How to Get Started in War Gaming

8/11/2019 How to Get Started in War Gaming

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How to get Started in Miniature Wargaming by John DavisIntroduction - Miniatures - Painting - Mounting

IntroductionWhat is miniature wargaming? Miniature wargaming is when you use scale models or figures of real-life eole or e!uiment to recreate battles from some eriod in history " or even the future# $his is

done with the hel of rules which are used to create the actual conditions of movement% casualties andmorale# Miniature wargaming rules range from simle to comle&% deending on the goal of the ruledesigners# 'omle& rules usually move at a slow ace and re!uire a lot of wor(% but the way combatlays out will closely match the results of real life combat# Simle rules can move at a faster ace andre!uire less wor(% but they will be less concerned with historical accuracy for the various game stes orfinal results# $hese later rule tyes emhasi)e fast and en*oyable game lay#

$his is well (nown as the +Seed versus ,ccuracy+ issue% which most designers resolve by creating amodestly accurate system that can be learned by most eole# , solution used at W$J is to seed ugame lay by abstracting mid-turn combat elements% while still assuring that final results are accurate#$his hybrid aroach has roven very oular#

ecause there is no international standard for rating the comle&ity of miniature wargaming rules% it isu to individual layers to decide for themselves which rules are too simle or comle& for them# .ulesused to be sold almost e&clusively through hobby stores% but the advent of the Internet has brought ahuge new selection on-line% some of which cost money and some of which are free#

So the two most imortant items for gaming are rules and figures# $he rest of this section will addressthe issue of figures and how to reare them for use# $he actual rocess of ainting figures and layingwargames is fairly simle% but where to begin can be a difficult decision# $he best way to begin is tochoose a eriod or story tye which you find interesting# /our best incentive for historical gaming willbe the reading of eyewitness accounts and narratives for the battles you re-create% so if you are alreadyinterested in the sub*ect% it hels a lot# 0or science-fiction or fantasy% then the boo(s or comuter gamesthemselves will usually be your best sources#

,nother valuable thing to remember is that your interest in gaming or in a articular genre of gamingwill vary over time# If you seem to lose interest in a articular eriod% don1t worry about all thoseminiatures you bought# Humans thrive on variety% so you will robably develo interests in severaldifferent genres of gaming% and will bounce around from one to the other% alternately utting away andulling out batches of miniatures to fill your most recent interest# /ou would be surrised at how manyeole I (now who sold their stuff only to get bac( into it again a year or two later# 2ever get rid ofyour stuff% rotating interests is a normal thing#

3nce you decide on a genre that interests you% contact local layers or gaming grous which ut ongames for that eriod 4if you have not gamed before5# $ry to lay with more than one grou so that youhave variety in the games layed# eware of isolated grous made u of eole who argue too much% orgrous who have individuals that are allowed to caitali)e on everybody else1s time 4a roblemcommon to all hobbies5# Wargaming involves a hefty investment of your time% and you should investthat time wisely with eole or grous who are easy going and interesting# Most layers and gaminggrous are great% and they will usually have established miniatures and rules for game lay% which willgive a good clue as to which figures you want to buy and aint# $his leads us to the sub*ect of theminiatures themselves#


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MiniaturesMost gaming miniatures fall into a few categories based on two basic factors6 materials and scale# $he!uestion of materials is simle% since most gaming miniatures are made of metal or lastic# Metalminiatures are usually more attractive and durable# Plastic miniatures are cheaer% but the aint-*obdegrades over time as the fle&ible lastic allows chiing of the aint# $he !uestion of scale is morecomle& and re!uires some e&lanation# Most gaming scales are e&ressed using one of two standard

methods6 fractional and metric# 7ach standard of scale has it1s own normal area of usage which we willoutline below6

0ractional6 Most lines of miniatures designed on a fractional scale standard will be centered on man-made devices% such as tan(s% shis% lanes% trains% etc# $he fractional scale system wor(s *ust li(e itsounds# $he scale refers to the difference in si)e between the model and the real thing# So a 89:;


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common metric scales and a few related eriods of land warfare#

Scale ,ncient G Medieval 4before the year 8;5 Pre-modern 48;; -8=>5 Modern 48=>> and later5

>mm & & & 8


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are also sold in most craft suly shos# 8mm human figures can readily be lined u three or four erstic( for easy holding and access# ,lso% the wooden stic(s double as good aint alettes#

