"What influences you when deciding a period to game?" Topic

Is it a line of figures, a rule set, what your club and/or friends are gaming, a book you've read or a film you've seen, a combination of all? And does a certain period have a real "shelf life" or are there definite phases of popularity for a period?

It seems there are times when WWII or Napoleonic or Colonial or Ancients is the "flavor of the month" and I just wondered what, or if, there was a reason for it. (Other than "that's how wargamers are"……. )

All of the above. Always had an interest in WW2, history and movies, so I game that even though the minis are boring. Vikings – all Hollywood. The ACW – all history. It's different for period, genre and scale (Napoleonic skirmish? Sharpe's Rifles. Grand tactical? The Campaigns of Napoleon).

There's no one way I get in to a genre/period.

I will say, though, that I have never got in to a period for a rule set. Though I'm getting out of one (SCW – what's in my head isn't really much of a game).

Books, films, visiting a place and finding out about something new, attractive figures – guilty on all counts.

Usually, it's a history book. Although, occasional, it's something I see at a convention.

Yeah mainly history books but sometimes ooh shiny.

Do I get to kill nazis? Sold!

Vigilant, +1
Especially 'being there'.

Vigilant: +2

What Vigilant said

Mike

For me it comes down to an interest in a specific historical event. Which may be the result of a magazine article, a book, a film. For example, I would really like to do San Juan Hill. But anymore I really have to be attracted to the figures that apply to the event I am interested. So far I have not found any that interest me enough to undertake this battle.

I really like the new Perry Sudan\NWF plastic figures they just came out with. So I may jump into that. , Just watched "The Four Feathers" again last night.

sometimes, just on complete impulse. For example, many many years ago I attended a littlewars in Chicago. I have always enjoyed ancients and watched the DBM tournament. I happen to see an awesome dark ages army deployed in a battle line…the Rus by 2 dragons. Well, I was done…had to build that army…knew nothing about them or really their period….guilty!

It's usually my mate Bob. We'll be at a show (normally Hammerhead or Partizan) & he'll say something like … "ooh, that looks nice, why don't we give that a try…"

If I've got money in my pocket (which is most of the time – I'm tight) I'll end up spending what I've got left…

That's how I ended up doing 6mm Dark ages, 6mm Sudan & 6mm Zulu… however, I've enjoyed doing all of them.

I'm off to Partizan this Sunday, but Bob's at the Bosworth re-enactment, so I'll probably end up buying nothing this time!

Rob
link

I got into the AWI when I moved to New Jersey. There are period sites everywhere you go!

For me it is all related to history and subjects I enjoy reading about or studying. I very seldom enjoy historical miniature gaming unless it is tied closely to the history of a period or conflict.

Personally, its first a period or subject of interest and books. IE Zola's DOWNFALL for the FPW and that time period shaping Europe. Secondly, could be a film. I saw Zulu, Zulu Dawn, Lost Patrol and Four Feathers long before I discovered TSATF! Yet, would have never gotten into the period if it was not for the rule set.

Another movie example is right after Turner made the movie Rough Riders, that spawned interest,figs and rules for that period. Look at Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. Love it or hate it, Gettysburg along with the historical fiction books as well.

I think period popularity ebbs and flows with release of new rules. Seems that everyone wants to try out and must have the newest release. Never went that route, but that trend seems to be more and more prevalent. newest, biggest,better, fastests, etc.

Yet for me, I will clutch and hang on to my old standbys until
"they are pried from my hand".

As to a shelf life of a period, I dont think there really is such a thing. Again, new rules and new figures can revive a seemingly dormant period. Looking back, it seemed that in the early to mid 90s, there were new FPW releases regularly
and the period seemed to hit its high point. Looking at TMP, its still played and there are even now new rules and figs.

I've found in the short time I have been retired, having more time to read history and finding tons of info on the net, are driving recent interests into WW2 Pacific, Vietnam and the Banana Wars. Never had any interest in either WW2, Vietnam or anything "modern"(post WW1). Banana Wars, now that's another story.

I know this was an old man's rambling epistle, but I have to agree with Doug's previous post. A lot of old favorites and standbys need to be revived. Fire and Fury and Over the Top are two that come to mind.

I do think the trend of shorter games and fewer figures is here to stay.

Hope some of this was useful.

Sam

Being a fantasy/SF gamer it has to be the books and story. Howard,Tolkien,Moorcock and Burroughs. For Science fiction I guess its more broad and I can buy a range for their looks, but Starship Troopers,Forever War,Dune and Stalker ring my bells. So, the story or setting come first. That is the thing I want to play games with.

Books

Mainly figures that catch my eye at first. Then I will explore the period a bit and if that does it I am in. If it was down to available opponents then I would be hooped without Jeff and Murdoch.

Subject, stirred by articles, books, sometimes films.
Then among the mass of reading, if I feel can't resist adding more (un) played games to the list:
Has to be tactically interesting, mostly with different ways of war than the ones I already have.
For ex. crimean war never attracted me for games: looks like Napoleonics with stupid commanders everywhere and not even nive uniforms.
Mind me I will still go to Balaklava et all next year. So close to the beach to postpone again. History but no games; it happens a lot. Never the other way though.

Anything and everything but half the time I can't even remember what started me off. Probably the most common reason is to have a force for what mates are playing.

Initially I "gamed" as a child, but without rules. Later wargaming was revealed to me. So I used rules (almost exclusively my/our own) to continue to game those same limited areas of aesthetic interest. I've never gamed outside of those aesthetic areas. If I were more like most of you, I'd game most or all areas/genres out of an aesthetic interest in gaming. But I am not a gamer. I'm interested in a few areas or eras, and I don't even know why….

It's all about the Hats. Just can't pass up on decent hat. The Kepi, the Fez, the Bicorne, Tricorne and Mitre. Great hats, lead to interesting uniforms, lead to interesting wars and battles.

<Excuse, need to get my prescription refilled>

I read the history and the idea of gaming it invades my brain.

i usually choose a period in which both sides are fun to paint, research and have empathy with (in any order).Also similar outlay in terms of figures for both sides.
martin

Romance

If there is no romance about the period there is no interest.

There has to be an engaging story.

Otto

-History (don't like science fiction, warhammer etc etc)
-attracted to the period (like the one period more then the other
- colour of uniform (camouflage is a minus)
- availability of figures (in the scale i want),rules etc
- interesting characters, units, armies, battles, uniforms etc

Let me give you an example of what I mean about "Romance."

Take the Seven Years War. Love it, history, battles, characters, great issues, great art, great stories,great militaria, etc., Huge amount of "Romance." I like the Seven years War very much.

Take the French and Indian Wars. Great Romance, the whole Leatherstocking tales, the idea of settlers and colonists trying to make a life in the howling wilderness. Great Stories and great drama.

But while the Seven years War holds a great interest for me, the French and Indian War does not. Reason? There are precisely two sieges and three battles and the rest is simply a dolorous repetition of massacres of settlers on the frontier. I don't get all oogly about the wiping out of women and children in the middle of the forest. Others love it, others are very into the French and Indian War. I'm not.

The other part of the "Romance" is the art, music, literature, culture and design of the period.