So What's Wrong With Imaginations? - Der Alte Fritz Journal

* the majority of wargamers like to build historical armies and recreate historical battles on the tabletop in order to see if they could have ... 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Viewmycompleteprofile FavoriteLinks Fife&DrumForum Fife&DrumMiniaturesWebSite Fife&DrumMiniaturesBlog KronoskafSYWSite MindenMiniaturesBlog CrannTaraMiniatures BARRulesWebSite BerlinZinnfigurenStore CampaignsinGermania ChristianRogge'sSYWBlog DeutscheUniformen EmperorvsElector GolcondaRising-SYWinIndia GrandDuchyofStollen GlasenappFrei-Husaren HouseofHohenzollern KolinZinnfigureDiorama LeagueofAugsburgBlog LeuthenDiorama LeuthenJournal MakingMiniaturesBlog MollwitzAccount PhilsWarCabinet-NewVersion PrussianHistoryTimeLine RSMFigures RoyalfigUniformSite StaddenMiniatures TomczakSYWSite Thursday,February7,2019 SoWhat'sWrongWithImaginations? AcontemplativemomentamidsttheBattleofAspern-Essling,doneintheSYWmanner. Irecentlyreadablogthathastakenafew"swipes"attheconceptof"Imaginations"andthebloggersayingthathiswayofwargamingisthebestway.Severalotherblogshaveplayedasimilartunefromtimetotime,soIthoughtthatarebuttalofsortswaslongoverdue. Well,itisOKtohaveanopinion(evenifit'swrong),butwewargamersliveinabigchurchandtherearehundredsormorewaysofapproachingthehobbyofplayingtabletopgameswiththeLittleMen,asmanyofourwivesandsweatheartscallthem.Theterm"Imaginations"referstotheinvidual'screatingofimaginarynations,hencethemashofthewordsinto"Imaginations". Prussian/GermanianinfantrydefendatownagainstFrench/Gallianattack. Ithinkthatitisrathersadthatsomepeoplefeeltheneedtoputdowntheeffortsofothers.Foronething,mostwargamersaredoingthebestthattheycanwithresourcesandtalentsthattheyhave.Weshouldencourgethemfortheireffort.Foranotherthing,itcancomeacrossasarrogantorelitistforapersontosaythathiswayisthebestwayofapproachingthehobby.Andfinally,it'sahobby,notacontest. SomeApproachestotheHobby *themajorityofwargamersliketobuildhistoricalarmiesandrecreatehistoricalbattlesonthetabletopinordertoseeiftheycouldhavedoneanybetterthanLeeatGettysburgorNapoleonatWaterloo.Theymightalsocreatefictionalbattles(andoftendo)andscenariosfortheirtabletopwars. Thinkaboutit,ifyouareplayingafictionalscenariothatmighthavehappenedbetweentheAustriansandPrussiansintheSevenYearsWar,thenyou,mydearhypocrite,arealreadyengagingintheemploymentofyourimaginationtoplayinawargame.ThisisthelanethatIchoosetoplayinmostofthetime. *anevenlargercommunityofwargamersdwellinthefantasyrealmofHobbits,Dwarves,Orcsandothermonstersandenemies.Thisisnotmycupoftea,butletusgiveFantasyitsduebecausethenumberofFantasygamersandtheamountofmoneythatthesegmentofthegamingindustrygeneratesquitesimplydwarfsthatofhistoricalminiaturewargaming. *backin2005orthereabouts,PatrickLewiscreatedaYahooGrouptitled"OldSchoolWargaming"(or"OSW")thatcelebratedthe"goodolddays"ofwargamingwiththelikesofDonaldFeatherstone,PeterYoung,CharlesGrantandPeterGilder,amongothers.PatricktalkedabouttheinfluencethatChargeandTheWargamehadonhisnascentwargamingcareerandhowitdirectedhimtowardsthe18thCentury.HewouldfondlyrecallbuildingarmieswithsimplefiguressuchasSuren/Willie,Staddens,RSM/PaxBritannica,Minifigsandmanyothers. Thebookthatstarteditall-PeterYoung'sCHARGE! CharlesGranttoldthetalesofbattlesbetweenImaginationssuchastheGrandDuchyofLorraineand theVereinigteFreieStadte "Neverfailtocelebrateyourvictories-anddisputeyourdrawnbattles-byerecting