Priming - If you aint figures without rimering them% it will usually cause a number of differentroblems# $he colors of the aint will not be as vivid% and the aint itself will come off easily unlesssealed# Some very finely detailed models can be ainted without rimering by using two thin coats of

aint% followed by careful sealing# 0or most infantry and land war figures% rimering is advised sincethey will be handled a lot# In the case of lastic figures% rimering is more imortant to give the figuresome e&tra resistance against fle&ing 4which causes aint to chi off5# Ma(e sure to wash lastic figuresin a strong solution of detergent before attemting to rime and aint them#

7!uiment6 0or metal figures% 0lo!uil rimer is highly recommended# 0or lastic figures whoseaint *obs are somewhat more at ris(% a less e&ensive rimer used for utility ainting is robably fine#Do not use automobile sray rimer on lastic figures% as it can melt them# ,lways test rime a singlefigure and chec( the results# How to6 Priming figures is fairly simle# 0ind a large% flat iece of material such as cardboard oran aluminum i))a an% line of your figures u on it% and ta(e it outside 4.emember to aint outside% orin a well ventilated area% no huffing on the *obF5# Sha(e the rimer can very% very thoroughly before yousray# ,lso allow each side of the figure to dry before fliing it over to sray the other side# Primingyour figures in warm weather% or under warm conditions% is best# If the weather is really bad% thenbuying a bottle of brush-on rimer and ainting it on may be the best solution#

Painting - $he two most imortant items you will need for ainting will be aint and brushes# /oushould try to buy the best ossible aints and brushes because the results of your labor will be betterrewarded# 'hea brushes do not coat evenly% they shed their bristles onto your wor( and their tis!uic(ly curl over into imrecise hoo(s# $hey also do not last very long% and you end u having to sendmore money anyway# 'hea aint has less igment and leaves things loo(ing uneven and washed out#

7!uiment - Paint6 $here are two tyes of aint water-based acrylic% and oil-based enamel# Waterbased aints are by far the easiest to wor( with% because you can clean u the brushes using water#Water clean-u also e&tends the lives of those e&ensive little brushes# Some of the best (nown aintmanufacturers for miniatures are 'itadel% Kalle*o Model 'olors and $estors# If buying the later% ma(esure to buy their Model Master series and not their chea +deartment store+ level aints which are notreally suitable for gaming miniatures# Ma(e sure to seal your comleted wor( with a good clear sealcoating# $he best to use is Lrylon K-.esistant 'lear ,crylic 'oating#

7!uiment - rushes6 Many eole use a combination of +throw away+ synthetic brushes forunimortant wor(% and good !uality (olins(y brushes for high value recision aint wor(# 3f the later%the best brushes you can buy are the Da Kinci Maestro series of Winter Lolins(y brushes# $hey areoutstanding !uality and have long bristles that e&tend dee into the ferrule% which revents the brushesfrom ulling out during cleaning and also ma(es for a longer lasting brush# If the Da Kinci are tooe&ensive% there are several lines of sable and ta(lon brushes made by Boew 'ornell which also wor(well% and they are much more widely sold at ma*or craft suly stores than Da Kinci# uy at least fiveor si& different si)es of brushes% from tiny to medium-large% and (ee a small cu of water and aertowels and toilet aer nearby for cleaning them# 2ever leave your brushes #

How to 86 $he first ainting e&amle is of a 0rench infantryman for the 2aoleonic Wars# ,World War $wo figure will use much the same techni!ue% e&cet that the variety of colors used will bedifferent# egin by ainting the one or two most dominant colors resent on the model% in this case the


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white ants and lael and the dar( blue tunic# 3nce these basic colors are ainted% you should ne&taint the areas which are recessed% and therefore most li(ely to be ainted over# So for an infantryfigure% you might want to aint in this order6 ants9tunic% face% rifle9boots% bac(ac(s9bags% headgear%stras% hands% buttons% etc# ,fter you aint your figures% coat them with a light coat of Lrylon K-.esistant 'lear 'oat% remembering to sha(e well before using# $his ta(es away the glossy effect ofsome aints 4who ever saw a glossy aratrooer?5 as well as rotecting your aint *ob against heavy

handling# Ma(e sure not to use a glossy sealer% as this will leave a thic( layer of shiny muc( on yourfreshly ainted figuresF

