A few months ago (and just before I went into hospital for the surgical procedure to remove the cancerous part of my colon), I was asked by John Treadway (the editor of MINATURE WARGAMES) to write a single page article for the 'The Last Word' section of the magazine. In the hope that this was not going to be prophetic, I did as requested and my contribution was duly published.
This month, the honour of writing the 'The Last Word' fell to my old friend and regular blog reader, Arthur Harman. I have known Arthur for more than forty years, and I have always valued his opinion and ideas. I therefore read his 'The Last Word' with great interest.
I agree with almost everything that he wrote. In fact, reading it I almost felt as if I had written it because our views are very similar. The fact that I get an honourable mention in the article (along with Donald Featherstone, Terry Wise, HG Wells, Brigadier Peter Young, Lieutenant Colonel James Lawford, Bill Leeson, and Ross Macfarlane ... a truly worthy group of wargamers!), made it an even more enjoyable read.
I thoroughly recommend my regular blog readers to read this article ... and I think that a lot of you will agree with Arthur's point of view.
I think you’ll find a lot of agreement on this Bob. As a youth I laboured under the yoke of ‘realism’ and ‘accuracy’ maybe in the belief this gave my wargaming greater credibility. I still derive satisfaction from painting and basing decent figures, but I tend not to sweat over uniform guides.
ReplyDeleteAs for rules: simplicity, simplicity, simplicity. Maybe it’s an age thing.
Nundanket,
DeleteLike so many things in life, age and experience helps us to identify what is important ... and what isn’t!
As long as you enjoy what you do, wargaming will continue to reward the time you spend on it.
All the best,
Bob
Yes!
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Heinz-Ulrich von Boffke (Stokes),
DeleteAbsolutely!
All the best,
Bob
Hello Bob,
ReplyDeleteA very interesting article by Arthur- it must be an age thing- thinking similarly about the modern form and state of wargaming- there is a lot to be passionate about and a lot to reject as well- I think Arthur has as many of us oldies have done is to re-assess the present and reflect very fondly on how things were before- to our mind things were so much better. Anyways- glad Arthur mentioned you Bob- this certainly would lift your spirits. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI sometimes think that modern wargaming has parallels in cable TV. Both present huge choices ... but sometimes so much choice that it is difficult make the right choices. In other words, more is sometimes less!
All the best,
Bob
Wise words indeed!
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
DeleteIt’s one of the reasons why I value Arthur’s ideas, concepts, and opinions so much.
All the best,
Bob
I always enjoy Arthur Harman's articles in any of the mags ... always inspirational stuff.
ReplyDeletePhil Dutre,
DeleteI hope that Arthur will continue to write his magazine articles ... and make the occasional foray into writing for books.
All the best,
Bob
I do agree with the ideas expressed in this article. I suspect some people will say they do but won't really. I have come across many modelers/wargamers who DO think the essence of the hobby is having highly detailed model soldiers perfect in every detail. Indeed I have experienced a degree of snobbishness towards my woodscrew armies from a few simply because they are not "real" soldiers. The simple fact is that every point of view is valid, our hobby should be bound only by each persons own ideas, all are worthy.
ReplyDeleteTony Adams,
DeleteIf some people enjoy painting beautifully sculpted figures, than all power to them. However, my experience is that such collections rarely see action on a tabletop, whereas I’m sure that other people’s paper, block, or wood screw armies can be found fighting wargames regularly.
I totally agree that as long as wargamers enjoy what they are doing, the hobby is big enough to encompass them all.
All the best,
Bob
"woodscrew armies"? I've never heard that term before. I'm guessing it means "good enough for government work"?
DeleteI personally have given up on painting models. Give me some green plastic army men or paper minis. Much easier on the wallet and quicker to field them.
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteHe really does mean wood screw armies, where individual wood screws are used to represent figures. Have a look at https://thewoodscrewminiaturearmy.blogspot.com/search/label/Screws to get some idea of how Tony creates his armies,
All the best,
Bob
I love it! I went on my own google hunt after leaving my comment. I also came across the "hair curler" army in my search.
DeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteAndy Callan’s hair curler armies looked very effective on the tabletop. I seem to remember him bringing some examples to the first ever COW.
All the best,
Bob
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteI have just read the article and as you would have suspected it early struck a chord. For those that want to spend hours and money producing diorama class figures and armies I have nothing but respect. For me I prefer figures (and ships!) that are simple looking and achievable with the modicum of effort. At the end of the day figures and models are gaming pieces and our knowledge of the period in question and whatever we use to represent the units should be defined by what we are looking to game or even simulate.
I am old school and happy to be so.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteI am not surprised that you enjoyed Arthur’s article, and that it struck a chord with you. Like you, I prefer simple and effective paint jobs on my wargaming models ... and that they actually see some service on a wargame table once in a while.
Am I ‘old school’? Probably ... but I probably have been since ‘old school’ was what wargamers thought of as normal!
All the best,
Bob
I don't know if it's old school or anything to do with getting older, but I've never been much of a "button counter". While I do enjoy history I mostly consume it in the form of books about things like the broader picture, politics, geography, interesting characters, rather than the nuts and bolts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the gist of the article. In my opinion any hobby is about the enjoyment the individual derives from it. Some people probably do enjoy getting into the details and technical stuff and that's fine for them. Some people do enjoy making detailed and historically accurate dioramas. Some people enjoy playing games. I enjoy painting minis, often some that many people would find quite silly. I also enjoy playing games, but don't get around to that nearly as often. But I have fun. It's all good.
Kudos to you and to Arthur, and hope none of us as posting our "last words"! ha ha
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteThe hobby of wargaming is many things to different people, but it seems as if most of my regular blog readers fit into the ‘let’s have fun’ category. They like to have reasonably painted stuff on their tabletop, and to use simple rules that allow them to exercise their generalship to a degree and that produce reasonable results in about a couple of hours. They like historical accuracy ... but not to excess.
All the best,
Bob
PS. I really ought to share my ‘Last Words’ with my blog readers ... and will do, if I can find my original text file!
Wise words indeed!
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteIt’s one of the reasons I like Arthur! He never says or writes anything that he hadn’t thoroughly thought through first.
All the best,
Bob
You might think so, Bob...
DeleteArthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteWell, it always. Feels like that!
All the best,
Bob
Bob, actually I did redraft that piece for fear that if I expressed my ideas too forcefully it might cause grief for John by provoking a hostile reaction from the MW readership. I must ask him if there has been any feedback. But since even Gateaux de Guerre failed to elicit any protests, perhaps I need not have worried?
DeleteThanks for your kind comments and to all the posters here who expressed their support.
Best wishes,
Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteWhen I wrote my contribution, I took the view that the sort of people who read that section of the magazine were likely to be at the more open minded end of the wargaming spectrum.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, A very good read. Thank you for sharing. So many of the magazines present projects that are just not achievable for most of us and perhaps turn people away from the hobby in the long run. Hopefully your 'Portable' concept is going some way to counter this. Keep up the good work. By the way who is Bill Leeson? Regards - Paul Leeson.
ReplyDeletePDL (Paul Lesson),
DeleteThe quest for wargaming ‘perfection’ (as seemingly propagated by modern wargame magazines) can be very off putting to newcomers to the hobby, who think that their figures have to be painted and shaded with at least two colours before they can be used. Perhaps my PW rules will help to introduce people to a simpler and more fun aspect to the hobby.
I assume that you are not related to the late Bill Leeson. He translated the original Kriegsspiel into English, and for many years he was the driving force behind its use by modern hobby wargamers. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsspiel)
All the best,
Bob
Thank you Bob. Most interesting. No I am not related. Paul
DeletePDL (Paul),
DeleteBill was a real gentleman, and he is sorely missed by those who knew him.
All the best,
Bob
Philosophically, I believe in "An it harm none, do what you will" and "be informed then think for your self".
