Why We Wargame

Another new question in Wargame, Soldiers, and Strategy's The Great Wargaming Survey (GWS), 2025 edition asked respondents to list the Top 3 reasons why they play a wargame.  The choices were:

• Creative and hobby aspects
• Fun and escapism
• Historical (or fictional background) interest
• Social connection and camaraderie
• Storytelling and narrative
• Strategic challenge and intellectual stimulation
• Training and education

Having given this topic some thought over the years, getting hard data through the survey might offer worthwhile insight into this question as applied to a broader population.  While I hold a mental notion of my top reasons for wargaming, these top reasons can move around a bit over time, interest, and mood.  Others may have similar thoughts on what drives them to wargame too.  

What does the survey say?  Well, let's find out.

Top Choice in Why We Wargame

The survey asked respondents to rank up to their three top choices.  To begin the analysis, only the top choice is examined.  In counts of reasons why we wargame (variable "WHY" in Figure 1), "Historical (or fictional background) interest" came in at the top spot by about 500 responses.  The top choice was not close.  The results are aggregated by percentage in the pie chart illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 1

Figure 2

As primarily an historical wargamer, the top choice makes sense to me.  The result that surprises me is that "Strategic challenge and intellectual stimulation" comes into the rankings ahead of "Social connection and camaraderie."  In the rankings, "Social connection and camaraderie" comes in at #4.  While I enjoy the challenge and puzzle-solving aspects that wargaming brings to the table, my anecdotal inclination would have been to see the social aspects of the hobby rise more toward the top.  Are many of the respondents primarily solo gamers or in it for the challenges of competition?  A question, perhaps, for another analysis.

Top Three Choices in Why We Wargame

Since the survey asked for the top three choices, do the rankings change much when all three response choices are aggregated?

Figure 3 shows that the top two spots in the rankings remain the same as in Figure 1.  "Creative and hobby aspects" reason closes the gap with "Historical (or fictional background) interest" making up a lot of ground and coming in at a very close second place in the rankings.  "Social connection and camaraderie" and "Strategic challenge and intellectual stimulation" swap places in the rankings when the top three choices are included.  

Figure 3

Figure 4

Interesting to see that "Fun and escapism" and "Storytelling and narrative" fall to near the bottom of the rankings.  Almost no one lists "Training and education" as a top choice.

Why do fun and storytelling sink to the bottom among the collection of reasons why we wargame?  These survey results suggest that we do not game simply for fun and narrative building!  Perhaps adding a "Competition" choice might be telling?

I plan to return to this question and analysis again for a deeper dive into these data.  In past analyses, preferences tend to shift and become more nuanced as other qualifying attributes are brought into the computations.  Adding stratifications by primary interest, age groupings, and a few other attributes might provide a clearer and, perhaps, another interesting perspective.

If you completed the 2025 GWS (or even if you did not!), what are your top reasons for wargaming and why?  Have these top reasons for wargaming changed over time?  I wonder if your choices and rankings could be predicted if other qualifying attributes mentioned above are brought into the equation?

A Mixed Lot of Spanish

Following on the footsteps of the heavy discussion on blogging (whew! that was a lot of commentary!), I turn to something a little more sedate and short.  Of course, I greatly appreciate everyone who took the time to leave your very detailed thoughts on the topic.  This morning, my embedded Reply button seems to be broken on all posts.  Hopefully, this can be worked out.

Back to the painting desk.

Today sees a clearing out of a handful of assorted figures for the Punic Wars.  Making up this nine-figure stand of Spanish infantry are a mix of figures from both Black Tree Design and Renegade Miniatures.  The Renegade figures go into battle wielding the falcata while the BTD figures are armed with javelin.  A nice mixed stand that allows a few bits' bins to be cleared out in The Lead Pile.

On the gaming front, Richard hosted a remote game using the venerable Koenig Krieg rules.  I have two versions of the rules but had not played them.  Richard used an even earlier version!

Richard brought a hypothetical battle to the table using his tiles on a hex adaptation.  I was originally slated as an observer put was press-ganged into taking up the Prussian cavalry wing.  Having never played KK before, it was very good to see these rules in action.  Good fun!

For Richard's battle account, please visit, Battle of Pondeli.

A F2F game is on deck for Saturday morning in a return to the NWF.  On Monday, I host a remote game when the Battle of Wakefield takes to the table.  With holiday distractions behind us, time to start filling up the gaming schedule for the 2026 campaigning season.

On Wargaming and Blogging: Thinking Aloud

In Norm's 14 JAN 2026 post on his Commanders website, his essay Thinking Aloud and a Reduction in Output may strike a familiar chord with other bloggers.  The post certainly got me to thinking.  In Norm's diary entry linked to above, he offers a reflection on the value and sustainability of blogging within the wargaming community.  For those having followed Commanders and its sister blog, Battlefields & Warriors, these ruminations are not new.  Since neither site offers the ability to comment, I offer my thoughts on Norm's post here.