23$7F It has come to our attention that some eole urosefully coat their figures with glosssealer because they en*oy the shiny deth that the gloss coat lends to the aearance of the finishedfigures# It should fairly be noted here that a heavy gloss coat does indeed accentuate the vividness ofaint schemes% esecially those for eriods already (nown for brightly colors uniforms li(e the2aoleonic% Seven /ears War and others#

How to :6 0or shi models 4both historical and sci-fi5 you should start by ainting the basic hullcolor# Some shis% such as those from the turn of the century% have elaborate ainting schemes whichre!uire careful ainting% or at least attention to what colors the various section of the shi were ainted#Painting the dec( and other hull details almost last usually wor(s well# 0or this% use a flat brush% withstro(es going outward% from inner edge to outer edge# $rying to aint the dec( along the edge 4downthe length5 of the shi usually results in an uneven border# ,s before% coat finished vessels with a coatof 0igure 0lat sealer#

Mounting3nce your figures are ainted% or mostly ainted% you will often need to mount them on bases# 0orinfantry figures this is a fairly easy rocess# $he set of rules you use will give the dimensions for thebases% and all you need to do is either cut bases out of thin sheets of balsa wood% or buy re-cut metalbases# Some gaming rules use individual figures for combat% and so the number of figures attached toeach base may be imortant# 3ther gaming rules use bases for calculating combat results% and in thosecases% the number of figures attached to each base doesn1t usually matter# 0or naval models% aintingthe base dar( blue with white daling atterns for the wa(e adds a realistic effect# elow are shown anassortment of miniatures of various scales and eriods# $his gives some idea as to aearance and finalmounting techni!ue% which can vary greatly

Parents Nuide to $ableto Miniature Wargaming

Many of us have fond memories of beginning this hobby as young (ids# 3ur imaginations were fuelledby the e&citement of controlling armies of small figures% which were then fuelled by loving arents andallowances# I1m sure some arents might loo( on these tye of games with concern or at leastconfusion% since they can be harder to relate to% which is what I1d li(e to address in this ost#

3verall% the hobby is a very ositive one# $he negative things I1ll touch on here aren1t meant as acriti!ue of what it is wargames are about - *ust that arents deserve to (now all the facts about whattheir (ids are in to#


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$he introduction to wargaming usually haens through a friend or while browsing a hobby or comicsho# 0igures are eye-catching and line walls in bo&es with e&citing artwor( or sit finely ainted indislay cabinets# 4Painting is art of the hobby5 $hey1d be small% usually no taller than a few inches%surrounded by larger things li(e tan(s or beasts#

$here are many genres of miniature wargaming% all with their own rules science fiction% fantasy andhistorical 4'ivil or World War5 being the most common% but there are other comanies creating othergames with steam un(% horror or victorian themes#

Wargaming is6

, large scale board game sing armies of miniature figures instead of ieces# $hat move with tae measures instead of s!uares on a board# Dice still determine the outcome of battles# /ou battle oonents to comlete a mission Wie out the enemy% (ill their commander% cature a building% etc# $o shorten games% some are layed for a number of turns and oints determine the outcome# Names are usually layed in a ;1 & ;1 area# Dining 9 (itchen tables are usually large enough# ,dding terrain li(e houses% hills and trees add flair to battles#

7ach army tends to loo( and wor( a little differently than the other% some are easier to learn 9 lay thanothers% and usually have enough otions that eole laying the same army will have different forces#

2o doubt% arents will have !uestions and concerns about whether a game is age-aroriate for theirchildren# I1m going to answer some !uestions% but ultimately it1s u to you if you thin( this is anaroriate hobby for your own children#

While researching% I as(ed around to get feedbac( from different gaming communities# My +than(yous+ are at the end of the article% but I was glad to see that for the most art eole from multilegrous had similar oinions#

0or the record% my arents had this to say6

+In all the :


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7ven with the best of things% too much can be bad# If your (ids school wor( or other resonsibilities arebeing imacted% it1s not the fault of the game# ,ny hobby li(e watching $K% laying video games% cardor board games and even sorts can distract (ids from their resonsibilities# If it becomes a roblem%limit their time#

What1s the difference between +Wargames+ and +.olelaying Names+?

