I've just recently returned from a trip to Enfilade, the wargame convention in Seattle, Washington. I was brought there as this year's convention guest, courtesy of the HMGS Northwest guys. In the main, I judged the TACTICA tournament and later played a challenge match against the winning team, barely escaping with my life and the remains of my Byzantine army! Lynn Bodin's memorial showcase was exhibited, which featured his work: a 25mm Zulu figure armed with a basketball and a Fuzzy Wuzzy carrying a "Ghetto Blaster" pressed to his ear. Funny guy that Lynn.
Overall, the spirit and camaraderie at this convention was a wonder to see and gamers vied against each other with a number of currently popular rules sets, I even played and won a DBA game! I have never been greeted so warmly and so openly, all from guys whom I'd never even met before! I intend to honor this friendship in the best way that I can, produce new material and make you guys a part of it.
On Saturday night, we had a round-table meeting (actually, the table was rectangular) and the concept of the TACTICA Clans was born. The essence of the concept is that I will provide national Clan leaders with TACTICA material (army lists, new material, etc.) for their criticism before it is printed. They will distribute the material to their Clansmen (as it were) and return to me with feedback. In this way, I will have a broader playtest and critique base and TACTICA gamers will feel as if they can contribute to its development. This will, hopefully, promote good will and a sense of commonality, which was the main reason I did it. And which brings me to the next and more important point.
20 Years, Where'd They Go?
I've been active in this hobby for over twenty years and I can remember a time when merely finding one other gamer represented a major windfall. In the last twenty years our hobby has grown, but not like it could grow. And despite all the wonderful new games and toys available to us, we often behave like a few thousand guys separated by a common hobby. I believe if we are to bring in newer and younger blood, to really grow, we need to look more carefully not at the products, but first, to ourselves.
For a start, I would certainly like to see a more positive tone with reference to the various issues: rule and figure reviews, as well as the more important matters. I've chosen to express this in the MWAN, for nowhere have more people shared these same views, from Hal on down. For my part, I believe I've been able to state all my opinions, (endorsements, criticisms etc.) and I think I've done this without malice, giving credit where deserved. And to the degree to which I've failed to accomplish this, I apologize.
You know, sometimes I think we're like big kids playing in a sandbox who get upset because others come to play too, and before you know it, Wammo! someone gets hit with the other guy's rattle (as my buddy John Guarnaschelli says). Since I believe, as he does, that we all remain, in part, kids in men's bodies, our rattles tend to be rather large, and they often hurt.
And to my mind, the reason why the rattles (swords) get swung in the first place is fear. Perhaps fear of what new and different ideas might bring. Or, fear that the other guy's point of view will somehow imperil us. When you think about it' there really is no other explanation. And that is, to my mind, the central issue that must be addressed. Not personalities, not rulebooks, not figure lines. But rather, how can we (1) create safety for ourselves (myself), without feeling like it must be done over someone else's prostrate body.
I feel this requires the creation of a safer "container," one where people can express their views, share their passions for this great hobby, without being shamed or ridiculed. And to do this demands not censorship and editing, but a change in attitude, which as we all know will only come to those of us who are open to it, but the more, the better.
And though I am part dreamer, I am also a realist (Brooklyn does that to you) And so, I can only be accountable for my own attitude, not anyone else's. Therefore, this entire letter represents simply my personal opinion, as shaped by those of you who have shared similar opinions with me.
WRG Rattle-Bashing
Perhaps in no other area of our hobby has there been more controversy and rattle-bashing and less good will, than that which surrounds the WRG set. Precisely why this is so, is a mystery to me. Maybe it's the tournament atmosphere; maybe its because there's so much infigh,ting among the various factions. Maybe WRG is just a victim of its own success, for it had dominated ancients for twenty years. With all its illegibility, I had played WRG since the 3rd edition (not many can say that), and many of my friends play WRG players, as well as TACTICA. And so, I know most of these problems have little to do with the game itself.
The other day, Larry Essick, president of NASAMW (North American Society of Ancient and Medieval Wargamers) and Scott Dickson, the Secretary Treasurer, called me to share their views on TACTICA and WRG and to formally invite TACTICA enthusiasts and other ancient gamers to become involved in their new effort, that being to unite us all under a common banner. (I had never spoken to either of them before.) Now, the NASAMW has been pretty much committed to WRG solely, but, now, Larry and Scott want to open it up to all ancient gainers.
Further, they would like us to run some TACTICA games/events under their aegis at Historicon. And if we can, at this late date, we certainly will. Their offer was sincere, gutsy and made with the conviction of people who recognize what the hobby needs in order to grow, I commonality in spite of our differences.
Now, some might say to bring-off this sort of unification will require another Bismarck. Just the very thought of it might dissuade those loyal to either "camp." But no hard and fast decisions need be made. For now, a very healthy idea is on the table. And I believe that most of us can agree that we (TACTICA, WRG, Ancient Empires, DBA players, etc.) do share a passion for the same period: for the same idea. And in the spirit of that idea, I am entirely in favor.
Though I speak here of Ancients, this underlying idea should embody the hobby as a whole. And perhaps these "radical" notions are what's needed to accomplish this.
So, you see, some good has come from this TACTICA/WRG stuff after all. But it does incur some risk, that safety thing I spoke about earlier. And so, yes, at the risk of being a human pin-cushion, I'm willing to do what I can to move my hobby forward. What we all stand to gain is an advancement of the hobby and an increase in its popularity via good will. I'd like to do this slowly and sort of nourish the idea, since I believe good things usually happen that way, and I want to hear what everyone says. So, as George C. Scott said: "All right you son's of bitches, now you know how I feel." Now, tell me how you feel about all this.
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© Copyright 1991 Hal Thinglum
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