Returning fire ...

On Monday, after I had written my blog entry about the very recent COW2011, I put a topic entitled CONFERENCE OF WARGAMERS (COW2011) REPORTS on THE MINIATURES PAGE. I added links to my blog entry and to the relevant blog entries of other members of Wargame Developments. The topic was not intended to start a discussion; it was more in the nature of a news item.

Imagine my surprise, therefore, when I read the following reply from someone whose identity on TMP is ‘Dan of Iniquity’:

I am always struck that in thirty years Wargames Developments have never actually developed anything that seems to be used in popular rules.

Will there be a point when this exercise in self-selective elitism does actually produce even the smallest thing that finds itself into the main stream of the hobby.

I felt that I could not let this comment go unanswered. I have been a member (and Treasurer/Membership Secretary) of Wargame Developments since it was founded, and I know who has been a member during those years … and the membership has included quite a few people whose names ‘Dan of Iniquity’ might recognise because they are well-known within the wargaming hobby both in and outside the UK.

Last night, after I had read the comment, I felt compelled to write the following reply:

Dan of Iniquity,

You are quite right; in 30 years Wargame Developments has produced nothing … but its members have! That's the point of WD; it encourages people to experiment and develop. It isn't a wargames publishing house, a game designer, or a model figure manufacturer … but these are represented amongst its membership, as are professional military personnel who design simulations for a living.

As for being a self-selected elite … well anyone can join, even you. We do not discriminate; all you have to have is an interest in wargaming and trying out new ideas. If that makes members a self-selecting elite … well that is your definition, not mine.

PS. If the Data Protection Act allowed me to publish a list of the members of WD, you might see quite a few names of long-term members that you recognise and who have 'actually developed anything that seems to be used in popular rules.'

PPS. I am sorry if this message sounds a bit rude, but after thirty years of this sort of comment, one gets a bit miffed.

In the cool light of morning, I feel that I might have stepped over the boundary of politeness more than I intended. No doubt I will get ‘stifled’ if ‘Dan of Iniquity’ takes offence … but ever since Paddy Griffith started the ball rolling and Wargame Developments was founded, it has been ‘sniped’ at by various individuals and/or groups within wargaming. We have been termed ‘elitist’ (a self-selecting one, if ‘Dan of Iniquity’ is to be believed),’ ivory towerist’ (whatever that means!), ‘secretive’, ‘self-satisfied’, ‘self-indulgent’, ‘out of the mainstream’, etc.

The funny thing is that anyone can join. You just pay the membership fee and become a member. It is not by ‘invitation only’ (something else WD has been accused of: ‘You can only become a member if you are nominated by an existing member’ was something that was said to me at a wargames show some years ago when I was helping to run a participation game on behalf of Wargame Developments). There are no secret rituals to be endured. No special handshakes to learn. No passwords to learn. No interview to go through. All it requires is a small payment … et voila!

So did ‘returning fire’ make me feel better? I am afraid to say that it did. I am probably still too combative for my own good … I must try to learn to relax now that I am retired, and not to let comments like those made by ‘Dan of Iniquity‘ get under my skin.

I think that this is going to take me some time.