My toy/wargames room is in the loft conversion that was done about eight years ago. It faces south-west and has a wonderful view across London. It is also insulated to the building standards that were (and I think still are) in force ... which means that it is nice a cosy during cold weather ... and bl**dy hot when the weather gets warm!
For the past two days it has just been too hot to wargame in there, even with both of the windows open, the blinds down, and the 18-inch electric fan going full belt! All of the above manage to keep the temperature lower than it might be, but after about five minutes I am soaked in sweat and beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Trying to wargame or even do any modelling in there is just impossible, and is likely to remain so until the unseasonably hot weather passes.
So what have I done instead of wargaming? Well I have been doing quite a bit of reading, some writing, but – most importantly – some thinking, especially about my MEMOIR OF BATTLE (MOB) and MEMOIR OF MODERN BATTLE (MOMBAT) rules. I think that the former are on the edge of being finished (just a few minor tweaks remain to be made), and once I am happy with the way that they work I will apply the lessons I have learned to MEMOIR OF MODERN BATTLE.
So I may not have been able to wargame for the past few days, but I have been doing what a lot of wargamers seem to spend a lot of time doing instead … I have been thinking about wargaming!
For the past two days it has just been too hot to wargame in there, even with both of the windows open, the blinds down, and the 18-inch electric fan going full belt! All of the above manage to keep the temperature lower than it might be, but after about five minutes I am soaked in sweat and beginning to feel very uncomfortable. Trying to wargame or even do any modelling in there is just impossible, and is likely to remain so until the unseasonably hot weather passes.
So what have I done instead of wargaming? Well I have been doing quite a bit of reading, some writing, but – most importantly – some thinking, especially about my MEMOIR OF BATTLE (MOB) and MEMOIR OF MODERN BATTLE (MOMBAT) rules. I think that the former are on the edge of being finished (just a few minor tweaks remain to be made), and once I am happy with the way that they work I will apply the lessons I have learned to MEMOIR OF MODERN BATTLE.
So I may not have been able to wargame for the past few days, but I have been doing what a lot of wargamers seem to spend a lot of time doing instead … I have been thinking about wargaming!
Tsk! You don't know the meaning of Hot :)
ReplyDeleteI have a similar problem with my room which is in the upstairs of an 19th C farmhouse, what is usually referred to as a story & 1/2 where the roof forms 1/2 the walls. This is one of the reasons I refer to winter as my campaigning season!
ReplyDeleteIn summer, on an average day, its often comfortable until about 10 am, early rising is required to get a game in. Cool rainy days were never so welcome!
I feel I have waited an eon for warm dry weather to get my Funny Little Wars armies mustered in the garden and now, suddenly, it is too hot so I am resigned to sitting in the shade sipping cold beer. What is a chap to do?
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Brian
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteLuckily my 'eyrie' tends to avoid the firecest of the heat as the windowns open on the shady side in the afternoon.
Certainly having fast play rules is very useful - you are not up there for as long!
Anyway, time spent thinking is seldom wasted.
All the best,
DC
Spot on...we all spend a great deal of time thinking about gaming and hoping to translate it into actual gaming. Here's to cooler weather and hot dice!
ReplyDeleteKaptain Kobold,
ReplyDeleteWhat would you expect to hear from a Pom but a winge about the weather? :^)
All the best,
Bob
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteYour room sounds very similar to mine, except that the temperature in mine starts to rise from 11.00am onwards as the sun comes over the top of Shooters Hill and begins to 'hit' my toy/wargames room.
All the best,
Bob
Brian Carrick,
ReplyDeleteI totally sympathise with your plight ... and wish I could join you in the shade, sipping a cold drink.
Don't worry, it will soon be too wet and/or cold to wargame in the garden very soon (probably next week!).
All the best,
Bob
David Cook,
ReplyDeleteIf only my wargames room had faced east rather than west ... then I would have been cooler whilst I was wargaming ... but then my office would have been too hot to work in and my wargames rules would never have been written!
Better that they stay the way they are and I get some thinking done. As you write in your comment, the latter is rarely a wasted effort.
All the best,
Bob
GrumbleJones,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Here's to a slightly cooler temperature ... and lucky dice!
All the bet,
Bob
I have a similar problem in my shed. 24 degrees in there first thing, rising to about 33 by lunch. Paint practicaly dries on the brush. I can get some woodwork done, though. Never mind, two whole weeks of rain soon when Wimbledon starts. Not sure about the Olympics!
ReplyDeleteJoppy,
ReplyDeleteYour situation sounds worse than mine!
Thanks for reminding me about Wimbledon; we can be sure of some showers during that fortnight to keep the temperature down.
As for the Olympics ... well I live in London so I can look forward to overheated people and places, crowded public transport, and gushing sports commentators ... as well as having the 'opportunity' to pay for the inconvenience and disruption.
I am praying for rain as I type this!
All the best,
Bob
I'm not good in heat, so my sympathies to anyone who has to deal with heat they don't want.
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
ReplyDeleteMy wife has a theory that it is related to when you were born. I was born during a very cold February (and therefore love the cold weather) whilst she was born during a warm June (and therefore loves the warm).
Whatever the validity of the theory, in my case it is true.
All the best,
Bob