A brief summary of what is currently on my plate includes:
Great Wargaming Survey 2024 Edition
The data for the 2024 GWS appeared in Dropbox yesterday. Usually, the data file is dropped in early September shortly after the survey closes. This year, there was a two-month delay. Respondent counts are way down from last year. Will this reduction in response distort any of the trends seen in prior years? Stay tuned.
Battle of Shiloh - the final act
The final game in the series of Shiloh battles played out on Monday. The game featured Postie's Rejects swapping sides in a "grudge" rematch. Great battle and some good fun. Writing of the battle report awaits.
Painting Desk
Activity at the painting desk has been hit and miss of late. Work on two dozen British cavalry sees final stages toward completion. Painting mostly wrapped up this morning with staining and basing left to accomplish before moving on to something else. Looks like more FPW Prussian infantry are up next.
Mikata Ga Hara - Next game up
Having cleared the gaming table of Shiloh and all of its accompanying detritus, gaming focus switches gears with a return to Feudal Japan. My Samurai armies have not seen action in a long, long time. For a change of pace, play goes back to Basic Impetvs on hexes for the first of possibly a number of battles in this period. First up is the 1572 Battle of Mikata Ga Hara. First game is on the schedule for Friday. Looking forward to the action in which I take a hand at commanding the Takeda Army.
I seem to find most of my projects in the "in progress" pile as opposed to "completed" these days!
ReplyDeleteAt least you are making progress on multiple fronts....
Neil
Yes, making some progress! A couple may move to completed in the next week.
DeleteLooking forward to a bit of Samurai action. Although this is a 1572 battle, Samurai actions in this period always feel "medieval" to me.
ReplyDeleteThe Feudal Japan wars are hard for me to classify too. While the SoA has an implied 1500 cutoff, many of the Samurai battles seem to fit both into Medieval and Renaissance (Pike & Shot) periods. I am always hesitant to post BatReps on Samurai battles of the SoA forum for just this reason.
DeleteJon, a quick ‘caveat’ before a batrep on the SoA forum should cover it…I’m sure there would be plenty of interest. The approx AD 1500 cutoff is indeed a tad problematic, when looking at non-European theatres.
DeleteThanks for the tip, Martin!
DeleteYeh, looking forward to a Samurai game, I've only ever played 1 game before, many years ago, with Reject Fran's figures.
ReplyDeleteGotta say Jon, our last Shiloh game was, I think the game I've enjoyed the most of all the games you've put on for us. 10/10!!!
Thanks, Ray! Glad you enjoyed Monday's Shiloh game. It was a good one. You were in the thick of it from the first cannonade. I am reluctant to ask you to rate the other games we've played...
DeleteWithout giving too much of the game away....the first Shiloh was a great game, which I'm very pleased to say was a great victory for the Rebs. The 2nd Shiloh was nail bitingly close and didn't really matter who won, as it was such a great game.
DeleteI've enjoyed all your games Jon, the Gettesburg game (I think) stands out too. Where me and Richard worked out how best to use the reserve and stifle every move the enemy made. The joy was seeing their stumped faces, not knowing what to do next.
Oh the joy of gaming!!!
Your Gettysburg tactics with the reserves were priceless. Your opponents were both flummoxed and gobsmacked when you put your cunning plan into play. I LOVED it!
DeleteLol!
DeleteYou definitely have a full on approach to the hobby Jon. I’m looking forward to Friday and to finding out how the rejects did at Shiloh.
ReplyDeleteThe busier I remain; the less trouble befalls me. Yeah, I look forward to Friday's clash too!
DeleteReally surprised that the 2024 Survey got fewer respondents this year, one would have thought it the kind of thing that gained momentum over time.
ReplyDeleteAre people fed up with it as a thing or is there some general lowering of engagement going on across the net i.e. high consumption, but lowing contribution.
Norm, I am surprised by a smaller response too. Why? Digging into the data may offer some clues but I wonder if families returned to vacation-mode in August having been unable to fully travel for a few years. Perhaps world events are a distraction too?
DeleteLowering of engagement could certainly be possible. You, for one, did exactly that. Others have as well.
Plenty to keep you busy Jon, like the look of the British cavalry and looking forward to the Samurai game, one I have always wanted to do but I doubt I will ever get round to it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the British cav! I like them too. We will see how they look all ranked up in a few days. Samurai on deck for a Friday action.
DeleteInteresting, and a bit odd, that participation in the survey is way down this year. The cavalry look great and like others, I look forward to reading about the last Shiloh game, as well as the upcoming series of Samurai ones.
ReplyDeleteSee my comments to Norm, above, on survey turn-out. I am falling behind on BatReps. Will I EVER catch up?
DeletePerhaps people are also tiring of being surveyed and wanted a year off. I remember running a few market research campaigns for a company as a part time job when I was completing my first university degree and have always tried to take the time to respond to legitimate surveys, but find that I am now hanging up on a few and in particular the automated ones. Interesting point about where Samurai battles should land, and I land on the early renaissance side but play using DBMM Ancient rules.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is survey fatigue but each year only about half of the respondents mark that they completed the survey before. For me, the survey is structured in such a way that it only takes a few minutes to complete not counting the open-ended questions. Of course, I am quite familiar with the survey and my answers do not change much from year-to-year. Early Renaissance is a good fit for later Samurai wars but what about the earlier conflicts?
