"Is Nostalgia what it used to be?" Topic

"I got given a copy of this recently. An interesting choice. I know both Peter and Andy through Wargame Developments. Andy Callan is an inventive and imaginative wartier of wargame rules. Peter Dennis is one of the best illustrators of his type working today.

I'm not sure who the book is aimed at. Peter's pictures are beautiful and he has really thought through how you would go about making everything in paper, -all the troop types, trees, buildings and so on. Modern printers and scanners mean that you can run these things off in your own home at a reasonable cost…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Terrement: On reflection that quote sounds harsher than it should do. The rules are considerably better at simulating ECW combat than, say "Pike & Shotte" and do play quickly.

The figures, done well, look like rather nice flats. Having played a few games with flats it is hard to describe the charm they have. You have to try them yourself.

I think there's something to be said in favor of anything which gives quick cheap access to what can be a slow and difficult hobby to get into.

Looking back, I think Don Featherstone was onto something with those AFV silhouettes in his "Tank Battles in Miniature" North Africa volume. Scan them, "flip the scan and run them off on sand-colored paper, and you could have a game the same day for pennies. Makes my flea market microarmor look like the rich man's solution.

No, Nostalgia is not what it used to be in the good old days…

Anything which offers an "in" to the hobby for ~£10 has to be a good thing. Who is this for ? Well, I've considered buying it – but the person who'd have really liked it is myself at the age of 10.

@20thMaine I'd have more interest if I didn't already have the figures in 15mm. I'm sort of intrigued as an idea to try it all out.

If these flats had been available when I wanted to stage ECW battles with my Year 6 History classes, I'd have used them instead of the 'top-down' counters I downloaded from the Historical Warmaster yahoo group. They would have created a more visually attractive spectacle and also informed my pupils more about the appearance of ECW troops.

The publishers have, wisely IMHO, begun with periods that feature in the UK KS2/3 History curriculum.

Like 20thMaine, I'd have adored these when I was about ten – but as there were no home PCs nor colour printers then, I'd have been somewhat frustrated!

@arthur1815: Yes. Agree completely. As I said in the blog I'm not sure who these are aimed at, lovely tho' they are.

But it might make an interesting school project, – each group in class making their own regiments!

Ah, I remember when Nostalgia really meant something.

Kids these days…

I can safely say the future ain't what it used to be.