"What do you prefer calling one guy in a game?" Topic

31 Posts

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Weasel	22 Apr 2015 2:53 p.m. PST
What term do you use to describe one, solitary soldier in a game where they are based individually? Miniature Figure Soldier Element Trooper Something else? I tend towards "figure" in my games but I always had a soft spot for "trooper". No doubt an Iron Maiden thing.
The Beast Rampant	22 Apr 2015 2:57 p.m. PST
I usually say 'miniature', though 'figure' is a close second. When doing SciFi, I will use 'trooper' I have been conditioned to think of 'element' as a multi-base of some sort. And sometimes, I go old-school with 'casting'.
Flashman14	22 Apr 2015 2:58 p.m. PST
"Guy" As in, "That guy fires at that guy" – pointing. This guy fires at those guys. These guys charge those guys. You get the idea. Though sometimes I call them what they are – Highlanders fire at the militia. Or rifles fire at the officers or something to that effect.
Great War Ace	22 Apr 2015 3:10 p.m. PST
My painted figures or miniatures. Wargaming figure, or figurine. "Fred"….
darthfozzywig	22 Apr 2015 3:14 p.m. PST
Guy Dude Moe Smokey
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut	22 Apr 2015 3:14 p.m. PST
Like Flashman14, but usually "dude" instead of "guy." Unless it is a non-human troop type, in which case it may be "critter," "bug," or possibly "bunny"…
Samuel McAdorey	22 Apr 2015 3:23 p.m. PST
Figure.
The Monstrous Jake	22 Apr 2015 3:30 p.m. PST
Guy Dude Feller Doofus
piper909	22 Apr 2015 3:31 p.m. PST
Lonesome.
377CSG	22 Apr 2015 3:38 p.m. PST
Miniature
20thmaine	22 Apr 2015 3:48 p.m. PST
"He fires at him"
Weasel	22 Apr 2015 3:54 p.m. PST
I forgot "casting". That's very 70s :-) "That guy" or "My guy" has seen use too.
Joes Shop	22 Apr 2015 4:06 p.m. PST
Figure.
Lee Brilleaux	22 Apr 2015 4:45 p.m. PST
Do you mean "as I write the rules" or "as I move these thingies into the ruined factory?" I prefer 'figures' for the first one – I note that players raised on GW games use 'model' a lot. For the second, it's more informal.
Winston Smith	22 Apr 2015 6:30 p.m. PST
Figures. Guys. All good.
Jamesonsafari	22 Apr 2015 6:33 p.m. PST
figure dude guy Elmo mini trooper rifleman squaddie depends on the period played, the level of jocularity around the table. etc…
Winston Smith	22 Apr 2015 6:45 p.m. PST
Casting? Yeah. Forget that. Sounds like I should be smoking a pipe while gaming in the reading room.
ArmymenRGreat	22 Apr 2015 6:48 p.m. PST
Guy/Dude
53Punisher	22 Apr 2015 9:49 p.m. PST
Figure or simply "fig."
Doctor X	22 Apr 2015 11:01 p.m. PST
Figure, Guy, He/Him
Martin Rapier	22 Apr 2015 11:12 p.m. PST
Figure, guy, he, bloke. Depends on the context.
MHoxie	23 Apr 2015 2:01 a.m. PST
Miniature Figure This/That Guy
Green Tiger	23 Apr 2015 2:30 a.m. PST
I always use 'figure' – for some reason I object to 'miniature'…
SJDonovan	23 Apr 2015 3:10 a.m. PST
Chap. As in: "My chap over here will shoot your chap over there." or "These chaps behind the wall will fire at your horsey chaps".
x42brown	23 Apr 2015 3:20 a.m. PST
I'll have to pay attention the next time I have to refer to an individual during a game. I've never really given it thought. Most skirmish games they have individual names anyway which get used. Casting gets used during pre-painting prep. x42
Cerdic	23 Apr 2015 4:59 a.m. PST
Figure, bloke, chap, Dave……
The Virtual Armchair General	23 Apr 2015 11:46 a.m. PST
Figure. Go figure….
etotheipi	23 Apr 2015 2:10 p.m. PST
I strictly hold to (or try to) "figure" when talking about the mechanics of the miniature in the environment of gaming (like measuring movement distance or determining line of sight), and a genre appropriate version of "soldier" (or "civilian", etc.) when talking about the units being represented. That's when writing. When playing, it's usually "dude", as in "I'm in ur base killin' ur d00dz!"
Florida Tory	23 Apr 2015 5:50 p.m. PST
Casting, sometimes miniature. I am an old school gamer, and I use the terms figures or troops to refer to the roster strength represented by the castings. It always seemed logical to distinguish between what we use in the game on the table top from what we trying to simulate. Rick
DWilliams	23 Apr 2015 7:06 p.m. PST
We all seem to say "those/your/my guys" … which betrays our American lineage, I suppose.