Musing After Hours: Do you need minis to Wargame?

We continued our discussion after recording the Musing and moved on to whether it is actually neccesary to have minis to play wargames at all. Here is that discussion
The previous Musing is here if you have not seen it: • Monday Morning Musings...
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[@paddypup1836]

The miniatures really bring it to life. Some of us just love painting miniatures. I don’t game but just paint

[@LittleLouieLagazza]

First-time channel-viewer. I instantly liked and subscribed. I can only humbly offer that with miniatures, in terms of resources devoted to them we literally have to contend with the potential for idolatry.

[@TheJankmaster]

Imagine going from Osprey or similar resource to get the “historically accurate” colors to “let’s play with blocks”. :) I think the answer to this comes down to what your hobby is, and what percentage of it is modeling/collecting/painting is. Interesting topic. (But clearly heresy)

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Very thought provoking and some very valid points.It is true you certainly don't need miniatures to wargame.However they look visually good and you feel in command of real units more than blocks or counters.Again however even at 1:72 scale table space needs to be large.I had 6frx5ft which was nowhere near enough.I am now going to have (hopefully) 6ftx10ft.Quite right also storage space for miniatures is considerable.With counters or blocks you can do any period or army no problems.As single people we can never achieve this you couldn't possibly paint armies of everything.I think you 🍒 cherry pick what you like and do that with miniatures.Even then you will be pushed to paint all you need.For me i paint because it is a distraction and stops me thinking about things I ought not to be.I also love putting up the videos ect ect.It was also a change from painting flat portraits and old masters something in 3d.I do agree however if you buy a new rules book and you have suitable miniatures you don't need to buy more miniatures.I also agree rules books are almost an ulterior motive for selling miniatures a way of drawing you in.A way of starting a person's addiction.Plastic crack really sums it up well.🐻🤗👍

[@TheJankmaster]

Another thought as I continue to watch…this would kill the table top gaming industry. Selling minis, terrain, etc is what really fuels the creation of new games. The market share of the industry would shrink if companies adopted your take. I know that is not your point or concern, but the hobby would shrink…the shops would close…and then folks would either find a place to play in their homes, or find another hobby. I think that Ringo secretly wants to go back to the time where minis were sparcely available in the back of smoke shops. :) What’s next? Do we really need the internet or e-mail? Wouldn’t a letter suffice? :)

[@martinradcliffe4798]

You certainly don't need miniatures to wargame. In many ways board games are a much better way of doing big battles but I think it's the aesthetic- and let's be honest- the "toy" aspect that draws me to miniatures.

[@RingoSimpkinsUK]

Totally with you on the aesthetic and joy aspect, there is nothing finer than a table of painted toy soilderrs marching to glory (well most often for me - destruction) but as you say, you don't need them to wargame, if you are focusinmg on a tactical level or even - as I am a lot more nowadays - playing solo. If I were to go round to game with someone then out would come the figure trays, but on my tod in the basement or sitting upstairs with Mrs Simpkins, then blocks on a map or bits of paper glued to baees are perfectly fine. Thanks for the comment.

[@paulspaintshed3511]

It's all subjective at the end of the day. If buying the minis makes you happy then why not. Historical gaming until very recently has been all about buy a set of rules and then buy what figures you want at any scale you want. The problem is GW and the GW players mind set that is now creeping into the Historical side of the hobby Warlord and Battlefront being perfect examples of this. There should never be anyone in the hobby that tells you how to hobby its your experience so experience it how you want to not how someone tells you to.

[@TheJankmaster]

I wish companies would only sell games once…lol. Quarterly updates new versions every year now…geez

[@TheJankmaster]

This topic is heresy. I am investigating, not watching…and certainly not enjoying! 🕵️‍♂️