tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post776044802682226447..comments2024-03-27T21:18:52.191-06:00Comments on Der Alte Fritz Journal: So What's Wrong With Imaginations?Der Alte Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-292674935467068462023-01-12T16:26:14.407-06:002023-01-12T16:26:14.407-06:00I see no problems, at all, with imagi-nations. In ...I see no problems, at all, with imagi-nations. In fact I combine imagi-nations units with historical ones. The bulk of my troops are historical but placed in an imagi-nations setting. I also have nations at differing levels of technology so I can have an ancient nation fighting a renaissance one and any combination of medieval, ancient and Renaissance! there may even be the odd dinosaur, dragon, giant and a quota of sorcerers. You can check it out at my blog, Quantrill's Toy Soldiers.Quantrilltoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03824237942276969880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-62163234140613239452021-03-06T10:57:24.827-06:002021-03-06T10:57:24.827-06:00Every time I read a blog like this, and the many p...Every time I read a blog like this, and the many posts that follow, I realize how late in the game so to speak I have entered. There is such a wealth of wargaming knowledge and opinion being shared here. It is wonderful.<br /><br />Pardon me, but I am rather new at this hobby, having "discovered" it online one day only about 3 years ago. I am retired and was just poking around the internet and this new world appeared. I played with toy soldiers as a kid. You had to have imagination then. As an adult that desire to use the imagination is still there. When I saw the term Imagi-nations in a blog, and looked around for postings related to it, I had no idea it has been around so long and is so widely followed. I wargame solo, so I have no need to debate another hobbyist. Nor would I. Why bother? Enjoy the hobby the way you want. It is fun reading all these posts. I started working on my own version of imaginary nations and imaginary wars before I knew about Imagi-nations and am really juiced up now. Thanks everyone for all the info. I'll be back.<br /><br />Dale<br />(aka dalethewargamer)dalethewargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11880250994936688330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-15214981663929571372019-02-13T16:28:30.989-06:002019-02-13T16:28:30.989-06:00Me too! 😀Me too! 😀Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-30314724714003121952019-02-13T15:05:08.505-06:002019-02-13T15:05:08.505-06:00Couldn't agree more with this Jim. Well done. ...Couldn't agree more with this Jim. Well done. I hope some of the sceptics read it and are convinced by your arguments.Chris Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585623032053255569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-83424755537624379982019-02-11T15:16:57.997-06:002019-02-11T15:16:57.997-06:00Well said Robbie. 👍
Reading CS Grant's The W...Well said Robbie. 👍<br /><br />Reading CS Grant's The Wargame Companion provides a lot of the back story to the Family Grant's take on Wargaming and is well worth the read.Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-89081369714756561002019-02-11T11:22:43.137-06:002019-02-11T11:22:43.137-06:00Excellent post Jim, well said.
I would argue all w...Excellent post Jim, well said.<br />I would argue all wargaming is imagination.<br /><br />Happy (imagination) gaming,<br />Willz Harley.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-15911916148526221142019-02-11T05:30:59.101-06:002019-02-11T05:30:59.101-06:00Im a bit late to the discussion re imaginations Ji...Im a bit late to the discussion re imaginations Jim. Sorry for that. Frankly Im surprised there is a need for this conversation given how the whole concept of wargaming is based around one's imagination. It doesnt really matter if one is a uniform pedant and insists on rigidly formed and painted figures they are still going to be used by a wargamer who needs to have sufficient imagination to actually 'play' the game. I suppose if one is a collector then there is only the need to paint the figures as per the historical records. But even then I would question the actual veracity of the dress codes of the soldiers given how most were pre the industrial revolution. I often think that Charles Grant opted for imaginations simply because there was a sevre shortage of information available at the time. That said he clearly possessed a wonderful sense of fun and wanted to create his own history. Wargaming is a very broad church and thrives because of that. Perhaps people denigrating imaginations should opt for anther hobby and leave the majority to enjoy their toys in peace.Independentwargamesgrouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019172667119107650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-79402742170405535032019-02-10T16:05:02.034-06:002019-02-10T16:05:02.034-06:00The largest wargame company of the world - Gameswo...The largest wargame company of the world - Gamesworkshop - product line is entirely imaginations.