monumentsandtriumphalarchestoyourownhonor.Neverfailtopreserveanddisplayreplicasofeverycapturedcolor.Suchlittleattentionwillpiercethethinkhideofthemostcomplacentopponent" --PeterYoung QuitealargenumberofwargamersweredrawntothisnewOldSchoolWargamingthingandthenumberofvisitorsonthegroupsitegrewandgrew.Atthesametime,thesamepeoplecaughtthebugtocreatetheirownlittlecountriesandrivalriesinthemannerespousedbyPeterYoungandCharlesGrant.Andbeforeyouknewit,therewerelittleprincipalities,dukedomsandelectoralstatespoppingupallovertheinternet.AkindlygentlemannamedJeffHuddlestoncreatingacentralwarehouseofalltheseimaginationsonhisblogtitled"EmperorversusElector".Itwasaplacewherethedenizensofimaginarynationssetinthe18thCenturycouldcongregateandcarryouttheirdiplomaticaffairswithothernations.Jeffaddedalonglistoflinkstovariousblogsthatupdated(notsurewhatyoucallthis,"streaming"orsomethinglikethat)inrealtime.Youcanvisitthesiteandseewhenoneoftheblogshadpostedanewentryonitsblog.Thisremainsavaluabletooltothisveryday,andIadmitthatEmperorversusElectorisoneofthefirstsitesthatIvisitonnearlyeveryday. LetmebeveryclearaboutinmyopinionthatOldSchoolWargamingandImaginationsbroughtalotofnewpeopleinto18thCenturywargamingandanythingthatexpandsthispopulationisavery,very,verygoodthing.Period! WhyWargamewithImaginations? Oneacquaintanceofmysummeditquitenicely,soletmesayitinhiswords: "Ialwayshaveawrysmilewhenthosewhodenigrateimag-nationsintheirnextbreathsaythatitwas"CHARGE"or"THEWARGAME"thatgottheminto18thCenturywargaming,orwhatclassicstheyare!Twoofthemostimagi-nationcentricbooksonwargamingthatIcanputmyhandon. Iamonlystartingdownmyimagi-nationroad,butitisonethatIhavetinkeredwithonpaperforyears.Why?Tworeasons:First-Ilovetheprocessofbringingintoexistencetwosides,thathavenohistoricalbaggage,andSecond-animagi-nationcampaign,evenjustlinkedbattles,isfuntodeviseandrun-evenasasoloproject." Aninterestingobservationthatcheckstwoofmyownboxes-thefunofscribblingonapieceofpaperyourideasforcreatinganarmy,anditgoeswithoutsaying,drawingupimaginarylistsoffiguresthatIwouldwanttopurchaseforanewProject.IharkbacktoHalThinglumandhisMWANpublication-hehadaninfectiouswayoftalkingaboutProjectsandListsofFiguresthatwillalwaysstickwithme. Thesecondcheckboxformeisthefactthatthetwo(ormore)sides/countrieshavenohistoricalbaggagetocontendwith.Whichcountrieshadgoodarmiesandwhichoneshadpoorarmies?Itdoesn'tmatterwhenthecombatantsareofyourowncreation. Theimaginationhasawonderfulsidebenefit,thatis,overthecourseoftheyearsitallowsyoutocreatecharactersandwatchthemdevelopovertime.InmyimaginationofGermania(Prussia)thereisanundercoveragentornaerdowellnamedLadydeWinterwhoworksmysteriouslyaroundtheedgesofourgames.LadydeWinterhasanobsessionwithcollaringaditzyEnglishheiressnamedLadyDianaPettygree.Thesetwoladieshavecrossedpathduringmanyofourgamesandthecompetitionhasasortof"RoadRunnerversusWileE.Coyote"feeltoit.Ihaven'tenoughfingersandtoestocountthenumberoftimesthatLadydeWinteralmostcapturedLadyPettygree,butsheneverquitemanagestonabheradversary.OneofthefunpartsofthisrivalryisthatLadyPettygreehasnoideathatsomeevilwomanhasitinforher,whichmakesthewholethingevenmoredelicious. TheinfamousBlackHussarsofLadydeWinter'spersonalarmyofevildoers. LadyDianaPettygreeissaidtohavepassedthisway. WhereIEnteredtheScene-MyApproach