Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029193I'm still digesting that.  I'm realizing that over the last 10 years or so, my average miniatures game has been more fun than my average RPG, either running or playing...

Well, this is something I'd love to hear more about. As you digest, I do hope you share.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029175The miniatures wargamers seem to get their shit together and get on with the game, functioning as an effective team, much, much faster than the convention RPG players do.

I'd say the task for the wargamers is simpler, or at least a lot more straightforward.

Yup. But I turn my miniatures wargames into roleplaying games (as I do with boardgames as well), so it all works out.

the strength of miniatures war games is that they (mostly) understand they are games, and should strive to be playable, fun, parsimonious and structurally sound. It is arguable that D&D worked best when it was a miniatures war game zeroed down to 1:1 scale, with some free style conversation on the side. It is kind of crazy how high the word count has gotten in a typical roleplaying game book. Most of them are hardly recognizable as games.

I play minis, RPGs and board games.

Here's what I notice.

Minis players have their shit together. They own their army, they bring their army and they set up their army. The objective is simple - win by killing the other guy's dudes. They have to play attention on other players' turns or they lose.

RPGers are often fucknuts. Many don't even own dice or the corebook. Many expect the GM to bring the fun and act as consumers instead of participants. For many, other peoples' turns are when they space out on the phones.

Boardgamers just show up. Half have a gazillion games. The other half just plays. They open the box, read the short amount of rules and just play the damn game. Most pay attention during every turn, but some space out.

If you have a good group of RPGers, be very thankful.

I can whip almost any RPG convention table into shape (a skill honed through much failure), but it requires effort I never need to spend at minis or board games.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029135I didn't take a single picture, sorry.

You are poopieboogerhead.

Alright, make words instead!! Tell us about your GaryCon! If a picture is worth a thousand words, you better get cracking.

Was anything done special in honor of the 10th anniversary of Gary's death?

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029193I'm still digesting that.  I'm realizing that over the last 10 years or so, my average miniatures game has been more fun than my average RPG, either running or playing.

The really big drawback to miniatures games is the logistics, as Chirine will gladly confirm.

Yep.

I don't have to digest the notion, though; I play neither, as Gronan can confirm, as I'm still forty years behind all of you in your gaming. (And, if I may offer an observation, I'm going to stay that way.)

As for logistics...

Ah, me. Take a moment out of your busy, busy lives, if you would and have a look at the photos of my games and game room. There's a lot of stuff, down there, and it's what I use in my games. For me, it's a point of pride to be able to astound and amaze players with a game the likes of which they've never seen before - I believe that convention / event games should be something you cant get at the FLGS or at home. Gronan and I did the same at our model railway club - you joined to get something you could not get at home. Heck, I even own a set of matched tables so I don't have to reply on the event organizers and venue. But, the downside is that it all adds up in weight and shipping space. I've been willing to pay that cost and penalty, because I think it's fun to run games that way.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1029223I play minis, RPGs and board games.

Here's what I notice.

Minis players have their shit together. They own their army, they bring their army and they set up their army. The objective is simple - win by killing the other guy's dudes. They have to play attention on other players' turns or they lose.

RPGers are often fucknuts. Many don't even own dice or the corebook. Many expect the GM to bring the fun and act as consumers instead of participants. For many, other peoples' turns are when they space out on the phones.

Boardgamers just show up. Half have a gazillion games. The other half just plays. They open the box, read the short amount of rules and just play the damn game. Most pay attention during every turn, but some space out.

If you have a good group of RPGers, be very thankful.

I can whip almost any RPG convention table into shape (a skill honed through much failure), but it requires effort I never need to spend at minis or board games.

I'm going to drop some classic 'get off my lawn' old guy crap, but I think it's true: computer rpg's took the basic concepts of D&D (etc.) and turned them into a toxic virus that destroyed the capacity of most human beings to play table top rpgs. As far as I can tell, you don't have to bring anything to the table to play most computer rpgs: you just plug in, stare at the screen, respond to a bunch of pre-programmed crap, and switch to another game if the stupid thing kills you too fast. Adventure-path dungeons with a typical modern rpg system is basically just this same experience slowed to a crawl and soaked in blathering word salad.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1029231You are poopieboogerhead.

