Why do we choose the armies/sides we do?

[Sirius]

Not that I play 28mm WW2, but Warlord does seem to have some odd gaps in its coverage. ...

I guess no one will be using Warlord's models to refight the Battle of Hannut for the time being.

Agree that there are odd gaps, and curious choices, but i guess the lads (and ladies) at Warlord release what they like the look of, not necessarily what the market is expecting (how else can you explain the K2 ambulance... ).

That being said, I dont think there is a requirement that in 28mm you need to have the tools to build a comprehensive WW2 force. Surely 28mm is a scale for skirmishes, not vast tank battles?

A lot of what Warlord release is perfect for scenarios and such. I cant imagine a 28mm Brit force large enough to need a fleet of K2 ambulances, but having one available for a scenario that calls for it... perfect...

Back on topic:

is it because we feel affinity with a certain cause, love the look of a particular era, or just like the minis.

All of the above...

[Comte Michel]

I usually have to collect both armies for any given period (I retired early, my buddy didn't ). But I generally have a preference for a particular side.

US WW2, or German, anything but British. I can't get past the fact that British uniforms, tanks, vehicles or whatever LOOK like they were designed by the British Civil Service - boring as hell, conceived by a committee and assembled as an afterthought. The US stuff for some reason just looks like it was born to do it's job. Of course there are the odd problems, the Sherman for instance

French Napoleonic because, well, I just love the uniforms. Russians run a close second. Bavarians because I love crested helmets. I can still remember the first time I picked up a copy of Arms and Uniforms - The Napoleonic Wars by the Funckens and being blown away by the uniforms.

ACW I like both sides sort of equally, Union have a nice uniformity and sense of purpose about them (McClellan aside), Confederates look like a tramps' reunion so have a bit more 'character'.

I never really managed to get into the Pike and Shotte era so I have no great preference for either Royalist or Roundhead (please don't kill me). I do have a fondness for Landsknechts though, the Black Bands of Nuremberg are around here in a box somewhere.

[ady2650]

Is that at Dore in Sheffield ?

Yup. I live near Northampton now though. It's nice enough but there aren't enough hills and certainly no moors to go tromping across

its also why I did my first Saxon WAB force (sold now)

for me British and Russian Napoleonics, Brits because I am , Russians as they are nails

AWI (just started) British as above

Montrose Scots my surname is McWalter and there is some connection there I just know there is

Panzer Grenadier FOW, unlike above I love German vehicles and camo schemes

oh and High Elfs but I wont go into that

[herzlos]

I have all sorts of factors; either something I have a particular interest/curiosity in, mixed in with being a less common choice or interesting figures or preferring the underdog. It's probably biased a bit because my friend who I usually game against always goes for the default army choice (The good guys in the box set or the British)

For instance, if going WW2 (which I'll get to) I'll probably go for the Russians. I think the soviet units look pretty cool. Pretty obscure.
(Roman Era) Ancients wise, I've gone for Celts/Britons. Chariots and barbarians = awesome. Underdog.
WH40K I've gone for Imperial Guard. Underdog.

Biblicals I haven't decided on yet because I don't know much about the period.

[Ney Bother]

For ECW it's a geography thing - I'm doing both sides for the battle of Edgehill, as I am from Leamington Spa and so it is local to me. I do slightly favour the Royalists because they're (often wrongly) portrayed as the more swashbuckling side.

I ended up as Soviets for WW2, I've always had a soft spot for the whole Red Army machine thing, probably because of watching those May Day parade broadcasts from Red Square when I was a kid. I will be building a small Belgian force too, seeing as I'm living on the Belux border; though that may get overridden by my preference to do plastics instead, which could also as provide some German opponents for the Red Army.

I'm also doing a French Napoleonic force, as I've loved reading about the history of the time and the man himself for many years now and so I couldn't not do one.

When it comes to Ancients, I'm keeping my eyes shut tight with my hands over the years singing "La La-la La-la", as I really should "finish" some of these other projects first

[Sirius]

When it comes to Ancients, I'm keeping my eyes shut tight with my hands over the years singing "La La-la La-la"...

