It occurs to me (obviously) that wargaming is a global hobby.
However, unlike many global hobbies there isn't an 'international federation' or anything like that to provide a unifying body or experience (except Games Workshop?)
So the question is, are there any significant differences in the habby across national borders?
Do Americans engage with the hobby in a fundamentally different way to the British or the Spanish?
Does anyone have 'international experience', or opinions on this probably pointless topic?
Is the hobby simply too diverse even within nations, to begin to characterise 'national character'?
Would it be possible or even desirable to establish and 'International Federation of Wargamers'? What would it do?
Rather oddly, i'll kick off by answering my own question, or rather derailing my own thread...its been one of them days.
10mm is a great scale for figures.
I love tournament play.
There are no major tournements that see massed 10mm gaming, in the way 15mm has had DBx and now has Field of Glory for example.
I think this is a real shame and would love to see something similar for 10mm develop. Is it possible do you think? How would it happen?
Could Pendraken hook into a 10mm ruleset and do some sort of tournament system?
:-/
The Franco-Prussian Pendraken rules are well worth a read, although its one of the many periods I havent done yet.
The one difference I'm aware of is that convention games here in the states are primarily participation games while in the UK they are primarily demonstration games. And the presentation of those games differ somewhat - in the states, while some game hosts put together a beautiful table, the scenery is often more utile than artistic, secondary to the purpose of the game. What I've seen of demo games on the UK, the hosts spend a lot of time building terrain boards and other scenery.
Wargamed in South Africa many years ago. In those days it was much like in the UK (i.e. pretty basic). The only difference I can recall is that the SA gamers were more into adapting and converting, due to the lack of figure suppliers.
QuoteThere are no major tournements that see massed 10mm gaming, in the way 15mm has had DBx and now has Field of Glory for example
There were bianual WMA tournaments in Nottingham, however WG pulled the plug as it wasn't a "core rule system" >:(
Fortunately it's now moved to Maelstom Games HQ in Mansfield :D, I can't remember the date off the top of my head but it's sometime in October. Last year we played 3 1250 point games on Saturday and two 2000 pointers on Sunday. Very very good days.
I think the Bournmouth club runs a WMA tournament and there's also one near Chester - not sure of the dates.
Quote from: Luddite on 15 February 2012, 04:50:55 PM
There are no major tournements that see massed 10mm gaming, in the way 15mm has had DBx and now has Field of Glory for example.
I think this is a real shame and would love to see something similar for 10mm develop. Is it possible do you think? How would it happen?
Could Pendraken hook into a 10mm ruleset and do some sort of tournament system?
I think the tournaments need a strong 'brand' set of rules to get enough interest, which we currently don't have. It would be nice to do in the future, but I imagine organising and keeping track of it all takes a lot of man-hours.
Quote from: Leon on 16 February 2012, 01:53:21 PM
but I imagine organising and keeping track of it all takes a lot of man-hours.
I'm sure if you asked there would be alot of people on here who would do that for you :)
Steven
Quote from: Spenno on 16 February 2012, 02:01:14 PM
I'm sure if you asked there would be alot of people on here who would do that for you :)
I'm sure there would be, but I wouldn't want to be creating rods for other peoples backs! :D
Quote from: Leon on 16 February 2012, 01:53:21 PM
I think the tournaments need a strong 'brand' set of rules to get enough interest, which we currently don't have. It would be nice to do in the future, but I imagine organising and keeping track of it all takes a lot of man-hours.
Well, i'm surprised you haven't produced those rules old boy. Decades making toy soldiers after all...
It seems to be the 'big player' business model (GW, Battlefront Minis, etc.),
(re: our email discussions on that topic)
I think if it took off then there would be a fair amount of volunteer organisational help (e.g. look at the huge 40k scene - only a very small number of tourneys are organised by GW)
You could go the route of dedicated 'house' ruleset, or alternatively think about sponsoring an existing ruleset but with a 10mm competition. For example when you look at the competitions at Derby http://www.worldwargames.co.uk/ (http://www.worldwargames.co.uk/) there is a 15mm FOG competition and a 28mm Impetus competition. I guess because someone has shown an interest in organising them. A joint promotion with a rule producer could be beneficial both to Pendraken and the publisher perhaps ?
Quote from: Leon on 16 February 2012, 02:05:57 PM
I'm sure there would be, but I wouldn't want to be creating rods for other peoples backs! :D
Your to nice, people would not offer if they did not want to do the work :)
Aye 'house rules' are a double edged sword i guess. It gives you control over the product, but also tends to limit you figures range appeal doesn't it?
