There's a lot going on in this thread.
First, I'll be at Tanksgiving with a 2500 pt German list. The list I am considering has one platoon of infantry and the platoon has three stands of infantry. So take that you Soviet horde.
As for regular FOW games and reviving the group well...
I have too many more interests than just FOW, as a lot of the gamers in the group do, so I don't like to get stuck in just the one ruleset. I do, however, like to play it for a couple months at a time so the rules stick around a bit better in my head. I don't mind playing FOW but I don't ONLY want to play FOW.
There's one thing I love about FOW and that is the models. The scale, to me, is perfect and the models are very nicely crafted (at least the original metal versions). It's nice if they are painted too but that's personal preference.
There are two things I don't like. The rules are gamey. They appeal to some people and not as much to others. I'm in the not as much camp. I started miniature gaming with Jeremy and Steve early on in the FOW timeline. I loved the game. But when it became obvious that Battlefront was trying to replicate the entire war down to the regimental level and create units and special rules for each one it was too much. Too much fussiness, too many options, too much expense. There is a limit, though it may be a high one, to how much I can spend, collect, paint, and play. They got too big for their own good IMO. However, if I loved the rules it probably wouldn't matter. I don't love the rules and wish it was a little more militarily conceived.
The second thing that I don't like is the games we've played at TP are too big. What usually happens is it takes an hour to set up and then by the time we get to turn two it's ten o'clock. We have rarely finished a game. Often we set a list, four people show up and then we combine it into one big game rather than separate games. I like the comraderie of all playing together but I don't get much gaming satisfaction out of starting a game and ending it right as it gets interesting. I come right from work and I don't have time to eat so that is always a factor as well.
I wasn't happy with the space at the store for many reasons. It was too gross but mostly there just wasn't enough room. If I've invested hundreds of dollars in an army and spent all that time painting it I want to feel good that it's not going to get trashed because there is not sufficient space to protect it while playing. Thankfully that is now solved and kudos to the store for seeing the problem and taking action! I've been over to play one game in the new space and look forward to many more.
I'm not an advocate for Black Powder. I like Black Powder and have played many games. It has it's own faults. But what I've really come to like about it is that it is perfect for store gaming. The games go about 2-2.5 hours. You get to finish them. And the whole idea is based on getting a bunch of gamers together to game, enjoy each other's company along military lines, play a game that you finish and then go for a beer and curry. I can't think of anything better than that.
Will mentioned that we need a leader and I think he is right. At the least we need some organization. I've never joined an official club of any kind but I see the value that could make to this group of gamers. We'd play more games, a wider variety of eras and types, we'd finish more games and spend less time arguing, and in that context probably add to our ranks. It's an interesting idea but someone that has actual experience with it should speak up as to whether it really might help or not.
Now I am going to shut up and go back to my lunch. See you on Tanksgiving!
Mike
