You Tube finds

[DecemDave]

The magical creatures you mention are the subjects of the folktales, mythology and legends of unsophisticated people, intended to instil values in children, such as the difference between good and evil.  This may come as a shock to you but none of them ever existed.

You'll be saying next that Father Christmas doesnt exist    

[Westmarcher]

You'll be saying next that Father Christmas doesnt exist   

Absolutely no doubt. Ask the RAF ......   
Tankers scrambled to refuel cargo aircraft
  

[Ithoriel]

What?! Elves are real! They've even disrupted road building in Iceland.

[Ithoriel]

Absolutely no doubt. Ask the RAF ...... 
Tankers scrambled to refuel cargo aircraft
  

Indeed and tracked by NORAD no less!

[flamingpig0]

Of course they do.  Elves and orcs are kids' stuff.  Now stop being silly

I always think of an old friend who sneers at fantasy games but happily ran an ancient competition where Aztecs fought Assyrians.

[John Cook]

This is an interesting piece.  It seems that trends in the US might be different from the UK.

[Ithoriel]

The comment in this that struck a chord with me was Richard Clarke's comment that people are more likely to see themselves as gamers rather than wargamers.

The thirty-somethings and below that I know play computer games, collectable card games, board games, table-top role-play games, cross-over board games with minis and the occasional tabletop miniatures game and see them all as much the same.

The miniatures games tend to be small figure count, small table size affairs. Historical games tend to be things like Tanks! or What A Tanker rather than Rommel or BKC.

My sample size is pretty small, a couple of dozen or so, but it seems to me the hobby is pretty healthy but evolving.

[John Cook]

I associate the term gaming with betting and I hope the adoption of it by wargamers is not an attempt to drop 'war' from the name of the hobby in an attempt to avoid giving offence to the politically correct, who seem determined to limit enjoyment of just about everything these days.

Fortunately, if you look at on-line directories, although a few have adopted the term gaming, the vast majority of clubs in the UK still call themselves wargames or wargaming clubs. 

There was a time, in the 60s and 70s, when wargaming was considered rather puerile by outsiders and wargamers tended to keep their hobby to themselves but it 'came-out' properly in the UK in about the mid-70s, and I think we have Games Workshop to thank for that.  It became respectable. 

Something that seemed to emerge from the interviews was the wargaming demographic where historical wargames seemed to be the preserve of the older players, while fantasy and science fiction seemed to be preferred by younger players and entry level.  I haven't belonged to a wargaming club for at least five years but my perception would tend to support this, a generalisation though it is.

I think it is right to say that newcomers and younger wargamers tend to want something that they can play right out of the box but I disagree with David Ensteness, from the Wargaming Company, that historical wargaming is inaccessible in comparison to other genres.  On the contrary, I remember a time before Osprey books existed and reference material comprised largely booklets produced by Almark.  I would say that with access to the internet historical wargaming is more accessible than it has ever been.  You don't need all those books and uniform plates that he alludes to anymore. 

What also emerged from the interviews, I thought, was that historical wargaming was not in decline and I'd tend to agree judging by the number of manufacturers of figure, in all sizes and historical periods, and publication of rules in the UK where we seem to be far better served than the US these days.  But was it not always thus? 

I agree that wargaming has changed dramatically since the early 60s when I started out.  It is much more mature than it was, even 20 years ago, and today we are spoiled for choice in comparison.  My perception is that wargaming is thriving and historical wargaming with it.

[Raider4]

I like what these guys are doing for a mad max/waterworld/bladerunner vibe:

1st of six parts. The end result is just a little too orange for me, would like to give the thing a black wash.

[fsn]

Pendraken figures painted on Little Wars TV.

[ronan]

(...)
Pendraken figures painted on Little Wars TV.

Interesting. Thank you for sharing

[steve_holmes_11]

Little Wars Greg is a great recruiting sergeant.

[paulr]

I'm a little surprise Nobby hasn't posted this one already

[mmcv]

Found the full series of WW1 in colour on YouTube. Old series but some interesting footage.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJv4Ce9SBFaXSoTXLNUl0i2WhrcTleQ3-

[fsn]

Some inspiration for the new range.

Short videos (<5 mins)

 

Bit longer (9 mins)

Longer (36mins)