I initially became aware of Stuart through a series of fine articles he wrote for the now out of publication BATTLE FOR WARGAMERS magazine. Stuart has done a considerable amount of writing in the hobby and a number of years ago, took over "The Observation Post" in MILITARY MODELLING and does an exceptional job at getting the news regarding new wargaming products out to us. I especially enjoy his column when he allows himself to write about his observations of the wargaming scene. I hope you will enjoy this look at Stuart.
MWAN: Please give us some background information on yourself.
STUART: Married, age 40 (but only just!), three children, girls of 8 and 19 (the latter is a nurse) and a boy of 6. I work as a manager in British Telecoms digital network planning division. In my spare time I am a columnist (Observation Post) and contributing editor for MILITARY MODELLING magazine. I am also Hon. Sec. of Solo Wargamers Association, Life Vice President of the Pike and Shot Society, Hon. Member of the Victorian Military Society F, founder of the Rayners Lane Wargames group. I have been a wargamer for some 25 years or so now F, have my own room with a permanent 8' X 5' table and about 11,000 figures. I've written a couple of books THE CAMPAIGN OF NASEBY 1645 (Osprey 1979) and NEW MODEL ARMY (Osprey 1981), chapters in GUIDE TO WARGAMING (PSL 1980 and the forthcoming Don Featherstone wargaming title.
MWAN: How did you become involved in the hobby of wargaming with historical miniatures?
STUART: I'm not sure how I really became involved -- started with toy soldiers, discovered girls, gave up toy soldiers. Resumed hobby after coming out of the Regular Army (I was in the Royal Regiment of Artillery).
MWAN: What periods are you involved with; what are the scales/sizes/organizations/ manufacturers of your armies; what has attracted you to each of these periods?
STUART: Seven Years War: I love this period although it's difficult to define why. The measured tread, the relative lack of popularity of the period, the glamourous uniforms, etc. All combine to make what is an ideal wargames period to my way of thinking. Figures are Spencer Smith plastics.
English Civil War; I wrote a long series of articles in this period which ran from Feb-78 to July-81 in BATTLE magazine and then in MILITARY MODELLING. Quite simply I found the period fascinating and it was all mainland UK. One can only read about - say Borodino but one can get in the car and drive to Naseby relatively easily. Figures are 25mm metal initially Essex Miniatures, later on Wargames Foundry.
Medieval: This kind of grew on me for I had lots of samples in the period arrive via Observation Post (my regular column in O) over the years, so I painted them. All makes are represented.
Malburian: Really the same reasons as for the SYW. I use Peter Laing's 15mm figures and tend to wargame this period more and more of late.
Roman/British: I'm very interested in Baudicca's revolt against the Romans and have amassed appropriate armies again in Peter Laing's 15mm. The Ancient period suffers the most from snob value, acrimony and "experts", so I tend to fight shy of other sections of the 5,000 years or so that period apparently covers.
Fantasy: Again, as a result of samples and also the rather good "warhammer" rules (Games Workshop 9.95 pounds). Very tongue in cheek and a good relief contrast from "main line" periods. Figures mainly Chronicle (now defunct).
Colonial: A recent development this, due partly to Jack Alexander, designer of 20mm Jacklex figures F, 54mm Military Pageant figures joining our club. I have ESCI British vs German colonial infantry c1898 with askaris, zouaves, a gun boat (home made), tractor towed guns, etc.
AWI: Airfix figures with many conversions. A period I always enjoy, but somehow it has never really taken off over here in the UK.
Dark Age: 15mm this time using Donnington figures. This was inspired by Arthur F, the sub-Roman period. Nice mix of wargaming plus mysticism.
MWAN: Please give us some information as to the purpose of Observation Post with W. STUART: The idea of OP, founded by my very good friend, Terry Wise (who is also my son's god-father) was three-fold. One, to have a "voice" section to state opinions, moans, good for thought, etc. Two, the G2 . Magazine sections to provide information on manufacturers future releases & plans. The magazine section publicises the mags of the smaller societies, etc. No over the counter main line publications are covered. Finally, the Calendar section keeps readers in touch with convention dates. I'm in the sixth year now with OP F, whilst I have a free hand to alter the column as I see fit, the formul does work.
