Most of us have experienced the "lack of understanding" that we get from our wives and lovers over our dedication to the hobby. I have always despaired of ever getting my wife interested.. at least to the point that she would not always find something for me to do just as I sit down to paint or work on The Courier, never mind getting her to help me paint or become an opponent. This item is a true story that describes the way it SHOULD be. I hope that Barry appreciates what a lucky man he is. I trust that every male gamer will show this article to his better half. - DICK BRYANT I can remember quite clearly my introduction to the hobby of wargaming. It was on a cold, dark, wintry night while was still a student at university. My husband-to-be (he didn't know it at the time) called me up to tell me about an interesting hobby he'd just read about in a magazine article. It was advertising miniature lead figures as an idea gift for the man who had everything. I had no idea at the time just what this would lead to. Over the next few weeks conversation would turn back to this article and then it happened, the phrase that would become so familiar to me over the years; "I think I'll send away for a few - just to see what they're like". it was a seemingly innocent phrase that opened up an entirely new world. I must admit I was not impressed at all with those first figures. They were 25mm and you could almost recognize them as human beings. They were ill proportioned with just a slash mark for a face. My husband admitted they weren't great but I think he was hooked even then. Magazine followed magazine and sample followed sample. I was amazed at the way he could tell them apart - they still all looked the same to me. The next step was a decision on time period and nationality. The choices were not as wide twelve years ago as they are today. Romans made the final cut because they seemed to have a wealth of enemies or people to conquer. I had once read Eagle of the Ninth so I was game. When the figures arrived I was able to recognize them, so either the manufacturer had improved or I had. We were on the move. It was time to get some rules for play. This is where I got a little daunted. Barry went through the rules in no time and gave them to me to read. It wasn't easy. it was a little like reading a foreign langauge; you needed a lot of practice and someone to explain the vocabulary. When I read instructions of any kind, I need the pieces in front of me to manipulate as I go along. This kind of concrete aid helps me make sense if what I read. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough soldiers to move around. I sat there and dutifully read the rule book and two days later the only thing I could remember was that you had a lot to consider before you moved anyone an inch. Not an auspicious beginning, you will agree. Barry wasn't daunted; he tried another approach. While he was collecting his (or should I say "our") armies he thought of using boardgaming to get the basic ideas of movement and firing across. The rules were geared to different levels so we could work at the beginner stage for a while and then progress. I read through the rules, they still didn't make sense, but at least I had something to move around in front of me. I made only one stipulation - I had to start with the historically winning side and any advantages that I could legally have. it didn't make any difference; I rewrote history at every game. I could start off with superior numbers and firepower, a good strategic position and still lose the campaign. I was so busy concentrating on moving, attacking and calculating casualties that I had no time for strategy. We soon decided that my "rush 'em and yell" approach was more suitable to barbarians and they really didn't have much of a winning streak going. I am not a very competitive person, by that I mean I don't have to win at everything I do but it is nice to suspect that the possibility of winning does exist. After a few games, it was strictly going through the motions. My soldiers and I knew we weren't going to win no matter what orders I gave them. To keep up my flagging spirits, Barry asked me what my favourite period in history was. No question - the medieval period. I've always loved the romance of the knights on horseback jousting for the favours of a lovely damsel. I admit that my concept is more Arthur and the Round Table than an historically accurate one but nevertheless, that was my answer. He decided to look into it for me. While we were experimenting with different board games, miniature figures were arriving in steady small streams. This brought up the idea of painting. I was of the opinion that something that small could not be painted realistically and we should really consider the red side versus the blue side. Before everyone reading this article cries "Shame, shame!" I was overruled and the subject has seldom been reopened. Now the search was on for information about painting figures. A lot of the work was trial and error. About this time, Barry was a subscriber to a modelling magazine that regularly came out with painting tips and would supply lists of reference materials for