DeleteWell you have plenty to keep you busy. Always best to have a few projects on the go
ReplyDeleteI agree. Idle hands and all that.
DeleteLooking forward to your Samurai game as I ponder which forces to go with, I agree it's such a transistional period, definately pike and shot by the 17th century? Ebbs and flows for the survey I guess, plus it is/has been an eventful year!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Hopefully these upcoming Samurai games will be motivating for your project. It will interesting to see if the reduced survey numbers show up in the analyses.
DeleteAs you know Jonathan, I've never seen any point in the Survey beyond passing interest in a vague sort of way. In my opinion traditional wargaming is an almost anarchic hobby with hosts of individuals and small groups all functioning pretty much in their own way. It's no surprise that the number of responses is lower if I'm right. I'm looking forward to seeing your forthcoming Samurai games, such a spectacular period.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I know your position on the survey well. Wargaming may be comprised of loose collections of disparate individuals and small groups but in aggregate these points may offer interesting patterns and trends. While different, we share much in common. Whether the survey results are useful is an individual decision. I look forward to seeing the Samurai armies back out in action too.
DeleteRegarding samurai, I find the "where does it fit" discussion fascinating. The distinction between Medieval and Renaissance is a very Euro-centric thing. Japan has this long martial culture of its own which may really display more continuity than difference. Perhaps more difference between earlier periods dominated by individualistic mounted archers and later with much more of a role for infantry and massed close-combat cavalry from 14th century on? As to which rules to use, I wonder how much difference between Jon's ancient/medieval BI variant and the samurai one?
ReplyDelete"Where does it fit" is an interesting question for me too. Cultures spanning the globe do not all enter the same "period" in lock step. While weapons and troop mixes change between BI periods, the core engine remains intact. For me, BI works for both periods. Much is similar between Medieval and Samurai variants although there are subtle differences that make each period/game unique. Unique but having a common "fixed" portion.
DeleteIf you are curious to see the differences, sit in on a game.
Quite a range of projects and interests. Speaking of the wargaming survey as it relates to the wargaming hobby, I wonder how "niche" samurai gaming is compared to other periods? I always feel like a "specialist" when I pull out my 17th Century (Euro) stuff, but I'm guessing that is "mainstream" compared to Samurai (broadly speaking again: I realize there are eras with Samurai/Fedual Japan just as within 17th Century/Pike and Shot, etc).
ReplyDeleteEd, I do not see Samurai armies out often with the exception of Peter (Gridbased Wargaming) and myself. Of course, I do not follow everyone but I do consider the period somewhat of a niche. Perhaps this perception boils down to an English-speaking bias?
DeleteI must admit that I didn't get round to filling in the survey this year, perhaps it would be better doing it in the autumn/winter when there is less drain on our time? I too look forward to the Samurai basho, I had two skirmish forces back in the day that always produced a fun game at the club.
ReplyDeleteAn August timing of the survey may affect response, for sure. From my limited understanding, August was selected as it is typically a slow time in the hobby and this is a way to add interest and content. When will we see your Samurai back out on the table?
DeleteAlas in the time of high mortgage and two young children they got sold on to finance another project.
DeletePerhaps time to rebuild?
DeleteI know the feeling. I've been 'in between' hobby projects as well, for what seems a while now. I'm glad the final showing of Shiloh was a great game.
ReplyDeleteWeird that survey responses were decreased. There always seems to be a general Hoy and Cry to fill it out and most wargamers like talking about wargaming I would think.
The final Shiloh was a good one, Stew! Perhaps, one day when your schedule clears we can bring it back to the table for an encore. I am not sure what to make of the fall off in survey response.
DeleteGood to see you busy Jon 👍
ReplyDeleteAnd I did not include our game on Sunday!
DeleteGames, painting and survey gleaning. Good luck on all fronts of your to do list. No project completed yet here. No new ones yet either......except...that would be telling.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe! Having no new projects is a reasonable But difficult path.
DeletePaths to glory are often scary. I did not find my notes on Rebels and Patriots to respond to you, i hope to send an email on it later this week.
DeleteI await your email.
DeleteA good mix of stuff on the go Jon, something that I tend to do, so that I can always find something hobby related to do each day. Currently painting is doing well, with the caveat that my painting rate is glacial!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is a sort of donor fatigue going on with the survey, as encountered by charities these past few years. The novelty has worn off maybe, generally you are providing the same answers (well at least I am), so you get to a 'what's the point?' position. Also I notice this year the 'freebie' is contingent on you spending 10 Euros to qualify for it, where in the past it was not dependent upon spend.
We can always find some aspect of wargaming to grab our attention, can't we? Survey fatigue could be a part of the answer for lower turn out as could reduced incentive. Seemed like the prizes were more substantial a few years ago. Even though my answers remain mostly the same from year to year, I still enjoy completing the survey and studying the results. I try to lobby for a few new questions each year to keep it fresh.
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