"This isn't trolling, but - " Topic

Is it possible to to have a discussion about Napoleonics on here without an argument breaking out? I mean, seriously. I refer you to this – TMP link
It seems to me (as a horror / fantasy / SF / sometime Vietnem gamer) that Nappy gamers too often think of themselves as "Historians" and get highly upset at the idea of the games being fun or not perfectly accurate.Then there's the hissy fits, the resignation letters, the tears… Let's remember for a start – no wargame can be a perfectly accurate representatiion of the battle. The billions of variables make it totally impossible. And we are supposed to be having fun after all. So my poll options are -
1) Can Napoleonics wargamers ever get along?
Yes
No
I'm not a Nappy gamer
Don't care
No opinion
I am Napoleon and you will all face my wrath when I get off this island.
My knowledge of Napoleonics history is unique and correct and second only to God.

Can we get more than one choice?

I'd just like to say that if it wasn't clear from the poll suggestion linked to – it was meant to be a semi-serious question.

I happened to be reading the book (going to paint up some fig's for a skirmish game), and just wondered if anyone had ever played games based on all the systems outlined in the book. I know I haven't. I knew when I asked that only a subset of TMPers would know what I was talking about, but that's okay 'cos the same is true for a lot of polls.

I'd hope that none of my forays into napoleonic gaming have made me over serious about the subject. I don't mind being accused of being a historian (albeit an amateur one) – when I play historical games I like to know a bit about the period/campaigns/troops/society that the troops came from. I find it interesting. I don't mind that much if others don't. I don't take it to extremes of authenticity – I'm not a rivet counter. If it looks right with my glasses off then it's good enough for gaming.

On the other hand, I've noticed that American gamers can get quite het up about the ACW in a way that seems odd to me. I wonder (I don't know, and I'm certainly not going to ask it as a poll question) if the napoleonic's thing is mostly a european fixation – it was a big and long war and saw many examples of regime change, so perhaps impinges on a lot of people's national pride.

Or I could be barking up the wrong tree. Who knows ?

I have a forum on my site for Napoleonic gaming. Granted, we are only 32, but we get along fine.

In short, yes.

/yawn

Quidveritas –
1) yes
2) no
3) I'm not a Nappy gamer
4) Don't care
5) No opinion
6) I am Napoleon and you will all face my wrath when I get off this island.
7) My knowledge of Napoleonics history is unique and correct and second only to God.

20thmaine – I just got needled by the way someone jumped in and started with the holier than thou bull excrement. It always seems to happen when either Nappys or FOW is mentioned. And frankly it gets on my rather magnificent man boobies.

Time for bed there Shane? :)

I play nappies for fun. My father has a vast knowledge of the period and has the correct uniforms painted up (in 20mm so it may not have the unit motto on the buttons) and he teaches me about the Napoleonic War and other wars around that time – I seem to learn something new each time we play/talk about that period of time. I've never known him nor others I've met that play nappies to be arseclowns.

ABHS, maybe it's an internet phenomena?

I'll go ahead and vote "no". I'm also convinced that WW2 German enthusiast aren't all that far behind!

Not just gaming but modeling as well. I recall people cracking wise acre remarks about "inaccurate facing colors" 30 years or so ago (when I was still a kid, BTW) so this isn't anything new.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I think 40K Space Marine players are next in line after WW2 German fans. Really, go ahead and see what happens when you paint your Ultramarines or Dark Angels in "unrealistic" colors.

"And frankly it gets on my rather magnificent man boobies."

A toast to magnificent man boobies. Maybe a double.

lol Russian Bear, become a supporting member and I'll meet you in the Lounge bar for a double of your choice

I've been involved with three serious Napoleonic gaming groups and would answer: yes, yes absolutely, and marginally. The first two played Empire BTW. The last group Piquet and/or Carnage and Glory. Not drawing any conclusions, just an observation.

Having been involved in the linked thread I can't really see where the argument was, nor the "hissy fits, the resignation letters, the tears…" It seemed a pretty sedate discussion (with some fun bantering) about and around the topic put forth by 20th Maine. I think you have a good idea for a fun poll, GG, but there are FAR better threads out there on the Nappie Forum with which to make your point! 8)=

The closest thing I do to Napoleonics is the Alamo and Texas War of Independance.

I don't even paint my troops.

I don't care about Napoleonics at all.

Mike "Bunkermeister" Creek
bunkermeister.blogspot.com

"A toast to magnificent man boobies. Maybe a double."

David Crosby's actually look pretty good:

tmz.com/tag/moobs

I think the problem is, Garn, that there are actually quite a few Historians that subscribe to TMP.

IMO I can cope with the "issues" because those same Historians are a wealth of information, and for the most part, love to share.

Hence my many visits to this site.

TW.