Circa2007,IwasattendingtheannualSevenYearsWarAssociationinSouthBend,IndianawhereIwashostingawargamefeaturingAustriansandPrussiansfightingoversomething,Iforgetwhat.OnthetablenexttomewasagamehostedbyBillProtzthatfeaturedlarge48and54figureinfantrybattalionsfightinginthreeranks,justliketheactualsoldierswouldhavedonein1757.BillwashostinganFrench&IndianWargameatthetime.Ifoundthatasmygameprogressed,IkeptlookingatBill'sgameandadmiringhisbigbattalions. Afterbothofourgamesconcluded,IambledovertoBillandtoldhimhowinterestedIwasinhisgame(whichwontheBestofShowawardthatyear).BilltoldmethathisgameandruleswerestronglyinfluencedbyPeterYoungandhisbook"Charge".Astheconversationcontinued,IgotaroundtoaskingBillwhetherornothehadeverconsidereddoingthisinaEuropeansetting.Well,likemindsconvergedandsoonwewerebothbuildinglargearmieswith60-figurebattalionsand12-figurecavalrysquadrons.Afterafewmonths,wefinallyhadpaintedenoughfigurestohaveagameonBill'sgiant6ftby24ftgametable. BigBattalionsofinfantry,supportedbyequallylargecavalryregiments,inoneofourOldSchoolbattles. PayinghomagetomessersYoung&Grant,wecreatedfictionalcountriesforourarmies.BillhadanaffinityfortheFrenchandsonamedhiscountry"Gallia",whilemyaffinityforallthingsPrussianledtothecreationofmycountry,Germania.Thearmieshadfictionalnamesandnations,buttheywereinfactFrenchversusPrussiansonthetabletop.Yousee,youreallycanhaveyourcakeandeatittoobyhavingbothhistoricalandimaginationsatthesametime. Whatdoyoudowithbigbattalions?Youplayinbiggames! IhavealwaysbeenratherenamoredwithPeterGilder'sWargameHolidayCentre,havingvisitedittwicewhenitwasownedbyMikeIngham.Asaconsequence,IwantedtofightsimilarbigbattlesathomeandatgameconventionsintheUSA. HundredsofPrussianandFrenchcavalrycrossswordsinanimaginarybattlescenario. Onatleastfouroccasions,probablymore,IorganizedlargegamesatalocalhotelforourSYWgames.WeplayedSYWversionsofthebattlesofRossbach,Gettysburg,Antietem,Aspern-EsslingandAusterlitzwithourarmies.Weoftenhad20playersinthesegames,tenperside.Wewouldsetupthetableterrainandplacethetroopsonthetablethedaybeforethegame.Thisway,thegamerswouldarriveandcouldpitchintorightaway.EachbattlehadtohaveaRaisond'Etre soIwouldcreateabackstorytothebattleandgiveanametoeachplayer'sgeneral.SeveraltimesIwenttheextramileandscribbledoutgeneralordersandmissionsforeachpersononapaperscrollthatIsealedwithredwaxandtheletterFfortheFrenchandPforthePrussians.Wehadalotoffunwiththat.Sometimestwoplayersononesidehadconflictingmissionsandthishadthepotentialtocreateevenmorefunandmahayminthegame. SoIhavenothingbutwarmfeelingsaboutImaginationsarmiesandwargames.IcaughtthisparticularSYWbugfromYoungandGrant.IfImaginationsweregoodenoughforthem,theyaregoodenouighforme. Conclusion TheconceptofImaginationsinwargaminghasattractedalotofnewpeopleintotheSYWeraofhistoricalminiaturewargaming.Anythingthatbringsinnewbloodtothehobbyshouldbecelebratedratherthandisparaged. AsIsaidearlier,therearemanydifferentapproachestothehobbyandthediversityofideasonhowtowargameisoneofthethingsthatmakethissuchagreathobby. Postedby DerAlteFritz at 8:39PM Labels: BigBattalionGame, Imaginations, OldSchoolWargaming 38comments: RayRousellFebruary8,2019at12:59AMGoodpost!Imaginationarmiesisn'tmycupotea,butIcanseetheappealifcreatingaforcewithwhatevercolouruniformyouwant.HereatRejectHQthemajorityofgamesweplayaremadeupbattlesforwhateverperiodwe'replaying.Historicalrefightsaredifficulttodo,asonesidealwaysseemstohavetheupperhandfromthestart,especiallythePrussians!ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyCaroleFebruary8,2019at2:03AMIhavealwayslovedtheideaofimaginary18thcenturycountries,andmyinspirationwasCharlesGranttoo.Unlikeyou,Ihavechosentofightmybattlesin15mm,usingtheTooFatLardiesSharpPracticerules.Myimagi-nationsaretakenfromtheTintinbooks,SyldaviaandBorduria,andIreallyhadalotoffuncreatingahistoricalbackgroundforbothofthem.Herearetherelevantpostsaboutthesesmallfarawaycountriesonmyblog-https://hippolytastinyfootsteps.blogspot.com/search/label/imagi-nationsReplyDeleteRepliesReplytradgardmastareFebruary8,2019at2:09AMAnothersplendidpost.JeffandEvEweresuchanimportantpartofmygaming.IrecallbeinginvitedtojointheEvEfamilyofnationsbyhimandhowthingstookofffromthere.FiguressentacrosstheAtlantictofightonother,stabletops,visitorsarrivingbyposttomyimaginationTheDuchyofTradgardlandaspartoftheirGrandTourandthejoyofsendingthemtothenextportofcall.Ifeelthathasgonefrom18thcenturygamingonthewhole,thatcommunitysurvivinginindividualblogsbutlackingacentralunifyingfocus.ImisstheinteractionswithBillandyourselfandwaitingtoseehowthelatestcampaigngamehadgoneonsomeoneelse’sblog.Perhapsthereisnocall/desire/needforsuchacommunitynowbutlamnotsure.WithFacebookwecoulddoitoncemore,isanyoneinterested?ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at11:40PMIthinkthatinhonorofJeff,noonewantstomakethenextpostontheEvEblogandbumpthefinalpostdown,hencetherearenonewpoststhere.Asitshouldbe.However,EvElivesonasaplacetoseewhichblogsareupdating.DeleteRepliesReplyReplySteveJ.February8,2019at2:37AMAwonderfulpostandyourpointsaveryeloquentlyput:).Iwasdrawnto18thCwargamingviamygoodfriendKeithFlint(ofHonoursofWarfame),whichthenledontoaninterestintheOldSchoolrulesthatIhadmissedoutonduetogrowingupinavillage.Theserules,combinedwithsomeexcellentBlogs,sparkedaninterestinImagi-Nations,whethertheybe18thCornot.UltimatelymyplanistohavethesameStatesfightfromthelate17thCthroughtothemid19thC.IdoubtIwilleverachievethisbutI'mhavinggreatfuninplanningitwhichiswhatgamingshouldallbeabout.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyjohnpreeceFebruary8,2019at4:25AMAverynicesummary.IsitironicthatreadingthisInowfeelabitnostalgicfortheearlydaysoftheOSWgroup?OneoftenoverlookedperiodwhereimaginaryconflictsarecommonplaceistheEnglishCivilWar.SmallcampaignssetinfictionalcountiessuchasBorsetshireareacommonplace.Againasettingwhichlendsitselftothedevelopmentofcharactersandongoingscenarios.JohnReplyDeleteRepliesSteve-the-WargamerFebruary8,2019at6:12AM"IsitironicthatreadingthisInowfeelabitnostalgicfortheearlydaysoftheOSWgroup?"Notatall-Imissthemtoo...imaginationswerenevermything,I'vealwaysfoundactualhistorytobejustasmadandentertainingasanimaginedone,butIdoliketoreadotherpeoplesadventuresandstories...DeleteRepliesReplyDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at11:44PMIhavelotsoffondmemoriesoftheearlydaysoftheOSWgroup--allthenewfriendsthatImade,therediscoveryofoldfigureranges,andtheintroductiontocertainbooksforthefirsttime.DeleteRepliesReplyReplyAnonymousFebruary8,2019at4:43AMSpotonJim.SimonReplyDeleteRepliesReplyCurlermanFebruary8,2019at6:00AMExcellentcommentary.ForallthesamereasonsasyougiveIwantedtohavemyownimaginationsandplannedthemrelentlesslyovertheyearsbutfinanceandplayingspacealwaysbeatmeintheend.FinallyafewyearsbackrapidlyapproachingoldagemademerealisethatifIwasevertotickthatboxithadtobenow,soafewyearsbackIscaleddownmyambitionsandbegantoproducemyarmiesin10mmscale.Itworkedformebigbattalionsof60menwereeasilyachievedinthesmallspaceIhadavailable.Imaginationsarenotlimitedbyrules,scaleorstandards.Theonlylimitingfactorisyourownimagination..hehehehReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at10:38AMOnecouldalsouseaSharpPracticestylesystemandplaysmalltablegameswithafewfiguresfromyourvariousimaginationforces.DeleteRepliesReplyReplyPechlivanFebruary8,2019at8:57AMCouldn'tagreemore.WhatIlikeaboutImaginationgamingisthatitisacreativeexercise-maps,histories,personalities;andthegamingbringsitalltolife!ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at11:53PMYes,makingmapsisoneofmyfavoritethingsandthisbegetscreatingabackstoryandcharacters(whichrecuroverthecourseofmanygames).DeleteRepliesReplyReplySprinksFebruary8,2019at10:43AMGreatpost.Itneverfailstowindmerightupwhenthe'yourdoingitwrong'brigadesurfacetotakepotshotsatonepartofthehobbyoranother.Ipersonallylovethefreedomofmakingupnarrativesandsettingsregardlessoftheperiod(beenECWoflate).Afterallsurelythishobbythingismenttobefun?.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyDartfrogFebruary8,2019at11:57AMIhaveneverseenaproblemwithImagi-nations.TheUSArmyhasalwaysusedmade-upcountrieswithcomplexbackstoriestodrivetraining.Ialsofindthatsuchmade-upcountriesworkbeautifullyforcreatingcampaignsasIdon'thavetodealwithpreconceivednotionsaboutPrussians,RussiansandPolesandaccompanyingrulesmodifications.ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at2:02PMRE:preconceivednotions,agreatcomment.InourcampaignsandbattlesallbattalionsandregimentsstartedasTrainedcategoryandthenadvanceVeteranafter2battles.IftheydosomethingheroicorcapturesomecolorsthentheycanbemoveduptoElite,sowedonotfavoranyoneside.InterestingthattheUSArmyusesimaginarycountriesintheirWargamingexercises.DeleteRepliesReplyReplyHerkybirdFebruary8,2019at1:12PMIagree,allgamingisfantasytosomedegree,Imagi-nationsarefine,solongastheyaren'tusedtoproducesuperarmies.Iaminprocessofhelpingourclubstartanimaginationscampaign,andweareusinghistoricalarmiesastemplates.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyRobert(Bob)CorderyFebruary8,2019at2:25PMAgreatblogpost!IcannotconceiveofwargamingNOTincludingimagi-nations!I'vehadthemsinceIwasapre-teenager(OpelandandUpsland)anddevelopedquiteafewsince.Allthebest,BobReplyDeleteRepliesReplyHalThinglumFebruary8,2019at3:08PMInterestingpost,Jim.IattendedoneyourhugeSYWgamesatahotelandhadaverygoodtime.Thespectaclewasinspiringandcomradeshipoutstanding.I,too,usedtoenjoyrunningverylargegames.MySYWcollection3.0isfinishedandIfinishedmountingthemayearago.ItwasalwaysmyintentiontoplaysomeImagi-nationsgames.PerhapsIwill.Goodstuff.ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary8,2019at11:58PMThatwasoneofourbestgameseverwithlotsofgoodsportsmanshipandlivelybanterandcomraderie.DeleteRepliesReplyReplywarpaintjjFebruary8,2019at3:42PMVerywellarticulatedSir.Pleaseignorethe"Naysayers",ashasbeensaidweallindulgeinthis"heresy"everytimewecreateafreshscenarioorfictionalbattle;whichIdoeveryweek!Youarticulatemyownfeelingsverywell,weplayMauricefromtimetotime&Napoleonicsfarmoreoften,mostlyallpureinvention,whocan'tfailtolovethecreativeprocess&theoutcome?Apparentlysomeslothmindedlaggardsdo!Keepdoingwhatyoudooldchum,bestwishes,JeremyReplyDeleteRepliesReplyArchdukePiccoloFebruary8,2019at6:38PMAfineandwell-arguedposting.Butofcourse,Iamoneoftheconverted-orwouldbeifconversionwereeverneeded.AlookatmyarmiesofTrockebeeren-Auslese,Altmark-Uberheim,theGrandDuchyofM'yasmawillrevealamarkedsimilaritytotheHapsburgEmpire,theKingdomofPrussiaandtoRussiaofthe7YW.Notexact,ofcourse:thefiguresweregeneric,prettymuch.Ienjoycreatingimagi-Nations,namingthecountiestherein,andthemajorcharacters.MyownArchdukePiccoloblogisnamedforamajorcharacter,anephewofEmperorVioloncello,andcousinoftheArchduchessHarmonica,theEmperor'selderdaughter.My19thCenturyREDandBLUEarmiesbecometheforcesofRuberiaandAzuria,theonevaguelyBritish,theothervaguelyFrench.SometimestheBLUEarmybecomesTURQUOISE-theArmyoftheSetteeEmpire,Turkowaz.Butsometimeshistoryitselfwillfurnishanameonecannotgopast.MyIonianEmpire(Iamveryfortunateinhavingawholelittoralnamedafterme!)isheadedbytheEmperorDementius,withMichaelPsychopathesandDemetriusKrazioscommandinginthefield.Thehistoricalcharacter?GeorgeManiaces,whobecomesthethirdofmytrioofStrategoi.Itdoesnotstopmyarmybeingpaintedupas10-11thCenturyByzantine!Icouldgoon,butmaybethatshouldbeamatterforpostingonmyownblog!Cheers,IonReplyDeleteRepliesReplyJordanJachimFebruary8,2019at8:19PMThiswasaverywellputpost!Ienjoyedyourpointthatevenhistoricarmiescanengageinnon-historicbattlesandthusare"imaginary".I'venevercreatedanImagi-nationinthepropersense,buthavenotroubleslippingallsortsofnon-historiccharacters(likethosefrommovies)intomygaming.Afterall,thishobbyisabouthavingfun.Whyshouldanyonecriticizeanyoneelse'sapproachtoit?Goodwork!JordanReplyDeleteRepliesReplyGalliaFebruary8,2019at11:01PMNaturallyIagree.J'suisd'accord!---ForseveralyearslongagowehadanImaginationsgameattheannualSevenYears'sWarAssociationweekend.AsIrecallroughlyten-ishattendeesbroughttheirownBIGbattalionstoplay.Iwonderifwecouldnotdothatagainin2020?---JimandIalsowanderedovertoIndiaafewyearsagoinspiredbyJurgen'sSYWIndiagames.ThereGalliaandBritanniaareeverbattlingeachotherwithindigenousallies.MostofthelatterarethePathanswhichfightGeneralPettygreeinthe1890-1905timeperiod.Elephantsandalltherest.---Tremendousfunandsatisfactionimagineeringitall.---Cheers,BillP.GalliaandRaschsteinReplyDeleteRepliestradgardmastareFebruary9,2019at1:28AMWhatarethe2020dateslmighttrytocomeacrossforit?AlanDeleteRepliesReplyDerAlteFritzFebruary9,2019at2:39AMItisusuallythelastweekendinMarchunlessthatparticularyear'sweekendisEaster,thenwemoveitforwardorbackwardoneweek.Weusuallysetthedateduringthecurrentyear'sconventionsoIcanposttheinformationlaterthisyear.DeleteRepliesReplytradgardmastareFebruary16,2019at1:49AMThanksDeleteRepliesReplyReplyColCampbell50February9,2019at9:58AMJim,yourblogwasoneofthereasonsIenteredtheImagi-nationsworld.AndmyenjoymenthasbeenincreasedwiththeexposuretotheEvEblogandBillProtz'srules.IevenenjoyedtwomassivegamesatMilleniumCon2008andgamedacrossthetablefromMonsieurProtzhimself!Jimhttp://colcampbellbarracks.blogspot.com/ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyColCampbell50February9,2019at10:00AMP.S.Ialsothinkamassive"bringyourown"gameattheSYWConventionmightpossiblyencouragemetocome.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyMark,ManofTINFebruary9,2019at2:57PMAninterestingandthought-provokingpost.IfindImagiNationsgamingatinybitfrustratingnothavingpaintingguidesetcbutthenalsoenjoythecreativeandimaginativefreedomtodesignityourself.Imaginationshavealonghistory-backasfarasGulliversTravels?IhaveslowlybeenuntanglingandexploringthejuvenilefictionalworldsoftheAngria,GlasstownandGondalsagascreatedbytheBrontesistersandbrotherinthe1830s.OnereasonthatIenjoysuchImagiNationsgamingisthatitdoesawaywithcriticismofwargamersignoringortrivialisingtheunethicalandunpleasantatrocityandsufferingaspectsofrecreatingrealwars.Ifthesenations,armies,unitsandbattlesneverexisted,noonegetshurt.Nonebraverthanatoysoldier!Itforegroundsthefictionaltoysoldieraspectofwargamingwith“Noleadorphans”asDonaldFeatherstonewouldsay.H.G.WellssummeditupwellintheclosingsectionofLittleWars.