With daughter #1 returning home for a stay while in between house moves, the house has been quite active with four additional people and a dog. Since the game room is in the basement and the game table must be passed on the way to the downstairs bedroom suite where they were staying, I saw some growing interest from her fiance as he looked over the table having an ECW battle on display.
Finally having some free time one evening, I suggested we give a light wargame a try. I suggested an Ancients battle with blocks and he agreed. I pulled out CC: Ancients, removed the boxes of blocks, and unfolded the map. Already he was impressed. We selected the first battle in the scenario book, Bagradas, and deployed the troops. He really enjoyed the look of the game and mentioned that it a wonder that he has not heard of this series. He chose to take the Carthaginians in Game 1. Anyway, on to the real test.
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| Initial deployments |
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| Carthage Victory Game #1 |
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| No crying over spilt beer |
An enjoyable and encouraging post. I do hope that the spark of enthusiasm can be fanned to a flame.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Perhaps it can be fanned into a flame but he is young and quite busy. We will see.
DeleteWhat a great way to introduce someone to our wonderful hobby:).
ReplyDeleteI think so too!
DeleteGlad to read this post, nice and promising!
ReplyDeletePromising, for sure! At least on holidays perhaps I can get in a game?
DeleteWhat a fun post! Good luck with your new recruit!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Glad you enjoyed! I reckon there will be more games between the two of us in the future.
DeleteYes, a great introduction, as indeed is the Napoleonic series. I think part of the reason is that the non-wargamer to whatever degree typically has had previous exposure and experience of boardgames in their family form, so to sit at one is not as over-whelming as a figure game might be in the first instance.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it’s about quality time as anything else and it looks like you had that.
Hi Norm. You make some good points about transitioning from traditional boardgames to wargames. He has some experience with D&D-type games so the step into miniatures wargaming may not be that great. For me the CC:Ancients is better game than the Napoleonics edition but that may be simply a matter of preferences. Thanks, as always, for thoughtful replies.
DeleteNot so familiar with C & C but as an avid AoE player I would say it’s pretty easy for anyone to pick the mechanics up after a couple of turns so go for it!
ReplyDeleteI agree! AoE mechanisms are straight forward and a favorite of our scheduled game's host.
DeleteExcellent work sir.
ReplyDeleteAnother convert for the cult...I mean the hobby :)
Bwahahaha.
DeleteCCA is such a great game, it is ideal as an introduction to wargaming. At our local club we have a few new players who are very keen.
ReplyDeleteIt is a perfect introduction to wargaming.
DeleteCommands and Colours and Memoir 44 are fantastic entry games. And you are right about a first up victory being more encouraging.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a little positive reinforcement from the get-go. Good to see you back, Nathan!
DeleteGood luck on the new recruit!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks!
DeleteHa! Really great introduction!
ReplyDeleteVery good introduction!
DeleteNice to get a newbie and introduce the hobby.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
DeleteI think it would be great to have a future son-in-law who games. There has been mild interest from two of mine, more so from a boardgame perspective, but finding the time in between their own interests is difficult.
ReplyDeleteThis is a step in the right direction, for sure. Juggling schedules is a tough situation. Even coordinating games among my regular group is difficult with all of our busy schedules.
DeleteSounds and looks like you did a great job getting a new convert to wargaming. I'm sure he thoroughly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean. He enjoyed both games!
DeleteYes, yeees, bring him into the fold.
ReplyDeleteActually, sounds like a nice way to spend time with the in-laws (or potential in law). I tried to introduce my in laws to fun board games and had some partial success. Ticket to Ride and such but never got anyone to make the full transition. So good luck with this potential recruit. 😀
Good to see you have had partial success in bringing family into gaming. Time will tell if this initial enthusiasm will stick. Consider this another project...
DeleteGaming with my wife, son and daughter, I can recommend playing with family. Even my son (4 years old) can play CCN.
ReplyDeleteNice to read that you had such fun.
Commands & Colors is a good cross-over game. Your four-year old son plays CCN? Amazing!
DeleteYes, and last weekend Age of Hannibal (by Little Wars).
DeleteI have to tell to him, what he can do with the CCN-cards, but the system of arrows and numbers on the cards is easy enough.
He won Rolica once.
Small battles are recommended.
He asked if he could play with friends HoW, when he will be in school.
I think that the imagination of kids sometimes is better/stronger (?). We old chaps sometimes need too much of time, when a contemporary commander decided quickly...
This is very encouraging to read! I wish I would have had a mentor like yourself when I was very young.
DeleteI really much hope, that my son will think the same, when he will be older.
DeleteYesterday he was ill and I had to convince him to be calm (not running around in the flat). Therefore I asked him, which boardgame he wants to play and he decided for "the game with the armies" (CCN in his words). He wanted a small battle and I could built up Mariazell. In the end it was a bit boring, with his army especially hussars mostly whipped out by Austrian carrées. Nevertheless he finally won with some luck.
Getting your son involved into the hobby and CCN is a terrific entry point.
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