Thoughts on 2012

I had written a long, rambling paragraph that summarized my non-gaming life, but I decided to just focus on my hobby life. Of course, the quantity and quality of the hobby is in direct relationship to what goes on in one's non-hobby life.

Summary of Games Played
D&D: I ended up playing a lot of it this summer. My friend Will was the DM. We managed to get pretty far along on a particular adventure before the fall semester began. The DM and the players all work at the same college. Once its that time of year again, we scatter to our real-world jobs.

Warhammer 40K: I think I played twice this past year. Not a huge fan, but it was still fun.  What makes me somewhat blase about them is the strict adherence enthusiasts to the whole 40K universe, and the price. It also seemed like it took forever to go through a round of play. That is true for a lot of games, especially if you are first trying out the rules, but there seemed to be an awful lot of charts to look up. I noticed that about Warhammer Fantasy, too, when I played it a few times many years ago.

Pz8 Air battle: It almost seems like I played more games with with other people than I did solo! The game was relatively quick and fun. Two criteria that I like. Also significant is that I officially got over my "fear" of gaming on hexes (see below).

AK-47 (1st Edition): I finally got to play a game with some rules I bought. Although we didn't use most of the pre-game procedures, I really enjoyed the game and its mechanics, and it worked just fine for microarmor. I am somewhat curious to know how the second edition differs, but I might hold off for awhile.

Projects
Sci-Fi: I managed to get a lot done. My Yogurt Town militia (Khurastan  Miniatures' Sepulvedan Insurgence fighters) is basically complete, at least the troops. I still have to get them some transports. Additionally, I painted up some Felid warriors. I also managed to build a small dwelling. There are still a lot of projects in various stages of completion.

Microarmor: I got a lot done for my Gambusian campaign. It seemed scatter-shot, going back and forth between scenery, miniatures, and game aids. I think I've progressed far enough to were I can start having battles, as shown in my AK-47 game.

28mm Figures: I got a few figures done and completed my biker gang. I think there are now enough sides to make a skirmish game interesting.

What I Have Learned This Year
1. Make the best of the time you have. I got a lot more done than I expected given all the other things going on in my life. I guess if you have very little time, you make the most of what little time you do have.

2. Compromise is good. Sure, I am not a big fan of 40K, but its fun to game with others. I probably need to show a little more enthusiasm.  It seems that Will have I have been alternating between games of choice. I am happy with that.

3. Eyes on the prize. I could have very easily gone off on tangents with my microarmor projects. For example, I had planned to build more river boats. It occurred to me that at this point in time, I didn't need to build more boats. The one I had already built probably won't be used anytime soon. Instead, I focused the best I could on getting terrain and such ready for a first battle in my campaign.

4. Gaming is gaming regardless of the medium. I have to confess that I have been somewhat of a miniature snob when I comes to wargames. Many years ago, I broke away with board games once I discovered miniature wargaming. For some reason, I felt that gaming with miniatures offered more freedom in what you can do than a board game could, plus it looked more aesthetically pleasing. For a long time, I've resisted the notion using hexes or squares to conduct miniature games. It seemed too much like a board game. Well, I've changed my tune, thanks in part to a lot of you out there in the blog world who do use hexes and such for your games. I am now a proud owner of a felt hex mat, and I even tried (unsuccessfully) to make my own. The naval part of my Gambusian campaign will be played on some sort of grid and probably without miniatures. I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being a paper and pencil sort of game.

5. Steady as she goes, Lad. The last few months, my little brain has been itching with thoughts of starting new projects: American Revolution, and pre-dreadnought naval, just to name two. Back in middle school, I had this obsession (along with all things Tolkien) with the Spanish-American War. Something about those wacky-looking warships... Every so often those dormant synapses fire and I get the bug again. As stated in a previous post, I've often thought of starting up an AWI project. I've gone so far as talking about it to Will. Its tough, but I've managed to hold these urges in check.

6. I don't like gesso.  Gesso as a primer doesn't do it for me. Not enough of a "tooth" as they say in the art world. Plus, I always feel like it will easily rub off the figure.  I still have a big jar of it so I might as well use it, but give me spray primer anytime.

What's Up for 2013?
I don't make New Years' resolutions. I will probably continue on with my current projects. Unfortunately, money is going to be tighter this year regardless of the fiscal cliff. I also hope to get more gaming in, including battles for my Gambusian campaign. Last but not least, I've finally figured out what to do with the Rebel Minis' 15mm Kurgen: SPACE KOBOLDS!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy winter solstice! I hope I've covered everyone.

I had a different on this year. Due to my wife's new job, she has to work tomorrow. She had tried to get one extra day off, but it was a big no.  I suppose I shouldn't be annoyed at that, but I am. So, we went up to Chicago for a rather abbreviated holiday celebration. Sunday we celebrated Christmas. Yesterday, we drove back home. It was also different in that this is the first without my father. It didn't totally hit me until I was rummaging through some old storage shelves in my basement and came across the linoleum blocks that my dad craved for block printing Christmas cards.  There were six of them, including one where I had did the design for (it was the worst of the bunch). I wanted to take them home, but I decided to wait until I return in the summer.

Once again, there was no holiday wargame that I keep planning for. But at least this time, I could justify it. There was very little time to do much of anything. I didn't even bother to connect up with Karl (the General). Again, I will shoot for the summer for that one. Besides Karl, my daughter, and my nephews, I might invite my sister's boyfriend to play. I does not seem like the type, but who knows.

So, may all of you who read my blog have a peaceful, joyous holiday. May you get some gaming in, too.