"The Wargamer's Eye?" Topic

Do you find yourself analyzing the "defensibility" or "tactical layout" of real-world terrain while driving or hiking?

Definitely. It is hard not to, especially when you have spent enough time looking at battle reports, maps, or table layouts. A ridgeline, a patch of woods, a narrow road, or even a shallow ditch starts to look less like scenery and more like a position waiting to be used well or badly.

Yes. But not because of wargaming.

Not driving or hiking. But overhead imagery is another matter altogether. Not miniature wargaming-related, though.

Well , I live up in the mountains , so it's basically you're stuck to the roads and waiting for an ambush to happen.

Yes it is fun to do

Driving through the country I imagine tank battles….

Yes I do this. How funny others do to. Should have expected it from this group. Birds of a feather…

I used to do a lot of bow hunting and would catch myself not paying attention to any deer sign still-hunting but looking at the lay of the land for wargaming ambush/defensive position ideas.

When walking I look for places to dive for cover in case of sudden American bombing or missile strikes on my city in support of the annexation of Canada.

While it's fairly flat around me, it's amazing how much a 10 foot rise over a quarter mile can block line of sight when you're driving. Gives me a better appreciation for tank battles in WWII.

Yes. There's a place where the trail runs near the bottom of a ridge which has dense scrub trees perhaps 20 meters uphill. This would be an excellent place for a n ambush.

Grelber

Occasionally.

Many times

Of course, not often, but sometimes. We are in good company, Frederick the great used to do it with his staff as they were marching through Europe!

Sometimes – and this predates my wargaming years

Uhhh… No?
Does that make me odd in this bunch?

Maybe I should start.

Come to think of it, there was a farm we used to drive past on Sunday "going to the lake". I always imagined Indians riding over the hill.
So, I guess I pass.

A definite YES for me.

Dal +1

Dal Gavan +1

Yes. But not because of wargaming.

All the time. Real lines of sight and terrain density are interesting, as is the size of humans at various ranges. Sorry, 'distances'.

Hmmm. Am I the only one who looks out an airplane window and starts thinking of what scale the terrain is?

With you Dal, my head is on a swivel checking my area.

Yes, and +1 to Dal.

Absolutely. The is a great defensive position about 10 miles south of here overlooking US I-35. It is a series of low ridges with flat areas on the flanks for massing cavalry.

"With you Dal, my head is on a swivel checking my area."

I just need to find the grease-nipple for my neck, mate. It's running a bit dry, these days.

Not so much, but any overhead map does get the mind working.