OSchmidt | 10 Apr 2015 4:42 a.m. PST |
How do you divide war gamers into various types? How do you sort them into various camps and behavioral styles. Mine is simple. Vamps, Tramps, and Mules. Mules= This is the guy I the group who buys the figures, paints the armies, organizes and puts on the games, designs the scenario, teaches the rules, run the games, buys the munchies organizes the dinner, in short does the most of the work in any group, This comprises about 10% of the players. You have to have at least ONE mule otherwise you don't have a group. If you have two mules in your group you are truly blessed. If you say you have three mules, you're a liar. Tramps= These guys come to the games, dutifully play, eat the munchies provided , maybe they buy a few units, even an army, are generally interested, but don't put out any titanic effort. They are good solid gamers. Nice guys, generally quiescent and happy to be there. They will rarely put on a game and will do so with the help of the mule in some ways around the edges. Mules don't complain, don't argue, almost invariably bring some sort of munchies. Tramps= Love em- gtotta have em. Tramps are about 70% of the gamers out there. Vamps= Short for vampires. About 20% of gamers are "Vamps."These people suck the fun and life out of everything. They never build armies, never put on games, never bring munchies but they constantly complain about everything anyone else does and how it's "wrong, wrong, wrong, just wrong!" They will freely admit their role is "to sensitize others to the inadequacies of the game, rules, group, players, the world in general. They will complain about everything and give you their august opinion on everything. They will always attack the mule. It generally takes about four vamps to bring down one mule to the point where he says to hell with it and leaves the group. This is the reason war games has very slow growth, that means that only bout 5 to 10 % of the mules can survive. They will then blame the mule for putting personal grudges ahead of the groups. Vamps NEVER bring munchies, they consider it beneath them, and if they do it's stuff everyone hates so they can take it home unopened and bring it the next time. They are however voracious consumers of the munchies other players bring. When questioned about what rules they would like to play with, they generally say they "have not found the rules, (or soldiers or period) that are "just right" but are close. |
(Phil Dutre) | 10 Apr 2015 4:58 a.m. PST |
Isn't that the taxonomy of any hobby organization? |
Ed Mohrmann | 10 Apr 2015 5:06 a.m. PST |
Or any human organization, come to that… |
OSchmidt | 10 Apr 2015 5:08 a.m. PST |
Dear Phil Probably, or even more probably any human organization. But that's only my experience, others may have different criteria and it will be interesting to see how others perceive it. Otto |
Flashman14 | 10 Apr 2015 5:21 a.m. PST |
Still, I enjoyed reading it. Lovely contribution. |
sillypoint | 10 Apr 2015 5:33 a.m. PST |
I like the gamer-historian-modeller paradigm, although I like yours also. The one I normally use is "I like to play this person" or "I don't like to play this person". I suspect I'm a mule- but my wife and my councellor differ, they say I'm sadly addicted to this hobby- so probably drug mule of sorts….? |
ochoin | 10 Apr 2015 6:04 a.m. PST |
Gee, I'm a mule. And I've always seen myself as a stallion. |
OSchmidt | 10 Apr 2015 6:36 a.m. PST |
Dear Ochoin Yah, so do we all. Our wives see us as geldings. |
warhawkwind | 10 Apr 2015 7:11 a.m. PST |
I think you've pretty much nailed it. There might be room for "The Towel Boy". He tries to run a game now and then in order to pull his weight, but lacks the charisma, money and skills to compete with the Mules. His heart is in it, and he is a team player. To make up for his short comings he is there early to help the Mule carry terrain from the car and set it up. He also stays afterward to clean up and help haul the terrain back to the car. A pretty nice guy to have around, even if its just to fill the ranks if one side needs another player. |
Pattus Magnus | 10 Apr 2015 7:28 a.m. PST |
I like the taxonomy in the OP, it certainly fits my experience, and also subscribe to the gamer-historian-modeller taxonomy. I propose that there is also a continuum of points between the poles I call the "Genre Fanatic" (is only interested in one period or game system and collects/plays that exclusively) and the "Gaming Butterfly" (interested in nearly anything, buys figs and games [compulsively?] and rarely finishes anything before moving on to the next thing). Perhaps what we're looking at is a 3-dimensional matrix with the "Mule-Tramp-Vamp" continuum along the X-axis, the "Historian-Gamer-Modeller" continuum along the Y-axis, and the "Fanatic-Butterfly" continuum on the Z-axis? If so, I self-identify as a "junior mule (or towel boy) gamer with mid-to-high butterfly tendencies". |
Wackmole9 | 10 Apr 2015 7:34 a.m. PST |
It fits my experiences of 40 years of Gaming. |
haywire | 10 Apr 2015 7:35 a.m. PST |
I would say I was about 30% mule, 60% tramp, 10% vamp |
