"Most satisfying aspect of wargaming?" Topic

Wargaming is interesting in that there are so many different aspects to it. There's the gaming itself, the collecting of figures, the painting, the finding of rules that suit you (or not), researching armies, battles and tactics, building terrain, putting on games, making friends with those who share similar interests, writing articles or blog posts, creating your own rules etc, etc.

There truly is something for just about everyone who has some interest in things military.

Everyone of course is different, but what do you find to be the most satisfying aspects of wargaming?

For me, I greatly enjoy hearing that guests have appreciated a game I've run and that they are keen to play again. Next to that is setting up a scenario the night before a game, and then spending some time looking at the troops in their places and wondering how things might unfold.

But most of all, not being a very good or prolific painter, I find finishing up a decent batch of troops (24 cavalry, say, or 48 foot) that look good (by my standards) to be very satisfying indeed, and worth celebrating with a glass of something good.

How about you?

Cheers,
Aaron

I love getting knee deep in the history. I also love the painting and feeling of accomplishment with a completed unit.

But by far, the best part of the hobby is the friendships I've made. Sometimes I think we view gamers as two dimensional caricatures. But I've had friends in the hobby for nearly 40 years who also know and love my wife and sons, who indulge my politics, my weird love of the Eattle Mariners, and obsession with Australian shepherds. All my closest friends are gamers first, but there is something deeper there.

The practical pieces of the hobby are great, but I think we undersell the relationships.

I very much enjoy painting not just for the end result but because I find it relaxing.

Most satisfying for me is a game that really works well, looks fine and tells a good and plausible story.

I enjoy reading too but I'd do that anyway.

There is as you say something for everyone-its a great hobby.

All of the above …

Brining history to life and seeing the enjoyment of other players when the game does that. Priceless.

Phil

Painting, construction, modeling: seeing it all come together.

The most important aspect is sharing it all with my friends.

For me it is a hard fought victory closely followed by a hard fought loss. I'm just as happy (happier usually) playing with counters on a hex map.

The lads around the table…

"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!"

Laughing at terrible dice rolls and doing the post-game chatter about what went well and what didn't.

The practical pieces of the hobby are great, but I think we undersell the relationships.

Not for me. I solo game

Brining history to life

Also does not apply to me as nowadays I game fantasy, sci-fi, and imagi-nations

Instead, I get the most satisfaction out of creating and recording stories. I enjoy the world-building aspect, setting up the scenarios, playing the game to see what happens, and then developing the story to go around the game. I use my blog to record these stories.

+1 KSmyth, who actually is a friend.

Slaughtering Nazis

For me, it's putting on a game that entertains and engages people.

I think imaginations bring history to life – just in an offbeat and non-linear way …

Phil

Running a game that I think works well and produces a positive reaction from the players.

Well, there are the trumpeters, the musicians, the strange animals from the conquered territories, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before me, the slave holding the golden crown--if he'd just stop mumbling and speak up!!

Oh. Serious. Friendships, the particular joy of creating miniature armies, devising the rules and scenarios to replicate the tactical options and the particular joy of cracking the code and winning with one of the "loser" historical armies. (OK, this last not so often--but when it happens, you remember.)

I'm with Phil on this – for me it's all of the above, plus some I probably haven't thought of yet. It goes in phases – sometimes the games are more satisfying, sometimes it's the painting, but it's all fun and satisfying. Good topic, Aaron…

All good answers in the friendships, learning, creating and stories but for shear momentary pleasure, that feeling of looking at that unit you've just finished.

Something about that final examination of that unit you've just finished fully is a real sense of accomplishment.

I probably enjoy assembling models more than I do painting them.

For actual play it's generally working through the puzzle of what I'm going to do next. Which is probably why I enjoy Warmachine/Hordes and Malifaux so much.

When my decisions on what to do with my troops, interact with the decisions of my opponent(s) and generate situations neither of us thought of. This has nothing to do with scale, period, eye-candy, terrain quality or DICE.

Dear Temporary Like Achillies

Like you, for me the pleasure is in setting up a pleasurable day and evening for my friends, their thanks and gratitude, but most of all seeing them laugh, have fun, enjoy themselves and life totally for themselves for a few hours. It is the social aspects of it. I do almost all Imagi-nations nd enjoy the painting and construction of armies and reading history and philosophy, but those are solitary pursuits. The best is offering what I can do for the enjoyment of friends, and even more for strangers at games at conventions, where I have met many more friends.

I think imaginations bring history to life – just in an offbeat and non-linear way …

That would be true in most cases, however my imagi-nations are set on a fictional world. It may be inspired by Earth's 18th century but it is about as historical as a Mel Gibson movie.

Wargaming gives me such pleasure, from researching, constructing and painting, to gaming.

Thanks for the comments, all. Great to see how much joy we take from our miniature parallel universes, and to get some insight into the aspects that people appreciate the most.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Cheers!
Aaron

Good thread Aaron.