Wargaming keeps you young.

My last post was way back in June when I came back fired up after a great weekend wargaming with some wonderful gamers. Sadly the enthusiasm I had melted away very quickly. Its sometimes hard to identify why this type of issue happens. All wargamers suffer from such issues, some never return to our hobby, but most thankfully do return and appreciate just how important their hobby is to them.  

I can only apologise for posting this downer, especially as it has become a recurring theme for me and worryingly it has become more frequent. I find it annoying in that the actual hobby is bursting with life, from new ideas, rules, figures and countless improvements from paint to actual knowledge and research. It is a veritable hive of activity.

 I attribute my ennui to an age thing and no matter what, one cannot fight the inevitable, BUT one can slow ageing down. Bruce Springsteen once attributed his longevity to Rock and Roll, he claimed it slowed down the aging process. I think he was right on the money except my longevity is down to wargaming, rock and roll and immaturity. So hopefully I will rise above such trivialities as aching limbs, poor eyesight and hairy nostrils.  Sadly painting has been the first victim of my inactivity. I have started to use my brush again and completed the terrain I needed for Xenos Rampant, so that was a positive. I also completed the lovely figures, that the generous Iain Macmillan sent me.   

I think my favourite is the lovely Stadden figure of Cardinal Richelieu, it must be about 50 years old, but the quality of sculpting has stood the test of time. And talking of which, last months Wargames Illustrated,[August 2023] was a good issue for all collectors of old wargames figures, especially Rick Priestly and his tribute to Mini Figs. Like Rick I continue to buy up old/ early wargames figures, ideally as cheaply as possible and hopefully badly painted.  

I now have two Ancient Persian armies, my plastic one made up of Wargames Atlantic and Victrix figures and then my Persian army or Garrison, Mini Figs and Hinchliffe figures. My favourite? The old one full of telegraph poles, wonky horse legs and dodgy research. It is difficult to articulate why this is, nostalgia? Perhaps. Simply being old and wearing rose coloured glasses? Maybe.  But whenever I see them placed on my table I find a warm glow coming over me, and no it isn't my prostate kicking in.

All my armies, be they SYW, ACW, ECW, Ancients all have contingents containing early wargames figures. They aren't compatible with the later ranges, but I dont care, although I do keep the units in separate brigades where possible.  

Another figure I was very kindly given was from Mark Taylor after my defeat at the last Billhooks tournament has also been completed. The Games Workshop Bretonnian Green Knight is still a beautiful figure from probably one of their best ranges. This one had to be painted as a Burgundian commander naturally. Totally unhistorical, but eye pleasing to me. Happy days.