The recurring theme of Norm's Thinking Aloud post centers on the tension between pouring significant effort into creating thoughtful, detailed blog content and seeing minimal interaction or feedback in return.  This one-way communication leads to questioning whether maintaining a wargaming blog (two in Norm's case) continues to be worthwhile.  When compared against simply enjoying gaming without the increased overhead of writing about gaming, the answer to this question, to some, becomes clear.

This diary entry argues that blogging has evolved from simply a means of sharing our enthusiasm for wargaming into another hobby of blogging about wargaming. This sub-hobby demands time, energy, and emotional investment often without reciprocal engagement from readers.  This lack of encouragement may lead to a sense of fatigue and a recalibration of priorities.

Norm concludes that disillusionment about the current state is not the major driver of these reflections but one of reorientation.   Perhaps reorientation allows a reclamation of the undistracted joy of gaming, itself?  There may be times in which each of us asks similar questions.   The answers may be different for each of us, but the theme may rhyme.   Responses likely depend upon why we share our wargaming adventures through blogging and what motivates each of us to continue.

In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance?  Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?

The floor is open for discussion.

Year in Review: Figures Painted

I really did not set out a goal for the number of figures I wanted to get painted at the beginning of 2025.  What I did make as a recurring goal was to paint more figures than purchased.  Even without a goal on the number of figures painted, 879 figures crossed over from unpainted to painting in 2025.  Not bad.  On the painting more than I buy front, I still came out with a reduction in The Lead Pile of 481 figures.  Not as substantial as the 2024 result of -945 figures but respectable.  Had I not succumbed to some late year purchases, totals would have been more in line with 2024.  I plan to keep up the effort of reducing The Lead Pile in 2026.  Wish me luck.

Looking back through the Painting Log over the last 32 years, the last two years have shown a gradual decrease from the 1,000 figures or more painting output.  Still, a good variety of projects saw some activity to explore a bit later.  For figures painted, one foot, one gun, and one cavalry figure each count as one.  No increased counts for horse and rider.   

Let's examine the 2025 figure counts in more detail.

Monthly Totals
As the chart below shows, much of 2025 averaged a monthly output of about 60 figures.  Not helped out by the big drops in May and October.  As is typical of my seasonal painting output, production began to pick up as the year closed out.  January and September saw big spikes up in production.  As seen in the September/October bars, a big increase in one month is often followed by a drop in the next.  A big push in one month is likely followed by exhaustion, I suppose.  

Totals by Era and Scale
Switching from the monthly bar chart to a pie chart, the total effort given to the SYW project continued into 2025.  Nearly 30% (259) of all figures painted were in this period.  While the FPW project popped into second place in 2024, 2025 saw FPW take top honors with 288 figures painted.  Biblicals rounded out the top 3 with 119 figures painted.  After several games featuring the Reconquista project hitting the table in 2025, 49 additional figures were added into the collection as my motivation was high to push out just a few more units.  I managed to almost deplete The Lead Pile of these figures.  Well, not quite as successful as first thought.  I recently uncovered about a dozen packs of Artizan and Crusader figures for the Reconquista.

Translating actual figure counts to Painting Points, the 25/28mm projects see some gains in their capture of the overall percentages.  Good to see the Great Italian Wars project climb out of obscurity from the "Other" category.

When the counts are broken out by figure size (scale), it is no surprise that the emphasis on painting 15/18mm SYW and FPW figures pushed the weight to that figure size.  As in 2024, more than 60% of all production was in the 15/18mm figures sizes.  The chart below illustrates that nearly 64% of all figures painted fall into the 15/18mm classification.

When these actual figure counts are translated to Painting Points, 25/28mm figures shift the emphasis and effort to their side of the painting ledger.  Now, almost 57% of effort is concentrated into the 25/28mm projects.

In summary, 2025 was a solid year at the painting desk.  2025 saw a slight reduction in figures painted from 2024 but not much change, really, especially since 2025 saw more 25/28mm figures painted than in 2024.  What about goals for 2025?  Well, that is something to ponder another time.

Putting the Ox Before the Cart

The 1460 Battle of Wakefield is next up on my gaming table.  Battlefield has been laid out and troops mustered for battle.  Now, there are many theories on the battle and why the Duke of York attacked out of Sandal Castle against what seemed unfavorable odds.  A recent study by Lawson and Grummitt (Battle of Wakefield of 1460 Reconsidered) proposes that there was no battle at all! 

Another, more traditional theory suggests that York attacked out of Sandal Castle to counter attacks against a returning foraging party.  The foraging party theory is the one that sets the stage for my tabletop battle.  To provide York incentive to come to the rescue of the foraging party, Rutland is placed at the head of the column.

