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Friday, 24 November 2017

There's Always One, err no, Two

In wargaming you must have come across that guy, the one who points out that the pattern on your Greek Hoplite shield is a modern one and there are no wall paintings or old vases which show what you have painted, or the brass button on your 6mm Hussar should in fact be silver just to ruin your day and make his. He turns up everywhere, you feel his presence before you see him, he is usually alone and has an intent look about him as he scours the tables looking for points to score.

Sadly the internet has now allowed this creature a whole new way to vent his spleen at what he sees as ruining his hobby. I have fallen foul several times in the past and have suffered the slings and arrows of his and his followers ire. I once casually mentioned that most battles before the age of gunpowder tended to be fought on fairly open ground, possibly with a hill somewhere, I was immediately deluged with the names of battles which supposedly proved me to be a raving lunatic. They did in fact rather prove my theory in most cases on closer inspection. I was also nearly strung up for having the temerity to point out that a certain wargame company, in contrast to nearly every other one I have dealt with in 50 odd years, treated me abominably because my denouncers had met the guy and he was very nice! I still pass him at shows and throw him my disgusted look.

What brought this on, well I'll tell you. Now and again I pop my battle reports on TMP, it brings more hits to my blog and hopefully some people will enjoy the write up as I do with many others. The first comment was simply "Imperial Romans v Punic Carthaginians?", and your point is? His point was obviously I was an idiot, they didn't fight Carthaginians, duh. But the second comment agreeing with the first took the biscuit, "there is no excuse". Why would I need an excuse to fight a wargame with a friend on a rainy afternoon with the armies we had available, was I to tell Kevin not to bother but come back in six months when my Republican army dated for two o'clock, Tuesday afternoon, February 260 BC will be ready.

"I just brought Imperial Romans"
 I learned many years ago that to wargame the Ancient or Medieval period it was best to stay 'in period' but this is not always possible, I would not fight any of Kevin's armies with my Patrician Romans because I think their cavalry is too good for the opposition to have a chance. I also do not allow the Twelfth to bring their cataphracts to a battle against Kevin for the same reason, but the troop types in the rest of the army are fine for a clash with Greeks, Carthaginians, Macedonians etc. One of my detractors has posted over 14,000 times on TMP, he must be fuming............
at

16 comments:

  1. Phil Robinson24 November 2017 at 10:48

    These folk I find are those who can't admit they are playing toy soldiers so try to justify it by being pseudo historians and imply they do simulations not games.
    Not saying I don't try to be as accurate as I can, but sometimes it is about the look of thing, so yes my Roman Brits have shield designs from a legion that was not stationed here, but I like the design.

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  2. John24 November 2017 at 11:28

    14,000 posts, some people have too much time on their hands!!Actually Phil, you are safe, up until the Late Romans, I don't think anyone knows for certain what shield designs were used by the Legions.

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    Replies
    1. George Anderson24 November 2017 at 13:05

      Sitting here serving or not serving Joe Public I checked some of the posts out, the defence rests M'lud.

      Delete
    2. Phil Robinson24 November 2017 at 16:27

      Oh dear, they are late Roman :~)

      Delete
  3. David24 November 2017 at 11:37

    Sad individuals with no life are found on the fringes of every hobby activity I’m sure. You are right to treat their comments as of no importance. All games are a fantasy to some extent, it’s just a matter of degree.

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    1. George Anderson24 November 2017 at 13:06

      The point about enjoying the afternoon with a close run battle and having some fun was completely missed.

      Delete
  4. The Wargames Table24 November 2017 at 15:43

    Well... you know my views on this sort of idiot. Especially after the debacle of "Fence-gate", or should that be "Fence-post" :-D
    Cheers
    Matt

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  5. alastair24 November 2017 at 16:07

    Well I was shocked!!! I think you need to resign from the hobby at once and never darken our inboxes again!!!

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    Replies
    1. George Anderson24 November 2017 at 17:13

      I'm just checking if my hair shirt still fits, been a while.

      Delete
  6. kevin halloran24 November 2017 at 16:32

    I read the TMP posts but am none the wiser as to the point the two were trying to make. Is it likely that two people who go to the trouble of buying, researching and painting miniature armies would not know that Imperial Roman troops did not feature in the war against Hannibal? So what was the point of the first comment? And what on earth did the responder mean by saying there had not been excuse for such a thing in decades? I'm baffled but not surprised.

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  7. Jeremy Ramsey24 November 2017 at 18:33

    I occasionally read through some of the TMP Boards as once in a blue moon you find out about some new product that you really must have. I never cease to be amazed by the deluge of bile that greets many of the seemingly anodyne posts - especially if they originate on this side of the Atlantic.

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  8. kevin halloran25 November 2017 at 08:06

    This spat reflects a deeper problem on social media which is that many posts are cryptic to the point of being incomprehensible. On the TMP thread the responder came back and posted to the effect "Typical of TMP (smile)". But as several views had been expressed and several observations made it is impossible to discern which particular one he considered typical.

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    Replies
    1. George Anderson25 November 2017 at 11:30

      I couldn't work that one out either as his and his mates replies were the 'typical' TMP responses, his being especially insulting with the 'no excuse' blurb.

      Delete
  9. Norm25 November 2017 at 18:57

    I like blogs and the creative / sharing nature of folks that write them, it is by nature a creative part of the internet thing. Forums on the other hand are formed from a mix of contributors and a blend of moderation, but over time, individual posts do contribute to an identity and building of a forum a reputation. It is over a year since I posted in that particular Forum and I was pretty prolific, I just look to inhabit friendlier places now. Anyway your enjoyment of your game and good company etc was not lost on me - so more please!

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