Been thinking a lot as of late about my NEW projects for the year - I think we all do this when January rolls around. So many kool new rules and periods to choose from. However, I must admit that I am not one to be so easily tempted with all the NEW toys that seem to proliferate the hobby these days - so I tell myself anyway. However, the real question that confronted me was not what NEW period to get in to, but rather, do I really need to do anything that new? Do I really need to start a new period/conflict?
If it wasn't for my intense interest in military history - and history in general, I don't really think I would be the miniatures wargamer I am today. Historical wargaming is one of my passions, there is no doubt, and I use it not only to be entertained, but also to gain new insights into the history I am representing on my tabletop. So, this whole question about what NEW period to get in to this year is not really relevant to me. It is more a question of What am I not doing that I am interested in. For example, considering the periods I already play and collect models for, is there something I have not explored? Is there another set of rules I have yet to try? Perhaps a scenario to be created? If I really am drawn to this period of history, what else can I do to fully enjoy this period so fascinating to me - so fascinating that I have spent countless hours painting, collecting, and reading this period. When I get bored with my current situation, instead of looking for NEW periods to play, what about NEW ways to play the period? Wouldn't that be a better question to ponder, instead of further convoluting my brain with yet more and more NEW periods that perhaps I have less interest in?
Looking at my current situation I can safely say that as for wargaming I am doing everything that interests me the most - and I am talking "periods" here. Napoleonics, WW II, and of course Ancients - each of these focused on a particular campaign/conflict. I am basically where I want to be in order to really enjoy this little hobby of mine. Of course, I could argue that there are some conflicts I am deeply interested in but have yet to explore with wargaming - such as my beloved American War of Independence. Such are not critical at the moment, however. What I do need to do is take a closer look at what I am doing now and what I can do further in order to fully explore and enjoy the periods that fascinate me the most. Ahhh... the rich rewards of a focused mind.
Situation: I was so fascinated by a particular set of skirmish rules the other day. The rules themselves were not well known in the wargaming community - at least as far as I knew. However, it looked great fun and I had more than enough painted and unpainted minis to give it a go. Now that would be a great project indeed! However, it covered a period of history that I have no great fascination with. Hmmm... hold on a second here. Yes, I caught myself just in time. I was forgetting the very first rule of my personal wargaming, which was to ask myself: does the period fascinate me?! Ahhhh.... the answer was of course, no! The rules perhaps, but not the period. If I went any further with this little effort all I would be doing is trying to get a quick fix - playing something NEW! Yet more distraction from what I really want to do - or should be doing.
So then, what could I be doing instead? Rather than jump on to the next BIG thing in the wargaming community, what could I be doing to enjoy this personal hobby of mine? That my friend we will discuss in the next part of this series.
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