John Laing is a long-time wargamer from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, who is associated with the fine wargames figures company, RAFM. I have had the chance to talk with him on several occasions at wargames conventions, enjoyed his company as I think you will, and I think he has some interesting things to say about the hobby.
MWAN: Please give us some background information on yourself.
JOHN:Well, I was appropriately born on 11-11-47. I have lived most of my life in the
small town of Paris, Ontario, Canada. I attended MacMaster University between the years
of 1967-71 and finished with a degree in history. I learned that a wargamer's view of
history and of an academic's do not necessarily coincide. While in university, and for
awhile after, I was in the Naval Reserve. This period has given me some definite insight
into the realities of the military experience that one doesn't really get from books. After
this, I worked for the Canadian National Railways as a conductor for seven years. As I
just missed being a model railroader and stuck with wargaming instead, I found the
railroad a fascinating job. As a full time hobby, it pays better as well. I have been
married for eight years. I read mostly military history with a slight leavening of sci-fi
and smutty novels.
MWAN: How did you get started in wargaming?
JOHN:I have never really not been involved in wargames. In the 5O's, my father
started buying me Britain's figures with which I played in an incoherent fashion.
I went on in this way until about 1961 when I bought an early version of Avalon
Hill's Gettysburg. This provided a basis for an organized game. We developed
a divisional level WWII game from the system. Along with Colin McClelland and
Jack VanSchaik, two of my current partners, we formed a group playing a fictional
WWII era game. Since then, Colin, Jack and I have moved through boardgames and
miniatures to where we are today.
MWAN: What periods do you game in; what is the attraction for you in each; how many
figures; what scale, etc?
JOHN:I have a strong continuing interest in naval miniatures and in the past have created
navies in several periods and scales. In terms of land warfare, I am a confirmed 25mn devotee.
The only exception is WWII where I have models in 20mm. I have substantial collections on
ancients (Gauls & Romans), medieval (Scots & general purpose), Samurai, Renaissance, and
ECW 6 Thirty Years War. More recently I've done substantial numbers of Colonials. for the past
year I have been working on the Seven Years War period, with the emphasis on North America, and
have built up some 1500 figures for this collection. I have no real idea how many painted figures/models I've done. I would say I have some 10,000 figures and maybe 2,000 ship models, mostly scratch built.
MWAN: Do you belong to a wargaming group, if so, please describe how it is run, do you have open membership, how do you handle problems, periods played, etc.
JOHN:At the moment I do not belong to an organized wargaming group. This dates back
to my going to work on the railway, where the unpredictable hours left me unable to plan
regular attendance to clubs. Lately, my gaming has been restricted to invitational games
at my home. I have been seriously considering starting a local club in the Paris area as
there is a wealth of interested people. I have received HWAN #16 and noticed the bit
about the Central Illinois Table Top Warriors (CITW). I think this sort of thing is a
very worthy aim within the limits I feel I must myself keep.
MWAN: How did RAFM get started?
JOHN:RAFM was started to publish UNIVERSIAL SOLDIER rules. Originally, there were
five partners, myself, Colin and Jack, whom I mentioned before; Paul Sharpe and
Pat Jenkins. Pat, whose art appears in the rules, left us after a couple of years,
but the rest of us are still in the company together.
MWAN: Please tell us how RAFM functions; personnel, who is involved, etc.
JOHN:There are aproximately 12 full-time personnel at RAFM. Jack is the President, Colin
handles shipping. Michael Murphy is our production manager, Paul is part-time since he has
another business of his own to manage. He does our graphics and publishing work. I do the
mould making.
MWAN: Who does your sculpting?
JOHN:Bob Murch and Carol Moyer are our two full-time designers. Bob has been doing figures
for us since he did the Reptiliads. His latest offerings are getting very good indeed. Carol
is coming along well too and has done the Jack Tar range and the 1400's. The sailors are being
very well received in particular.
MWAN : Does RAFM have any plans for new lines in the historical miniatures area?
JOHN:We always have lots of ideas in the history area. We will be changing the
1400's to bring them more into line with contemporary standards and releasing a third
wave of Flint and Feather. By the tine this sees the light of day, both of these
projects will probably be in release. We intend to continue with our ancients from
Bob Murch. Beyond that, I really can say no decisions have actually been made.
MWAN: What lines does RAFM currently carry?