MWAN: I understand you are the editor of a new publication, WARGAMES. What is the purpose, scope, intended audience, etc. What is your role with it; how has the response been; any problems with mixing types of readership (i.e. historical vs. fantasy vs. boardgames?
STUART: There has been some misunderstanding about this magazine. It is not a new publication, but a Military Modelling "one-off" special, like the Wargames Manual in 1984. It's purpose was simply to provide good reading of interest to wargamers - an "Annual" if you like. My role was to coordinate the entire venture F, present the complete finished copy to the editor of MT4. Interestingly enough I was asked to make one third of the articles Fantasy orientated since the powers that be felt this essential. They may be right - it's sold out!! No real problems were encountered with historical-fantasy mix; readers seemed happy enough.
MWAN: You have been involved in the hobby for a long time. What changes have you seen over the years. Has it gone inihe direction you felt it would; where do you see it going over the next 5-10 years?
STUART: Perhaps the biggest changes are two-fold, Firstly the emergence of the Wargames Research Group (WRG), secondly, the days of "instant" wargamers. The WRG have done a great deal for the hobby, but the state of mind which they have engendered in the hobby frankly worries me.. The view has grown up that "if it's not in the army list it must be wrong" bad news, I make no secret of the fact that I like simple ''back of a postcard" rules complex rules bore me stiff. In my view we play wargames to relax, not to grapple with differential calculus et al. Today's wargamer can buy rules, preplanned armies, have them professionally painted - if only a device for dice throwing could be found, the system would be complete. I see this as a trend which is very negative, discouraging free thinking of research. So far this is all negative on the plus side, more $ more people are coming into the hobby which must be good. If only they are not deterred by the endless complex rules sets, it bodes well for the hobby's future. My views do tend to be cynical but I really feel the hobby was better when we didn't know so much, if you see what I mean!
I'm not sure I had thoughts on any particular direction the hobby would take to be honest. I feel that 15mm is here to stay, to the detriment of 25mm figures, and this will be the scale of the future. I don't think that 6mm will increase in popularity over much-,although the scale already has a steady following. I think the fantasy 'bubble' was burst - currently the late 19th century is in vogue, this time next year who knows (If I did, I'd market a range of figures for sure!!). The hobby will, I feel, level off now and numbers remain steady - the boom of the seventies is probably over.
MWAN: In England, what would you say the average age of the historical miniatures wargamer is; how did they become involved with the hobby and at what age. Do you attract boardgamers/fantasyplayers?
STUART: Average age is perhaps 18-20. I'm not in possession of any data to back this up nor can I tell you how they came into the hobby. Boardgamers are fairly numerous as are fantasy gamers, again though I have no hard facts.
MWAN: Any thoughts regarding simple vs complex rules; what do you look for in a rules set; any thoughts on realism vs. playability?
STUART: I love simple rules and loathe complex ones. The rules in use should be secondary to the game in progress. They should not cause stilted play whilst fine points are consulted in a 40 page plus tome. My favorite rules are "Charge" (SYW), "Bayonet Rules for ECW", my own for Marlbarian. The other periods use doctored sets of these, apart from the previously mentioned Warhanuner" set for fantasy, which are simple enough to use. Rules must be playable, realism is a secondary consideration. My group knows the "Charge" rules so well (we've been using them for perhaps 20 years) that they are second nature. The game flows and you are not even consciously aware that rules are being used.
MWAN: Are you aware of any differences between historical miniatures gamers in the US and England?
STUART: I don't know of any differences between us; I've never seen US players in action, but judging from MWAN and THE COURIER, they look OK to me!
MWAN: Who do you think has done the most for the hobby of historical wargaming? STUART: Difficult. I'd say Miniature Figurines for the sheer completeness of their ranges and the variety of periods available. Then Essex Miniatures for raising the standard of figures by producing some superb castings. Peter Laing was the first on the scene with 15m figures, so a boquet to him. Airfix did their bit, making such inexpensive figures, bi armies that became a reality.
