Imagi-nation gaming definition?

[Willz the Wargamer]

Having joined an imagi_nation group on facebook a few months ago, I have posted several accounts of my invasion of Cuba 1762.
One chap has criticized my last post asking where is the imagi-nation?
This is my reply,
I don't follow your line of thought, all wargaming is imagination. Also the invasion of Cuba 1762 was an unopposed landing the Spanish were over the other side of the island awaiting the British to land there. So this is my imagination of the Spanish opposing the British landing. I choose to call my imagi-nation Spanish and British.

I pointed out my game is based on an idea of the British having to fight an opposed landing which never happened in real life.
Now to my mind this is imagi-nation gaming or am I missing the point.
Opinions please.


Willz.

[Essex Boy]

Purely my understanding but in wargaming terminology 'Imagination' refers to an imaginary nation. But I often find that people don't agree with me.....which is fine, because it's all just playing with toy soldiers.

Iain

[Spanner]

It's your hobby, Willz, so if it fits your definition of "imagination" then that's what it is. Wargaming has the odd pendant or two who try to define everybody's hobby for them.

[Willz the Wargamer]

Cheers gents this chap from what I can see has not put up any posts of his armies.
So probably is an armchair expert, I am not sure if I want to be on a facebook group
who don't like the way I play with my toys.

The imagi-nations in ‘The Wargame’ and ‘Charge’ were pretty much no different from Prussia, Austria, France and the Imperial Army.




Willz.

[Paul]

I think because it's hyphenated as "Imagi-nation" it is generally assumed to be the use of made up countries in wargaming.
Call your British "Albans" and your Spanish "Pesatas" or something and you have the same game, same figures but technically fits the brief

I have a Piedmont/Savoy/Sardinia army waiting for paint which, with a couple of totally fictional units added, will become the army of the City State of Vineci, but the core will be painted as the historical army.

[RMD]

Yeah, what they said. PARTICULARLY if the critic never posts any pictures of his own troops (invariably the case, in my experience).

As you've said, the late, great Brig Peter Young fought counter-factual campaigns with his 'Imperial' and 'Electoral' armies, but the armies themselves were often filled with historical units of various nations.

Counter-factual or purely hypothetical campaigns fit perfectly well within the broad church of Imagi-Nations, in my opinion.

[Willz the Wargamer]

This is what the group is about and when I applied I informed them how I did my 18th century imagi-nation games and armies.

A Facebook group for people interested in Wargaming imagi-nations, ficticious countries, dukedoms, clans, tribes etc. . A group where members can share the development of their made up armies and worlds. Imagi-nations have been mainly focused on 17th century Wargaming however this group can include medieval, ancient, fantasy or Sci-fi settings. Campaigns are a big part of imagi-nation gaming.

So it looks like I will be leaving as the 17th century is outside my sphere of interest .

Willz.

[Paul]

I think the Admins might not understand what C17th is because, as far as i'm aware C18th has been the main focus of imagi-nations for the past hundred years or more.

[Willz the Wargamer]

I have deleted all my photos and posts from the imagi-nations forum, I won't leave the forum but I probably won't visit as often but I enjoy looking at the items that are posted .
Strangely they say it is the 17th century and there are lots of 18th century army / battle posts also ancient to scifi yet and I enjoy looking at them all.
Some moan about my 18th century stuff ? go figure, I can't be arsed to try and share my hobby with them.


Willz.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

It's your hobby, Willz, so if it fits your definition of "imagination" then that's what it is.

Ultimately, this.

I can understand the definition of "Imagi-nation" being that the nation in question is imaginary, but then equally, all wargaming is "fantasy" whether it be "historical" or actual "fantasy" (as in Fantasy/Sci-Fi). If you imagine a real historical nation but tweak some of the circumstances (eg the Scottish colony on the Isthmus of Darien succeeds beyond anyone's wildest dreams - no union with England and Scotland becomes a world power, qualifies for every World Cup, etc etc) then that would constitute an imagi-nation just as much as the Duchy of Bad-Karma.

My two penn'orth, for what it's worth (probably nowhere near as much as 2p!).