JOHN:I'll assume you are referring to historical material. We are quite a diverse company and actually
manufacture a large number of figures. In addition to our RAFM products we manufacture for the Canadian
market, all the Ral Partha historical ranges, plus some Citadel material, namely their Dark Ages. Medieval,
Wars of the Roses, and Samurai ranges. we will expand on both these companies in the future. We will be best
known for our indigenous product. This consists of our Flint and Feather range of North American figures in
the 1650-1780 era, our Hellenistic and Roman ranges, a range of late medievals (the 1400's), the seige equipment range, and our latest, the Jack Tar range of sailors for the Napoleonic period.
MWAN: What goes into a new line of figures. please discuss as fully as possible.
JOHN: A new range of figures is decided on by a combination of feasability, perceived sales strength and personal interest on the part of one or more of us. Mostly the technical decisions must be the domain of our designers but as a company, we have several design principles laid down. These include a belief that gamers want ranges to be as complete as possible. They want figures as compatible with their existing collection as can be. While stores, for obvious reasons, want a range to include a minimum of code numbers, gamers tend to
want maximum choice.
This is a continuing dilemma, for which there exists no Good solution. Historical ranges demand both large numbers of diverse figures and the availability of these figures not packed with others. The Flint and Feather line in specific was designed not so much with sales in mind as to do something we felt to be needed and also that is specific to our being Canadian and from the area in question. Research is something that is never finished. We have respectable access to information and knowledgeable persons, yet it is still sad to discover something that should have been included in a given range. The easiest research is simply to follow a conventional manual such as Osprey or a WRG book. As most gamers take their own knowledge from these same sources, it is also the safest.
The Flint and Feather range has not had the benefit of such a convenient book, so we have had to use a variety of less known sources. One reason the White troops for the range have only now been released is that it has taken time to come up with research information.
MWAN: Any thoughts on what happens when your hobby becomes your occupation?
JOHN: Recently I heard an observation that going into business was the ultimate committment to your hobby. I find this to be very true. It costs in enjoyment. Looking at the hobby from a competitive viewpoint can affect your pleasure in the general picture. It also costs money. Despite how it must look to those who pay for our products, there isn't really than much money to be made in it. I guess the big reward is in being able to participate in how the hobby develops. It is also a bit of a "trip" to be at the (perceived?) center of the hobby. Strangely, I cants say that being involved all day makes me less eager to game or paint
figures. My levels of these have remained largely constant over the years.
MWAN: Do you have any thoughts on the state of historical miniatures wargaming; where its been, where it is, and where it is going?
JOHN: Historical miniatures wargaming seems to be experiencing some kind of renaissance. My own pet theory is that a hiatus occurs in a hard-core gamer's involvement as he gets to college and gets involved with girls (Editor's Note: "GASP!"), family, a career and children. After awhile, his life steadies out and he finds he has some time (mostly at home) and a little bit of money. Then, he remembers gaming and either rejoins his old buddies, often in the same situation as him, or finds a new group. I think that this currently happening
with a lot of the late 70's gainers, thus, we are seeing what seems to be a resurgence of interest in the hobby.
Just ask yourself how many gamers are now in their mid-thirties to low forties. This scenario also implies we are talking about a more mature crowd. I believe this shows in an increased enthusiasm for simpler rules, better historical knowledge and superior painting for troops and battlefield accessories. Good looking games are much more common nowadays. I hope this means that the hobby has finally got it's roots down firmly and will now develop as a solid leisure activity.
MWAN: Are there any differences between wargaming in Canada and in the US that you've
observed?
JOHN: Yes, there are quite a few. Canadian gamers look as much across the
Atlantic as do the gamers south of the border. In recent months especially, I have had
an education in the degree to which Canadian gamers do not participate in American
gaming activities. For example, I would say the magazine most widely read by Canadian
gamers would be MILITARY MODELLING. I don't think you could say that about American
gamerers. However, in terms of approach and philosophy, I would say that there is less
difference in the two countries. In this, I would say that Canadians are more American
than English.
MWAN: Who, in the hobby, has influenced you the most?
JOHN: I think I'd have to give a mention to Tom Shaw of Avalon Hill for his early
boardgames for showing me that you can use quantification and dice to run a game. Don
Featherstone's early books and newsletter have also been extremely informative for me. I
have always appreciated his rules on the back of a postcard concept. His dictum that the
best simulation can hope for is a "passing resemblance to reality" has always been a
watchword. I should also mention Fletcher Pratt as it was a set of rules based on a dim
memory of his that set us up in naval miniatures for several years. I could also mention
my partners, Jack and Colin, for encouraging me to a dedication to the hobby. Lastly, I
can not let this go without a nod of thanks to my father for exposing me to the hobby
even before I was old enough to know what it was about.
