weirdgaming friends

[reverancepavane]

Very early in my life, I discovered that a friend's father had a very unusual piece of furniture in his garage. It was a sandtable. On enquiring as to its purpose, I discovered that adults had constructed rules for the games boys normally played in the sandpit using toy soldiers. Intriguing. And so began my introduction into the world of wargaming, while I was still in primary school. Now remember that this was well before Games Workshop popularised tabletop battles for kids (it was even before we had thought of the possibility of role-playing games, an admission which not so much dates me as carbon-dates me). So the only way I was able to satisfy this hobby was by gaming with adults. So thanks to the friends of my friend's father, and later the University of Tasmania Wargaming Club, and the South Australian Historical Wargames Society, I was able to experience a wide-amount of wargaming. Although, fortuneately, not of the (to me) exceedingly boring reenactment school (where people faithfully reenact the battles of history). With people that were usually a lot older than me, who were my friends in their own right (rather than being family friends et al). The reason I mention this is that one of these people had their 50th recently and I was invited along. One aspect of this was that the last time I had been to a party with many of these people it had been this person's 30th. So there were many attendees there whom I hadn't seen for 20 years. Two decades. Very surreal in many ways. But it was relatively easy to catch up, as fortuneately they are no longer twice my age. Most of them now have kids the age I was when I first met them, if not older. Whilst the wargaming people tended to congregate together there was little talk of gaming, but rather talk on a wide expanse of various subjects, ranging from deep philosophy to light entertainment. Quite enjoyable, for a bunch of "weirdos who get their kicks playing with toy soldiers." I wonder if I'll make it to the "60th" reunion. Or how many of them will.

Comments

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

I have now discovered another thing to add to the list of Stuff Wot I Want When I Have Room - Dad Start Making It.

I wanna sandtable.

The closest I've come to this situation is going out drinking with bridgeplayers, and teasing them whilst they're trying to figure out why you're so damn familiar. And then their faces as they realise that they stayed with your family 16 years previous, when you were 8 or so, for a bridge event when they were a penniless Youth player.

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

Rephrase that last bit: bridgeplayers you know well plus a few extra

[kriste]

Interestingly, when interviewing students this year, it is the first time I have had students who have listed wargaming as one of their major interests (one even running the wargaming club at his local school). At least I've had something to politely chat about[1] - it makes a change from rugby.


[1] in that I know gamers. But unfortunately haven't played any war games or role-playing, unless civilisation counts. But I know what Games Workshop is, and I can ask them if they re-enact or fantasy war-game. One of them did look at me a bit funny though.

[spherissa.livejournal.com]

hey Ian, totally unrelated, but are you going to Womad this wwekend?