Working up a scenario for refighting Wakefield, I needed to field a cart or two to make up a foraging column. The figure collections held no suitable rolling stock in 28mm for the game.  Digging into The Lead Pile, I pulled out two ox carts from 1st Corps. These figures jumped to the front of the painting queue and are ready for Monday's first trial of the battle.

As for the battle, the table is set and Battle Briefing written.  Despite latest research, a Battle of Wakefield will still be seen on my table.  

Scope Creep?

With the 18mm SYW project expanding to include armies present in the War of Austrian Succession, War of Polish Succession, and a British Army in the early stages of development, expanding the theatre to include the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion seems only natural, right?  Scope creep or simply a reasonable expansion?  Well, this expansion seemed a natural byproduct to me.  

Having said that, the first Jacobite units muster out from the painting desk.  First to muster out are Lord Ogilvy's Regiment (blue flag) and Gordon of Glennbuchat's Regiment (white flag).  Both of these 23-figure regiments represent Lowland regiments.  Highlanders are up next.  Figures are Old Glory foot led by a Eureka mounted colonel.  Yes, painting Highlanders in tartan is up next.  After the Jacobites receive a half-dozen units or so, it will be time to crank up the production line to push some Government troops through.

Lots of other projects are seeing activity at the workbench so British will be in waiting until I return to painting 15mm figures.  

Tuesday saw a recommencement of hostilities on the plain at Pharsalus.   After seeing my four-game Caesarian sweep of Pompey at Pharsalus two weeks ago, Kevin dropped in for a rematch and lunch.  This time, we swapped sides.  I commanded Pompey and Kevin guided Caesar.  As in the previous outing, games were fought using Commands & Colors with 6mm armies.  In yesterday's four-game series, Caesar came away 7-1, 7-3, 5-7, 7-3.   In Caesar's 5-7 loss, Caesar was killed in combat.  Over the eight-game series, Caesar came away 7 and 1.  Pharsalus seems a tough task for Pompey.

With the New Year barely out of the gates, games are already on the docket for Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.  Starting the gaming year off with a bang!  Monday's game will feature a return to the WotR as a refight of Wakefield is in the offing.  Plenty of work to do to design and develop a scenario before then.  Which theory of the battle will be presented?  Stay tuned.

Next time, perhaps my annual painting review.

What Have I Done?

I suppose I have held a lifelong interest in WWI aerial games.  Beginning with Milton Bradley's Dogfight in the '60s, play moved to The Avalon Hill Game Company's Richthofen's War in the '70s and '80s.

The '90s saw me take to the air with miniatures using Canvas Eagles (CE).  I have vague recollections of a campaign game or two using these rules besides many one-off contests.  Having played CE, who can ever forget the stat sheet for each aircraft?  We really played CE a lot and I began building models so that I could take to the air.  I only maintained a small assortment of 1/72nd kits but I was always on the lookout for more.

Aircraft stat sheet

Meikraft Models of a German Pfalz DIIIa

While Canvas Eagles remained a staple when games took to the air, the late 2000s saw playtesting of Watch Your Six.  I wonder whatever happened to that ruleset?  Even more models were purchased as opportunities arose but the pile of unbuilt kits was not so great.

OK, maybe I exaggerate a bit.  There were probably more models than realized once I began discovering bargains on eBay.  I even managed to buy small chunks of large collections.

By the time COVID disrupted everyone's lives in 2020, WWI aerial combat had transitioned to remote play with players from far-flung reaches of the globe.  A long-running campaign was fought using Richard Lindley's Knights of the Sky which was perfectly suited to remote play via Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet.  In one of these campaigns, my pilot made it all the way through the war only to be met with disaster on the last sortie of the war.  Curses!

All along the way of this journey, newly acquired unbuilt kits were added into the tubs in which these models were placed for storage.  By this time, there were two such large tubs.  Oh, and a few that would not fit.  Did I expect to build and see these kits in a game?  Of course.

Knights of the Sky via Skype

Baron von Freitag's last flight

Where does this rambling trip down Memory Lane lead?

Well, to gain a sense of the scale of the number of models tucked away, I brought the two tubs out of the storage room and emptied their contents out onto the gaming table.  Stacking them up in a quasi-sort by size and manufacturer, I made a count.

Plastic Pile of WWI Aircraft

Now, many of these models are long out of production.  Some go back to the '60s.  How many are there?  More than 140 kits.  Some of the kits have more than one model and were counted as one unless I could verify.  I noticed several bagged kits had more than one model.  Such an interesting assortment of planes and manufacturers.  I had no idea the size of this collection.

What have I done?  Well, bought more models than I can possibly build or use.  Will all of these models ever get built?  Almost certainly not by me.  One resolution for the New Year is to grab a model or two out of the pile and build it just to remember the joy (and frustration) of putting these kits together.  Who knows, perhaps I will take to the skies in 2026?  At least, all of these kits actually made it out onto the table.