uniforms of different time periods. This was technical help but it couldn't substitute for talent and perseverance. During the first two years, I didn't get involved in painting other than to offer opinions on the finished product. Every once in awhile we still talk about "the day I painted my first figure". Barry had been encouraging me to try my hand at painting for quite a while. He was improving quite a lot and you could really see the difference from his earlier figures. Occasionally he would go back and repaint those that didn't measure up to his present standard. The day finally came when I decided I would try my hand. I chose a relatively simple figure, not one with a lot of very small detail and sat down to work. Barry was out all that afternoon so I decided to surprise him with my efforts. I remember my fingers cramping with the effort of holding this tiny object so tightly for so long. At last I was finished and to my mind it didn't look half bad. I felt the same kind of satisfaction that a child does when he finally learns to colour within the lines. I left my figure on the work table so it would be the first thing that Barry saw when he sat down to paint. I wasn't going to say a thing; it was going to be a big surprise. It was a surprise all right, but not for Barry. I had errands to do and wasn't around when Barry discovered my efforts. When I got back, nothing was mentioned, so I thought he hadn't seen it. I still said nothing imagining his surprise and delight when he discovered that I could help him with his efforts. Later I snuck down to the work table for another admiring glance only to discover that he had repainted, (fixed up a little, he said) my figure. That was the first, last and only time I have ever painted an entire figure. Being the perfectionist that he is, Barry couldn't understand my immediate attachment with my first effort. He takes a much more detached view of things while I tend to personify inamimate objects. This figure already had a personality for me. I still wanted to be involved in this hobby. I could see now that it was going to take up a fair part of Barry's spare time. Dates or outings would regularly take the form of a Saturday drive down to Detroit to a particular hobby shop. I didn't foresee a change after we were married. (Well, actually there was one. Now we spend the night and I get dinner out and an evening of window shopping at the mail.) The big question was, "What could I do?" I wasn't going to paint any more figures - not that Barry would repaint them now, he'd learned that much. But he probably wouldn't use them either or use them with mental misgivings. I wasn't doing too well with the rule books. My choices weren't getting any wider. I needed an activity that didn't require a lot of skill or at least allowed learning on the job. At last it came to me. While I couldn't paint detail I could spread paint over large areas. I could prime figures. This is a rather limited occupation though. I could prime much faster than Barry could paint and having a huge backlog of figures is a little depressing. Time to refine my paint spreading skill and narrow down the area. During the painting of the American Civil War figures I was head painter in charge of jackets, pants and hats. This way Barry could tidy up the detail and have his figures completed much faster. I was a success. Unfortunately, it wasn't long after this that he decided to switch to 15mm and the jackets and pants once again became too small or too fancy. The pictures I was always being asked to look at in the modelling magazines usually showed the armies displayed on landscaped panels with buildings or entire villages around them. Buildings are large and need paint. My skill could be valuable again. I became fairly adept at building plastic kits and giving them a coat of basic colour with a weathering wash. The smaller details were then left to the master painter. Again a difficulty arose -storage. We had some storage, but not enough that I could go on with the buildings indefinitely. We still hadn't addressed the idea of terrain panels or a proper table. While all this painting activity was going on, Barry still hadn't quite given up on my becoming his wargames partner. We were trying different boardgames with varying degrees of success. I do like Kingmaker. I can handle the rules and I like the element of chance that is introduced. He tried to capitalize on my fondness for knights by purchasing some British knights for small skirmishes. I like rules that allowed character figures but unfortunately I had a habit of becoming too attached to my favourite characters. I remember when King Mark died from a dastardly blow to the head during a supposedly friendly tournament encounter. I didn't see and still don't know why I couldn't bring him back to life in another game. He was my strongest and most noble character!! Skirmish rules seem to be as complex as I am willing to undertake. I must admit that I don't relish the thoughts of 40 pages of rules that need to be read and digested before play begins. My favourite plea is, "You read them and teach me." That doesn't go over very well. I guess it has to be at least