The last couple of weeks I have been thinking of my blog. For me, my blog really hasn't offered anything original or new for quite a long time. The Peter Laing market seems to have dried up. It's been a while since there has been any good lots to buy. As for my gaming, I use rules that are from other blogs. What's more, I would find myself trying to find a way to make my games interesting for anyone who comes to this blog, instead of planning the games for my enjoyment. I have decided to spend more time on my gaming. I will try to add posting if I think it would be of interest to Peter Laing fans.
When I first started looking for Peter Laing figures, trying to find information about them was hard to come by. There were maybe half a dozen photographs on Google. One goal of my blog was to get more photographs of the figures online. I think if you Google Peter Laing figures or miniatures, you will find a good collection to enjoy. The small group of Peter Laing fans have shared their pictures and stories about the figures. Reading these stories of people's memories of the early years of Peter Laing, I found that their stories only made me appreciate these figures more and their place in war-game history.
I have been trying different ways to use my new Heroscape pieces. My last idea was to use Neil Thomas' ONE HOUR WARGAMES. The field would be 7 hexes by 7 hexes (originally it was going to be 6 x 6). I played a couple of games, one using my "no brain game", the second I used BATTLELORE. I think using the Richard Borg rules with modified movements will make for a good quick game. I used OHW army selection charts and scenarios. The game lasted a little over half an hour; great when you are pressed for time. Below are a few shots of the Peter Laing figures in action.
 |
| The Persian Army vs the Arab Army. The Persians brought their elephants. |
 |
| These elephants need to see more action. |
 |
| The elephants crash through the Arab center. |
 |
| The Arabs manage to kill two of the elephants.... |
 |
| .....and the Arab cavalry drives the other one back to it's own line. |
 |
The Arabs manage to kill the last elephant, and wins the battle.
The size of the game board for this game is 11 inches x 13 inches. |
I don't always comment but I enjoy your posts anyway. I've given up trying to guess what will be popular and just do my thing now.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing this blog for 5 years. I have ten followers and daily average hits are in the teens. I obviously haven't figured out what's popular! I agree with you about doing my own thing. I think if you look at past posts I have followed that advice. Reading forums when Peter Laing figures are brought up, there are usually more negative comments than positive.
DeleteI don't always comment but I enjoy your posts anyway. I've given up trying to guess what will be popular and just do my thing now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ross. Just play the games you want to play, and post the results; that's all I do. I tailor the text and the pictures for a potential audience, it's true, but the games are all mine. If people like them, that's fine. But the posts act as a useful record for me as well; I am my own blog's most prolific reader, and a lot of it is targetted at my future self.
ReplyDeleteThere are too few wargaming blogs which actually have wargaming posts these days; too many blogs are just records of what figures the author has been painting, with little indication of them ever being used for anything afterwards.
So please keep posting your games.
I must admit one reason I do post my wargames is so I do have a record of them; I do find myself looking back at games I really enjoyed for inspiration. The most recent games I have been playing is based on the games I played using Tony Bath's Hyboria maps. I even have printed out several of the games and put them in looseleaf binders, should I completely stop my blog.
DeleteIf you stop a blog it needn't be deleted. I had one (mostly non-wargames) before The Stronghold Rebuilt, but it's now hidden so that only I can see the posts.
DeleteThat is good to know. I would like the photos of the Peter Laing figures to stay up, even if I stop posting. For me there's nothing worse than going to a website, only to find it gone.
DeleteIt has been great that you have shared your enjoyment of toy soldiers and your games. Your blog is the first that I look at when online. That said toy soldiers and what they mean to us is very personal and in many ways private. As Ross Mac said do what makes you happy too much of life involves compromises, lip biting and controlling impotent fury. Enjoy your soldiers and games. The occasional post would be great as well. MANY THANKS.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Chris. Since this decision I have been spending more time reading and doing research. Also, the reading is inspiring me to use Peter Laing figures that I haven't used before. I can see at least posting photos of these figures, if not complete war-game reports.
DeleteAnother vote for do your own thing and screw'em if they don't like it.
ReplyDeleteYour photos look better than usual this post. The close-ups really show off the figures better than overview shots. I know you need some overviews to show the progress of the battle, but if you're looking for more hits, eye candy sells.
Sorry I don't follow (anyone, ever), but I have enjoyed your blog posts for a long time.
Regards and thanks for sharing.
John
John, I agree with your comments on the photos. I originally wanted to use the games to showcase the Peter Laing figures in action. As I started to use the reports for copying later, I drifted away from the "candy" shots. I will keep that in mind in the future. Units such as the elephants deserve their close ups. By the way, these figures were already painted when I bought them.
ReplyDelete