Wargamers 'outed' on the internet

[Sandinista]

My ex-wife once complained that I loved my little men more than I loved her.

Seems she may have had a point 

Cheers
Ian

[FierceKitty]

A girlfriend once remarked that she'd become interested in me through seeing how affectionate I was with my cats; she added wryly that if she'd realised that she'd never be able to compete with them....

[Subedai]

When I started wargaming in 1971, wargaming was most definitely a fringe hobby that was just starting to gain a bit of interest from the press, albeit mildly patronising and the use of the phrases 'frustrated general' or 'armchair general' were being bandied about. Consequently, I wasn't too keen to share with strangers what I did in my spare time. However, time moves on, people grow older and now I couldn't really give a rats a*se what people think of me or my hobby. Ma Subs started out a bit wary and incredulous, then went all sceptical, then mildly tolerant but now it's just a part of me that she has come to accept. After all, I am in complete acceptance of her interest in the ever-increasing paranormal dross on the tv (means I can write or paint) and her knitting (which also means I can write or paint). Win win.

[Wulf]

I think everyone who knows me - even people I work beside I've only ever talked to on the phone - know I play with toy soldiers. For that mater, I used to run around in the woods dressed as an elf, casting magic spells & hitting people over the head with a rubber sword.

And that's exactly how I describe my hobbies too!

Well, it's better than watching grown men running around a field in short trousers...

[FierceKitty]

I think everyone who knows me - even people I work beside I've only ever talked to on the phone - know I play with toy soldiers. For that mater, I used to run around in the woods dressed as an elf, casting magic spells & hitting people over the head with a rubber sword.

Pictures, or it didn't happen!

[toxicpixie]

Ahhh, good old cross country pantomime! TBH I don't miss it, but I did enjoy it at the time

I'm pretty open about playing with toy soldiers, taking things too seriously just makes you look embarrassed!

[Wulf]

I'm pretty open about playing with toy soldiers, taking things too seriously just makes you look embarrassed!

There are LARPers and even tabletop RPG players who claim it's 'Improvisational Theatre' which I think is even worse...

[toxicpixie]

I've done many kinds of LARP before, including with people who get very upset at LARP instead of LRP, so I know well the heated nature of peoples terminology for it

I blame Minds Eye Theatre

[Wulf]

Pictures, or it didn't happen!

Sadly, it seems, it's been so long since I was active in LARP that most of my pics have disappeared off the web. There are these two...

https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1355673_md.jpg

https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1355672_md.jpg

[Leman]

I thought this thread was about wargaming. What the f**k is LARP or LRP? Oh hold on - Live Action Role Play - Jeez, how f**king Californian!

[Ithoriel]

My one foray into LARP was enough to persuade me that Fridays night round the dining table with friends, wine, crisps, miniatures, a rulebook and a pad of character sheets* was more my style of role-play.

That said, I could kind of see the attraction.

*I took the George R R Martin approach to character survival in my campaign

[Ithoriel]

I thought this thread was about wargaming. What the f**k is LARP or LRP? Oh hold on - Live Action Role Play - Jeez, how f**king Californian!

Your definition of wargaming is clearly rather narrower than mine :-)

[skywalker]

I once had to do a presentation skills course, which the opening day you had to do a 5 minute presentation about yourself including your qualifications job role and a bit about yourself outside of work.
Not being a very confident speaker at the time I was going through my presentation and noticed people looking bored so I ended the presentation with this:
"Out of work I enjoy taking part in table top reenactments of strategic, historical, fantasy or science fiction conflicts.........but to those of you who haven't a clue what I am talking about it is simply grown men playing with toy soldiers" 
This got a laugh from the (captive) audience and the lady who was running the course said the ending was brilliant as it made people remember me.

[Orcs]

Mrs Orcs used to think the figures looked really good but thought wargaming was a bit "weird"

I said that lots of things are "wierd if you don't understand them .

Golf - walking round a field  Hitting a ball with a stick into a hole? often in the pouring rain !  ( her ex was a golfer )  I also pointed out he did  this in preference to spending time with his own children so they don't have much to do with him

It also cost him his marriage.  For which I suppose I should be eternally grateful to the game 

At which she conceded the point.

She accepts it part of me and appreciates that at least I am at home.  She also has worked out that painting helps me switch off. Often she now says " I think you need to go and paint"

[toxicpixie]

Excellent, Skywalker

Wulf, your kit suggests your fantasy larp days were of a slightly later era than mine, as the kit Is rather better

Ithorial, I try to slacken the Paranoia/Tomb of Horrors approach these days. Though we did have a Rolemaster campaign where several players just added "the second/third/fourth" to the end of their characters names