Bots# While rolelaying games are using miniatures these days% wargames are very different#

In rolelaying% 4Bi(e Dungeons and Dragons5 layers ta(e the role of a single character in a fantasyworld gaining e&erience% levelling u and amassing riches and ower# Names are layed from theersective of the character% acting out things and tal(ing to each other as if they were their characters#Since there is no +end+ or +winners+ in rolelaying games% things are more cooerative but layersbecome attached to their characters - having a character die would be comarable to them losing a savefile in their favourite video game# It suc(s#

Wargaming is more li(e really fancy chess# Players control an army and every game has an end# $here1sno rolelaying to it% you don1t ut yourselves in your troos1 shoes% no acting things out - it1s *ustmoving figures around on a tableto# Bi(e any sort% there are winners and losers#

What age is a reasonable time to start the hobby?

via0eedbac( from a number of circles suggests that the beginning of their teen years or *ust before is aboutas young as is reasonable% but that1s going to deend on the maturity of your children#

, lot of eole start in their mid-teens### ,t this age% (ids understand rules easier% can handleassembling figures and will have an easier time finding eole to lay against# Since they1re starting tofind their indeendence% some of these !uestions may not aly% but you1re robably still interested# ,tyounger ages% lots of rules can be confusing% disagreements more tense and losses can be rougher onthe ego#

I was about 88 or 8: when I started laying% my brother being two years younger# He didn1t really getinto it% but I recall him having a rough gras of the rules if not tactics#

How does the comle&ity comare to games I1m used to?

via$hese games can get comlicated and even adults have disagreements# .ules are certainly harder tolearn than Monooly and tactics are a whole other thing comletely# 'ertainly more otions than inchess# 3n the bright side% (ids who gras these concets end u learning a lot about analytical thin(ing#

Most hobby stores will show eole how the games are layed% and this is a good way to see if your(ids can understand the system before sending money#


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'an girls lay?

via,bsolutelyF

Plenty of girls and women gaming these days 4Including my Wife#5 and they1re not limited to +girly+armies# Name systems li(e the ones from Privateer Press 4Hordes 9 Warmachine5 ma(e more of a ointto include heroines and female troos#

However% wargaming used to be considered a +boy+ hobby% and the layer base is still rimarily male#$he chances of finding a girl at the local gaming store are slim and many layers are guys in their :


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models 4medium5 or even over 8


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What if they lose interest in the game?

Lids do that# 'onsidering the long-term cost of this hobby% as( yourself how many interests have your(ids ic(ed u and then chosen something else? If you hold off on buying it right away and they (ee

as(ing about it instead of forgetting% then maybe it1s something they are interested in#

If they1re interested% get them the basic set and let them lay before investing more# If they lose interest%then it1s as if you bought a board game# 3r let them send their own money and if they change theirminds% that1s art of growing u and learning to send money#

If they want to !uit% try to find out why# Perhas they need moral suort because they don1t li(e losing#It could be that the rules are too comlicated and they need hel learning# Maybe they *ust don1t en*oyit# If they do !uit% models will only sell used for a fraction of what they1re worth - you could alwaysac( things u until they1re older#

How much time and9or effort will I have to ut in?

viaDeending on their age% they may need hel assembling their minis# /ou might find they1d li(e yourhel ainting and laying too# $his could mean hours and days reading rules% or laying games thatmight not interest you a whole lot# Wargaming is certainly tric(ier to relate to your (ids than withsomething li(e baseball% but if that1s their hobby% arents may want to get involved#

, good battlefield will have terrain on it to ma(e it loo( real and instead of buying a bunch% you couldbuild small dioramas6 houses% hills% forests% fences% facilities% etc# If you1re artistic% you could hel themlearn to aint#

Sometimes you might have to read rules to hel where there1s a rule that don1t ma(e sense# /ou mightalso find yourself (illing hours at hobby stores while they lay a game or two if you1re not comfortableleaving them alone#

How long do games ta(e?

Deending on the game system% small battles can ta(e an hour or two% while larger ones could ta(e aortion of the day# 4'omarable to a sorts game#5 If they1re using your dining room table% this can getin the way when it1s time to finish the game and clean u for dinner# egging to leave a battle setuovernight and finish it off another day isn1t unheard of either#

How much sace will this ta(e u?

