Next year is the 40th Anniversary of me starting gaming. I was 11 and although I'd come across Featherstone and Grant in local library it wasn't until I came across a copy of White Dwarf 53 in the newsagent where I did a paper round that the wheels were really put in motion.
With the money from my paper round I bought figures from Black Donald's in Waverley Place in Aberdeen. When my Birthday came round in July it was the owner who suggested I got Warhammer I had plenty of figures to play by then.
A trip to York for the Summer holidays meant that I stumbled across the Little Soldier in Gillygate. There I got 15mm Napoleonic Brits and French and copy of the Newbury Napoleonic rules. Whilst I liked Fantasy and Tolkien my interest in History was racing to catch up. For a while it would have to take a back seat as my mates were only interested in fantasy games and RPG's but I never looked back.
I want to mark the anniversary and use it as a theme for my games this coming year.
I'm going to build two small fantasy armies based on Tolkien's Middle Earth in the First Age and Glaurung the Dragon. This ticks the fantasy box.
I will put on a game of The Ziggurut of Doom from the first Warhammer box. Originally this featured Dwarves vs Goblins. But I will use Conquistadors and Aztecs. This ties in my fantasy gaming beginning to my desire for historical games.
I will be finishing and publishing my next Scenario Book - Feud. This has been expanded to cover Corrichie, Tillyangus, Craibstane and The Burning of Corgarff but also the intrigues of the Earls of Huntly and Errol with the Spanish, the Bridge of Dee Affair and the Battle of Glenlivet. This covers my love of history. I'm at the editing stage for the text and need to test the "what if" Bridge of Dee game between the Earls and James IV and the Glenlivet scenario.
The other project for 2024 reflects where I am now. It will be a refight of the Battle of the Windmill during the Patriots Rebellion in Upper Canada in 1838.
Four projects for 2024.
As I write this we are in Lossiemouth hopefully for a bit of peace and quiet and a change of scene. Our favourite place. But there will be a game, I hope, and certainly something else to share before the year ends.
5 comments:
I remember that wargaming shop in Gillygate - sadly gone now.
Nice to dip back to those moments that created the spark to a lifetime hobby.
Some very great plans, looking forward to your new book release, a very interesting period.
Will be interesting to follow your progress with all your plans in 2024 Stuart. Hope you enjoy your visit to Lossiemouth - it brings to mind a line from Yes Prime Minister - Bernard asks Sir Humphrey (in relation to the RAF) "Lossiemouth, is that REALLY a place? Yes, of course Bernard, what did you think? I thought it was a dog food!" :)
Interesting stuff to look forward to Stuart…
Especially your new book…
All the best. Valy
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