Ive no doubt I give the impression that I am a wargamer trapped in the past. To a certain extent thats pretty accurate. Certain old ranges of wargames figures I find delightful and somehow are pleasing to my eye. It helps if they are painted well but I do love an old school army.
I also enjoy simple wargames rules to use with my armies. I no longer want a headache from working out factors, agonising over definitions and arguing about what the rule writer actually meant. Phil Barker was the master of confusion where definitions in wargame rules were concerned. And yet I still used the WRG rule books, but I didnt really enjoy them and when DBA was released I was really desperate to find alternative rule books.
Thats why I enjoy Blackpowder in all its many formats. I particularly enjoy the new Hail Ceasar ancient rules which do capture the period whilst not being too onerous to use. When Never Mind the Billhooks came along and then Fantasia I really embraced their ideas. Basically common sense, simple rules that punish bad commanders ie me who dont stick to historical tactics or chance their arm with reckless manouvres.
And now I have Midgard. Well I will when Christmas Day arrives.Ive been waiting for these rules for several years after I had a converstaion over a pint with their author James Morris who turned up at a Bllhooks weekend. James's ideas seemed exactly what I had been wanting and he stressed that they would be simple to use.Everything Ive now read after their release seems to confirm that aim.
So my sister is buying me the rule book plus extra stuff whilst my wife is buying me some new figures ie Trojans and Classical Greeks. I have always been fascinated by the Siege of Troy and the myths and legends around the tragedy. I know Im not the first and certainly wont be the last wargamer treading that path but I am looking forward to painting up Hector and Menelaus etc. I hope to play my first Midgard game on Thursday when John will stage a game for me. Hopefully I will enjoy the experience and not end up selling off my ancticipated Christmas presents.