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyFitzbuttressFebruary9,2019at3:39PMIusedtobeanabsolutesticklerforhistoricalaccuracyanddetailbuthavenowbeen‘playing’intheimaginaryregionofMittelheim(createdbyagoodfriend)forlongerthantheSevenYearsWarlasted.Itisstillsomewherearound1757-58inMittelheim(theirgrasponconceptssuchastimewasneverstrong)andthesmallstateofNabstriaisnowalmostasrealtomeasPrussia...Eachtotheirownbutoneofthebeautiesofan18thCenturyimaginarycampaignisthatyoucanblendbigbattles,skirmishes,espionage,piratesandIndians(amongstothers)inwhateverwayyouwant...http://mauricecampaign.blogspot.com/ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyBenCatoFebruary10,2019at4:05PMThelargestwargamecompanyoftheworld-Gamesworkshop-productlineisentirelyimaginations.Ithinkimaginationshave"won":)ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyIndependentwargamesgroupFebruary11,2019at5:30AMImabitlatetothediscussionreimaginationsJim.Sorryforthat.FranklyImsurprisedthereisaneedforthisconversationgivenhowthewholeconceptofwargamingisbasedaroundone'simagination.Itdoesntreallymatterifoneisauniformpedantandinsistsonrigidlyformedandpaintedfigurestheyarestillgoingtobeusedbyawargamerwhoneedstohavesufficientimaginationtoactually'play'thegame.Isupposeifoneisacollectorthenthereisonlytheneedtopaintthefiguresasperthehistoricalrecords.ButeventhenIwouldquestiontheactualveracityofthedresscodesofthesoldiersgivenhowmostwerepretheindustrialrevolution.IoftenthinkthatCharlesGrantoptedforimaginationssimplybecausetherewasasevreshortageofinformationavailableatthetime.Thatsaidheclearlypossessedawonderfulsenseoffunandwantedtocreatehisownhistory.Wargamingisaverybroadchurchandthrivesbecauseofthat.Perhapspeopledenigratingimaginationsshouldoptforantherhobbyandleavethemajoritytoenjoytheirtoysinpeace.ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary11,2019at3:16PMWellsaidRobbie.👍ReadingCSGrant'sTheWargameCompanionprovidesalotofthebackstorytotheFamilyGrant'stakeonWargamingandiswellworththeread.DeleteRepliesReplyReplyAnonymousFebruary11,2019at11:22AMExcellentpostJim,wellsaid.Iwouldargueallwargamingisimagination.Happy(imagination)gaming,WillzHarley.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyChrisGreggFebruary13,2019at3:05PMCouldn'tagreemorewiththisJim.Welldone.Ihopesomeofthescepticsreaditandareconvincedbyyourarguments.ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary13,2019at4:28PMMetoo!😀DeleteRepliesReplyReplydalethewargamerMarch6,2021at10:57AMEverytimeIreadabloglikethis,andthemanypoststhatfollow,IrealizehowlateinthegamesotospeakIhaveentered.Thereissuchawealthofwargamingknowledgeandopinionbeingsharedhere.Itiswonderful.Pardonme,butIamrathernewatthishobby,having"discovered"itonlineonedayonlyabout3yearsago.Iamretiredandwasjustpokingaroundtheinternetandthisnewworldappeared.Iplayedwithtoysoldiersasakid.Youhadtohaveimaginationthen.Asanadultthatdesiretousetheimaginationisstillthere.WhenIsawthetermImagi-nationsinablog,andlookedaroundforpostingsrelatedtoit,Ihadnoideaithasbeenaroundsolongandissowidelyfollowed.Iwargamesolo,soIhavenoneedtodebateanotherhobbyist.NorwouldI.Whybother?Enjoythehobbythewayyouwant.Itisfunreadingalltheseposts.IstartedworkingonmyownversionofimaginarynationsandimaginarywarsbeforeIknewaboutImagi-nationsandamreallyjuicedupnow.Thankseveryoneforalltheinfo.I'llbeback.Dale(akadalethewargamer)ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyAddcommentLoadmore... 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