I first heard of wargaming in 1960 while interviewing for admission as a history major at Boston University. The counsellor described a new game called Gettysburg, and he recommended that I buy it. I did and I was hooked. While at B.U. I played Gettysburg, Tactics II and several other early board wargames -- losing a scholarship at one point because that took more of my time than it should have. I continued on through graduate school at New York University in history, winding up with a PH. D. in 1970, just as the job market froze for history profs. Although I had to go through "Future Shock" and develop an entirely new professional life, my tie to wargaming kept my hand into history -as a very personally rewarding pasttime. In 1969, I saw an article in the New York Times about wargames on Sundays at St. John's University. I drove out there and joined a group later to become the nucleus of Simulation Publications, Inc. That same day another wargamer joined that group for the first time, and we have been friends ever since. I believe that I have the ubiquitous honor of introducing Joe Miceli to miniatures wargaming. I tired of boardgames and graduated to miniatures in 1971, with 2 Scruby 25MM 7 Years War Armies. Joe played with those armies until 6 months of negotiations proved to him that he could "take the time to paint figures." What a Pandora's Box that was, (Ed. note: Joe has won many painting awards!) as our mutual acquaintances in the hobby can testify.
During the early 70's, I gamd with a group in NYC, with emphasis on Column, Line & Square. I painted a small 25MM Westphalian Army and got much enjoyment from it over 3 years. During that time, I built up other military and naval collections including ancients, 7 years war, WW II naval, colonials and medievals.
By 1975, I lived in a small studio apartment in Brooklyn Heights, so when 15MM scale was intoduced I took to it like a bee to honey. I sold my 25's and built up 15's, large enough for table top and not as much a strain on my limited painting ability. I paint for function; when I need show I admire Miceli's or Mike Morris' figures or someone else's.
Somewhere around the mid-70's, I wrote a few articles for Scott Bizar's wargaming magazine on Napoleonics and the Middle Ages. Scott also published (FGU) my only attempt at rule writing, "Broadsword," which is still on sale I guess.
I continue to wargame on a "fun" level with friends every week, although I came in 2nd in the Origins 80 Ancient Tourney, being outfought by Larry Dunfield in the last round. Larry's Byzantines kept running away and shooting at my lumbering 10th century Russ Army. He never let me close with those deadly 2-handed ax-armed Varangian Guards.
I believe that historical miniatures can be a personally and possibly financially rewarding hobby. Although I shy away from the more formally organized aspects of the hobby, enough of that kind of thing on the job, I look forward to making a contribution to the hobby through this stint with THE COURIER.
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