"Definition of a Wargamer" Topic

How often do you need to wargame to qualify to be called a wargamer.

By wargaming I mean the traditional understanding of someone who wargames with model soldiers, using regular rules and a dice to govern the game.

Clearly someone who does so once a week, or even once a month would qualify. But what about once every three, or six months. Or even once a year.

Throughout my long enjoyment of this wargaming hobby I have gone through stages where I did not manage to get the figures on the table as often as I would like. But I don't think I have ever gone longer than one month without a game.

However at one stage I spent many hours each week painting model solders, usually an hour or so each day. At this stage it might have been more accurate to call me a painter rather than a wargamer.

So is someone still a wargamer who spends regular amounts of time painting model soldiers or researching, but only very rarely takes part in a traditional wargame.

If you do it once a year with your own collection of toys then Id say your still a wargamer.

I took a long break, some 6-7 years out of gaming, but still read the magazines and painted figures.

Now I game, once a month at best, though our clubs hit a dry spell for the last two or three.

I wouldn't think there needs be a checklist.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone can call him/herself a wargamer if they like.

1. I reject your definition that wargaming requires model soldiers. That only makes you a miniatures wargamer. One can just play boardgames and still be a wargamer.

2. I agree with ochoin; I don't think there is a requirement. Call yourself one if you wish, regardless of how frequently or infrequently you play.

If you read this you are a wargamer.

If a wargamer falls in a forest* & no-one sees him, does he really fall?

* lightly wooded, artillery unable to cross & infantry at half movement.

I wargame therefore I am.

@warwell: Agreed, and don't forget about computer wargames too.

I have a leg in each camp, using miniatures rules but on my computer… ;-)

Like everything else, there are wargamers and there are wargamers. We are all different, we love different periods and different figures, play board games, computer games and table games. We paint and paint constantly and we paint and play occasionally. It depends on the moment. Recently I have tended to paint and play between lengthy bouts of research and it helps me relax and chill out. Except when I lose of course, LOL

Edwulf and Daler have it right

While I have been painting figs for 30 years, there were long dry spells when I painted slowly and gamed not at all- but I always thought of myself as a gamer

Now I can game more often – in fact, on Sunday the Little Prince and I will be with the guys playing "Eating Hitler"!

In my view to be a wargamer you need to have played in or run a wargame at least once and to expect or hope to do so again, if cicumstances permit.

Must one actually game to be considered a wargamer? Simply thinking about wargaming, planning wargaming projects, reading military history, wondering how YOU would attack or defend in a particular situation, all seem to qualify one as wargamer even without having pushed lead around the table. Perhaps being a "wargamer" is more a state of mind?

In a recent blog post at the Palouse Wargaming Journal, my thoughts on a similar topic were discussed relating to classifying wargamers based on four attributes. The attributes were historian, gamesman, craftsman, and collector.

If interested in reading my thoughts on wargamer profiling or to participate in the classification exercise, visit:

link

It is said that a person who is addicted to alcohol is an alcoholic even when he or she has not taken a drink for years. So I by applying this standard those of us addicted to playing with lead soldiers, but haven't had a chance to indulge in our addiction for a few years would still be classified as wargamers.

Kevin

"* lightly wooded, artillery unable to cross & infantry at half movement."

Like it.

@holdit – agreed!

Who, waiting at the traffic light for the train, looking at the village in the distance, thinks:
This way would be best to go in with my column, and this crest would be to position my 6lb batteries….

ochoin for the win.

ME: "Hi. My name is Dentatus and I'm a wargamer."

Rest of the room: "Hi, Dentatus"

One day, several years ago, I was driving along and passed a small copse of trees. I found myself wondering if it should be a +1 or +2 cover modifier for small arms fire. Thats when I realized I was a wargamer, and I've resigned myself to this fate. Sorta like a programer who dreams in code, we perceive real world situations in game terms.

Also when your best half starts talking about flank marching around the queue or charging to the store before closing time, you know the varnish spilled over.

I was out of the hobby for ten years but all that time I always considered myself a wargamer.

To be a wargamer is a state of mind. Even if you never play, you will still be a wargamer.

from my former Girl Friend:
"someone like you..with a pathologic narcisism..who wants to lead everybody..so he set up full armies of little guys at his orders"

I will never be cured of this madness….

Not sure we need a definition…is there a new qualification badge been released? Crossed tape measures triumphant in a wreath of dice perhaps? And can you wear it if serving with a non Wargaming assigned unit?

Once a year is sad, but fine!

from my former Girl Friend:
"someone like you..with a pathologic narcisism..who wants to lead everybody..so he set up full armies of little guys at his orders"

Wow. Thanks for sharing….I think.

If it helps any, you seem like on OK guy to me.

Ich bin ein kriegspieler! I am a war-gamer because I have played war-games for the vast majority of my life. If I go through a dry spell, I don't become a different person. I am still a war-gamer and you can tear the dice from my cold, dead fingers before I will concede this point!
Cheers and good gaming.
Rod Robertson.

Wargamer: N: 1) An individual with too much time to paint and not enough time to play

2) An individual with plenty of play time but no time or talent to paint.

3) An individual who wishes that they met definition 1 or 2

A Wargamer constantly quests for What Might Have Been. Boardgamer, cardgamer, miniaturegamer, book collector(and we actually READ our books), armchair general, comfy chair commando, wannabee Sun Tzu/Caesar/Napoleon-a wargamer is the culmination of all this.
Are we this era's version of a True Philosopher? A wargamer takes in consideration not only TO&E', OOB's but also culture, society, cartography…large list…

Unlike other endeavors, do our eclectic pursuits unite us?

yeah, I just woke up.

A Wargamer is someone who will spend $100 USD to round out the $10 USD worth of free stuff someone gave him.

from my former Girl Friend:
"someone like you..with a pathologic narcisism..who wants to lead everybody..so he set up full armies of little guys at his orders"

Indeed! Apparently I am

an emotional cripple who cares more about toy soldiers than spending time with my relatives

Yeah – and?

When I go to garage sales looking for bits to use as home made terrain, I tell people I'm a model railroader. THAT they understand. If I tell someone outside the hobby what I really do, they get this funny, far-off gaze in their eyes…like they're trying to figure out how you play Paintball on a table.