What's Wrong With Imaginations? - The Kingdom of Hesse ...

the majority of wargamers like to build historical armies and recreate historical ... The Origins of Old School Wargaming and Imaginations. LiebGarde TheLeibGardeofHesseSeewald Saturday,February2,2019 What'sWrongWithImaginations? TheBattleofLobositzattheLittleWarsConvention,usingBARrulesinOldSchoolstylewargaming. Irecentlyreadablogthathastakenafewswipesat"ImaginationsArmies"and saysthathiswayofdoingthingsinwargamingisthebestway.Severalotherblogshavecarriedasimilartunefromtimetotime,soIthoughtthaarebuttalofsortswaslongoverdue. Well,it'soktohaveyouropinion,butweliveinabigchurch-thewargamingcommunity-andtherearealotofdifferentwaysofapproachingthehobbyofplayinggameswiththeLittleMen,asourwivesandsweetheartscallthem.Aslongaspeoplearehavingfunplayingwargamesandsocializingwithlikemindedfriends,whatisthepointofdisparagingoneformofwargamingoveranother? *themajorityofwargamersliketobuildhistoricalarmiesandrecreatehistoricalbattlesonthetabletop.Theymightalso(andoftendo)createfictionalbattlesandscenariosfortheirtabletopwars.ThisisthelanethatIchoosetoplayinmostofthetime. *anevenlargercommunityofwargamersdwellinthefantasyrealmofHobbits,orcsanddwarvesandallkindofimaginablemonstersandenemies.Notmycupoftea,butIrecognizethatthissegmentofwargamingisvastlylargerthanthehistoricalminiaturessegment. *backin2005orthereabouts,PatrickLewiscreatedaYahooGrouptitled"OldSchoolWargaming"("OSW")thatcelebratedthe"goodolddays"ofwargamingwiththelikesofDonaldFeatherston,PeterYoung,CharlesGrantandPeterGilder,amongothers.ItalsorememberedsomeoftheoldfigurerangessuchasSuren,SpencerSmith,RSM,Minifigs,Heritage,andConnoisseur,amongothers. TheBattleofMollwitz,anoldfavoritefromTheWargamebookbyCharlesGrant.SurenUhlansdeSaxeclashwithStaddenBlackHussars. AnothercavalryscumatMollwitzfeaturingHinchcliffeAustiansandEliteMiniaturesPrussians.Notetheuseofsinglestandfiguresmountedonmovementtrays,orsabots,payinghomagetotheOldSchoolstyleofsinglemountedfiguresinPeterYoung'sChargebookandrules. TheOriginsofOldSchoolWargamingandImaginations OSWbroughtbackmemoriesoftheimagineryarmiescreatedbyPeterYoungandCharlesGrantandbookssuchas"TheWargame"byCharlesGrantand"Charge"byPeterYoung.People rememberedcuttingtheirwargamingteethonthesebooksandmanyafondmemorywasdredgedfromourmemoriesfromthoseearlydaysofthe1960sand1970s.IthinkthatthemainattractionsofwargamingintheYoung-Grantstylearethelargeregimentsofbig,easytosee30mmfiguresandthekinder,gentlerstyleofinteractionamongsttheplayers. TheOldSchoolWargamingmovementbroughtalotofpeopleintotherealmof18thCenturywargaming,andtheSevenYearsWarinparticular.Theybegantobuildimagineryarmies,justlikethoseofCharlesGrant,thatmighthaverepresentedfictionalcountries,buttheywerefirmlybasedintheeraoftricornhats,coatswithturnbacksandarathergentlemanlyapproachtowargamingthatemphasizedcourtesy,corgialityandasenseoffairplay.Thiswasallgood. Somewherealongtheline,someoneappliedthename"Imaginations"toallofthefictionalcountries,kingdoms,dukedomsandprincipalitiesthatgamershaddeveloped.Thenamestuckandnowadayswhenwargamersheartheword"imaginations"itconjuresupwargaminginthemannerofYoungandGrant.  Letmebeclearinmyopinion,OldSchoolWargamingandImaginationsbroughtalotofnewpeopleintotheworldof18thCenturywargamingandanythingthatexpandsthepopulaceof18thCenturywargamingisavery,very,verygoodthins.Period! Bataillesdansl'AncienRegimeRulesAreDeveloped Circa2007,IwasattendingtheSevenYearsWarAssociationConventioninSouthBend,IndianaandIwashostingsomesortofconventionalSYWgamefeaturingAustriansandPrussians.OnthetablenextmewasagamehostedbyBillProtzthatfeaturedlargebattalionsof48and60figurebattalionsofsoldiersfightinginthreeranks,justliketheydidintheSYW.BillwasrunningaFrenchandIndianWargameatthetime.Asmygameprogressed,IfoundthatIkeptpeeringoveratBill'sgametabletowatchthese"BigBattalions"fightitoutonthetabletop