I decided it was time for a quick glimpse of what I think is ahead. This was going to include a bit about how I got to here and about the shock of realizing that the gap between a comfortable "50 something" and a slightly less comfortable "70 something" has suddenly shrunken to a mere 11 years and a few months, but 2 paragraphs in I just found it boring. The one useful reflection was that all of my current plans involve things I was already working on 11 years ago, even if some have changed shape a little on the way, so I see no reason to doubt gaming plans for the next decade.
Briefly here's what to expect from time to time over the next years:
(All pictures from blog archives of games fought over the last 9 months)
2. Prince Michel. 40mm Elastolin Dark Ages skirmish inspired by Prince Valiant. 2-3 games a year, occasional new figure.
3. Rough Wooing. 40mm 16thC including a large group of original homecast as well as Elastolin and others. The long awaited Turks are making noises again and should start appearing in numbers this year. 2-3 games a year with a con outing sometime in the next couple of years.
4. NQSYW 40mm home cast Prince August and Charge! New molds and thus new units on the way. 2-3 games a year + probably a convention outing next year.
5. War of 1812. 40mm Scruby + Original homecast. Hearts of Tin. Focused on actual battles and engagements but including the option to do a facsimile of 1837 Rebellion games and fictional scenarios. 1 - 3 games a year. New figures to be sculpted and units added. Existing chunky figures to be sold.
6. Atlantica. 40mm Scruby and original home cast.Set in the (2nd or) 3rd quarter of the 19th C. A decision on the future form is pending. The top 3 options include: single figure Colonial skirmish type games using MacDuff, Square Brigadier battles on a grid, or a Morschauser like battle game with 1 stand units. The 1st 2 options might actually be compatible in terms of figure use. 6 -8 games a year New figures to be sculpted and unit's added as well as terrain once game style or styles decided on.
7. ACW . 1/72, mostly Airfix, ACW battles using Hearts of Tin.
2-3 games year. A few cavalry and artillery to refurbish.
2-3 games year. A few cavalry and artillery to refurbish.
8. Nine Years War. 1/72 fictional late 19thC portable gridded game using Square Brigadier. As odd as it seems this started life in 1997 as a Volley & Bayonet game using recast Britain's 54's. Well, the period and unit sizes are the same and my first Airfix were toy soldiers in the original sense so not so far off. 10 - 15 games a year. A few units to add and terrain.
9. The Littal War. Post WWII 20mm fictional using 20thC Sq Brigadier. 1-3 games a year. Something so as to have at least 1 game with tanks.
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That's only a game roughly every 2 weeks and thus leaving room for more of something or more painting. It also leaves 3 spots to bring it to 12 from new or existing projects not yet on the list. What will they be? 30mm Quebec 1759? 25mm Montrose? 54mm Zulus? Hmmm lots to choose from. Everything else from 54mm knights to 15mm ACW must go apart perhaps from some small shelf displays.This includes my 40mm AWI, for sale once Huzzah is over. Email me or comment if you've seen something that might be of interest, gotta make room on the shelves, in the cupboard and on the table.
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a sound plan, with potential for the occasional 'diversion' project to keep you from getting stale.
I wish that I could be as disciplined!
All the best,
Bob
Its not discipline Bob, there have been many detours along the way, (including something like 20 abandoned projects) this is just what has stuck most persistently over 40 years or which I have been drawn back to to again and again.
DeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteI really ought to do something like this myself, if only to stop me from wasting time, money, and effort on projects that will never come to fruition. The one thing that I am fairly certain about is that my games will feature grids and the rules will be simple. As to figure scale ... well I seem to be acquiring quite a few 25/28mm-scale Napoleonic figures, and I must admit that the larger size figures have great appeal. I do have a large collection of 15mm-scale stuff (mainly colonial and late 19/early 20C) and quite a lot of both 15mm and 20mm-scale WW2 tanks, vehicles, and figures.
All the best,
Bob
tradgardmastare has left a new comment on your post "Looking Ahead":
ReplyDeleteI too commend your approach. I have so many unfinished projects lying about,although less after the sort out last year.I do still return again and again to the same interests/variants upon them on the whole. Interesting times ahead for the followers of your blog too. As energy/time are in less supply I feel I gravitate to simple rules these days.
