I thought about posting on the most influential blogs I have encountered in my gaming. It sort of sounded pompous. And when I thought about it the number is simply incredible anyway.
So I have settled for “Blog Influences”. In a time when “Influencers” are continuously big news it is quite strange to think that a few decades ago we had as much influencing going on but more through dominant communication organisations – the most obvious being newspapers and tv channels not to mention the ever present advertisers of the pre internet age. In a way we have always had influencers, they have simply changed shape, of course methods and their sheer numbers are now off the page.
My first influence then, which to choose? When I thought about it the big influence has been the one which set me off on my own blogging journey.
Blog Influence No1 is ironically the Battlegames Printed Magazine published by Henry Hyde and specifically an article by Greg Horne concerning a beginners guide to blogging (published around 2006) and referencing his “Duchy of Alzheim” blog. At the time I read the article and looked at the blog and thought ok – interesting, very interesting, but right now I just want to paint and game……..this blogging lark would be a distraction and consume precious hobby time.
Battlegames was eventually subsumed into Miniature Wargames Magazine and ultimately Henry went on to running his own successful Digital Platform.
Battlegames Magazine itself took me back into wargames fully by 2009, after over a decade tinkering with solo 15mm DBA campaigns. Not long after taking Battlegames regularly – around 2011 – I descended back into the land of 1/72 plastics which of course is another story. Low cost wargaming seemed appropriate at that time. Although you could say I was expanding from 600mm square 15mm figures at 12 elements a side gaming, towards bigger tables and potentially bigger armies! It is true I had acquired more space for my gaming.
I also remember back then encountering a wargamer at a show saying they were ditching 15mm for larger scales because of their failing eyesight. Maybe that thought stuck? Anyway I think 15mm always felt too much like a compromise. And I have not been drawn into 28mm which would be logical if eyesight were my sole issue concerning size/scale.
It took me another 13 years to actually blog myself but “hey-ho” better late than never. In the meantime blogging bit me as a consumer and my gaming has never been the same since. And it has been more fulfilling as a result.
So there you go – No1 of possibly a new post series.
The Wargaming Erratic 