That question addresses opponent availability and asks,
Do you feel you have enough opponents within reasonable travel distance?
If the answer is "No" then survey respondents can choose from a Pick List of possible reasons why this is the situation. Besides the provided Pick List, respondents could also add in their own reason as to why opponents are lacking.
Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of responses from the 2025 survey. Nearly two-thirds of respondents state that they have enough opponents available within a reasonable travel distance. The remaining 34% marked that they did not have enough opponents at hand.
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| Figure 1 |
For those in the latter camp who lack enough opponents, the reasons why and those counts are detailed in Figure 2.
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| Figure 2 |
- Lack of Awareness of Nearby Opponents. The leading reason, by a large margin (43.28%), is that wargamers simply don't know other potential players in their vicinity.
- Mismatched Interests. Even when opponents are nearby, opponents' interests might not agree with your own specific wargames or game type (15.86%). Differences in ruleset preferences (9.79%) also present a barrier to finding opponents.
- Geographic Distance. When distance is a factor, (11.56%) opponents are too far away for regular play.
- Time Constraints. Wargamers, themselves (10.32%), and opponents (3.30%) are often too busy to play more frequently.
- Dislike of Nearby Opponents. A small percentage of players (1.30%) simply dislike potential nearby opponents.
- Finally, the "Other" category (4.60%) lumps all of the free text responses that could not easily be classified into one of the Pick List choices.
The survey results highlight a core issue. That is, many wargamers are isolated either by not being aware of local players or finding that potential local players don't share their specific interests or schedules. While there are many wargamers who prefer solo play, an opponent shortage seems more driven by network and information disconnects than by a dislike of gaming with others. This pattern suggests a fragmented local gaming community. Enough players may exist nearby, but these gamers are either not visible to each other, or they play different periods, rules, or styles. While distance and scheduling challenges matter too, these two traits seem to present smaller issues than discovery and compatibility. Opponents are probably out there. The challenge for many is that gamers either cannot find opponents or lack enough agreement in choices to actually to set up a game. What can we do to improve this situation?
If we want to increase our available gaming pool, the biggest bang for the buck is improving visibility. Make it easier for players to find other players. Find out what others play and know when they meet. A close second is improving compatibility by categorizing possible gamers by rules, period, and preferred game size.
My solution to this challenge was to embrace remote gaming by promoting and supporting the use of Zoom (or similar platforms), Vassal Engine, Tabletop Simulator, wargame-specific online platforms, and other virtual or remote tabletop environments.
My solution to this challenge was to embrace remote gaming by promoting and supporting the use of Zoom (or similar platforms), Vassal Engine, Tabletop Simulator, wargame-specific online platforms, and other virtual or remote tabletop environments.
The 2021 Great Wargaming Survey (see Remote Gaming in a Changed World) found that remote gaming significantly increased gaming frequency for many gamers and broadened their circle of gaming friends. It did for me! Survey responses suggested that gamers who gamed more frequently were more likely to try remote gaming.
By addressing the barriers identified above, the wargaming community can effectively increase opportunities for players to find and engage with opponents even from all over the world.
I am not finished with this survey question just yet. There are a number of possibilities to explore to see where differences and commonalities exist between the two groups of respondents. That study is for another time.
Do you have enough opponents within a reasonable travel distance? If not, which of the reasons listed drive your response?
I think I'm one of the lucky ones, local club with 10 members, meet every week and everyone will give any rule set or period a try at least once. If I put a game on there is always someone that will play. Haven't had a real need to try remote gaming.
ReplyDeleteYou are a lucky one, Neil! Even if you have no "real need" for remote gaming, it works well for me.
DeleteMmm. How to respond. Most people within an acceptable driving distance of me actually took part in WW2, or look like they did. Can’t remember the last time I saw someone under 80 apart from the wife. Not sure I’d want to put them through the rigours of simulated combat, they might get flashbacks. But seriously, don’t discount that some gamers (like me) are just ruddy weirdos and misanthropes. There could be half a dozen perfectly decent folk into exactly the same thing as me within spitting distance of my house but I’m more likely to eat my own fist than seek them out. Zoom games were interesting and enjoyable but the more folk that were involved the less pleasurable it became. I guess the short answer to the original question is yes, I’ve enough opponents near me thanks. In extremis I’ve a stuffed toy clanger called Major Clanger who’s always on hand to be an opponent when I tire of playing solo. lol.
ReplyDeleteGood answer, Mark! I agree with you that remote gaming enjoyment can have an inverse relationship to number of players. Not always, though, but games tend to slow down as number of players increase. Something to always keep in mind and monitor. One-on-one remote games are quite fun and interesting. I don't know what a stuffed toy clanger is, though, so cannot comment on your at-hand opponent.
DeleteVery response JBM. Do you converse in whistle with Major Clanger?
DeleteJonathan, the Clangers are puppet like characters who lived on the moon in a 1970s British TV children's programme. They spoke to each other in a whistle like language.
and there was a Soup Dragon...
DeleteI learn a bit of British pop culture every day.
DeleteWell.....
ReplyDeleteDespite living in the "lead belt" and near the apparent centre of wargaming in the UK, I'm unaware of any local opponents.
When I first moved here, I did try to find clubs and make contact, but didn't get what I'd call a positive response....
After a while, I just gave up.
I've moved around the country and had a mixed response - some places have welcoming clubs, others very clique ridden and lukewarm receptions....some have had clubs that are alleged to have existed, but have turned out extremely elusive!
Not that bothered now; would rather play solo.
Clangers - see here:
https://shop.clangers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooV8GjuXXXSN-y5oY4OOspixJF8Xi0CG1tETAXRnscqX37HX5pw
Neil
Fortunate enough to have opponents within reach. However, these days most of my games are via Zoom.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky enough to live in a city of over 1.5m people, so unsurprisingly, I have managed to hook up with a group of about 10 like minded individuals within 50km traveling distance and most of them will give any period or rules a try .I have never been a member of any organized UK style club, with subs and a committee and elected officers etc....very British!!
ReplyDeleteFor me I think I answered in regards to lacking "time", which sadly will be my default answer for the foreseeable future until my children are done thinking their Dad is a superhero, and replace me with their own friends who will be "So much cooler than this old duffer".
ReplyDeleteAlso though, what's considered a "reasonable" distance to travel for a game? For me, it'd be perhaps 30mins? Anything more than that, then one would need to block off a significant part of a day, rather than say, an evening, to play a decent game.
All the time I spent blogging and reading about remote-gaming, especially during covid and I never once tried that out.
I think I answered yes to this, but that was before one of our Saturday group found he could no longer attend which means we are down to three of us. I used to prefer one to one gaming the most but am finding that I enjoy the collaboration two or three to a side brings, so two against one is not quite as enjoyable for me. We are keeping an eye out for another fourth but then that brings its own challenges as finding another with a similar mindset who wants to play the same rules at the same time every fortnight is challenging.
ReplyDeleteDid you also see a difference in the responses by nation? I would expect more yes responses in Britain where we see established clubs and conventions vs. here in the US where clubs are much more rare and the remaining conventions are dominated by Sci Fi/Fantasy gaming.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t been a member of a wargaming club for almost 50 years. That was at University and we had a tight knit membership who would give most rules and periods a try. Since then I have tried local clubs a couple of times but found them hard to break into as they had an established membership with no apparently interest in integrating new members. The one exception to this was an informal group run by ‘Trebian’ who were a very friendly and welcoming bunch. Wouldn’t you just know it though I had to move away from the area and haven’t found another group where I live now.
ReplyDelete