<br />I think imaginations have "won" :)<br />Ben Catohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132734496369774300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-8316582587781532902019-02-09T15:39:33.691-06:002019-02-09T15:39:33.691-06:00I used to be an absolute stickler for historical a...I used to be an absolute stickler for historical accuracy and detail but have now been ‘playing’ in the imaginary region of Mittelheim (created by a good friend) for longer than the Seven Years War lasted. It is still somewhere around 1757-58 in Mittelheim (their grasp on concepts such as time was never strong) and the small state of Nabstria is now almost as real to me as Prussia...Each to their own but one of the beauties of an 18th Century imaginary campaign is that you can blend big battles, skirmishes, espionage, pirates and Indians (amongst others) in whatever way you want...http://mauricecampaign.blogspot.com/Fitzbuttresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032727811880366896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-15915621623382610012019-02-09T14:57:38.295-06:002019-02-09T14:57:38.295-06:00An interesting and thought-provoking post. I find ...An interesting and thought-provoking post. I find ImagiNations gaming a tiny bit frustrating not having painting guides etc but then also enjoy the creative and imaginative freedom to design it yourself.<br />Imaginations have a long history - back as far as Gullivers Travels? I have slowly been untangling and exploring the juvenile fictional worlds of the Angria, Glasstown and Gondal sagas created by the Bronte sisters and brother in the 1830s. <br /><br />One reason that I enjoy such ImagiNations gaming is that it does away with criticism of wargamers ignoring or trivialising the unethical and unpleasant atrocity and suffering aspects of recreating real wars. If these nations, armies, units and battles never existed, no one gets hurt. None braver than a toy soldier! It foregrounds the fictional toy soldier aspect of war gaming with “No lead orphans” as Donald Featherstone would say. H.G. Wells summed it up well in the closing section of Little Wars. Mark, Man of TINhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10485063133593455522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-24093761169927062682019-02-09T10:00:33.427-06:002019-02-09T10:00:33.427-06:00P.S. I also think a massive "bring your own&...P.S. I also think a massive "bring your own" game at the SYW Convention might possibly encourage me to come.ColCampbell50https://www.blogger.com/profile/15910423749022189030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-56276051514848892032019-02-09T09:58:53.311-06:002019-02-09T09:58:53.311-06:00Jim, your blog was one of the reasons I entered th...Jim, your blog was one of the reasons I entered the Imagi-nations world. And my enjoyment has been increased with the exposure to the E v E blog and Bill Protz's rules. I even enjoyed two massive games at Millenium Con 2008 and gamed across the table from Monsieur Protz himself!<br /><br />Jim<br />http://colcampbellbarracks.blogspot.com/ColCampbell50https://www.blogger.com/profile/15910423749022189030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-58772335781430613502019-02-09T02:39:11.286-06:002019-02-09T02:39:11.286-06:00It is usually the last weekend in March unless tha...It is usually the last weekend in March unless that particular year's weekend is Easter, then we move it forward or backward one week. We usually set the date during the current year's convention so I can post the information later this year.Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-54484912313264976922019-02-09T01:28:47.711-06:002019-02-09T01:28:47.711-06:00What are the 2020 dates l might try to come across...What are the 2020 dates l might try to come across for it?<br />Alan tradgardmastarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13116967655904601740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-60365256728905700932019-02-08T23:58:37.942-06:002019-02-08T23:58:37.942-06:00That was one of our best games ever with lots of g...That was one of our best games ever with lots of good sportsmanship and lively banter and comraderie. Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-17694736522730281912019-02-08T23:53:11.378-06:002019-02-08T23:53:11.378-06:00Yes, making maps is one of my favorite things and ...Yes, making maps is one of my favorite things and this begets creating a back story and characters (which recur over the course of many games).Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-60341383249436285322019-02-08T23:44:09.403-06:002019-02-08T23:44:09.403-06:00I have lots of fond memories of the early days of ...I have lots of fond memories of the early days of the OSW group -- all the new friends that I made, the rediscovery of old figure ranges, and the introduction to certain books for the first time.Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-16192099453097906982019-02-08T23:40:05.132-06:002019-02-08T23:40:05.132-06:00I think that in honor of Jeff, no one wants to mak...I think that in honor of Jeff, no one wants to make the next post on the EvE blog and bump the final post down, hence there are no new posts there. As it should be. However, EvE lives on as a place to see which blogs are updating.Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-59488884317406547072019-02-08T23:01:22.984-06:002019-02-08T23:01:22.984-06:00Naturally I agree. J'suis d'accord!