Afterourprospectivegameshadconcluded,IwalkedovertoBillProtzandtoldhimhowinterestedIwasinhiswargameanddiscoveredthatBill'sgameandruleswerestronglyinfluencedbyPeterYoungandhisbook"Charge".AstheconversationcontinuedIgotaroundtoaskingBillthequestion,"haveyoueverconsideredbuildingarmiesfortheEuropeantheatreoftheSevenYearsWarand usingyourbigbattalionsforwargames?" Well,likemindsconvergedandweagreedthatitwouldbeagoodideaforustogettogetherandtrysomegamesintheEuropeantheateroftheSYW.IbeganpaintingPrussianbattalionsof60figuresandcavalrysquadronsof12figures.BillbeganaddingcavalrytohisexistingFrenchandBritisharmies.AfterseveralmonthsofpaintingwecollectivelyhadenoughbigbattalionsonhandtofightadecentSYWbattleonBill'slarge6ftby24fttable. PayinghomagetomessersYoungandGrant,wecreatedfictionalnationsforourarmies.BillhadanafinityfortheFrencharmyandsohis"imagination"wascalled"Gallia".Icounteredwithacountrycalled"Germania"(orGeraniumsasHalThinglumcalledit).MyownparticularcountrywascalledHesseSeewald,asmallcountrythatmodeleditsarmyafterthePrussianarmy.Asamatteroffact,allofmyinfantrybattalionsandcavalryregimentswerepaintedandflaggedasPrussianregiments.TheyjusthappenedtobefightingunderthebannersofGermaniaorHesseSeewald. TheNapoleonicBattleofAspern-EsslingfoughtasanimaginarySYWbattlebetween GalliaandGermania. ThehappybandofbrothersplayinganOldSchoolstylegameofImaginations. ThetownofAsperndecoratedwitholdstyleIanWeekleybuildingsandanewerchurchbuiltbyHerbGundt Big60-figurecavalryregimentsatAspern-Essling. WheredoesthenameHesseSeewaldcomefrom"IliveinatowncalledLakeForestsoLake=SeeandForest=Wald,thusSeewaldwould,intheory,beaGermannameforLakeForest.ItseemedlikethereweremanyGermanprincipalitiesthatwerecalledHesse-thisorHesse-thatsoIaddedthewordHessetoSeewaldandcreatedthefictionalcountryofHesseSeewald. RulesforPlayingWithBigBattalions WefoughtourbattlesusingBill's"DrumsofWarAlongtheMohawk"rulesfortheFrenchandIndianWar.Therulesuseafiguretomanratioof1:10,meaningthatonewargamefigurerepresentstenactualmen.Weplayedalot,andImeanareallylargelotofwargameswiththeserules,tweakingandaddingthingshereandthere.Overthecourseofseveralyears,wehaddevelopedareallynicesetof18thCenturywargamerulesandIencouragedBilltopublishhisrules. Billdidindeedpublishtherulesunderthename"Bataillesdanl'AncienRegime"orBattlesintheAncienRegime(whichiswhatFrancewascalledpriortotheadventoftheFrenchRevolution.Weneededanacronymfortherulesbecauseithadaratherlongname,sowesettledon"BAR"forshort.From2005to2010westagedmanybattlesbetweenGalliaandGermania.FollowingtheadmonishementofPeterYoung,wecelebratedourvictoriesbybestowingbattlehonorstothewinningarmiesandgluingwoodenplaquestomonumentstocelebrateourwins.BattleswerenamedafterDonaldFeatherstone,PeterYoung,CharlesGrantandotherpioneersofthewargaminghobbyfromthe1960sand1970s. HistoriconGamehostedbyProtz,Frye&Purky Bigbattalions,WinterterrainandImaginationsarmiesadduptoawholelotofFUN! Wemusthavegarneredsomeattentiontothe18thCentury,becauseBillsoldalotofsetsofhisrulesandpeopleallacrosstheUSAwerebuildingBARarmies.BillhadthehonorofbeinginvitedtoaconventioninTexasandhelpingtorunaBARgameattheconvention.In2007asIrecall,HistoriconinvitedBillProtzandIasspecialguestsoftheconventiongiventhatthethemeoftheyearwasthe18thCenturyWarfare.Weran3or4gamesinthefrontlobbyofthehotelandconductedaseminaroninfantrytactics(wepushedabunchofourbattalionstogethertocreatetwo600figurebattalionsofFrenchandPrussianssothatpeoplecouldseehowlongabattalionwasandhowharditmighthavebeentomaneuversuchabattalion.Thatwasareallycoolthingtosee. Aboveall,WEHADFUN! MyStyleofImaginations&OldSchoolWargaming