MWAN: Who do you think has had the most influence on the hobby?
JOHN: Again, I would have to nominate Don Featherstone as a great influence and also
Charles Grant for his extensive writings in the early days. I believe people such as
Fred Vietmeyer and Jack Scruby have had a great influence, although I must say I have
never been directly influenced myself. More recently, I should say that Phil Barker with
his ubiquitious rules and WRG's historical publications have set a very firm shape to much
of the hobby. I ought also to mention Gary Gygax, not only for his pre-TSR contributions;
but for becoming the J.R. Ewing of Historical Miniatures. I'm not sure he earned it, but
has definitely taken a lot of flak.
MWAN: What level of wargaming do you enjoy?
JOHN: I find I prefer battalion level actions, with a battalion being represented by
12-24 figures. Mass actions have never appealed to me, especially with miniatures.
Men to figure scales of 50 to I or over strain my ability to think of a toy soldier
as a "man". I keep intending to involve myself in skirmish games, but lacking a set
of rules I like and not being able to interest my mates in the subject, I have never
progressed very far. I've lots of figures and buildings though.....
MWAN: What is RAFM's involvement with EMPIRES, EAGLES AND LIONS?
JOHN: RAFM does the distribution, marketing, and printing for EE&L magazine. We have no editorial input. This remains in the hands of Jean Lochet and comrades in New Jersy.
We do this for the connections to gainers, prestiage value, and because we feel EE&L
provides an indispensable service to the hobby.
MWAN: Do you have any thoughts as to how historical miniatures gaming could recruit
more members?
JOHN: Part of the renaissance of Historical Miniatures involves an intense concern
with increasing the popularity and stature of the hobby. I am delighted by this,
both for professional and emotional reasons. I think the primary need is for
Historical Miniatures to make itself visible. The fact is that most of the world
is not aware of our hobby. There are large numbers of potential recruits out
there. This means being willing to talk about our hobby with strangers, at parties,
and at work. For example, it means participating in hobby expositions that occur
periodically.
A very good place to get seen is at conventions not specifically devoted to Historical Miniatures such as D&D cons or even Sci-Fi conventions. A second problem is that once on view, we have to be careful to be accessible. It is entirely too easy to forget that a stranger (potential recruit) knows nothing about our hobby and is quite possibly suspicious of us. Even if he is not recruited, it can be quite enough for him (or her) to go away thinking that we are not so bad after all. We also have to remember to welcome interest for it's own sake. I know of a club, with about 5O members (30 active) that claims to recruit four new people a week yet hasn't grown for four years. Obviously the new people leave as fast as they come in. Equally obviously, these new people are not being made to feel welcome.
Clubs must make an effort to befriend a new gamer and show him the ropes. An aspect of this visibility/accessibility problem I see improving steadily is in the visual quality of convention or demonstration games. After all, what makes Historical Miniatures different and more enjoyable than other forms of gaming is the visual and tac tile aspect of what we do. Therefore it is vital to do our very best at this. It is for this reason that RAFM presents our $50.00 gift certificate for the best presented game at game conventions.
MWAN: Do you have any thoughts on simple vs complex rules?
JOHN: I like simple rules I believe no set of miniatures rules can be exhaustive and that some agreement beyond the rules will always be needed. I also maintain that every written
rule must have two more written to explain and support it. More rules just increase themselves
exponentially.
MWAN: what do you enjoy most of all about the hobby?
JOHN: Painting and building is my favorite part of the hobby. I have always enjoyed creating miniature armies and navies. For the rest, the games are merely an excuse to continue with the creation of more and more miniature armaments.
MWAN: Is there anything you do not enjoy about the hobby?
JOHN: My main objection is with gamers who look down on someone else's portion of the hobby. We are all in this together and there are not enough of us to start dumping on
someone who does things differently. I should also add that I do not personally enjoy
the competition games currently in vogue. They run against a lot of my ideas about a "good"
game. Yet, many people seem to find them enjoyable so I must assume that there is merit in it.
I feel that the intensity these games engender and also the lack of attention to visuals and
spectator appeal could be damaging to the over-all appeal of our hobby.
(Editor's Note) Thank you, John, for your thoughts and for taking the time to respond to the interview.
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© Copyright 1985 Hal Thinglum
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