Gentlemen,
Just turned 47 last month. My Dad was career USAF so I grew up in a military household, but the closest I ever got to actual military experience was 'Capture the Flag' in my Boy Scout troop [:)]. (I did make it to Eagle Scout, though!) I don't really know why I was spared a military tour myself, things just didn't work out.
My first exposure to real military board wargames was AH Midway, back in college. After graduation, I lost touch with the two or three guys who were interested in playing. I went solitaire for several years with AH Battle of the Bulge, then Gettysburg. Finally ran across one of those 'intelligent dweebs' in my church's youth group who played AH Stalingrad and couldn't get anyone to play with him. I was ecstatic! I invited him over for the day (I was married then, and my wife had no idea what she was in for when she approved this silly idea!). Unfortunately, he was years ahead of me in this genre and his interests shifted from one game to the next every time we got together -- just about the time I'd learn a system, he'd want to play a different game [:(]. When he graduated and moved away (joined the Army Rangers, because they would let him play with real guns!), I was back on my own.
One day I found a little shop that specialized in wargames, books on military history, and military models. Browsing over a bulletin board (the old-fashioned kind, with thumb tacks and little bits of notebook paper), I found a note from a guy looking for opponents interested in the American Civil War, long a favorite era of history for me. (My dad always wondered why my sister and I were both son interested in the ACW. I pointed out to him that most of his military assignments were below the Mason-Dixon Line: We lived in Petersburg, Virginia for five years and attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School, and spent several years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.) That opponent introduced me to the Great Battle of the American Civil War series (SPI?). I loved the games and the strategy and tactics involved, but found all the movement rules tedious. I kept thinking, "Why doesn't someone computerize this?" (I still remember John Tiller when I say my prayers at night!)
As for how to interest younger players, this always has been a niche market. There weren't that many who were interested in it back when most of us got started. I think those who enjoy playing chess over Nintendo, plus have an interest in the American Civil War (or some other historical era), would be the best prospects.
By the way, General Weir, great thread!
Your humble servant,
Gen 'Dee Dubya' Mallory
David W. Mallory
ACW - General, Chief of the Armies, Confederate States of America & Cabinet Member
CCC - Sergeant, Georgia Volunteers, Southern Regional Deaprtment, Colonial American Army
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