"Boards for 20mm fantasy and 20mm sci-fi" Topic

Fantasy and sci-fi gaming in 20mm (1/72 scale) has been gradually growing in popularity, but currently there are no dedicated boards on TMP for those who game in this scale to discuss their projects and miniatures news in the same detail as that which 15mm and 28mm gamers enjoy.

Without dedicated boards, fans of 20mm gaming in these genres are left somewhat at the margins, with threads appearing scattered here and there across the fantasy or sci-fi discussion boards, the plastics board and even on the 15mm or 28mm boards, like paupers at the feast!

The problem for 20mm sci-fi and fantasy gamers is exacerbated by the fact that the dominant forums for 1/72 scale (such as Benno's) tend to be heavily historical-oriented and somewhat anti-fantasy; so that there too, it is difficult for manufacturers to build a following and their fans to discuss games without posters writing 'but this isn't napoleonics. What is all this fantasy stuff? And why isn't it napoleonics?'

In order for 20mm sci-fi and fantasy gaming to grow, and for companies who produce in this scale to build a following and grow their markets, we need dedicated 20mm sci-fi and 20mm fantasy boards on TMP.

I'm not generally in favour of the 'new boards for this and for that' enthusiasm, but this request seems eminently sensible and well reasoned. That, in itself, makes it notable.

But why isn't it Napoleonics?

Too many boards as it is. We don't need a different board for every scale multiplied by every genre, PLUS separate boards for the biggest rules systems. This is ridiculous.

I disagree. I have seen a rise in 6mm fantasy gaming as well. Should there be a 6mm board? I agree with you, Rwphil…

Thanks, Mexican Jack. I agree that most 'new boards' suggestions tend to be rather capricious and unnecessary. Simple scale-related boards, such as what I'm suggesting, are indeed quite different and serve a distinct and useful purpose.

Rwp(etc): If distinct 15mm sci-fi and fantasy boards din't already exist, there would most likely be people who objected to their creation too. But there can be little doubt how much these boards have helped 15mm gaming to grow and thrive. I doubt companies like Khurasan would have been able to develop to the same extent without them. Surely 20mm gaming deserves the same treatment.

I don't go to the fantasy board a whole lot (I am more inclined to read threads as they pop up) and, having just done so, I see there are scale specific boards, so I guess you have a valid point. I am inclined to eliminate the scale boards rather than add more, but, based on the fantasy board's current configuration, I understand what you are trying to do.

Perhaps there should be a cull of underused, pointless and childish boards. The 'Empire' board exists solely to poke fun at that particular game system (I admit guilt myself) while 'Needs More Boobies' is simply a tribute to puerile behaviour.

All in favour of dedicated sci fi board, thumbs up from me

We need far fewer boards not new ones…..

I support 20mm boards for fantasy and scifi (especially). The other scales have representation there. The information out on the net for gaming these genres in 20mm is woefully limited. This could generate new fervor and forward motion.

No new boards for scale alone. I'm all for folding the existing scale boards back into their mother topics too.

If there WAS fervor or forward movement for 20mm fantasy or scifi, THAT would be a reason to form a new board, but I completely oppose creating new boards in hopes they'll stir interest in a moribund topic.

Thanks for the support, Lancer and cloudcaptain!
Love your 28mm marsh lizards, BTW, Lancer, looking forward to seeing the range grow.

Sergeant Paper: the point is, 20mm sci-fi and fantasy are growing areas of interest, not moribund ones, but dedicated boards would really aid that growth.

I also vote for such board, but with more general descrition: "Ahistorical 20 mm".

I play 20 mm pulp and 15 mm sci-fi (SF is much better in 15 mm then 20 mm, unfortunately).

I play 20 mm pulp and 15 mm sci-fi (SF availability is much better in 15 mm then 20 mm, unfortunately).

Fixed that for you.

As much as I am generally against more boards, this request has been well-argued and has the precedent of the various 6mm/10mm/15mm/28mm boards already in existence.

Love your 28mm marsh lizards, BTW, Lancer, looking forward to seeing the range grow.'

what lizards? they sound interesting.

I'm torn about this. Due to the very poor TMP search engine plus the software used that eliminates a Board eliminates every post ever made on that board. I would be in favor of folding all scale boards back into a single one but the Search Engine basically sucks. So, with those caveats I'd say yes to the new boards.

TMP 4.0 if it ever arrives may not be drastically different than what we currently have. So, I guess the Board proliferation has no end in sight.

Thanks,

John

Does 20mm Fantasy and SF even exist?

What is the difference between 25mm and 20mm?

Some of the legacy producers of 25mm scale their figures to 1/72 scale, and as I hear the 20mm fans that is their nominal scale as well, if that is the case what is the difference?

As for need for new boards, I don't see it, the fractionating of the niche boards into finer and finer detail is starting to make the TMP irrelevant as more time is spent looking for a new topic in all the sub boards rather than open discussion.