MWAN: What do you enjoy most about the hobby? STUART: I enjoy the sight of a well laid out wargames table complete with armies F, terrain. I like meeting like minded souls in the hobby and have made good and valued friends, Terry Wise, Charles S. Grant, Donald Featherstone, Charlie Wesencraft, to name but a few.
MWAN: Are there any things you do not like about the hobby?
STUART: I detest self opinionated experts - query their source of apparently limitless information and you will usually find its an army list. I hate folk who wargame with unpainted armies and consider their period or army, whatever it is, as the one and the rest crap. Tolerance men, tolerance. I also get annoyed by litter on tine wargames table. Finally, I hate the current pre-packagedness (is that a word?) of the hobby - do your own things fellas.
MWAN: There are many new lines of figures/new manufacturers today, ore than ever before. Are we growing as a hobby; are we capable of supporting these companies?
STUART: We are not growing very rapidly numerically, but we are expanding sideways. That is, nearly every wargamer will have five, six or seven armies to play with and is venerable to the temptation to buy even more. There's a lot of money around these days. If a company produces quality figures, they will survive and prosper, second rate stuff will perish.
MWAN: My experience is that many historical miniatures professional publications are not supported by the hobbyists. Do you find this to be true, please discuss.
STUART: I think you're right, Hal. Shades of the blinkened bigot again, but I so often get "Oh I don't buy MM, it's rubbish or there's nothing in it for wargamers. Even you yourself in MWAN (Vol 4, #5, page 44) omitted MM from your wargaming magazines survey, which I thought unfair (Editor's Note: The survey was intended for 'newsletters"). It has as much, if not more direct and indirect wargaming content as many of those listed. If say a uniform is shown in a magazine, then it is up to the reader to paint it on a l5mmn figure or an 80mn one. I don't know why this silly anti magazines attitude exists. Even Miniature Wargames has it's critics as does The Courier, I reckon they're great.
MWAN: Who has influenced you the most in the hobby?
STUART: I am very pleased to be able to say that the people who have influenced me the most are for the most part, my friends. Donald Featherstone has contributed so much to the hobby and is seldom recognized for this these days. Terry Wise played his part in popularizing the hobby and explaining it, as did the late Charles Grant. Charles' son - Charles Stewart Grant and I share the same approach to the hobby (we've been playing a SYW postal campaign for four years now!) so I must list him as well. Perhaps the greatest influence has been Brigadier Peter Young, a man I have never met. His book "Charge" has dominated my wargames thinking since it's publication in 1964 - I owe the man a great debt for many years of happy gaming.
MWAN: Have you observed any differences in the way wargaming publications in England and the US approach the hobby?
STUART: I don't think so - there are more in the US but you are a larger country.
MWAN: Why do you feel, if you do so, that historical wargaming with miniatures has been more popular in England than in the US?
STUART: Difficult, but I do feel it has. British figures were 6 and I stress past tense, superior to American products which got the figure gamer off to a bad start. Boardgames seem much more popular in the US than the UK, again I don't know why.
MWAN: How do you feel about the progression, or lack of progression, dependent upon your opinion, of historical miniatures wargaming rules? Have we made 'progress'? STUART: I personally don't feel we have progress (define progress!). We have swapped playability for 'realism' - that's not forward. That's sideways. Possibly we had too much all advance in the seventies and now we are re-seeking our roots, I don't know. The hobby is not stagnating -yet, but it's definately marking time in my view.
MWAN: Do you feel historical miniatures wargamers fit into any certain characteristics, if so, please discuss.
STUART: I have this jaundiced view of a 'typical' wargamer who attends conventions. Blue nylon uniform anarak with fur lined hood to catch the dandruff, glasses, straggly beard, spots, badges and a duffel bag over the shoulder. Bad breath optional. I don't know, are we a 'type'? I'm a wargamer and I'm normal and soon they'll give me a real pencil and I'll be able to stop using this wax crayon. Next they're going to let me out, just weekends at first
Editor's Note: Thanks to Stuart for taking the time to respond to this interview and his honesty in preparing his answers. Most kind of you Stuart!
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© Copyright 1986 Hal Thinglum
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