"Empire Gamers Needed - LA Area" Topic
10 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please avoid recent politics on the forums.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Empire Message Board
Areas of InterestNapoleonic
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Top-Rated Ruleset
Featured Showcase Article
Featured Workbench Article
Featured Profile ArticleThe gates of Old Jerusalem offer a wide variety of scenario possibilities.
|
HappyHussar | 20 Dec 2016 8:43 p.m. PST |
I am posting this for a good friend of mine, Bob Martin, who is looking for Empire V miniature players: Looking for Napoleonic players in the Valencia/San Fernando Valley, CA area. Have over 13,000 25mm castings, complete with terrain, 8x12 table, etc. Played the Empire 5 rules many years ago and figurines based to that system. In short, have everything needed but players! If interested contact Bob Martin at martin26071rs@aol.com (I hope I didnt violate a message board rule by posting his email address – this is the listing he wanted me to post …… he will be reading this thread too and will see any comments you have to make) I played at Bob's many times in the past. He is a good guy – friendly and fun to play the games with. He also has a good board game collection. |
Mike Petro | 20 Dec 2016 11:02 p.m. PST |
I used to play Empire V with some guys on the opposite end in Norfolk, VA when I was stationed there. Bunch of Navy retirees (and some still active), pushing lead. Fun games, good people. |
Condotta | 21 Dec 2016 7:07 a.m. PST |
We enjoy Empire V as a group, and would enjoy playing with Bob, but unfortunately, distance is an obstacle. I hope he can entice some players to try Empire V. |
HappyHussar | 21 Dec 2016 3:27 p.m. PST |
So far we have had a response from a fellow that gamed with us briefly long ago. So hopefully a few more will answer up and we can get a small group going. |
TMPWargamerabbit | 21 Dec 2016 4:31 p.m. PST |
Bob and Bill, As basically a "chairperson" for the 25-28mm napoleonic gaming activities in the greater LA region, I can suggest several options to start. Basically in this region there are two options presently as you know. Go with the current favorite Black Powder side of napoleonic 25/28mm gaming or our veteran group, meeting since 1975, with basically two sub groups (south bay area and northern LA zones). Those are the two options for 25/28mm scale miniature napoleonics for the LA region, of any established size, and with known active public social gaming events monthly and local or So. California regional convention gaming. For 15mm or smaller the field is larger with several groups using Age of Eagles or General of Brigade rule sets in general… some even use BP with the small scale miniatures, also found at the local conventions. The WR blog has a few local group mentioned and linked. For my group's 25/28mm napoleonic gaming…. check the Wargamerabbit blog. I am aware you attended one of our scenario play test games in the past (Raab 1809). Generally I run historical scenario games, as noted and evidenced under the Blog's scenario links and AAR pull down menus. Monthly scenario gaming, themed food (on occasion) and drink are a common event in the northern warren (Winnetka). Group size wise…..our games normally could be 4 to 12 players, especially if the southern (Manhattan Beach) and northern (Winnetka Warren) sub-groups gather for a common larger scenario game. As for miniatures…. never a problem like your own 25mm collection size Bpb. My own painted collection numbers 22k plus, add in the other gamers in group, easily north of 36k painted miniatures, covering almost any army of period… including the rarer armies…. 1790's republican French, 1806 Prussian, Ottoman, American (USA)), Spanish, Early FRW Germanic, even the Reichsarmee 1790. link For recruiting new gamers… One must host the games of course, publicize them, and attend to GM games at the local conventions. For every game, have the scenario posted on line before hand, photograph the scenario, write up AAR, including the scenario photographs in the text, and post for general regional readership. I make it a point to attend the HMGS-PSW conventions (twice a year), the AnaHeim gaming scene (monthly if possible), the Strategicon conventions (3 per year), and attend smaller events at local hobby stores (HMGS driven). GM games at these events is always a recruiting opportunity. I even write up short reports on other games played or seen at these events. This takes time…. years even. Play in other scenario games apart from just Empire V napoleonics. Then those players get to know you… maybe one or two will join you in a Empire V game. You never know who will toss dice these days. I play in ACW, WWII FOW and other WWII rule sets, ancients (WAB and COE), WAB WWI, occasional aerial and naval games. I even host other gamer game scenarios at the warren which I have no collected miniatures… just for the experience and social gamer connections. Host a blog….. this takes the gaming to another level of course but takes time. But it serves as a base for the group growth and inter player experience. After several years… you can still read about my scenario games years after the actual game…. and you have a ready source of quick material for new scenarios. Some thoughts… Best of luck Bob. Michael aka Wargamerabbit |
Wolfshanza | 21 Dec 2016 11:32 p.m. PST |
Played a few MASSIVE games of Empire at the old Last Grenadier with 15s. Doing it with 25s is scary ! :0 <lol> |
HappyHussar | 22 Dec 2016 10:25 a.m. PST |
Thanks, Mike, for the tips. Hopefully we can get some new members for Bob's group using some more creative angles than just an ad. I have suggested to Bob to announce a day at a hobby shop where he hosts a game. Bring terrain and troops and rules and explain the game to the folks. Bob is not a tech warrior like you or I and I happen to be tied down with game design work or otherwise I would create a tutorial video on Empire V. It takes a lot of work to get a group to grow and maintain and your efforts over the years are legion in this area. Its more than "plant a few seeds and watch the plant grow." I also mentioned to Bob to offer to host an Empire V game at one of the many HMGS events in the area. Bring rules, troops, terrain and scenario handout. Note: I think its important to provide a handout because I know at the age of 55 that trying to remember which building is loopholed, which building is hard cover and all of the other unique things about a scenario is too easily forgotten. Also quality of troops, etc. For special events a handout is really imperative. Another idea is to check with the local library and see if they have a conference room that can be used as a "Napoleonic Military History" special event. Bring music too! Just keep the doors shut ;) The libraries are good at posting a full color flyer if you provide them one. Show people what the period was like on the battlefield and let them push some troops around. Then advertise that you have a regular gaming group. A battle like Waterloo would be fun to set up. The Chatsworth library has a rather large room for events. Maybe they have one in the Valencia library too. |
HappyHussar | 22 Dec 2016 11:26 p.m. PST |
I played a lot of Melee rules at The Last Grenadier. Norm owns a store east of Pittsburgh now. Still paining figures and enjoying life. |
Wolfshanza | 23 Dec 2016 12:30 a.m. PST |
Built a Bavarian army for melee at the gren but never used it :/ Played in a game or two, though. Still remember the story about the game where NATO captured the Spanish Cardinal and scalped him :0 |
HappyHussar | 26 Dec 2016 6:06 p.m. PST |
Lots of good memories at The Grenadier. If you get interested Bob's email address is listed above. |
|