I have had many more armies and campaigns that have run their course wthout ever being finished. Those that are left are the most persistent ones.
DeleteI always admire people that can make plans like this (and stick to them) , being of a similar age I too am thinking about the future of my gaming - the only conclusion I've come to so far is to stick with the things I enjoy gaming and this seems to mean the simple rule sets
ReplyDeleteI've never been good st carrying out plans. Whats here is the hobby equivalent of survival of the fittest crossed with a sort of musical chairs sd I run out of room!
DeleteThis sounds dangerously like a workable plan. So clearly it'll never work.
ReplyDeleteAs it happens I have been thinking about where the 'main effort' will be over the coming years and 'narrowing down' the number of ongoing projects from five to er, six.
I almost called the post "I have a cunning plan" but we all know how that goes.
DeleteGood to see the list - a splendid line-up.
ReplyDeleteNo.6 Atlantica catches my eye and perhaps it is the least settled or defined at this point. It's also the only one which mentions MacDuff, my favourite amongst the different rulesets here but currently a little out of fashion? I wonder how much of that is to do with shrinking table size, and possibly also time available, and how much is just cyclical?
MacDuff was originally designed for Colonial skirmishes, something I haven't been doing.much of. It could handle bigger games but needed time and space. As long as I was trying to find 'one' horse and musket "project" I found that most of my games fell on the cusp, doable as a long MacDuff game needing lots of terrain setup or as a too quick Hearts of Tin game, not ideal for either and one of the main reasons I have wasted so much time trying to tweak both to do too many things.
DeleteHaving accepted the de facto situation of multiple smaller collections, I'm hoping there is an Atlantic Colonial skirmish Macduff in the mix.
Just played an AWI Macduff game today.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great plan. I'm wondering why it is exactly that I never seem to get around to playing games. Perhaps a little self reflection is in order as well. I think my desire to play all periods is part of the problem. Look forward to the coming games.
ReplyDeleteI had a dry spell a few years ago due to external life events, freinds moving etc etc and had to go solo to get myself plsying regularly. Then I had to convince myself to play even if not everything was ready since I couldn't focus on any one thing to get it 5able ready in a reasonable amount of time..
DeleteYou seem to have arrived at a workable plan that allows you to pursue your various interests. I wish you every success with it. My own situation means my wargaming time/resources are more limited, so I'm settling on three practical projects, all of which will be using variants of your, and Bob Cordery's, rules. Thanks for the inspiration I have gained from your blog and rules!
ReplyDeleteI've never had this much time for hobbies, no money but I prefer the tine anyway. Hope your 3 go well.
DeleteI hope your plans work and get what you intend.
ReplyDeleteEach of your projects has its charm for me, but my favorite is definitely Atlantica: I love to see how the fictional red and blue armies face again and again to write their own history, and of course I love the way we you you relate his adventures. It is a pleasure to go back on your blog and see the amount of times you have used, and makes me think that the time you put into them is more than justified.
Regards, César
Thanks Cesar, it is still my main interest, I am just trying to make space to sculpt some new figures for it
DeleteHello Ross- been reading Your Posts with much interest for quite awhile now and enjoy all that You have done in various scales and formats there in Canada. I am very glad to see that You have a place for Your 1/ 72nd Figures and Games. My first ever figures were ACW Union - AIRFIX 1/72nd back around 1962. Now, I'm in Retirement and revisiting this scale. Please see my Blog- I certainly would be interested in You thoughts. Yes, I do like HG Wells 'Little Wars' and do like what You have done with Your Boers vs British & French in 1/72nd . I like this and think it is just great- Happy and contented Gaming. Best Wishes Ross. Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kev, I have just joined your blog after an enjoyable read.
DeleteGlad to have You on Board Ross- look forward to Your Posts and hope to keep in touch - Have placed a comment on my Blog as a reply to You re: Russian Uniforms. All the Best. Regards. KEV.
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