything harder. Covid has conditioned us to get home after work and stay in. Look around your local club to see how many of your colleagues are pensioners.
On the micro scale I find myself no longer interested in building forces for DBM. As far as I'm concerned DBMM is a curate's egg - only good in parts. So this leaves me with DBA.
When I first started wargaming (1975) metal figures were hard to get. I had to travel to Peckham Rye in order to get a few Garrison and/or Hinchliffe models. On the other hand Airfix 20mm could be had in many outlets including 'paper shops'. This is how I got into 'Ancients' - Brits & Romans.
Also available were ACW and AWI. The former I collected, and even painted forces for both sides based on the rules in the Airfix guide. Nobody else at the Croydon club was interested.
From the latter I amassed considerable numbers for AWI. Conversions were made so that I could represent Germans, French, Spanish & Native Americans. Many rule sets were tried out but without much satisfaction. To me, this period requires a free-flowing rule set not based on 7YW linear tactics. It also needs to be unbiased. Recently 'Live Free or Die' has come out and WTF have a suitable sub-set. All I need to do now is find someone who is prepared to experiment with them.
In Southampton (1977) I joined in with whatever was happening in the church opposite the Mayflower (cannot remember what it was called before that). Renaissance, WWI Aerial dogfights, 19C Colonial, Naval under sail, etc. By the time I had moved to Shirley (1978) the group played at the Ordinance Survey building. Ancients were the most popular period at the time (6th Ed). I worked near Minifigs and passed it on a (week)daily basis. Understandably the shop was shut so I walked on by down the notorious Derby Road towards the industrial estate.
In the 80s/90s I travelled around quite a bit spending time at King's Lynn, Derby, Portsmouth, Stowmarket, Utrecht & Groeningen. Ancients were the only constant (6th to DBM). Early 2000s saw me settled in Yorkshire and a member of the Wakefield club.
Now I'm looking at sorting out the loft and the larger bedroom - wish me luck dear readers.