Manyofmyforceswerebuiltusing30mmStaddenandSurenfigures,asfeaturedinCharlesGrant'sbook,TheWargame.IalsousedRSMfigures,someEliteMiniatures,OldGloryandFrontRankfigures.IhadfunbuildingmyPrussian/Germanian/HesseSeewaldarmywiththesefigures.AtonetimeIhadasmanyas20battalionsof60-figurePrussianbattalions,butovertheyearsIhavereducedmyarmytoabout12battalions(abouttheamountoffiguresthatIcancarryinthetrunkofmycartoawargameatBillProtz'shouse). OnatleastfouroccasionsIorganizedandhostedlargemega-gamesatalocalhotelforourSYWgames.WeplayedSYWversionsofRossbach,Gettysburg,Aspern-EsslingandAusterlitzwithourBARarmiesandhad20+playersineachgame.Itwasreallyamazingtoseesomanytroopsspreadacrosstwoorthree6ftwideby20feetlonggametables.IwasalwaysenamoredwithPeterGilder'sWargameHolidayCenterandGrandMannerstyleofgaming,andthisiswhatIattemptedtorecreaateintheselargegames.AllwerefoughtundertheImaginationsbannersofGalliaandGermania. SoIhavenothingbutwarmfeelingsaboutImaginationsarmiesandwargames.Icaughtthewargamingbug,andtheSYWbuginparticular,frommessersGrantandYoung.IfImaginationsweregoodenoughforthem,theyaregoodenoughformetoo. Conclusion TheconceptofImaginationshasattractedalotofgamerstotheSYWeraofhistoricalminatureswargame.Anythingthatbringsinnewpeopletothehobbyissomethingthatshouldbecelebrated,ratherthandisparaged. AsIsaidearlier,therearealotofdifferentapproachestothehobbyandthediversityofideasonhowtowargameisoneofthethingsthatmakethissuchagreathobbytopursue.  Postedby DerAlteFritz at 11:28PM EmailThisBlogThis!SharetoTwitterSharetoFacebookSharetoPinterest 7comments: tradgardmastareFebruary2,2019at11:58PMSplendidpost!GreetingsfromtheDuchyofTradgardland!AlanReplyDeleteRepliesReplytradgardmastareFebruary3,2019at12:04AMEmperorvElectorBlogwasagreatencouragementtothosecommencingcreatinganimagination.BluebearJeffdidsomuchtoencourageandenthusepeople.Theblogalsoservedasaplacefordifferentrulerstoconverse,campaignsplayedoutandevenfiguressentbyposttovist/fightinothercountries.IlookbackontheseEvEdayswithgreataffectionandwishwecouldreviveit.AlanReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary3,2019at2:08AMAlan,IalwaysenjoyedyourpostsaboutTradagardland.IwasgoingtomentionBlueBearJeffandEvEbutIcouldn'trecallhislastname.DeleteRepliesReplyReplyTheGoodSoldierSvjekFebruary3,2019at1:38AMIhavesemi-imaginationsSYWusing40mmPrinceAugusthomecastsusingBARanditwastheOldSchoolmovementthatgotmestarted.ReplyDeleteRepliesDerAlteFritzFebruary3,2019at2:09AMMetoo!👍😀DeleteRepliesReplyReplyHeinz-UlrichvonBoffkeFebruary3,2019at6:43AMYes,BIGbattaliongamesandimaginarycombatantshavemuchtorecommendthem.Stillpluggingawaywithitmyself,althoughgameshavebeenfewandfarbetweeninrecentyears.Ratherthandesigningmyownuniformsandflags,IhavegraduallymovedintoReichsarmeeterritory,whichnicelysatisfiestheitchtopaintandcollectforcesthatlookalittledifferentfromthemoreusualAustriansandPrussians.Bytheway,JeffHuddlesonwasBlueBearJeff'sfullname.BestRegards,StokesReplyDeleteRepliesReplytradgardmastareFebruary8,2019at4:57AMCan'tgowrongwiththeReichsarmee.Imaginationsfeelrightathomethere.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyAddcommentLoadmore... NewerPost OlderPost Home Subscribeto: PostComments(Atom) Himself DerAlteFritz Who'sWhoinHesseSeewald Home PictureGallery HesseSeewaldArmy TheHistoryofHesseSeewald Followers AboutMe DerAlteFritz Iamatheart,ahistorybuff,andmyinterestinhistoryincludesreadinghistory,visitingbattlefieldsites,watchingmoviesabouthistoricalsubjects,andastrongfocusonFredericktheGreatofPrussiaandtheSevenYearsWar. Viewmycompleteprofile TotalPageviews BlogArchive ▼  2019 (4) ►  November (1) ►  March (1) ▼  February (2) NewCavalryUnitEntersServiceinHesseSeewaldArmy What'sWrongWithImaginations? ►  2018 (3) ►  May (3) ►  2016 (3) ►  December (2) ►  June (1) ►  2015 (19) ►  April (3) ►  March (13) ►  February (3)