Citizen Kenau | 10 Apr 2015 7:35 a.m. PST |
I am definitely a mule. However, Vamps rarely make it into my games and no Vamp ever ever enters one more than once. So I must be a clever one. I have excellent repellent :) |
SpuriousMilius | 10 Apr 2015 7:42 a.m. PST |
IMO, "Mules" should be termed "Champs" which is more accurate as to their worth per your description, as well as more poetic. |
Who asked this joker | 10 Apr 2015 7:43 a.m. PST |
Are 20% of all gamers really Vamps? The number seems a little high. I generally have good luck at conventions and even local group play. The local group, obviously, has tighter control over gamers they let in than at a convention. But honestly, over the past 10 years or so, I can't think of any time where there was an unruly player or rules lawyer or whatever. maybe it's the (simple) games I play. Maybe I am having a string of good luck. Maybe I only play during the day, while the Vampires are sleeping. I suspect there are more mules out there and less vampires. Remember the 10% rule. 10% of the people make 90% of the noise. |
McLaddie | 10 Apr 2015 7:49 a.m. PST |
Out of any group or organization, 20% of the group does 80% of the work, while the other 80% do 20%. Me? What day is this? Last weekend I was a tramp, this weekend, I was the mule. Next weekend I'll be in Bodaga Bay. On the following Thursday, I'll be accused of being a Vamp. So, I'm not sure where I and any of my amigos stand on an overall percentage basis…. |
mbsparta | 10 Apr 2015 8:01 a.m. PST |
There are (1) Gamers (2) He-Man Gamers (3) Klingons Gamers buy games and/or minis but don't paint or don't paint much. They come to compete and win. 40K comes to mind. A typical gamer knows more about X-Wings than about Napoleon. He-Man Gamers buy books, miniatures, rules, paint real armies and host games. It is a passion dear to their heart. He-Man Gamers are lonely. He-Man gamers never play Victorian Redcoats on Mars crap. Klingons show up, play with your toys and disappear back into the void. They never buy rules and just want to roll dice. Many smell … |
Maddaz111 | 10 Apr 2015 8:16 a.m. PST |
I see it more as a venn diagram, with various intersections of circles, |
OSchmidt | 10 Apr 2015 8:28 a.m. PST |
Nah, don't glorify it. Mules are Mules. Vamps think their champs and even think they're mules. Want to spot a mule? They'll be like Boxer the Horse on Animal Farm. Anytime the Pig Vamps want the farm to do more there will be Boxer saying "I will work harder!" Eventually the Vamp-pigs will bring him down. If you don't thin you have Vamps in your group-- then you're the vamp. |
OSchmidt | 10 Apr 2015 8:43 a.m. PST |
I suspect there are less vamps in basement groups where the mules can exclude them. At a club or store they really congregate because no one will tolerate them elsewhere. Conventions of course are their happy hunting ground. |
warwell | 10 Apr 2015 9:09 a.m. PST |
As a solo gamer, the mule-tramp-vamp model does not really apply. A couple weeks ago I was pondering the gamer-modeler taxonomy on my blog link |
wminsing | 10 Apr 2015 10:10 a.m. PST |
This sounds about right to me; Also my experience with reenacting! :) -Will |
Tgerritsen | 10 Apr 2015 10:55 a.m. PST |
Sounds about right. I'm definitely a mule. |
TMPWargamerabbit | 10 Apr 2015 10:57 a.m. PST |
Looking in the mirror…. see mule. Hee Haa |
Weasel | 10 Apr 2015 11:52 a.m. PST |
My gaming group is 1 mule (me) and the rest tramps though they are slowly changing to mini-mules. This doesn't bother me since I'm the one who likes scouting out new games to play. They'll play pretty much anything I put on, so everyone wins. |
basileus66 | 10 Apr 2015 1:16 p.m. PST |
I am nothing. I am just someone that looks from the sidelines, while imagining that one day he will finish all his ongoing projects and then play a game! |
The Tin Dictator | 10 Apr 2015 1:40 p.m. PST |
I expressed a similar train of thought about a year ago. I had people scolding me for not appreciating the non-contributing group members (vamps). I was told I was lucky to have them. Yeah……….. not so much. I think the OP's breakdown is pretty accurate. |
Samuel McAdorey | 10 Apr 2015 1:44 p.m. PST |
Nothing like some gross overgeneralization and pigeonholing to make my Friday complete. |
boy wundyr x | 10 Apr 2015 2:21 p.m. PST |
Great, so I think I'm a gaming butterfly towel boy working towards being at least a mini-mule. But I ain't no tramp. |
martin goddard | 10 Apr 2015 2:47 p.m. PST |
Although it is very human to put things into as few categories as possible such as (hammers/nails or A/B/C) it is possible that there are at least 30 types if categories were imposed. When gaming I find that most players bring something useful to the game in terms of attitude, snacks, figures or good manners. These sort of threads can tend towards "a super group(me, me me) and the other lesser mortals. There cannot be too may chiefs in gaming or there would be too few lesser mortals to massage their egos and be grateful to those great chiefs. A group will probably be better with a mix of player types of whom the "chief" respects their contributions.Thse categorisations often have a best group (with no negative aspects) and the "other" groups with plenty of negative aspects. The categoriser is often in the best group?? It is nice to turn up to a game where the host gives ownership to participants by saying "here are my soldiers" put an amy together within certain scenario parameters. I do wish to make it clear that I am not an expert at putting players into categories and these are just some comments from a gamer happy to have friends to play with. martin