I think I need to join you... Celts are calling out to me after I watched a local club game of HC. I ordered the rulebook in a moment of weakness, and the army list book in another moment of weakness, and now my 12-year-old has declared his next pocket money tranche needs to be spent on Spartans (Hoplites, command and shield transfers, please Dad) ... sigh... I know so little about Ancients I dont even know who the Spartans fought? I know its not Celts...

[Vogless]

I began Bolt Action minis with Germans as they fought pretty much everyone. It gave me freedom to choose what theater to start with.

I then went US infantry (old range) and US Airborne.

I'll probably finish off the Germans with FJ and SS next. Then I need to make a decision on the Brits. I can either do them and finish off Normandy for the most part, or move on to the Eastern Front, or Pacific.

[Cubster]

I know so little about Ancients I dont even know who the Spartans fought?

Other Greek states (Athens mostly) and the Persians quite a lot.

[Centurio Cunibus]

Hmm, good question.

First historicals were Romans, simply because they look great. Thanks to WG making them cheaply in plastic, those were the nr1 thing to buy.
Of course they need something to fight as well, so started a (still small) Germanic horde. Must admit I like painting them a bit more than the Romans now, that I symphatise with their background more helps too.
Soon (probably: can't resist forever!) also Macedonians and (other) Greeks. Probably starting off with Alex vs Greeks, later those two together against a Persian force (first have to convince somebody to collect those, or start my own army of 'em). Macedonians mostly because 1) Alexander the Great was (one of) the greatest general(s) of all time and 2) pike-carrying units are the most amazing thing you can see on a table.

Also a slowly growing collection of Vikings and the like, for obvious reasons. Always have been interested in those, both in terms of history and mythology. Perhaps not really organised, no great empires or vast armies, but more a story of individuals travelling to the far corners of the world - trading or raiding as they went. Good stuff.

Then there are some plans for a +- 3rd crusade era something, probably Saracens for me and Franks for my opponent. Very interesting period of time, Firefore games (and possibly WG?) producing stuff for that period doesn't help either. Or helps a lot, depending on how you view it!

Also got some random Scottish for the 1300 era, which desperately need reinforcements. Mostly because Robert the Bruce is a rather interesting person, and the Insurrection book (and others to come in that series) are quite inspiring. I understand there are many English here though...

After that my interest fades a bit, might one day start collecting more modern armies, but I always feel the fun decreases when the wars are fought with guns of various sorts. More of a bow-and-arrow type myself (call me old-fashioned!). That said, some modern armies look pretty amazing as well, so who knows...

[Correus]

This is indeed an interesting topic, one I have been contemplating for a while now.

I honestly think my choices spring from my childhood. I was not your typical kid - I didn't play 'Cowboys and Indians' I played 'Zulu', 'Gunga Din', 'Great White Hunter' etc. I also had a horse. I didn't just 'ride' my horse, I practiced cavalry charges À la the 'Scots Greys at Waterloo' and 'the Charge of the Light Brigade'. I also dug trenches and fox holes like those in 'All Quiet on the Western Front' and to not be left out...I would put on my trench coat, German WWII helmet and grab my rifle and walk around the woods during snowstorms.

Like I said - not your typical kid. I was more engrossed with movies like 'Zulu/Zulu Dawn', 'Ben-Hur', 'Fall of the Roman Empire', 'Waterloo', 'Drums Along the Mohawk', etc. than I was with they typical kid flick of the 70s.

I didn't even go for the typical comics as a kid, I liked to read the war comics! I still have them to this day.

I remember one time, in 5th Grade, we had to present a small skit from a book we read. While most of my classmates did the typical kid's book type things I did 'Ben-Hur'. I presented the Chariot Race scene - complete with outfit and chariot! Needless to say I got an "A".

Also, for as long as I can remember I have LOVED toy soldiers. My father hated this and did what he could to discourage it, but I still collected and played with them - everything from the cheap plastic variety to the expensive Britains. I still have some of them.

