Can you name one change in miniatures wargaming during the last 50 years that you think is good. Can you also name one change in miniatures wargames that you think is bad.
Personal opinions please. They do not need to be based on research.
martin :)
I think 1 good change is the use of cloths, so easy to Carry and store and variety of colours look great on the table
Stewart
I think the current range of paints and finishes available for our toys is fabulous. And acrylics dry so much more quickly than enamels.
Less good is that the old enamels seemed to be so much tougher than modern paints, which seem to chip quite easily.
Simon
The bad. The loss of local wargames shows. ie there are less now than 20 years ago.
The good. I agree with Stewart's point about table mats. Excellent. Superglue. Got rid of those Bostick, solder and epoxy fixes. Tufts.
martin :)
Good? The wide choice of periods on offer from companies like Peter Pig. It would have been very difficult ot game the Mexican Revolution 20 years ago...
Bad? Alongside the reduction in the number of shows, the amount of 'resellers' that take up space at the remaining shows. These are the people who sell things like Perry and Warlord plastic figures. There are typically 2 or more companies, all selling the same thing at most shows. The number of original manufacturers selling figures at shows seems to have reduced to at most one or two.
Very good points, Sean!
Simon
Good - the sheer choice of figures in all scales, covering almost every period. When I started it was use what was available, convert or do without! Now such things as Paraguayan war are mainstream....
Bad - the number of companies disappearing as people retire and no-one picks up the ranges. It was always frustrating when a small company producing nice figures disappeared before you had got all you wanted - now it happens much more frequently.
I'll introduce another category - biggest innovation.
I'd put mats under this, along with 3D printing....
Neil
The answer to the retirement question is, of course, to buy all the figures you're ever likely to need (plus a few spare, just in case) as soon as they come out.
That way you get nice crisp figures while the moulds are fresh and help out the manufacturer's pension fund too. Win-win? ;D
Simon
For me it has been the abandonment of complex rules in the search for realism. The return to more straightforward, fun to play rules is all to the good. There was a very unhelpful trend in the 70s and 80s to try and turn wargaming into a hobby for intellectual nerds. This may be why fantasy gaming suddenly took off in the 70s and 80s.
The biggest change in the last 50 years that I have come across is the increase in bad tempered competetiveness in the club I was in, coupled with various attempts at cheating (a lot less with gridded games). It is the reason I am loathe to join a club again.
Quote from: Colonel Kilgore on August 27, 2025, 10:26:11 AMThe answer to the retirement question is, of course, to buy all the figures you're ever likely to need (plus a few spare, just in case) as soon as they come out.
You've just explained my 1940 Dutch army. Must get the Germans with my next order.
To your point Andy, I only play gridded games and find the games do flow much more nicely.
Playing WRG 4th edition back in the 1970s there was a big chunk of "dodgy play" indeed.
Lots of companies are started by chaps looking to blend hobby and work. I suspect most of those have another income or pension that supports their work. Many small companies find that creation is great fun but the associated tasks(accounts, postage, moulds, casting, customers) are too onerous. On balance they can have an easier life without it.
martin :)
I take back my bad comment!
Colours has 17 figure manufacturers not including 3D print companies. That's impressive!
Quote from: Panzer21 on August 27, 2025, 10:23:05 AMGood - the sheer choice of figures in all scales, covering almost every period. When I started it was use what was available, convert or do without! Now such things as Paraguayan war are mainstream....
Bad - the number of companies disappearing as people retire and no-one picks up the ranges. It was always frustrating when a small company producing nice figures disappeared before you had got all you wanted - now it happens much more frequently.
I'll introduce another category - biggest innovation.
I'd put mats under this, along with 3D printing....
Neil
I hope my favourite 15mm manufacturer hangs on a while yet as there are several armies I still need. And it is need, not want 😀
Best thing. Peter Pig. Thanks Martin.
Worst thing. The loss of small figure manufacturers like Warrior and Outpost and their associated ranges that are not available in any other form.
John
Good: AK47 Republic in all it's editions. Wide choice of quality figures in a variety of scales. Cloths, laser cut bases, buildings etc. Ebay has it critics but does easy allow access to many new and used products.