|
ochoin | 10 Apr 2015 3:54 p.m. PST |
Nothing like some gross overgeneralization and pigeonholing to make my Friday complete. I agree with you. OS clearly left out the category 'suckers'. These are the people who attempt to suck the joy & fun out of anything, even a harmless little bit of labelling of wargamers. |
D6 Junkie | 10 Apr 2015 3:54 p.m. PST |
You can always see the hole left in the gaming club when a mule passes away. |
Dynaman8789 | 10 Apr 2015 4:02 p.m. PST |
Call me a liar but in the local club there are roughly 10 regulars and 8 of them regularly supply all that is needed for each game. Club meeting tomorrow has 4 games scheduled for example – each run by a different person. |
haywire | 10 Apr 2015 5:48 p.m. PST |
Are Vamps also the ones who are always looking at the next best thing instead of the thing the Mule has been putting all his heart into building and painting and has right there? "I finally got all my X painted and built. Lets play!" "Nah, I wanna play Z when it comes out." "That's not until next year! Maybe. because its a kickstarter." |
Early morning writer | 10 Apr 2015 8:30 p.m. PST |
How's about: Humorist, Holes (insert A word in front – and leave these at home, please), Bores, Really Bad Bores, Actual Experts, Pleasant Pushers (they play, they enjoy, sometimes they learn), Builders. A good game has one or more Builders (paint, build, terrain, rules), mostly Pleasant Pushers, and a couple of Humorists. And none of the others. Okay, maybe an actual expert if he or she has a dose of the humorist as well. I nominate most vamps to be hung, drawn, and quartered – there are a few who do actually grow up, even after 50 sometimes. |
Great War Ace | 10 Apr 2015 9:59 p.m. PST |
I never met a genuine "vamp". Some gamers are "mythical gamers", in other words, they paint troops but then never or seldom play with them. Often they sit and watch when they show up. They're not bad sorts and are probably friends with most of the gamers. They just don't play, for complex reasons. Complex, because nobody really knows what their problem is. Most gamers are okay company, even if they use other people's stuff and seldom if ever paint their own. I've been a "mule" in the past. My house, my rules, my scenarios four out of five times, etc. Sometimes "mules" simply withdraw, and it isn't anyone's fault. I think that "vamps" are largely a myth, because anyone that obnoxious wouldn't survive socially long enough to be invited back a second time. Of course, they might manifest slowly by degrees, after becoming "good friends" with one or more of the dedicated gamers. Then it is harder to get rid of them…. |
Temporary like Achilles | 11 Apr 2015 3:13 a.m. PST |
How about the "ramp"? He's the fellow that quietly lays the groundwork but is stepped over when it's time for the plaudits to be handed out. He's the one who suggested the house rule that made the scenario, but no one remembers that now; and he's the one who pays for the pizza delivery every time, but with so little fuss that half the group forget to pay him back. He's the bloke who makes up the groundsheets for the big day, but it's the guys who bring down the barn, trees and fences who get told they did a good job on the scenery. He's the guy who puts down 70% of the figures – painted to a decent, unspectacular standard – but the four guys who combine to paint up the final 30% at the last minute get the thanks for heroically making the game possible. He's a bit of a mule, but is so circumspect about it that his contribution tends to be overlooked… |
Martin Rapier | 11 Apr 2015 7:58 a.m. PST |
Frankly, this thread leaves me utterly baffled. Perhaps it is an American thing. Perhaps I am very lucky. Perhaps I am a 'vamp'. I go to a wargames club. We take it in turns to put on and run games. Err, thats it. It is of course possible that we have somehow magically repelled all the wierdos, losers, whiners, rules lawyers, smellies, 'professional historians' and neo-nazis through some form of telepathic projection. |
ochoin | 11 Apr 2015 2:03 p.m. PST |
Perhaps it is an American thing. I first read, a couple of decades ago, an attempt to humorously classify wargamers in a column of the old Wargames Illustrated by the regular columnist Loki; both very English. So, no, not American but the universal desire for classification &/or have a laugh. |
Martin Rapier | 12 Apr 2015 7:43 a.m. PST |
Have a laugh? oooh, I don't know about that… |
ochoin | 12 Apr 2015 1:50 p.m. PST |
@ Martin. I do realise wargaming is a very serious business but a slight stretching of the lips, if not overly indulged in, may be considered permissible. 87)) |