Another memory that comes to mind is a simple one. One day I walked to my grandmother's house. On the way there I went down an alley and just happened to look down at the ground. Believe it or not, sticking up out of the ground was part of a small wooden soldier just shy of 2.5" tall. That little, wooden, toy soldier is still on a shelf in my hobby room.

Then it happened...

It was the summer of '76. I had the chance to go to a used book store with my aunt and uncle. While looking at the gobs and gobs of books I noticed this tiny orange colored book on an end cap. Low-and-behold (!) it was a book about using toy soldiers to fight miniature battles!!

WOOWHOO!!!!

This was exactly what I was looking for. The book I discovered was a 1st edition of ‘AIRFIX Magazine Guide 4 Napoleonic Wargaming’ by Bruce Quarrie.

This book cost me all of $1.00. Not only was it the first book I ever purchased on my own, but it was the book that would open up the world of Wargaming to me. To this day this book can usually be found in the book cubby of my bedside table. I read through the book often and sometimes I look through it just to bring back the memories.

But I digress...back to the point...

Like several of you here, I collect both sides. Part of this is due to lack of other gamers who share my interests and the other part is due to OCD (can't have one without the other).

My choice tends to be based on what influenced me as a child as well as the grandeur, spectacle and romance of the period.

First love is the Ancient world - primarily Sumer, Egypt, Assyria and Rome. I have been fascinated by the Biblical world for as long as I can remember and even got a degree in Archaeology.

I do have some Biblical minis in 15mm but have packed them away. Now that I'm going exclusively with 25/28mm I just haven't replaced them. One reason is a lack of minis that I think are correct in scope and appearance. I do like Foundry's minis but refuse to pay what they want and their ranges are lacking. However, there are a couple of new companies that are producing some Biblicals that look great.

Why Sumer, Egypt and Assyria specifically? I'm not sure - there's just something primeval and mystical about them, something brutal - it's hard to explain.

A few years ago I had the chance to visit the Land of the Nile. One afternoon I was having tea under the shadow of the Great Pyramid of Giza at the King Farouk Rest-house. A gentle breeze crossed over me and for a moment, just a moment, I could hear the sound of Pharaoh's host thundering across the plain. To this day, whenever a warm breeze crosses over me, I can close my eyes and be there again.

After those mentioned above Rome, with the Britons and Germans as the OPFOR, are next. I've never known why I have such a fascination with Rome, all I know is it's been there for as long as I can remember. If one were to dig through the pile of stuff that comprises my varied interests at the center they would find Rome. As to the Ancient Britons - well, I have a thing for red headed women with a British accent....

Following would be Napoleonics - it's all about the bling baby and what period screams it the most than this one! Even though my spirit goes with Napoleon my interest tends to fall more towards Russia, Britain and the smaller German States such as Bavaria and Württemberg. It was a time when any foot soldier could have a Marshall's baton in his pack, women swooned at a gent in uniform and men march to the sound of the guns.

My next period of interest would have to be the F&IW and the AWI. What can I say - I'm an American and these periods scream adventure, exploration and independence - not to mention the smell of black powder. It represents a time when the world was new and anything was possible - a time when a man could make his way in the world and have only his wits about him to survive.

Then comes the Anglo-Zulu War. I think it tugs at me due to the location (I keep telling SWMBO we should move to Africa) or perhaps it's the juxtaposition of rifle and cannon vs shield and spear. There is just something about scarlet uniforms, lots of feathers and high adventure on the African Veldt!!

The last one is the one that stymies me the most - the ECW. I have no idea why I'm drawn to it over our own CW, I just am. Perhaps it's the uniforms, perhaps it's the perceived gallantry and chivalry, perhaps it's my ancestral roots; whatever it is that draws me remains a mystery.

There are other periods I'm interested in, such as the Norman period and WWI, to name a couple, however, these are the main periods that speak to me. Perhaps it's just the old romantic inside me, as my wife has said before - I seem to be able to see the world with wonder of a child and I have the heart of an explorer and the soul of a poet (some of you might get those references).

All-in-all it is a way for me to keep a part of my childhood alive and the specific periods/armies are a unique way to stay connected to parts of history that speak to me.

Sorry for rambling - like I said - this topic really made me think.