I'd tend to support a suite of Pendraken rules, provided they were good (*glares at Polemos*).
I think Baccus has the right idea originally in being able to use Polemos to promote 6mm where no obvious rules existed (like GNW, WSS) - so it made it easier for people to make the decision to invest in 6mm. For me its less obviously successful when its up against better rulesets in other periods (like Napoleonics).
Quote from: Luddite on 16 February 2012, 02:07:21 PM
Well, i'm surprised you haven't produced those rules old boy. Decades making toy soldiers after all...
Like everything else I've got on the burner, it's finding the time to get something sorted. When I'm not emailing, I'm casting, when I'm not casting, I'm packaging, when I'm not packaging, I'm on the Totty thr... oops... :-[
We need us some slaves... :D
Slaves eh?
I'm Spartacus!!
No!!!!! I'm Spartacus!
Yes some good looking female slaves wearing the Pendraken female uniform of Basque,Suspenders and Fish net stockings. :d :d
New Totty Thread pictures of staff every day ;)
Note:- This is the female uniform - we do not want to see or even think about Dave or Leon wearing it!!!!! X_X X_X
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 16 February 2012, 11:39:37 PM
Note:- This is the female uniform - we do not want to see or even think about Dave or Leon wearing it!!!!! X_X X_X
We need to hire some female staff then... :-\
Quote from: Luddite on 15 February 2012, 04:45:30 PM
So the question is, are there any significant differences in the habby across national borders?
I've noticed two differences:
- The pub as a meeting place doe not seem to happen in North America - at least in my experience, I'd love to hear of exceptions.
- I understand UK conventions are sales shows with a few games. North American conventions are gaming venues with a sales area.
- I found few gamers in the heart of New Work -- the action is in the suburbs, that being where most live. In London I found games to play within a few minutes of the City, and that on weekday nights
Quote from: Luddite on 15 February 2012, 04:45:30 PM
Does anyone have 'international experience', or opinions on this probably pointless topic?
Canada, UK (I should probably more exactly say London), and met with many gamers in the States although I have not actually gamed there.
Quote from: Luddite on 15 February 2012, 04:45:30 PM
Is the hobby simply too diverse even within nations, to begin to characterise 'national character'?
I'd like to hear more observations before I become convinced mine represent general rules.
Quote from: Luddite on 15 February 2012, 04:45:30 PM
Would it be possible or even desirable to establish and 'International Federation of Wargamers'? What would it do?
Not likely a "federation" organizing global tournaments or the like although in narrow specialties it might be possible. But the internet is doing a great job at least of letting us link up with gamers when we do travel.
Quote from: Leon on 17 February 2012, 01:40:01 AM
We need to hire some female staff then... :-\
I'm sure Mrs Leon will have something to say about that... ;D
Quote from: Leon on 17 February 2012, 01:40:01 AM
We need to hire some female staff then... :-\
Leon - I'll send the CVs up to you later for perusal, but in the meantime here are the five that I've shortlisted for your attention:
(http://nextround.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/hotchick_frenchmaid.jpg)
I'm more than happy to provide detailed HR advice on interview day :D
QuoteWould it be possible or even desirable to establish and 'International Federation of Wargamers'?
Given that it's easier to herd cats or nail jelly to a wall than get 2 gamers to agree, the likelyhood of creating an "International Federation of Wargamers" must rank somewhere along side faster than light travel or getting a straight answer from a politician.
QuoteWhat would it do?
Argue - a lot - you'd be more likely to get a concensus from the UN than from 2 or more gamers.
At this point, with the UN in mind I suddenly got a mental picture of the UN General Assembly Room filled with wargamers :-\
USA = Games Workshop - big, brash, over bearing and litigenous.
UK = DBx - Niggly and pedantic
Russia = WRG - Old and reacyionary with versions 1-6 then loosing the plat completely with 7th
The strength of the hobby is it's anarchy :D
But DBx= WRG.
IanS
QuoteBut DBx= WRG.
No it's not, traditional "Workers Reactionary Gaming" WRG only had 7 versions
DBx is "NewSpeak" Blairite wargaming, part of the "
crule Britania pop culture of the 00's"
Quote from: DanJ on 17 February 2012, 12:09:40 PM
No it's not, traditional "Workers Reactionary Gaming" WRG only had 7 versions
DBx is "NewSpeak" Blairite wargaming, part of the "crule Britania pop culture of the 00's"
WRONGWRG published - Ancients 1 - 6 (still got 3/4, 5 and 6), 3 at least sets of napolionic, an appaling 20th Century skimish set, 2 WWII and 3 Modern 1/300th rule sets (last sets also unplayable), DBA - ed's 1 - 2.2, working on 3, HOTT, DBM, eds 1, and 2, and DBR.