,n army usually fits comfortably in a tool or tac(le bo ,ll the aints and tools could be ac(ed awayin a des( with cabinets or drawers or in a small to medium si)ed lastic container# $hey can wor( ontheir models at a des( or table *ust fine# 42aturally% this can grow as one collects tools and bits over the


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years5

, dining room table can be used to lay on% or folding tables can be bought from office suly stores# ,four foot s!uare table is a good si)e to lay on% or ;1 & =1 for ;Q layers# If they start building terrainli(e forests and buildings% a coule medium si)ed bo&es might be needed so there1s somewhere to uteverything# oo(s% ots% lego% old comuter arts and anything else from around the house 4that isn1t

brea(able5 can be used instead of terrain#

$he benefit to giving them somewhere to hobby% is the activities are at least somewhat suervised evenif you1re not laying with them# Hobby stores often ma(e tables available for customers to use as well#

How many eole can lay at once?

sually these are games for 8 vs 8# We usually layed games of : vs : and that always wor(ed out fine#Barger games could mean a larger table and mean more room for everyone laying though# , largetable can also be slit in half to allow multile games at once# $hese games are designed for 8 vs 8though - more eole can slow down the acing and it gets less e&citing#

Do they have to buy all the models? Paint them?

While figuring out which model they want to buy some eole will use lego% army men or aer cutouts on stands# $his is accetable for short eriods of time% but in the long run the real models shouldbe bought# Sometimes develoers ma(e rules for models that aren1t being sold yet - in this case% it1saccetable to reresent models or create your own using arts from multile ones as long as they1reroughly the right si)e#

Painting is otional% but models really loo( better with# ,side from some tournaments which mightre!uire a minimum amount 4usually colours5% there1s nothing saying they have to be ainted to belayed with#

,re there easier wargames available?

/es% there are#

Some bridge the ga between what you1re used to in a +board game+ and what might e&cite your (ids ina +wargame#+ $hese are M'H easier to learn% tend to be a lot cheaer and are still aintable# $hesealso might be something easier for you to relate to your (ids with and get involved in#

Bego Heroica, great start would be with something li(e B7N3 Heroica% or fan-made free Bego .PN rules li(eric(uest or ri(Wars#

7mloyees of a hobby store can oint you in the direction of current otions li(e Suer Dungeon7&lore% +'li&+ and even Star Wars 9 $re( sace battles#

$hey1re usually still cometitive games% so you might have to go easy on your (ids# What1s neat about


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some of these is that you could lay the monsters% and your children the heroes#

If you1re familiar with the rules% you could even try to simlify them# It1s not unheard of for somedeveloers to include +basic+ and +comlete+ rules#

,s for cost% these easier systems are usually in the O


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understanding multile sections#

What s(ills can be learned from this hobby?

$here are lenty of ositive things that (ids can learn from wargaming# Painting% critical thin(ing%sociali)ing% cooerating and even budgeting only touch on the intricacies that layers learn#

Painting leads to creativity% fine motor s(ills% concentration% etc# Most stores don1t have classes% butthere are instructional boo(s 9 DKDs and lenty of online resources# /ou$ube is N.7,$ for this#

Minds become more analytical as they figure out what minis they want to use in the game and how touse them to comlete each mission1s ob*ective# During games% they1ll begin to get good at estimatingdistances% math% chance and more critical thin(ing#

If they1re buying figures with their own money% rioriti)ing miniatures vs their cost and saving u forlarger models becomes imortant# Maybe it1ll even be a reason for them to get a art-time *ob#

What (ind of language and imagery are there in these games?

viaIf tableto wargaming were a movie% it1d robably be PN-8# It1s about war% so of course there are mildto medium violent themes# $his can include ictures and descritions of battles% shooting% fighting anddeath#

$here1s virtually no nudity in wargaming - $% Names Wor(sho% while mar(eting their games toyounger audiences% has released semi-nude scults in the ast# $he miniature ainting hobby alsoe&tends ast gaming% and some rofessional scultures may release nude or semi-nude figures - notsomething you run across in stores but could be found online if they1re loo(ing for other miniatures toaint#

Banguage is usually safe avoiding cursing% slurs and other offensive words# $hat doesn1t mean thatother layers won1t cross those lines - laying at a hobby store could mean a little foul language eventhough stores will often encourage layers to be PN#

.eading novels based on these systems or browsing the internet could e&ose your (ids to strongerlanguage or grahic images#

,re there any other negative themes within wargames?

