The pending Big 50

[Leman]

Whilst playing against a mate the other afternoon I realised that next year marks the 50th anniversary of my first ever proper wargame with rules, ruler and dice We decided to mark it with a replay of that first game, albeit using smaller scale figures and with much better terrain. As a consequence I have been thinking what else would I like to do in a retro nature. Having looked at some of my more dogeared sets of rules, and having a hankering for some smaller scale FPW battles/actions (not necessarily historical ones) I decided to use some of my 10mm stuff to revive my old favourite set of Les Gens Braves. I've always liked these rules because they were produced for the FPW and nothing else, so there are odd little quirks in there that really only apply to the FPW. The one change I will make is to use same size infantry bases for both sides, but with more French per base than Prussians. In the rules the Prussians have five bases to the French three, but French bases last slightly longer. I am coupling this with trying a new painting style to see if I can churn out 10mm figures a bit quicker than in the past . More anon as 2016 approaches.

[Norm]

Nice idea about the nostalgic look at your first game.

Let us know how the painting style experiment goes ...... I have the daunting prospect of napoleonic armies in front of me.

[Fenton]

I am hoping they will be mounted on old cut up corn flakes packet and painted in  a Britain's Green

Looking forward to seeing pics of your bounce sticks as well

[Leman]

Cornflakes packets? It was beer mats for me every time. (In fact my 1980s C12th Henry II army is still on them - must get the lads on decent Impetus bases one day.)

[paulr]

Next year marks my 40^th year of serious wargaming.

I had dabbled a bit before that but got totally hooked after watching a refight of Guilford Courthouse put on by the Christchurch Wargames club to mark the American bicentennial 

I have been fortunate to have met up with a couple of the guys involved in that game in the last few years and been able to thank them

Ironically I had not played in an AWI game until I started my AWI project in November 2013 (is it really that long ago )

[Bodvoc]

1975, loads of Skytrex 1/300 tanks fighting across the back of a subbutteo cloth laid across my bed in a game against school pal Alan who I am still in touch with. We also had lots of Minifigs LOTR range too, plastic trees by Merit.

[Fenton]

Next year marks my 40^th year of serious wargaming.

I had dabbled a bit before that but got totally hooked after watching a refight of Guilford Courthouse put on by the Christchurch Wargames club to mark the American bicentennial 

I have been fortunate to have met up with a couple of the guys involved in that game in the last few years and been able to thank them

Ironically I had not played in an AWI game until I started my AWI project in November 2013 (is it really that long ago )

I don't think I have had one year of serious gaming yet. Most have them have been bloody stupid and good fun

[fred.]

I'm struggling to remember exactly when.

I think I first played D&D (probably AD&D) aged about 9 - so 1980 or so, with the older brother of my friend as the DM. We also played the odd game of what was probably Warhammer v1 around the same time.

Not much later I was playing WWII games with my mate Alex - using Operation Warboard and Airfix kits and figures - I think this was first year of secondary school - but might have been the second year, as Alex was the year below. And we spent most of the bus journeys to school working out wargames stuff.

What's strange is that I can remember bits of games, and preparing for games and the like - but I'm really struggling to place this against actual years.

I've just googled some dates for Warhammer - apparently WH1 was 1983, and WH2 was 1984. WH2 was the version that we played loads during secondary school - especially upper school - so probably 1985 onwards. It also suggests that that version of WH might be worth £100!! Whereas the 3 main AD&D books were published late in the 70s. None of this helps a lot.

[Ithoriel]

Naval wargames in the back garden with Airfix 1:600th scale ships, using Fletcher Pratt's rules from Don Featherstone's "Naval Wargames" book which had just been published. So 50 years this year for me too!

[paulr]

I don't think I have had one year of serious gaming yet. Most have them have been bloody stupid and good fun

I meant serious as in dedicated and committed

40 years of fascination and great fun

[Techno]

Around 1978 ? 
Only D&D, though.
Cheers - Phil

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Started solo - first game roughly 72, in Heswall hall, using WRG micro armour rules. Can still qouted basic to hit and mods...

IanS

[Womble67]

I started playing with Airfix models  when I was a small boy using elastic bands or marbles to knock the toy soldiers over.  But if we're on about proper wargaming with rules and dice then unfortunately I started late. I've only been on the journey about 12 to 15 years.

Take care

Andy

[T13A]

1967 for me using dice (rolling them to get a score rather than throwing them at the figures). Played most of the battles of the ACW with (mainly) unpainted Airfix figures.

Cheers Paul

[FierceKitty]

Only about 40 years this side. I'm the baby of the club.