DBMM is post WRG after RBS left, although Mr Barker still uses the title.
IanS
Quote from: nikharwood on 17 February 2012, 09:27:15 AM
Leon - I'll send the CVs up to you later for perusal, but in the meantime here are the five that I've shortlisted for your attention:
(http://nextround.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/hotchick_frenchmaid.jpg)
I'm more than happy to provide detailed HR advice on interview day :D
Buggrit! Hire them all!!!!!!!!
Quote from: Nosher on 17 February 2012, 03:06:40 PM
Buggrit! Hire them all!!!!!!!!
I'm sure we can work out some type of part-time apprenticeship deal to accommodate all 5 of them... :D
Quote from: Leon on 17 February 2012, 03:11:34 PM
I'm sure we can work out some type of part-time apprenticeship deal to accommodate all 5 of them... :D
Such a GREEDY BOY!
Just cause you - and I - are too old to cope.......
IanS
Well there's 4 of us out there casting now, so it just means that I get two... :D
In the interests of diversity, and my own particular tastes I think we need at least one Redhead. :d.
I know there are no brunettes but I expect most of those shown are not natural blondes so are technicallly brunnettes.
Less technically they are also known as "Jumbo Jet Blondes" ;D ;D
Quote from: ianrs54 on 17 February 2012, 01:47:03 PM
WRONG
WRG published - Ancients 1 - 6 (still got 3/4, 5 and 6), 3 at least sets of napolionic, an appaling 20th Century skimish set, 2 WWII and 3 Modern 1/300th rule sets (last sets also unplayable), DBA - ed's 1 - 2.2, working on 3, HOTT, DBM, eds 1, and 2, and DBR.
DBMM is post WRG after RBS left, although Mr Barker still uses the title.
IanS
Think you've just proved the point about a Wargames Federation, Ian.
And for Pete's sake, stop shouting! =)
I'M NOT SHOUTING YET !!
IanS :d
Quote from: ianrs54 on 18 February 2012, 12:23:07 PM
I'M NOT SHOUTING YET !!
IanS :d
Don't make me start editing your posts, kinda like an electronic version of putting you in a quiet room... :D
Quote from: Leon on 18 February 2012, 01:17:50 PM
Don't make me start editing your posts, kinda like an electronic version of putting you in a quiet room... :D
aka Dawghouse? I really think there's no need for that sort of thing here. I hope.
Quote from: Leon on 18 February 2012, 01:17:50 PM
Don't make me start editing your posts, kinda like an electronic version of putting you in a quiet room... :D
Just proves the North East 'as no sense of 'umor......
IanS ;D
Quote from: OldenBUA on 18 February 2012, 01:25:15 PM
aka Dawghouse? I really think there's no need for that sort of thing here. I hope.
Nah, nothing like that, I can turn the volume down on his posts though! :D
Quote from: ianrs54 on 18 February 2012, 01:56:11 PM
Just proves the North East 'as no sense of 'umor......
Quite the opposite, you have to have a sense of humour to live here!
Quote from: Leon on 18 February 2012, 01:56:18 PM
Nah, nothing like that, I can turn the volume down on his posts though! :D
That'be good. All that black is using too many electrons on my screen!
Ian I'm sorry I can't read that I haven't got my hearing aid in ;D
QuoteWRONG
WRG published - Ancients 1 - 6 (still got 3/4, 5 and 6), 3 at least sets of napolionic, an appaling 20th Century skimish set, 2 WWII and 3 Modern 1/300th rule sets (last sets also unplayable), DBA - ed's 1 - 2.2, working on 3, HOTT, DBM, eds 1, and 2, and DBR.
DBMM is post WRG after RBS left, although Mr Barker still uses the title.
Actual I know all that, I was just making a comparison between the old reactionary soviet political system and the original WGR rules which were both inflexible and reactionary and the new Labour Bairite spin dominated govenment of Cool Britania where everything was promised to be new and shiny and better but underneath it was still the same old system. I may just leave political analogy out of future posts. :-\
Incidentally your list of WRG products is missing the 7th Edition Ancients set (1987) and the George Gush Renaissance Set (1979). 7th edition marked the culmination of the original WRG Ancients System but did lead to the revolutionary DBA concept, while the the George Gush Renaisance Rules were the Ancients system re-written for the later period.
Quotewhen I'm not packaging, I'm on the Totty thr... oops...
We need us some slaves...
;D =O