Since I started miniatures wargaming with Avalon Hill's Napoleon's Battles in 1990, I have collected and painted figures in at least four different scales, in periods from ancient Mesopotamia to the Vietnam War, not to mention naval miniatures as well. I encountered so many different periods, rules, and projects, that the inevitable accumulation of hobby 'stuff' began to cause stress and frustration.
My personal observation has been that the excitement of a new set of rules, or a new army, is so easy to gratify with an impulse purchase. With the growth of the internet marketplace in the last 20 years, this compulsive buying is easier than ever. We place our order for the materials, but what are we really buying? In all honesty, we are buying the expectation that we will finally have the right figures, finally have the holy grail of rules for our chosen period. But all too often we are then faced with the daunting task of painting all the little fellows, then collecting or crafting scenery, etc. This is not limited to our joyful hobby. The first world epidemic of excessive consumption is powered by the belief that the next purchase we make will finally make us happy, but it never does.
Some time around 2004, while I still lived in a 256 sq. ft. studio apartment, I began to critically evaluate my belongings, both miniature and non-miniature. All the 'stuff' was choking out the life that I wanted: free and uncluttered. I had been watching Peter Walsh, organizational expert on Clean Sweep talk about how our lives are often held captive between 'I might need this one day' clutter (unpainted figures and models) and 'memory clutter' (completed figures or collections that are no longer used). While it was easier to get rid of unpainted figures and unused scratch-building materials, it took longer to decide to give up on painted miniatures. After all, I put a lot of time into painting those little guys, not to mention the money I spent to acquire them! But around this same time, I was helping the widow of a dear departed friend sell off his painted and unpainted miniatures. The painted stuff sold, but not for nearly as much as I thought they'd fetch. And as for the unpainted lead, the effort to sell it was not worth what little I could get for it. So I ended up giving much of it away to close friends, and keeping some myself.
In the last 3-4 years, I have sold off painted collections I don't use anymore, like the DBR condensed scale army I played with only once or twice, or the Warmaster Ancients army I played with only once before we moved on to Field of Glory. By the time my wife and I moved across country two years ago, I gave away about a third of my painted lead, as well as a substantial number of books. The end result is that I feel lighter and more focused, and able to enjoy other things in life, which I may share here as well. After some 26 years of miniature wargaming, I have come to know what types of games I like, and what new challenges I wish to pursue. I am intentionally limiting myself to keep from getting discouraged by too much painting and not enough gaming. Sharing my choices, and why, as well as showcasing the new things I am painting and games I am playing will be the focus of this blog.
My choices to simplify my wargaming life are not for everyone, and I salute those who bring visually outstanding games to entertain at conventions, or build their own man-caves with 12-foot tables and glass cabinets around the walls. If your things still bring value to your life, then keep on collecting! It is also clear though, that many miniatures gamers also suffer from excessive exuberance in following the latest fads or dream projects, only to decide later that it's all too much. Minimalism is merely a tool to helping me evaluate what I truly want out of this crazy hobby. The secret to wargaming happiness in my opinion is sharing fun games with cherished friends in good humor. I hope everyone can find value in what follows.
No comments:
Post a Comment