comments 2

“Believable Fantasy- Buy now, paint later!”

image imageCould I ask my gentle reader which ‘figure’ he ( or she😌😊) prefers? I ask because you may have gathered, I feel myself drawn to the second figure! One of the traders at Salute was offering ‘realistic’ adventurers and I of course went straight to the trader that had a unrealistically proportioned axe wielding maiden on display! The choice I think shows how diverse the hobby has become. Salute showed that fears of an ageing gaming communities may well be last year’s yawn. Us middle aged, slightly cuddly ones were almost a minority. If people are buying politically correct adventurers and queuing in their droves for Forgeworld, I think I may have to start a fight back- maybe with a Chris Kyle demonstration game?

Priority number one- Guildford Courthouse

Priority number one- Guildford Courthouse

Note to self...buy less figures and try harder to paint like this.

Note to self…buy less figures and try harder to paint like this.

The other topic of conversation amongst our crew was just how achievable are the games on display. The Guildford Courthouse game was in my opinion just about perfect. Amazing figures and terrain but, with enough effort,  attainable and practical.

Details like the above made this game a favourite.

Details like the above made this game a favourite.

The gallant Crown forces pushed throgh the colonists and the game looked to be hanging in the balance as we left. Steve’s painting shed blog is recommended. Great hosts around the table too – not at all put off by John and I drooling.

ACW action...it was a gallant Federal commander who would take this lot on

ACW action…it was a gallant Federal commander who would take this lot on

The ancient periods were also represented. Cremona below must have consumed hundreds of hours of preparation time. The Play your Cards right games mechanism certainly kept the game rolling along at a pace….

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Napoleonics had a fantastic assault of the Imperial Guard at Waterloo.

No Teddy bears were hurt in the making of this game...

No Teddy bears were hurt in the making of this game…

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World War Two appears to be changing emphasis, with more skirmish games and larger scales. The Flames of War stand was much reduced.

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A cold-war era game also got us talking. 20mm NATO forces, complete with a Hercules and Harrier, hold off the advancing Soviet tank column.

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I for one would love to attend one of the USA’s gaming conventions. Could this game of the novel “The Fort” point to the future? My ‘wargame standard’ miniatures just can’t compete.

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It had been an amazing show. Apologies to all the games and traders who I missed out. You really do have to visit Salute to get to grips to the scale. I came a way feeling so positive about the future of our great hobby, despite…..

Ken's crowd pleasing discourse on eighteenth century rigging....

Ken’s crowd pleasing discourse on eighteenth century rigging….

And realistically proportioned adventurers!

Conan was never PC!

Conan was never PC!

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About the Author

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The wild ramblings of an infamous wit and wargames guru. One of nature's true gentlemen who devotes his time to the care of his two sons, i.e. giving realistic tactical advice in Fortnite games, and recreating great moments of military history using inch high toy soldiers. Currently a leading light in the Cardiff Dice Studz who meet regularly at Firestorm Games ( formerly Ali Baba's Carpet Warehouse), Trade Street, Cardiff, sunny Wales, U.K.

2 Comments

  1. Phil Johansson

    Both figures have their merits but who wants realistic when they’re supposed to be playing fantasy? The whole chainmail bikini look can be traced back to D&D and the origins of fantasy gaming in the 70’s. The art and inspiration for look of the female characters was heavily influenced by artists of the time such as Frank Frazetta,who exaggerated his male characters images as much as the female subjects. Conan is a good example, how realistic/effective is it to wade into a swordfight when your only armour is a pair of fur lined Y Fronts? Long and the short of it is, who really cares? Go for the look you like ..it doesn’t really matter. Art is subjective after all, you either like it or you don’t, there is no right and wrong.

    P.S. You still owe me a game of C&C Napoleonics 😉

    Like

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