And it's not about the "toy soldiers".
I love the look of miniatures; I appreciate the artistry of figure makers. I love holding and looking miniature figures. I am fascinated by the detail the painter has put into each individual figure. But I just do not have the patience to paint lots of soldiers. And I don't have the space to store them.
What I don't like about tabletop miniature wargames is... (and this list might get added to...)
1. The competitive nature of "most" wargamers.
I play games because I enjoy putting myself in the position of the historic participants, mostly at the level of the generals or commanders.
I like the social activity of playing a game that enables me to understand the scenario, the historic situation better. If I want to play a game to win I play boardgames - like Lost Cities, or Tigris & Euphrates
2. Wargames emphasis tactics and technology.
I feel this topic is over represented in too much military history - and don't get me started on some of the Youtube channels. There is a difference between the bodkin tipped arrows and an ordinary tipped arrow, but is it really that important.
What wins battles is organisation, motivation, morale and courage.
3. The God's Viewpoint of the battlefield
I recently played in a game where the player directed his archers like homing missiles across a game set during the 1480s.
I prefer a wargame that emphasises the confusion, the lack of information and the uncertainty that the participants had to endure. The problem with tabletop wargames is that they are easy to setup - just get two or more players, a board, some figures, rules and off you go. The games I prefer often require a Control or Umpire and sometimes require two maps or two boards to represent the hidden movement. I know - who wants to be "Control"?
4. The Massive Rules Sets
This is a product of the competitive, two player mainstream wargame norm. Rule sets have to account for every situation, they have to have detail on how to deploy, how to dice for reactions or interruptions etc. And then there are the rules-lawyers... sighs.
My preference for a Control or Umpire is so that I get someone else to apply and adjudicate the rules and I DO NOT CARE if they are making it up or making a judgement call, so long as they are consistent and reasonably accurate to the history.
...
I will add to this