War% and war-heroes are often celebrated toics% as can be the glorification of war to solve conflicts anddilomacy is rarely mentioned unless someone1s going to get stabbed in the bac(# $he fli side is allsystems usually ortray the devastation war brings# $here is great debate about whether games aboutwar triviali)e what real eole live through or if they ma(e (ids aware of imact war has#

Some armies have been styli)ed as e&treme arodies ta(en from our history - brutal Mongolian ogres%


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communists in heavy armour% righteous orders of aladins% savage $rolls driven from their lands andeven fascist 9 &enohobic regimes# 3ther armies have been created in the image of +evil+ such asghosts% goblins% orcs% dragons% beasts and yes% cultists or demons# 3bviously the game doesn1t involvedevil worshi% but some arents might not be comfortable if their child came home eager to commandan army of demons# $he same goes for the deiction of religion-based armies% who are often ortrayedas cra)ed witch-burning )ealots% instead of a ositive light#

via2ot to ic( on Names Wor(sho 4though I haven1t seen other develoers do this5 but they1ll includeheroes named after eole from real life# While sometimes comical% such as Sly Marbo% 4Sly Stalloneand .ambo5 there are others li(e the 2ecromancer Heinrich Lemmler named very similarly toHeinrich Himmler# 43verseer of Hitler1s concentration cams5 $here1s a lot of controversy over that oneand Names Wor(sho1s never so(en out to *ustify their reasoning about including such +heroes+ intheir fiction% and continue to rerint them in newer versions#

Miniatures do tend to be lac(ing in gender and racial diversity# Some develoers are beginning toinclude women in normal armies while others 4,gain% Names Wor(sho5 write that their most oulararmies can1t include women at all so they segregate them to oorly suorted women only +Sisters ofattle+ armies# Most develoers still ortray women as busty and scantily clad# 42othing worse thanmainstream media5 Human figures also don1t tend to get ainted with s(in tones other than white or tan%e&cet for stereotyical theme armies such as ,frican *ungle fighters or middle-eastern desert fighters#3f course% nothing stos you from modifying or ainting your troos however you1d li(e#

'hildren can easily misinterret these toics# It1s always a good idea to tal( to your (ids about anyissues you1re concerned about# Some (ids are sensitive to these issues - If they can1t handle violence inthe media% they might have trouble with these games#

Some of the game systems also ublish novels based on their games# $hese tend to be more detailedthan the fluff in rule boo(s# uestionable themes could be glorified and e&aggerated to higher levelsand (ids could become more influenced by the setting as they read#

,re there any game systems with child-friendly themes?

viaIt1s all fiction% but either way% we1re tal(ing about W,.-games# Would you let your (ids watch actionmovies with violence% read boo(s about murder mystery% horror% science fiction and fantasy adventurenovels?

Some systems aroach the toic from different angles# Suer Dungeon 7&lore has a very cartoonishstyle% Wyrd Miniatures battles 4creey5 uets and attletech has giant robots driven by human ilots#

$he two most common brands today are Hordes or Warmachine from Privateer Press and Warhammer0antasy or Warhammer ;


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,m I being too sensitive to these issues?

$his is a retty sub*ective toic and deends on how mature your (ids are# It1s a arents right to controlwhat their (ids are sub*ected to% which is why it1s imortant you1re aware of the hobbies they1re

interested in# .ecogni)ing the difference between fantasy and reality is imortant# $his is a game afterall% and if your (ids recogni)e it% then what1s the harm of retending?

viaDo you honestly thin( that if your (id has an army of demons% he1s going to start worshiing Satan?Many generations have grown u now watching movies and laying video games lac(ing aconservatively dressed action heroine#

In reality% stereotyes game develoers lay on are similar to what mainstream media ortrays#etween news% movies% tv% video games% comics and even schools% (ids are already getting the idea thatwar is a necessary and atriotic duty# Some toics mentioned are !uestionable though% esecially foryounger (ids who have trouble understanding the difference between real and ma(e belief% which iswhy you1re as(ing these !uestions#

If you want more information% ic( u the ruleboo(s and read +fluff+ - the sections 4usually at thebeginning of the boo(s5 that tell stories about the bac(ground of the armies and worlds% instead ofrules# 3r tal( to the emloyees at the hobby sho#

How cometitive are these games?

$hese games should be layed for fun% but eole can get retty cometitive about any game that haswinners and losers# Store will often run tournaments re!uiring eole to bring their +, Name+ androbably aren1t the lace for (ids with a looser gras of the rules# It1s unfortunately% but even cheatingor +convenient forgetfulness+ isn1t unheard of#

Ideally% friends can send a few hours gaming or ainting while *o(ing% snac(ing% and en*oyingthemselves#

Will my (ids get discouraged?

