End of the lockdown/summer - a return to the normal patterns of wargaming?

[Sunray]

What did you do during lockdown?

You purchased figures and you painted & based.

Right now is there perhaps a surplus of painted figures that will never be played with but find their way onto ebay?

But with the end of lockdown, we emerge into the summer sunlight and try to return normal - or a new normal.

Games with friends/clubs will kick in soon,  Solo days are over.

We tentatively resume the social activities we have missed. Perhaps take a break in painting & basing?

Shows will tentatively start again.  Will we be looking for new ranges?  What will tempt us back?

The trade always slows down for the summer. We are a winter nights hobby in respect of painting & basing.

Will the autumn see a return to something approaching what we knew as "normal" ?

[Orcs]

Well I am just halfway through a week of play a Chain of Command campaign. Sunjester has come round for two all day games, Another friend has come round once, and on thier is booked for Thursday and Friday.  So five all day games in a week.

Mrs Orcs said this morning "When you retire, you can do this reguarly"  ( Isn't she wonderful?)

I have 592 shifts to go before I retire on 31st March 2025. Unless I get made redundant or take a release package, both of these options are more likely than me making the retirement date.

[Ithoriel]

Painted? You're kidding! With no prospect of face to face gaminjg I've barely lifted a tube of superglue let alone a paint brush.

Having lots of fun in Valheim though. Low poly count graphics and minimal guidance on what to do notwithstanding!

[Norm]

My painting has gone up this year, more than it has done for years, but I can still hardly think of myself as being prolific, which is where I need to be if the stash is to be redressed.

I certainly did more buying and the vibe is that sale volume has gone up ....... But I wonder whether this growth was actually gained by making sales that came from the future and that the sales boom will be followed by some entrenchment?

The goal posts keep moving on what 'we know' or 'expect' of the situation as variants become more transmissible versus the hugely successful vaccination and the ability of the vaccine to remain proof or at least proof enough.

But for meeting up, our armoury is better, including the availability of lateral flow tests and many being double jabbed.

My boardgaming side is a little harder than the figure side of gaming, as we sit face to face, within a metre, for around three hours and frequently handling the same game markers - even so, that side of things is  feeling like it is getting closer.

Perhaps the biggest barrier is us as individuals having the confidence to change our behaviours back to what they were and switch life back to a more fully 'ON'.

18 months ago, we criticised the youngsters for looking at screens too much and now we are doing the same, so I think a bit more 'real' contact is very important and to make sure we don't develop a siege mentality ........ so Hurrah for game shows and club meets, which must surely be the first sign of some normality.  Perhaps the onus is on each of us to push a little and make normal more normal.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Going to my first club meeting in ages tonight. Could have started 2 weeks ago but locations are a tad difficult to get to on public transport, Elton and Mold. One is by Stanlow refinery, t'other in Wales. I also seem to be working more now I'm retired and locked down than I did before on universal credit. Got shed load of stuff to paint.

[Big Insect]

I am booked in for a 5 games in 1 day 'Baptism of Fire' masked LadG 100pts fast-play 28mm competition on Sunday 8th August @ Thornbury .... I am looking forward to it immensely.

I've completed two whole 28mm armies in Lockdown and added extra (much needed) units to about half a dozen others.
I even completed a 10mm Pendraken Samurai Apes army for Pendraken warband (from scratch). My 1st 10mm army.
I've also rebased a couple of 15mm Fantasy armies as well.

So on the figure front, all is well. Still a load more stuff in the lead pile though!!! Goes without saying.

[Steve J]

Well I bought very little during the lockdowns, having realised that I have plenty in the lead mountain to keep me going for quite some years. Also many purchases bought as retail therapy will never see the light of day, so will be offloaded at a local show an and when that happens.

Very, very little painting done until now, as all my time and effort went on making sure the family was OK. Also without FtF gaming to spur me on, there was no incentive to paint as I had enough figures painted or my wooden blocks for when the mood for a game took me.

As for returning to 'normal', we're still very unsure as our daughter has yet to be vaccinated, but the rest of the family will have had both jabs come the weekend. A bit unfair to subject her to risk whilst we may be 'OK'.

I would love to attend a show later in the year, but again still not sure whether I would feel safe in the sort of crowded environments that shows are. Also with possible limited numbers allowed in at anyone time, social distancing etc, it wouldn't feel the same.

[Norm]

I went toBoots the Chemist today and picked up some lateral Rapid Antigen trst kits, so on the day we face to face, we can do a quick test before hand.

[DecemDave]

Not going to be much of a change for me as I only went to two shows a year (Cavalier & Vapnartak) and the occasional SoA event anyway.  Do most games solo except when a neighbour thrashes me at Command and Colours. 
BUT I do now have (well almost - about 1/3rd through basing) two c. 600 fig 10mm ECW armies ready to "Have At" each other so maybe I'll consider contacting local clubs after Sept when most will have had 2 jabs.