The Loose Association of Wargamers

After the recent spate of defeats I was musing on my poor performance as a tabletop general.

I'm reasonably cognisant with tactical theory. It comes down to two things., I think, but knowledge doesn't help.

Firstly, I'm not ruthless enough. I can't help but try to limit losses of my plastic & metal warriors. And, to a degree, I'm sympathetic to my opponents when they're on the ropes & tend to ease off a bit.

Secondly, I don't press my attacks enough. Napoleon said something memorable about time that I can't remember....something about don't waste it. I like to have all my ducks in a row before I launch an attack & often find, by the time I'm ready, I've already been beaten.

I'm at my best with dogged defence but scenarios don't always allow this.

I should add that there is no note of despair & distaste in my musings. Win or lose a game is a wonderful thing. I have developed quite a bit of sympathy for the many mediocre generals of history. France's SYW general Soubise, is a favourite. He, like me, could win occasionally but mostly he frittered his chances away.....whilst looking magnificent while he did it.

donald

Sadly, I rarely get accused of looking magnificent.

I am no tabletop Wellesley. On a good day I can be good enough to win the game; on a bad one, I have had humiliating defeats of the sort that bring you governorship of a yellow fevered isle. If I am good at anything it is seizing the opportunity to counter attack in defence. When this works, you can rout a careless larger enemy; when it doesn't, the Caribbean paradise awaits.

In my dim and distant yoof I was quite competitive, these days I am more interested in the nature of the problem than who wins.

And I watch the fate of my little men with dry eyes. Someone has to pay the butcher's bill for my glory.

Ruthlessness comes with a price, but one dead now, saves 10 later in war. A high butchers bill but a decisive victory, is likely to have a much lower casualty count than 3 or 4 indecisive ones or only minor victories in total.

I am an ok general, dogged in defence but prone to dice induced depression!

I am bang average, perhaps just edging the wins over the year. This month I've lost 3 out of 5 face to face games.

I'm good at defence but utterly reckless in attack unless I'm doing my monty thing.

These days I'm always on the winning side .........



Err and I'm always on the losing side
s'Cos I only play solo these days Sniff.....

I think I probably win slightly more games than I lose. So probably average.

I take after Napoleon, unfortunately Napoleon the Third.

valleyboy wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:32 am These days I'm always on the winning side .........



Err and I'm always on the losing side
s'Cos I only play solo these days Sniff.....

I gather your opponent cheats like buggery. Can't you teach a kiwi to play with toy soldiers.

Etranger wrote: ↑Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:45 am I take after Napoleon, unfortunately Napoleon the Third.

I was going to use the same line, but invoking the pig from Animal Farm.

Like Donald, I'm perfectly cogniscant with the theory, it's the feckin' dice that screw me over.