I always avoid the "in depth" conversations with quotes from numerous never heard of tomes!! I'll stick to painting and use my artistic license excuse should I stray from the uniform accuracy path!!

I was a member of a forum where one uniform "expert" just had to pass a comment on someones efforts and the inaccuracy of a uniform! Pain in the arse….they are model bloody soldiers for goodness sake!!

hussarbob1746.webs.com

I don't take any element of playing with toy soldiers seriously, and fortunately most of the people I've gamed with over the years haven't either.

Others tastes vary, that is their prerogative. I try to avoid them.

I think the problem is, Garn, that there are actually quite a few Historians that subscribe to TMP.

I only know of one bona fide historian who regularly posts on the Napoleonics boards. He does not flaunt his credentials (oooer missus!) in order to trump any argument. I have a lot of time for him. The other, largely amateur, historians who wander through here tend to be the generators of more heat than light.

well said connard bravo old boy :)

1) Can Napoleonics wargamers ever get along?

A: "Yes" sometimes… maybe.

I'm not a Nappy gamer, I am Napoleonic war gamer!
Actually I`m not exclusively a Napoleonic war gamer.

Don't care? ….hmmmm well maybe just a little bit.

No opinion?
It would be nice if people could all get along nicely …and there were no disagreements, no throwing of dice, chairs, and people didn`t pick up your miniatures and casually say: "ehhh, crap basing!" …the bustards!

I am not Napoleon …at this very moment, right now.

My knowledge of Napoleonics history is unique but I know that others will know much better than me.

How is this not trolling?

There is no objective answer to your question.

Bit like asking, well I won't 'cause that would be trolling.

Ask something simpler like why using Nappy for Napoleonics gets some folks knickers in a twist : )

Indeed. While I've never had arguments over historical accuracy of my SS Werewolves vs. Tesla guns, every game has among its players the reasonable and the unreasonable. For every Napoleonic player who will drone on about this boring detail or that, there's a 14-year old 40k player wanting to drone on and on about how awesome his cool new army is. Neither is better than the other.

Really, go ahead and see what happens when you paint your Ultramarines or Dark Angels in "unrealistic" colors.

On the forums I read, you'll get comments on the quality of your painting, or tips on how to improve. Possibly some questions on the provenance of your "new" Chapter.

There is much peace and harmony in the univrse of cyberspace; the acrimony and venting and arguing that occurs is the balance required to give meaning to the peace and harmony in the universe of cyberspace. If you don't like it, don't go there….

"Is it possible to to have a discussion about Napoleonics on here without an argument"

Isn't a discussion just another form of argument?

I don't think Napoleonic gamers suffer from any greater proportion of rules lawyers, button lace fetishists, self appointed historical experts etc than other genres of wargaming.

"I came here for an argument!" "No you didn't." "Yes I did!" "Look, an argument is a series of statements proving a certain point. It isn't a matter of saying 'no it isn't'" "Yes it is." "No it isn't!"

I will have my aides get back to you on this topic.

Generally I am quite easy going on the period unless an obvious untruth is perpetuated.

However I do dislike the Term Nappy, sorry, but I just dislike it. Funny though how the Napoleonic period doesn't have its acronym though, unlike so many other wars.

On the 6mm forum:

link

All the Nap gamers get on just dandy, we are united by our fondness for 6mm, we don't always agree but there are no hard feelings are to be found there.

When we do disagree we normally agree to disagree, no name calling and no throwing toys out of the pram.

What's the point?

I'm not sure if the link Garnham gives in his initial post is really the trainwreck I thought it would be. Nazrat takes a couple of pokes at Rudy, but????
--
Tim

"Is it possible to to have a discussion about Napoleonics on here without an argument breaking out?"
At this forum there are many, many pleasant and knowledgeable people.
There are also a few who have agendas.
I am not sure why. Is it some nationalistic baggage about events that took place200 years ago? Crazy.
Is it simple macho point scoring? Pathetic.
Is it an effort to sell more books (or support friends so they can sell more books)? Counter-productive.
All I can say is try to avoid the agenda-driven. Ignore them and this is a fun place to visit.

Well I read the thread you referred to but some how missed the argument.
I'm guessing you got bored and decided to throw rocks at Napoleonic gamers.
The place is called Vietnam BTW.
Or am I being an "Historian" by pointing that out?

alien BLOODY HELL surfer

"…and he teaches me about the Napoleonic War and other wars around that time…"

Was he with Wellington then Scott?

Just joshing mate!! :)

Cheers,

Glynn

PS – I play Tuesday nights at Shane's, must be over a year now, and never seen an argument yet among our group.

I'm not trolling but why do posts about Tom DeLey and wargaming always turn into cesspits of negativity and name calling?

You sir, are a bricole.