"How popular is wargaming for the next generation?" Topic

Out of a score of 10, how highly would you rate the number of (young) newcomers attracted to wargaming in general?

Will wargaming as we know it die out with the children of the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Any ideas on how to secure it for the future? Is this more of a concern for manufactures and TMP, than yourself?

In my experience, 4/10. That does not include GW products, otherwise 6/10. So I think sustainable.

Here we go again…

Put me down as a 'who cares?'

1

There are PLENTY of youngsters coming in, the plastic miniatures, cool stuff like Dust Tactics, and strategy games like Rome Total War are helping that.

Also, TMP is not a representative gamer profile. It is very much "old school" in terms of its member profile.

Go to Beasts of war, warseer, Dakka Dakka etc to see where the kids are hanging.

Sorry Bill, not trying to diss your site, just pointing out a fact.

Jaz
6sided.net – Blogspot For Gamers

Few years ago would have gone for 4 -5. Now after some rules systems like 'Songs of' series and Mantics Kings of war (there are more good entry level games out there, these two are examples I have seen make an effect).

Previously I had my boys friends come round to mutiplay on the Xbox.Now I have to help set up a table and loan my Dark elves for Mantic KOW battles ,which are good to watch aswell unlike slower wargames with folded arms.I know these games are very simple but the first steps into tabletop gaming need to be easy and Unputoffski.

Today I say 7+

If the group at the local store is any indication, us old farts are outnumbered 10-1.

my 17 yr old wants to play Striker. My 11 yr old and some of his freinds play Fire and Fury.

Brainy kids make up their own games, like always. Miniatures are a personal preference: many kids are happy with board games. Some must have tactile connections, i.e. models/miniatures. As long as kids play games there will be those who prefer live opponents and toys to play with. But never expect them to be more in number than a mere fraction of the total playing 'puter games. The world has changed forever….

I think it is just as popular as it has ever been. Perhaps a smaller percentage of the population but more total people.

1

But in the entire history of wargaming the figure has been 1 anyway. We have never been more then a niche off of a niche off of a niche sort of hobby.

All it takes is for us old dogs to open our tables to the young'uns. I never seen anyone resist a great looking table.

Hi boys and girls!!! Who wants to play a game at my house!

I have all kinds of fun toys and army men to play with.
Just get in the van and we will have lots of fun!

-------------------------------------
Tongue in Cheek people – I don't advocate the above scenario in any way.

Oh, and if your looking for the younger crowd check out sites like 4chan's game board (USUALLY NSFW WARNING)- boards.4chan.org/tg/12 it is chocked full of tweeens-twenty somethings

We were talking about this just yesterday. Both of us graybeards. The other fellow felt that the manner in which youngsters are treated by much of the older wargamers is having a negative effect on them. I experienced this last year at Little Wars. Only 4 adults had signed up for a game designed for several more. A father did the unconscionable and dropped off his 10 year old son to play. The three friends playing opposite me (alone) promptly announced that he couldn't play on their side. I said fine, he could play with me. I patiently explained the basics of the rules to him and the game began, with the Mahdists advancing on our thin line of Brits, and our three long range guns. I had split the army between the two of us and let the young man play his own game unless he asked for advice. Which he did. I would tell him what I would do and what his options were and let him make up his own mind. He ate their lunch. This resulted in much whining and kvetching. And upset old farts when the game was over.

Now admitedly I may have lucked out. The young man was polite, with "Mr. Lerementov, yes sir, no sir, excuse me sir", and much more attentive to the game than the other side. On the other hand I would not hesitate to play games with him any time and any place. I also made sure that I treated him as an equal without talking down to him. I've found that treating kids like an equal when you game with them that they respond much better than treating them like a dumb kid that was forced upon you. I do have two rules when selecting who to play with. Always chose the new kid or the newbie woman. Their die rolling is amazing. Yesterday was the monthly meeting of our area-wide gaming group. My wife and I played the AVG in a CY6 games. Our 4 a/c faced 12 Sally's, 6 Nates. I got a Nate and damaged a Sally. She nailed two Sally's and a Nate. She took damage only once. Whenever she needed to make a damage roll, which once among the bombers was often, she would roll exactly what she needed. She only failed once. Women and patience with children, select them every time to play on your side.

Most people come to historical wargaming in their 20s or later. So the question is mute.

Most people come to historical wargaming in their 20s or later. So the question is mute.

I, and many of my friends were teenagers when we came to historical wargaming. Moot.

My kids (8 and 5) are chomping at the bit to get started playing daddy's games. I've played the Wizkids' Pirates game and Wings of War with them. They've also played Settlers (the 8 y.o. has beaten mommy and I a couple of times, and come darn near to winning a few more times), Roborally and a couple of other non-wargame-but-daddy's-games-nonetheless-games. The 5 y.o. doesn't really get it yet – he just wants to be part of the action, but the 8 y.o. does pretty well, even if she doesn't care for the game. They will be miniatures gaming in no time. They have also both painted some spare 25mm figs that I had hanging around.

Connard

How can you be so blase?

One day, verysoon, the last of the true wargamers will go to that great gaming table in the sky, his lead will contaminate the local landfill, and his dice will be appropriated by his ingrate kids for the monopoly board.

Wargaming will be a lost art. Archaeologists will agonise about the purpose of Humbrol tinlets, what grooming function required so many 00 sable brushes, and cults will be set up to worship the pantheon of dice gods.

Huge amounts of bandwidth will be consumed by the 6ers who maintain that the six sided dice were more powerful and the centarians who maintain that it was the Lou Zocchi 100 sided die that was supreme above them all.

And you ask who cares?

Well, when you put it like that…

> How can you be so blase?

Too add some more to Connard's answer.

I'll be dead, what do I care?

Yup, if wargaming dies the day after I do, it won't matter to me.

What Cannard Sage said:

Here we go again…

Put me down as a 'who cares?'

There will always be someone playing historical miniatures. Someone in the future will use the figures I have now and the beat will go on. I have long since stopped worry about it. We have a few teenagers playing in our games and they will keep the band playing. I am just the custodian of my collection and it will be passed on. I don't lose one minute of sleep over it.

I will say that we are in fact in the golden age of miniature wargaming. There are more products available as there has ever been. The conventions are going great guns. There are more blogs, websites, clubs than I can ever remember.

I see more and more people getting into the hobby. I think all of this the "sky is falling" rants over the so called "graying of the hobby" is just so much BS. The hobby has never been stronger. So just roll the dice and stop worrying about it.

A more pressing question: what will happen with all those wargaming figures ever produced over the years when the last wargamer dies?

Where will they all end up? In dusty attics? In the trash? Sold to metal scrap dealers?

BTW, my answer to the original question is 9.78543

In my experience, 4/10. That does not include GW products, otherwise 6/10. So I think sustainable.

I see no reason to exclude GW here. It's the biggest gaming company, and brings lots of new gamers into the hobby. Gencon's been setting records for the past couple years, and with new games like Malifaux and others taking off every year, combined with the steady growth of board games, I think it's a great era for gaming as a whole. And that will carry down to wargaming, in the end.

I see no reason to exclude GW here. It's the biggest gaming company, and brings lots of new gamers into the hobby

Which hobby are you talking about? GW and it's ilk are not the same as historical miniature gaming. That is what we are talking about. Not your fantasy and sci-fi gaming hobby. They are two different hobbies.

Which hobby are you talking about?

The original question was about 'wargaming,' not 'historical miniature gaming.' GW is the largest company out there in the genre, whether we like it or not.

(And GW is bringing in a lot more new players than historicals do.)