Justin
I've been interested in wargaming for as long as I can remember, creating little stick soldiers as a kid and using a spring-powered artillery gun to shoot down countless domino fortresses with countless chopped-off nails. I earn my daily bread doing graphic design, but would much rather be an academic type like my friend Noel. My one claim to be taken seriously as an historical wargames developer is the fact that I'm currently writing a book on battle formations in Antiquity, to be published by Pen & Sword (if they don't see through me first). Email Justin at justinswanton [at] gmail [dot] com |
Noel
Like Justin, I’ve been into historical miniatures gaming since my early days. More than 50 years ago as preteens my brother and I began by lobbing clods of earth at plastic figures. We graduated to firing projectiles out of spring-loaded Britains cannons at smaller plastic figures. Then I discovered Featherstone’s marvelous book, Wargames, and never looked back. In 1969 I founded the Durban Wargames Club which still continues to meet, although renamed the Durban History Gamers. During my 39 years as a law academic and professor I continued to collect, modify and paint beautiful wargames figures. I alternated between using commercially produced wargames rules and developing my own. These hugely enjoyable activities have continued during my recent semi-retirement, and I now am lucky to have many treasured collections of figures and terrain pieces ranging from Ancients up to World War II. I enjoy refighting real historical actions based on research and like to experience games as shared adventures with good friends. My game philosophy is that both sides should obviously play to win; but which side happens to win is much less important than the overall quality of the game and enjoyment of everyone involved. So, I guess you could call me a primarily social gamer. Email Noel at fnzaal [at] gmail [dot] com |