And doing a damn fine job of it, too.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;1029054I just got back from GaryCon X, 2018.

The biggest surprise for me, by far, was realizing that I like miniatures wargaming MUCH better than RPGs.

First of my pics are up just now, here... Also, A pleasure to meet you and Jean this year!

GaryCon X Highlights from the GameDaddy;
https://tamerthya.blog/2018/03/14/garycon-x-highlights/

...and yes, I got in some wargaming there this year as well, and had a splendidly pleasant evening with that!

For Chirine, there was a gorgeous Tekumel minis game being run by Victor Raymond of the Tekumel Foundation. Will have those pix up as well, ...in a day or two.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2291[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2292[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2293[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2294[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2295[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2296[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2297[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2298[/ATTACH]

Thank you Game Daddy!!

How's the noise level while gaming at GaryCon?

In California, I am a spoiled brat. Most of our cons have 1-2 games per room.

Quote from: Larsdangly;1029240I'm going to drop some classic 'get off my lawn' old guy crap, but I think it's true: computer rpg's took the basic concepts of D&D (etc.) and turned them into a toxic virus that destroyed the capacity of most human beings to play table top rpgs. As far as I can tell, you don't have to bring anything to the table to play most computer rpgs: you just plug in, stare at the screen, respond to a bunch of pre-programmed crap, and switch to another game if the stupid thing kills you too fast. Adventure-path dungeons with a typical modern rpg system is basically just this same experience slowed to a crawl and soaked in blathering word salad.

And let's see how you do in Subnautica where are a dropped in the middle of an ocean after a starship crash.

Look back in the day wargames and tabletop roleplaying were the only type of open world game available. Now there are more options. They are neither better or worse. They can be executed well or executed poorly regardless of form.

There is a whole class of open world free form computer games out there now like the forementioned Subnauctica. As well as the ones that more scripted. Then there is the whole multi-player combat scene. Then there is the fact that thanks to smartphone and tablets a bunch of boardgames (new and classic) have excellent software implementations that feature among other thing a pass and play option. I went to Origins two years ago and had to wait in line for check-in for an hour. During that time my friends and I played Settlers of Catan on my iPad just like if we setup a board and played.

Most rants I see are born of ignorance. Having been involved in several of the communities including MMORPGs, LARPS, PvP combat, survival games, modding, each have their own unique take but all of them have passionate gamer thinking creatively. If you were rant at a Counterstrike clan they would laugh at you. And whatever experience you had it would not compete with them in that game at first. You would have to do what they do and assemble a team, learn the tactics, and practice again and again until you are competitive. The same with the other forms of gaming.

Quote from: GameDaddy;1029253For Chirine, there was a gorgeous Tekumel minis game being run by Victor Raymond of the Tekumel Foundation. Will have those pix up as well, ...in a day or two.

Thanks! One of the two players in that game is an old friend, and he sent me a batch of photos from the game. Phil's miniatures still look great after all these years don't they?

I found myself in the unique position of defending Victor's borrowed scenery - he's not a miniatures gamer - to my wife, who's been involved with Tekumel for decades. She thought Phil's little jewels looked out of place in what she called "A mid-1980's Warhammer table", and thought that he could have done better. Especially, she pointed out, in comparison to what we normally field; she takes particular pride in supporting my model-building and gaming, and is already looking into hotel reservations for Gary Con XI - she's that annoyed. What particularly annoys her was that we offered the use of my collections to Victor and the Foundation years ago, and he blew us off. We're specifically set up for convention games, to a 'four table standard' (two running, two setting-up / taking down) with all the figures and scenery you'd ever need.

I'm genuinely startled by her, this morning; she's normally a pretty quiet and placid person, but the photos really set her off. :eek:

So many nerds there. So many.