A bit random!

Looking briefly at the difference between luck and skill games and hybrids.

Games like the ancient favourite - Chess evolve no luck whatsoever and a set "army" so no player has an unfair advantage over the other. On the other hand you might have a game like snakes & ladders, being a simpler game but based entirely on luck.

Some selections will be better than others.

Games involving only skill and judgement are very common and very old, chess is a prime example of this type of game. In each game of chess no player has an advantage (as long as their opponent knows the rules) and only decisions made by a player can effect the game. There are no random elements like die rolling that can augment or indeed scupper an action. Each player begins with the same "list" and knows exactly what they are going to face. In short the game is won or lost entirely dependent upon your decisions and actions, a killing move will not be foiled by an unlucky roll, only by a more tactically minded opponent.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have games based completely on luck. The traditional game of snakes and ladders is a good example of this. Again no player has any advantage (if they roll dice to see who goes first) and unlike chess, none of the players can influence their random chances of winning the game.

Then we have the bit in the middle . . .

Although this isn't a "bit" it's a vast collection of games, untold thousands of games with a vast array of options from "list building" where you normally select the forces or equipment that you are going to use and then how and where (or when) you plan to deploy your chosen list, deck or army. Then there is more often than not, a random element to the game too, a soldier might need to roll 4 or more to hit their target, an Eldrazi monster will need to be selected at random from a deck of cards.

In order to be successful at many modern games, you will have to select your forces carefully, choosing units or characters that may augment or compliment each other. Many abilities that particular units have will bolster other units or have detrimental effects on opposing forces.

Then after selecting your choice of forces, you will need to deploy them and maneuver them in an effective manor. A powerful and heavily armed spaceship will not prevail if piloted badly and it may soon be outmaneuvered and destroyed by a lesser ship flown by the better pilot.

Then there is the random bit. A great many games feature a random element, it might be quite insignificant or it might be a major part of the game. Often this will evolve regular dice, sometimes custom or specialist dice. Another popular mechanic is cards, these will invariably be shuffled to introduce randomness. Normally this is introduced to represent strengths and weaknesses amongst your troops. Your soldier has been expertly moved forward to take that headshot, aims, pulls the trigger - then you roll a 1 - what can you do?

So all you have to do is select the best ship for the job, fly it proficiently and be lucky with the dice rolls.

Or at least - better than the other guy!

Have you seen my mojo?

We all do it, lose our will or motivation, lose momentum or simply get distracted by something else.

Aylsham show 2015

So what can you do when you've lost your "mojo" and have that absurd combination of wanting painted models but not having the determination to actually paint them? For some this might be the painting, for others the building or it could be the daunting overwhelming of it all! Here's a few ideas . . .

1. Try something completely different!

• Are you getting fed up of brown World War II infantry? Paint something sci-fi or brightly coloured.
• Sick of all those eyes or similarly difficult piece? Try painting a vehicle or a building.
• Reduced to tears gluing together hundreds of tiny arms, legs and guns? Why not something with a (single piece) fully cast miniature.

2. Google it! (Other search engines are available.)

• As obvious as it sounds, go to whichever browser you like and do a search on the item(s) you want to work on, it just might throw up some inspirational results.

3. Lights, camera, action!

• Go turn on the TV and see if you can find (preferably) a film, documentary or program relating to your subject matter. 

4. Just a little?

• This often works for me, I just decide that I'm going to build/paint one thing or even half of it. Maybe do some basing or repair a broken item. Just go for something that's going to take five or ten minutes, for me this is easy and -often- triggers an enthusiastic surge.

5. Speak to your friends.

• This is another one I find very effective. I can talk to others about their works in progress and see what they are doing (or have done) and often this will spur me into action, particularly with mass infantry.
• Often friends will provide positive motivation if they think/realise you're struggling with getting anything done.

6. Get out!

• This can be easier said than done, but go and visit a place of inspiration.
• Historical gamers can find these in many forms, museums or military collections being prime examples.
• Sci-fi inspiration can be a little trickier to find out in the real world, maybe try locating a technology or eco centre that allows visitors.
• Fantasy players and painters might look to old local architecture for inspiration or s visit into the wild countryside (if you have any nearby.)

Oh my, what have I done?

I am hoping to start work on a blog, just a collection of (what I think is) cool stuff.

Building, painting, playing and general funky stuff!

I started gaming with Judge Dredd back in 1984 with my brother when I was a mere 11 years old! Judge Dredd was absolutely awesome and provided countless hours of entertainment for us both. Warhammer 40,000 shortly followed and was a revolution for me, leading to me going out and expanding my limited (and rather awkward) social circles :)

The next few years bought HeroQuest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (RPG), Blood Bowl and the legendary Space Hulk!

Then . . .

. . . life happened . . .

. . . fast forward 22 years to 2012 and I saw my little brother had returned to gaming with his 40K Orks! This caused an awakening in me, I suddenly really -needed- to play games again. I joined a local gaming club Aftermath and discovered a whole new world. It was here that I first experienced Bolt Action which absolutely blew me away, it was like the early editions of 40K but set in the real world, world war 2. This led onto to other games and more friends and (for me) a new lease of life.

Then in 2015 I was lucky enough to get a job at my FLGS Athena Games and have been enjoying that fusion of job and hobby ever since!

So here I am writing an intro to a blog, I'll add more details to my back story as time goes by and post my toys, painting, building and thoughts as I go. I hope I'll reach to you and make you smile or maybe just help you (a tiny bit) through your day.