Episode 1: In which Mike introduces himself, and discusses Kickstarters, magazines, and the concept of context (and related things) in wargaming.
Links to things mentioned in the podcast:
Links to things mentioned in the podcast:
- Beyond the Gates of Antares - Kickstarter cancellation announcement
- Atlantic Publishing's announcement re Miniature Wargaming/Battlegames
- Meeples and Miniatures episode 101
- Andy Hawes and my Dux Britanniarum campaign
- Gavin's Penninsular campaign system
- The Perfect Captain's Tinker Fox ECW campaign rules
- My review (with links) of Blenneville or Bust
If there's anything I missed, please let me know. I'm keen for any feedback, obviously enough - you can comment here, or if you'd rather it wasn't public, by email to podcast@the-mill-house.org.uk.
Sounds good. Levels were consistent between the music and your talking. Interesting chat about context. I would suggest that te station give you a few more shows before deciding to cancel or not!
ReplyDeleteI liked the podcast and completely agree with you about context and Dux Britaniarum. That has rapidly made it one of my favorite rulesets.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great face for radio!
ReplyDeleteLiked it Mike (only listened to the first 5 minutes and will catch the rest when I get home),
Just started listening. Great to hear your voice again after nigh on 19 years.
ReplyDeleteOr breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
ReplyDeleteDoes that make *me* the stout Carl? :D
DeleteHalf way there! Just be careful with doors!
DeleteVery nice! Enjoyed it thoroughly and O hope to see another episode soon.
ReplyDeleteCheers/Thomaa
A good start Mike! The section on context was especially interesting. Looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteGood start.
DeleteMade me think of my early day.
When there was only Airfix.
Running colonial games with WWI Germans in redcoats (British) vs Arabs.
Also starting the wargames club at school - when Airfix finally got Napoleonic.
You needed to be imaginative in those days.
Most rule sets were home written.
My first metal figures are still used - early 70's ECW.
Good start.
DeleteMade me think of my early day.
When there was only Airfix.
Running colonial games with WWI Germans in redcoats (British) vs Arabs.
Also starting the wargames club at school - when Airfix finally got Napoleonic.
You needed to be imaginative in those days.
Most rule sets were home written.
My first metal figures are still used - early 70's ECW.
Good start.
DeleteMade me think of my early day.
When there was only Airfix.
Running colonial games with WWI Germans in redcoats (British) vs Arabs.
Also starting the wargames club at school - when Airfix finally got Napoleonic.
You needed to be imaginative in those days.
Most rule sets were home written.
My first metal figures are still used - early 70's ECW.
A fantastic start! Really looking forward to future episodes.
ReplyDeleteAs to feedback - I wouldn't assume people have read your blog - if you get out to a wider audience then they might not have - you might also want to give links etc "on air" to make sure they find it.
Good first podcast Mike. I enjoyed the feel of it, left me in mind of John Cravens Newsround. I liked the fact that it had a structure, especially the news update and main section. The idea of context is one close to my heart as how can you play wargames without telling a story!
ReplyDeleteA welcome change to the current crop of podcasts (of which I enjoy a selection for various reasons).
I look forward to the next one.
PS: Good luck at the WABGT
Very nice beginning! Enjoyed it and will continue to follow along.
ReplyDeleteI very much agree with you on context - quite apart from the sense of involvement, if it doesn't exist, there's always a sense that one ought to expend troops in return for a tactical victory. The canonical Battletech battle when I was playing that a lot tended to be two fresh lances, fighting to the death - which simply isn't a fair representation of the fights that tend to happen in that setting.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is that one has to make each game an important one. If there's a fair campaign system linking battles, chances are that sooner or later one side will have enough momentum and superiority in materiel that the battles won't be fun any more. On the other hand, if each player has fresh forces each time, there's little sense of progress in the overall campaign. It's a hard balance to strike, and one approach I quite like is the "chaos campaigns" in recent Battletech products, where one player picks from the same forces each time (modulo battle damage, repairs, etc.) but the other has a variable force depending on the scenario. A campaign book can do this to some extent, but it loses some of the freeform nature of a player-driven campaign.
A thing that I've always wanted to try is a system of pickup battles that feeds into a fairly fuzzy campaign system. If I always want to play elite troops, I can, but I won't get as many campaign points for trashing the enemy as if I came along with some worn-out or second-line forces.
Incidentally, I don't know if you still take any interest in role-playing, but I have a podcast on that subject.
Mike, well done on a great first podcast! I missed your announcement that you'd recorded a podcast and I've only just found it. I wish I'd known earlier as I would have listened a lot sooner.
ReplyDeleteThe sound quality was great, the sound levels were perfect, I really liked the musical breaks and the subject matter was interesting.
I also liked your personal take on the hobby - you were not afraid to honestly and clearly state yourviews on what you liked, and what you didn't enjoy rules-wise. I think that's an approach we can all get behind and support - well done!
I'm looking forward to episode 2, which I shall listen to a lot quicker!
I know what I'm listening to when I paint tonight.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Mike- is it really 6 years since I first snorted when the term podcast was mentioned by a pal and at least 4 years since, post retirement and having more time to paint toys I said I must listen to ive finally caught up with episode 1 and thoroughly enjoyed as I knew I would. Struck by how powerfully I remember my feelings when Henry took the poison chalice, applied all my ex Civil Service cynicism to predictions of how he would be treated and sadly was proved right. I miss Battlegames, I’ve tried MW a couple of times since Henry’s departure and found it not worth the investment sadly. Hey Ho.
ReplyDeleteIt really is :D Interesting how far things have come since, isn't it?
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