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Fo...Naturally I agree. J'suis d'accord!<br />---<br />For several years long ago we had an Imaginations game at the annual Seven Years's War Association weekend. As I recall roughly ten-ish attendees brought their own BIG battalions to play. I wonder if we could not do that again in 2020?<br />---<br />Jim and I also wandered over to India a few years ago inspired by Jurgen's SYW India games. There Gallia and Britannia are ever battling each other with indigenous allies. Most of the latter are the Pathans which fight General Pettygree in the 1890-1905 time period. Elephants and all the rest.<br />---<br />Tremendous fun and satisfaction imagineering it all.<br />---<br />Cheers,<br />Bill P.<br />Gallia and RaschsteinGalliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258909398832285314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-6421545049118135972019-02-08T20:19:49.332-06:002019-02-08T20:19:49.332-06:00This was a very well put post! I enjoyed your poi...This was a very well put post! I enjoyed your point that even historic armies can engage in non-historic battles and thus are "imaginary".<br /><br />I've never created an Imagi-nation in the proper sense, but have no trouble slipping all sorts of non-historic characters (like those from movies) into my gaming. <br /><br />After all, this hobby is about having fun. Why should anyone criticize anyone else's approach to it?<br /><br />Good work!<br />JordanJordan Jachimhttp://redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-46576734750840026662019-02-08T18:38:50.482-06:002019-02-08T18:38:50.482-06:00A fine and well-argued posting. But of course, I ...A fine and well-argued posting. But of course, I am one of the converted - or would be if conversion were ever needed. A look at my armies of Trockebeeren-Auslese, Altmark-Uberheim, the Grand Duchy of M'yasma will reveal a marked similarity to the Hapsburg Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and to Russia of the 7YW. Not exact, of course: the figures were generic, pretty much.<br /><br />I enjoy creating imagi-Nations, naming the counties therein, and the major characters. My own Archduke Piccolo blog is named for a major character, a nephew of Emperor Violoncello, and cousin of the Archduchess Harmonica, the Emperor's elder daughter.<br /><br />My 19th Century RED and BLUE armies become the forces of Ruberia and Azuria, the one vaguely British, the other vaguely French. Sometimes the BLUE army becomes TURQUOISE - the Army of the Settee Empire, Turkowaz. <br /><br />But sometimes history itself will furnish a name one can not go past. My Ionian Empire (I am very fortunate in having a whole littoral named after me!) is headed by the Emperor Dementius, with Michael Psychopathes and Demetrius Krazios commanding in the field. The historical character? George Maniaces, who becomes the third of my trio of Strategoi. <br /><br />It does not stop my army being painted up as 10-11th Century Byzantine!<br /><br />I could go on, but maybe that should be a matter for posting on my own blog!<br />Cheers,<br />Ion<br />Archduke Piccolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15533325665451889661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-61442412015548899932019-02-08T15:42:02.623-06:002019-02-08T15:42:02.623-06:00Very well articulated Sir.
Please ignore the "...Very well articulated Sir.<br />Please ignore the "Nay sayers", as has been said we all indulge in this "heresy" every time we create a fresh scenario or fictional battle; which I do every week! You articulate my own feelings very well, we play Maurice from time to time & Napoleonics far more often, mostly all pure invention, who can't fail to love the creative process & the outcome? Apparently some sloth minded laggards do!<br />Keep doing what you do old chum, best wishes,<br />Jeremy <br />warpaintjjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08997436342156047352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-6130730563750824192019-02-08T15:08:31.135-06:002019-02-08T15:08:31.135-06:00Interesting post, Jim. I attended one your huge SY...Interesting post, Jim. I attended one your huge SYW games at a hotel and had a very good time. The spectacle was inspiring and comradeship outstanding. I, too, used to enjoy running very large games. My SYW collection 3.0 is finished and I finished mounting them a year ago. It was always my intention to play some Imagi-nations games. Perhaps I will. Good stuff.Hal Thinglumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14730518472540886668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-29929877509791187442019-02-08T14:25:04.646-06:002019-02-08T14:25:04.646-06:00A great blog post!
I cannot conceive of wargaming...A great blog post!<br /><br />I cannot conceive of wargaming NOT including imagi-nations!<br /><br />I've had them since I was a pre-teenager (Opeland and Upsland) and developed quite a few since.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504742686650223041.post-91553553410476107592019-02-08T14:02:07.367-06:002019-02-08T14:02:07.367-06:00RE: preconceived notions, a great comment. In our ...RE: preconceived notions, a great comment. In our campaigns and battles all battalions and regiments started as Trained category and then advance Veteran after 2 battles. If they do something heroic or capture some colors then they can be moved up to Elite, so we do not favor any one side.<br /><br />Interesting that the US Army uses imaginary countries in their Wargaming exercises.<br /><br />Der Alte Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01578422757511400566noreply@blogger.com