"The U.K. Dominates the Hobby" Topic

You were asked – TMP link

As to the current state of wargaming (and all that encompasses), what country currently has the most influence on the state of affairs?

79% said "United Kingdom"
17% said "United States of America"
1% said "France"

Why does TMP seem to have so many American then??

I guess they follow where we lead them into a world of better gaming.

It's no problem, and you're welcome. We enjoy doing it.

The number of American gamers does not negate UK's influence on the hobby.

The Brits went crazy for this stuff long before the U.S. They have a head start on us.

Games Workshop's influence is huge. It's not the only UK company, but it dwarfs everyone in reach and presence.

GW, Warlord, Northstar Osprey games, Saga… Most of the miniature games I play are UK based creations. All of my role playing games were originally US based but you could argue Call of Cthulhu's rebirth has a lot to do with some UK based creative talent.

I no longer play the WWII based board games I used too (gaming partner moved) so I didn't include them in my consideration when I voted. That might be a good poll for TMP, how many people still play their Avalon Hill games? Squad leader etc.

sorry to say but Saga is French (as is M&T)

I'd agree with that on the Miniatures Wargame side, on the board wargame side the US has the most influence.

With my own figures I only play five periods anymore. I never gave it a thought until now, but I use US published rules for four of them, and my own (US) rules for the other.

Tom

As an American who lived in the UK for eight years, I can vouch for the fact that in the UK, the miniature wargames streets are paved with gold!

I believe the UK has the biggest influence on miniature wargaming whereas the states has a bigger influence on board wargaming.

Syrinx0 wrote:

That might be a good poll for TMP, how many people still play their Avalon Hill games? Squad leader etc.

Agreed. I haven't played Squad Leader (not ASL: original SL) or Panzer Leader in probably 30 years, but they're on my bookshelf, actually more accessible than games that I've played more recently.

@tabletopwargamer
Why does TMP seem to have so many American then??

Do you really need to ask that question? Population figures for 2019, USA – 330 million versus UK – 66.5 million.

Ah! but the British Commonweath is 2.4 Billion so we would expect to be the leaders in everything (Chance would be a fine thing) ;-).

Thanks to Airfix and Don Featherstone, how many British wargamers started with the ACW?

Even back in the 1980s, this question was asked. Then it was clear that board games were dominated by the USA. Miniatures was dominated by the UK. Several popular miniature companies back then in the USA had their roots in the UK.
I am not sure that things have changed. Do minor companies have good products everywhere. Yes, but the term was dominant. So I can not see a change since the 1980s.

Jeffers, for me as a young lad ,first was my own wargame for naval then 1/72 WW2 Airfix unpainted. Proably my biggest failure is not realiseing that not painting would be a good idea. However metal figures did look bad unpainted and I have yet to find Olive drab 3D printer filament :-). Grudgeingly I have to admit 3D printing, Really invented for Wargaming of course (other uses are just an aside) is lead by "forighers" The Czechoslovakia being the world leaders. So the Brits don't dominate all of wargameing.