I am 5

I actually nearly missed the date, but ‘Warfare in the Age of Cynics and Amateurs’ is five years old tomorrow. I started the blog to give me a focus, after an enforced hiatus from wargaming. It gave me targets for games and painting, rather than flitting from one period to the next (granted, this still happens, but at least there are games sometimes), and the opportunity to introduce Fitz, who had never played before, to the hobby.

Has it felt like five years? Well, I appreciate that I probably don’t post nearly as much as other blogs, I don’t have the hundreds of followers I guess, but I’m just glad that I’ve been able to record the games that Fitz and I have had – together with some of Sgt. Steiner’s excellent games, plus some extra pieces of information on rules and interesting concepts.

That said however, the most important thing in the last five years has been the contacts made. I’ve talked with new friends online in the US and Europe, and some face to face (not even realising the groups of gamers that existed half an hour’s drive away – Steiner! I’m looking at you J). There have been great & inspirational chats, some experimental rules, and most of all (and as recently alluded to in Steve’s blog) none of the concerns that we seem to find in argumentative forums. I’ve read some blogs that have really made me think in that time, and had my faith in the gaming/blogging community re-affirmed.

I’ve mostly stayed away from the new ‘boutique’ style rules, more popular WW2 rules, GW’s spikey bits (never really got into that, even in the 80s), and flavours of the month – and homed in on the lesser known books and rules, the home produced stuff - the experimental rules and discussion being produced on blogs from people just like us. It’s refreshing and entertaining, and I only wish that I had more time to game, and post the results.

Do I worry that the younger generation aren’t getting involved, and that the hobby is dying? Not really.

Do we argue about things like ‘points values’ rather than finding a set of rules that is reasonably historically relevant, while offering a good game at the same time? Let the forums take that on.

Do I care if the facings are the wrong colour? Probably…*sigh*…but I’m hoping to go to button counter-rehab soon.

Wargamers are an eclectic bunch at best. I may not have many followers, but the ones that I have, for me, represent what the ‘hobby’ (pastime?) is all about; friendship and good games. What else does there need to be?

…oh yeah, and I really like Sam Mustafa’s Maurice rules…have I mentioned this before?