Moral suort may be re!uired as (ids tend to have a wea(er gras on the idea that losing and tryingagain is art of the learning rocess# Playing against seasoned layers at hobby stores can lead toarticularly brutal losses which can lace a bigger strain on the ego# When (ids lose a bunch% their firstreaction can be to !uit# $hey may need hel loo(ing at what went wrong in a game% or creating tacticsand lists# Sometimes a list they en*oy laying *ust doesn1t wor( against what their oonent is doing% orthey lay it so often their oonent can redict what they1ll do#

$he same goes with their ainting ability# Seeing rofessionally ainted models can ma(e their ownloo( terrible in contrast# ,s with all things% it1s art of the learning rocess#

/ou1re the one who1ll (now best how your (ids will react#


16/17

Where are hobby stores located?

Sometimes malls% but tyically in lower rent areas or downtown# 2ot to say the +bad arts of town+ butmaybe not the nicest laces either# $his could factor in to your decision of whether you1re comfortable

leaving them there by themselves#

Should I leave my (ids at these stores?

$his is comletely u to you% the maturity of your (ids and the store# Some are erfectly willing toshow (ids how to lay the games and let them lay their armies on decorated tabletos full of beautifulscenery# $he idea is you1ll start sending money at their store% and your (ids will end u buying theirown models# ut they1re not babysitters and a store run by a single emloyee can1t be e&ected to watchyour (ids or (ee them in line if they cause a disturbance# $al( to an emloyee or manager and see ifthey1re comfortable with you leaving your (ids there and leave contact information - also beunderstanding if they1re not 3L with you leaving your children unsuervised#

viaWould you leave your (ids at home by themselves? What about with strangers? Would they turn downan offer for a ride home? 7mloyees aren1t going to be trained how to deal with secial needs ormedical emergencies#

If you1re not comfortable leaving them alone% then stay# Net involved with their games% bring a boo( orother distraction and see if the store has a chair available to you# $hey1re a business li(e any other% andif giving you a sace where you can (ee yourself busy for a few hours means you1ll bring your (idsand their friends bac( to send money% then they1ll robably accommodate you#

Who are the eole that lay at these stores?

$his .7,BB/ varies from lace to lace# $hey don1t tend to be *oc(s or cheerleader tyes% and yes areoften +gee(s+ or +nerds+# ut these are generally good eole *ust li(e you1d find in any other socialcircle# , wide range of eole wargame% most of them have *obs% often in resectable careers% manyhave families and friends of their own and are erfectly fine for your (ids to be around# $hey1regenerally friendly eole% who are !uite acceting of eole from any bac(ground#

However% li(e any social circle% there may be eole who aren1t the greatest of role models# If you feelli(e leaving your (ids at these stores% you might want to send some time with them first#

,re there laces for me to learn more about these games?

Bot of resources are online# $here are videos on /ou$ube% websites full of news% and lenty of bloggersdiscussion different asects li(e list building% tactics and ainting# Store owners are also usually willingto discuss the games too but I1ve run in to a few who1d be more li(ely to sell you roduct than suggestyour child is too young to lay#


17/17

'an the hobby side be dangerous or messy?What are their alternatives?

via, air of liers or wire cutters are used to remove minis from their frames - this should be safe for most

(ids# , hobby (nife is best to clean the mould lines from miniatures but a small file will wor( in ainch#

Plastic glue% while a chemical% won1t hurt or stic( s(in together# Suer glue% for metal% ',2 stic(fingers together% or models to fingers# ,s long as your (id doesn1t anic and do something li(e try touse a (nife or ry it off% they1ll be fine and it1ll come aart# 'lean it% rub it% gently ull the fingers aart##maybe gently file it### or ta(e them to a doctor#

Paint for these systems are usually acrylic% meaning water based% and in small containers# Water is usedfor cleaning brushes% not aint thinner% and sills won1t ma(e a large mess# 'arets could be stained%but you can buy one of those lastic office mats to go on the floor where they1ll be ainting and laynewsaer on the table they1re ainting at#

Models need to be rimed with sray aint% which you might have to hel with# Do it outside in warmweather and lay down newsaer or garbage bags to revent sraying the floor# Primer isn1t waterbased% but will wash off with soa and water#

If you need to stri aint from miniatures% there are environmentally friendly otions li(e Simle Nreenthat stri aint e&cellently# 4Instead of aint thinner% which can melt lastic models5

How to Get Started in War Gaming

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