fifty-fifty. I did enjoy a brief foray into aerial combat with Ace of Aces. That is an enjoyable game and while I often found myself flying backwards or all alone in the sky, I found it relatively easy to understand and fun to play. Richthofen's War was another game that I enjoyed. I still had a lot of questions about the moves but the introductory rules were not formidable. As you might have guessed from my story, I am not the ideal wargaming partner. Recently a lot of information on solo wargaming has been coming into the house. Barry, however, seems content to plan out his campaigns without my actual assistance. I work in a more advisory capacity. I prefer to think of myself as the fashion co-ordinator for the Dark Ages and for non-military figures throughout the ages. Since I enjoy reading historical novels of all periods, I am able to provide Barry with information as to what the well dressed peasant or coureur de bois might be wearing. I am also able to give descriptions or explanations of certain colours or materials that were appropriate for dress at certain periods. I have no knowledge of uniforms but can supply background for civilian dress. I feel that I am personally responsible for the co-ordinating colours on many of Barry's non-uniformed figures. I can quite honestly say that I have given my opinion and/or advice (most often just an approving comment) on almost every figure that Barry has done. I am looking forward to working on terrain panels. I enjoy working with my hands and this is one area in which I may be of genuine help. The idea of creating realistic scenery is intriguing. Walks along the shore have found us collecting bits of driftwood that will make excellent cliffs or interesting rock faces. Articles in magazines have prompted frequent discussions as to the best way to make panels that will provide the greatest variety of scenery for the greatest number of periods. We've discussed the pros and cons of half a dozen different techniques. Eventually the lower level in our home will house the "Wargames Room" and I've already devoted a few Christmas gifts to the future furnishing and decoration of that room. After all this time, Barry deserves more than a chrome table in the basement and a few overcrowded bookshelves. Wargaming is not really a hobby in our home, it's a way of life. We spent a long weekend holiday in Ottawa to attend a gaming convention there. That was my first indication of how many people are actually involved in this area. Closer to home, the MIGS convention in Cambridge, Ontario, provides an annual Sunday's entertainment. Barry has already informed me that on our first big vacation (which we hope will be in England) he plans to bring along an empty suitcase "just in case". Personally, I don't think he'll find that one is enough. Through the years, (and this story covers twelve) I have learned quite a lot about the hobby. I can nod somewhat knowledgably when others discuss painting or building techniques at conventions. I can now recognize the vocabulary and the work involved when I'm watching other struggle with the rules for a particular game at convention demonstrations. I've become a fair judge of painted figures and even though I can't do it myself, I can recognize good technique when I see it. I've become amazingly adept at finding reference books for the particular period of current interest (The Courier is a poor influence on my husband. Each year you start a new theme and he begins a new army. if you could keep the same theme running a little longer, he might have enough time to finish one). I've learned where the best bargains can be found in second hand book stores and can spot a reference book in a publisher's clearance display at 20 yards. Since I'm a bit of a computer addict I'm trying to interest Barry in some of the games designed for the Commodore machines. He's tried one or two but is more interested in the actual figures. We're looking for computer moderated games that use the rules for miniature figures and take all the hassle, die rolling and chart reading out of the play. You type in your orders and the computer takes all the factors of morale, strength, terrain, etc., and gives you the outcome of your turn. You can then move the figures the corresponding amount or remove your casualties. So far we haven't found such a program here in Canada, but we're still looking. Over the years I've learned what does and does not interest me about miniature wargaming (building and terrain does, rules don't), and I've learned my strengths and weaknesses as helper (not good with detail but fine on large areas or free advice). I feel that to a small degree I share in the enterprise with my husband. I'm a listener when he needs it and a giver of opinions even when he doesn't. Miniature wargaming is such a time consuming hobby that it's a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". As an associate member of the hobby I can thoroughly recommend the merits of even a somewhat limited participation. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VII #4 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1987 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com