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteExcellent precepts to work by!
All the best,
Bob
While checking out the £-shop for lego look a like for a grandson I came across figures at 4 for £1.
ReplyDeleteI bought a few boxes based on uniform colours and the ones in pale grey received tiger stripes by 'Sharpie' and now form two fire teams of Special Forces plus a sniper and a dog handler.
They are currently forming a plan to rescue a Norwegian skipper cu actor Capt. Longs Hanks from Chinese Malay pirates who hold him for ransom.
Lego look a likes are very cheap and there is a host of appropriate cheap weaponry on eBay
Nobby,
DeleteThe figures sound very interesting! I may well buy some if I see them on sale.
The first ever Matrix Game I helped to set up (a Peninsular War scenario) used appropriate Lego (or possibly Playmobil) figures, and several time since I’ve given thought to using them as a cheap source of pre-coloured figures for knockabout games.
All the best,
Bob
These M.Y four block figures, Lego compatible or bootlego, which come with guns rifles not shown in many adverts etc are currently available online for a Pound at my favourable Lockdown online pound store
Deletehttps://toysforapound.com/products/military-characters-4pc-block-figure-set?pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_pid=2424624676948&pr_ref_pid=2424630706260&pr_seq=uniform
Or for twice that from other outlets like the Tank Museum.
I bought a pack for review and did think about buying lots for gaming ... but then looked at my unpainted Airfix and Peter Laing figures and reluctantly changed my mind.
Mark, Man of TIN,
DeleteThanks for the link and the information. Like you, I have a stack of unpainted figures ... but I’m still tempted!
All the best,
Bob
Thank heavens I am not alone - I like Arthur's comment on some modern rules sets or systems as like "reading a legal contract or statute". (Sometimes it looks like advanced maths homework to me.)
ReplyDeleteFeatherstone and some early others had a great jovial, enthusiastic, avuncular and authoritative "you can tackle it this way" readable inspiring style - and some simple back of postcard rules.
Mark, Man of TIN,
DeleteI suspect that there are a lot of us who feel the way Arthur does.
‘Jovial, enthusiastic, avuncular and authoritative’ is a great way to summarise the early leading lights of wargaming in the U.K!
All the best,
Bob
Totally agreed! I am a relative youngster, but my intro to the hobby was Featherstone and Charge! And after decades of Games Workshop and Dungeons and Dragons, I have learned to take things easier, as Featherstone puts it, a good game can be written on a postcard! As the pandemic slowly lifts, I am looking forward to playing with kids again, and to kid-friendly rules.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteIt sounds as if you have followed a similar path to everyone else who has commented, and come to the conclusion that as long as the hobby brings you fun and enjoyment, it is one worth pursuing!
All the best,
Bob
The sentiments expressed here suit me just fine. I think is ironic that this Last Word appeared in a glossy magazine with finely painted figures featured in its pages. Please someone point me toward a wargaming magazine that is classic in style and content.
ReplyDeleteBrother Jim,
DeleteIt is ironic ... but as there does not seem to be a 'classic' wargame magazine with even a moderate circulation available, what alternative is there?
I suspect that as with most publications, the adverts pay for a large part of the production costs, and advertisers of the latest fantasy-history-science fiction figures will only want to advertise in magazines that cater for the tastes of people who will buy their products.
All the best,
Bob
Brother Jim,
DeleteLone Warrior, the journal of the Solo Wargamers Association, is certainly 'classic' in presentation - mainly text with a few diagrams and/or photographs - and content, insofar as it contains contributors' ideas, own rules/game designs and scenarios with little reference to current trends, the latest rulebooks and suchlike.
Best wishes,
Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteVery true, but it is interesting to note that the three main European commercial wargame magazines tend not to offer the range of articles found in magazine like LONE WARRIOR because they cannot be tied in with products that are being advertised. WSS seems to be the best of the bunch in that respect, with WI being the worst and MW in the middle.
All the best,
Bob