Yes, 20mm and 1/72 scale fantasy exists (I can't speak for sci-fi). There are very few true 25s anymore, so current 25s and 1/72 are nowhere near being the same in either height or proportion.

My objection to the sub-boards is not based upon a disdain for those scales, but because there is too often aspects of the discussions that interest me even though I game in a different scale. Even though my fantasy collection is almost entirely Warhammer 28mm, I have large 15mm ancients armies so I keep an eye on the 15mm fantasy topics. Likewise, when 20mm enthusiasts might start talking about their favorite rule systems, I would want to see that as well.

For as many of TMPers who may have narrow interests, I think a majority of us have ridiculously varied and numerous interests. We don't want topics of interest to us buried in a sub-sub board that we may never see because there are too many to manually check each and every board.

Yes I think it is a good idea to have a board for 20mm sci-fi/fantasy as I think this stuff often gets lost as part of the other boards

Mark

cpmodelsminiatures.co.uk

That's right, Mark. It's hard to establish much continuity or grow discussion if it's fragmented all over the place and has no 'home.'

I actually don't think board proliferation is much of a problem if it's constained to basic scale and genre distinctions; after all, that's why we have cross-posting, so if a subject is relevant to more than one scale or genre, it can appear on several boards. This allows for fine gradations and nuances without complicating things, IMO.

I also play in numerous scales and genres, but prefer boards to be sub-divided by scale and genre/topic as on TMP, because it allows those with precise interests to find the things that interest them most easily. I often check out other boards, and don't find the variety there a problem.
I find TMP searches to be fine, so long as one keeps the term searched simple and open, many results will be offered and I can then narrow down my search on from the results offered.

alien BH surfer:

Lancer's marsh lizards can be found here:
lancerminiatures.com

He also makes compatible sci-fi lizardmen, which is really nice. I won't add pics to this thread for obvious reasons!

Cheers!

Yes 20mm sci-fi exists, we use it as our standard scale for WWII, moderns and "post"-moderns.

I do not normally favor additonal board as they split up discussion but as we already have 15mm & 25mm boards, there is no where for 20mm stuff to be discussed.

Either create a 20mm board or get rid of the 15mm & 25mm boards.

TomT

I'd say get rid of the 15mm and 28mm boards. These boards are not busy enough to require this many sub-boards.

Turtle That is very good idea….

As I already said…….if you zap those other boards every post in them is also eliminated. Can we live with that?

If the forum software allowed the Editor to lump all the posts into another, then I'd be in favor of nuking the scale-specific boards.

But since the forum software deletes all the posts on a sub-board when you remove the sub-board, I have to say, HELL no!

Bump! TwinMirror asked me to post here, since 1-72/20mm fantasy is pretty much all I do.

I would certainly use such a board! It's not something I was particularly missing or wanting to seek out, since I didn't know how many people would actually be interested in it. But TM makes an intriguing point, that sometimes interest follows the building of a community rather than the other way around. The 15mm fantasy boards, which I do frequent and which often are quite interesting, may be a good example of this (though it seems like there was already a lot of manufacturer interest in such figures before?). I would also second the idea of calling it "ahistorical 1-72/20mm", as there's a lot of overlap between fantasy, pulp, and scifi gaming.

By the way, there's a burgeoning 1-72/20mm Google+ group for those who are interested.

Cheers, Mac. 'Ahistorical 1/72' may well be the best monicker, since the more I think about it, the more certain I am that we should continue to keep the scale's name true: 1 inch= six feet, which is, after all, why the scale has remained true ever since it's inception…unlike those arbitrarily measured in mm!

The google+ boards are a nice resource, too.

BTW, recently I've found some nice sites and unusual 1/72 minis perfect for fantasy…I wonder were I should post about them on TMP, though…

I take it we did not get our own board and have to just keep posting to the 15mm board?

20mm Rocks

TomT

1/72 scale is how sci fi wargaming with miniatures actually got started here in the US beginning in 1974, and it continues to this day. Starguard! remains the granddaddy of all sci fi miniatures rules, and those 1/72 scale metal figures and models -0ver 200 of 'em!- are still very much in production and available through Reviresco:

tin-soldier.com

John McEwan is still casting Starguard! figues, still produces something new and handy like a paper and wood 1/72 scale starship kit for Starguard, and I know he's in possession of quite a few masters or samples of his original 1/72 scale metal fantasy range, so if enough people got after him I suspect he'll succumb and put those classic fantasy RPG figures back into production.

Edit: I just remembered that back in the day John did a number of official Tunnels and Trolls RPG monsters, and I suspect he might very well be able to dust those off as well if there's enough interest shown.

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

This is a reasonable request and my vote would be for it.

The original thread,NOT the spin off where people want to get rid of boards like the 15 and 28mm.

Thanks,

Pat

I'm largely ambivalent.

More granularity is sometimes useful, but versus more clicks to check (as I'm interested in all of the current boards – 6mm, 15mm and 28mm).

So – for me – it's as broad as it is long…

John T