Bad: Tariffs and other import duties which have effectively stopped me from buying from outside the UK. Special dice, which are D6's with funny symbols instead of numbers.
Best wishes,
Martin, from a small village near Grimsby
Quote from: John Watson on August 27, 2025, 02:02:44 PMBest thing. Peter Pig. Thanks Martin.
Worst thing. The loss of small figure manufacturers like Warrior and Outpost and their associated ranges that are not available in any other form.
John
John,
Warrior miniatures are available and trading again - he's had help from relatives to restart the business.
Neil
Warrior coming back is lovely. I may look at spending some money with them.
In addition to the mentio
Quote from: John Watson on August 27, 2025, 02:02:44 PMBest thing. Peter Pig. Thanks Martin.
Worst thing. The loss of small figure manufacturers like Warrior and Outpost and their associated ranges that are not available in any other form.
John
In addition to the mention that Warrior are back, there are some Outpost figures available from this guy, 'mrfootballer' on eBay. He's amenable to requests, not just the listings themselves...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/miaturefiguresfans?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197
Quote from: Martin Smith on August 28, 2025, 02:43:04 PMIn addition to the mentioQuote from: John Watson on August 27, 2025, 02:02:44 PMBest thing. Peter Pig. Thanks Martin.
Worst thing. The loss of small figure manufacturers like Warrior and Outpost and their associated ranges that are not available in any other form.
John
In addition to the mention that Warrior are back, there are some Outpost figures available from this guy, 'mrfootballer' on eBay. He's amenable to requests, not just the listings themselves...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/miaturefiguresfans?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197
Martin - he can't even spell "Miniature" correctly on his eBay page...
Making me wonder whether he is legit, or a pirate?
Simon
Quote from: Colonel Kilgore on August 28, 2025, 03:03:33 PMQuote from: Martin Smith on August 28, 2025, 02:43:04 PMIn addition to the mentioQuote from: John Watson on August 27, 2025, 02:02:44 PMBest thing. Peter Pig. Thanks Martin.
Worst thing. The loss of small figure manufacturers like Warrior and Outpost and their associated ranges that are not available in any other form.
John
In addition to the mention that Warrior are back, there are some Outpost figures available from this guy, 'mrfootballer' on eBay. He's amenable to requests, not just the listings themselves...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/miaturefiguresfans?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197
Martin - he can't even spell "Miniature" correctly on his eBay page...
Making me wonder whether he is legit, or a pirate?
Simon
I've bought from him in the past, via ebay. He acquired the moulds from the widow of the original Outpost guy, and has set up a 'cottage industry' style production, pretty much 'on demand'. Quite a few of the DBA crowd have bought from him, and I've heard no bad reports, only good ones. (Ref the spelling, the guy has a far east name, so my guess is that English MAY not be his first language,... but that's totally a guess, not based on info received. I'm always inclined to give credit to anyone who can 'work' in a language other than their own original one).
Thanks for the explanation, Martin.
Good for him for reviving the dormant moulds, then!
Simon
Quote from: Colonel Kilgore on August 28, 2025, 05:05:55 PMThanks for the explanation, Martin.
Good for him for reviving the dormant moulds, then!
Simon
Yep, I thought they were gone for good...like so many others.
I will have to enquire if he has any of the Guano Wars figure available.
Thanks Martin.
John
Most, if not all, the Outpost figures were designed by my mate Pete Foggin.
He might know the inside story.
Neil
Most, if not all, the Outpost figures were designed by my mate Pete Foggin.
He might know the inside story.
Neil
Excellent Neil. Can you get Pete to give some information. We are interested.
martin :)
All Pete knew was that the moulds were sold to the USA, apart from the Franco Prussian range which is now with Northumbrian Painting Services - Pete is working on 1866 Austrians to add to the range.
Googling turned up that Brigade Games had bought the 28mm moulds.
Doesn't help establish whether the eBay seller is legit or not as it's possible he did buy them from the widow. Pete traded his commission for a lump sum and was still owed some of it on the death of the owner.
Neil