tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post441927994512378751..comments2024-03-17T04:35:24.517-07:00Comments on Polemarch: Seven Things I Have Learnt from WargamingThe Polemarchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-8451572588225431682013-03-26T06:47:51.892-07:002013-03-26T06:47:51.892-07:00Sounds good to me.Sounds good to me.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-9244612998287658502013-03-26T05:25:34.122-07:002013-03-26T05:25:34.122-07:00Well, the post in question was actually about the ...Well, the post in question was actually about the concept of elegance in rules, and QM was an example of how elegance can vary even within a given system and its descriptors. <br /><br />So I really wasn't trying to be pretentious. It may, of course, have come out that way, but that would be an unintended consequence.<br /><br />My vision, such as it is for the blog, is something akin to 'Socratic dialog', where questions can be asked, and some sort of answer groped for, in conversation with others of different views; of course, final answers are usually never to be found, so the blog could be fairly endless, but as with Socrates, we might learn something along the way.The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-90115309193014549492013-03-26T02:53:51.141-07:002013-03-26T02:53:51.141-07:00With respect, that may be one of those "do yo...With respect, that may be one of those "do you realise that you wrote that out loud?" moments.<br /><br />A blog for personal witterings is an excellent thing, and I think all contributors here have agreed that readers are a bonus but a potentially valuable one.<br /><br />If at any time any of us finds that - even a teensy bit - we are writing a blog to comfort ourselves over how exquisitely clever we are, that might be an example of a good time to stop and have a think about it. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-63574978725260648652013-03-26T01:35:27.220-07:002013-03-26T01:35:27.220-07:00True, but I didn't expect to drift quite as fa...True, but I didn't expect to drift quite as far as I have done.<br /><br />After all, there must be few blogs out there which have linked quantum mechanics and writing wargame rules...The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-46802623621738332442013-03-25T17:02:29.674-07:002013-03-25T17:02:29.674-07:00A blog that drifts in subject matter is a rare blo...A blog that drifts in subject matter is a rare blog indeed. When I started mine, it had a specific focus; which then drifted...Shaun Travershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05691522858410783769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-29434015597835572752013-03-25T03:23:20.263-07:002013-03-25T03:23:20.263-07:00Well, the blog is called Polemarch, but it isn'...Well, the blog is called Polemarch, but it isn't my real name...<br /><br />I do think that the blog is for my own personal witterings. If anyone else is interested then it is a bonus. The blog started as a way to try to document my ideas with respect to rules for ancient Greeks, but kind of drifted in subject matter.<br /><br />Still, it is great if anyone does read, and better if they comment. I need ideas for future posts, but I'm not planning one about the use of emoticons...The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-27348353556043563112013-03-23T07:50:38.244-07:002013-03-23T07:50:38.244-07:00A fine post, Mr Polemarch (if that is indeed your ...A fine post, Mr Polemarch (if that is indeed your real name...).<br /><br />Your second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh lessons in particular struck chords with me.<br /><br />I will disagree with you on emoticons though - I have come to find them quite useful over time. My sense of humour does not always translate well into blogger comments, facebook notes, quick and cheerful emails and the like, so I have learned that it can be diplomatic to put a smiley in here or there. They also make a welcome change from the exclamation mark, which I now overuse terribly online, but that is another story.<br /><br />I agree with Shaun and MSFoy above, as well: blogs should be done for yourself. It's a chance to write a few things down, order some thoughts, take the odd photograph (or not), make some hobby notes, motivate (or demotivate) yourself by setting goals, assessing what you have/ have not done, keep your hand in at reviewing games / books and so on. <br /><br />I'm pleasantly surprised that anyone bothers to reads my drivel, and if people take the time to comment, it's even better.<br /><br />As I've said here before, I really enjoy your posts, and the web would be poorer without them.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Aaron<br /><br /><br />Prufrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659918463589870423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-65506924532106787012013-03-12T01:26:59.099-07:002013-03-12T01:26:59.099-07:00I think that my painting is so, um idiosyncratic ...I think that my painting is so, um idiosyncratic that I'd never be able to get someone else to do the job so badly that they'd fit in with what I've already got...The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-71891404460133721252013-03-11T05:10:44.779-07:002013-03-11T05:10:44.779-07:00I don't feel sorry for just toy soldiers - I r...I don't feel sorry for just toy soldiers - I rearrange stacks of plates and bowls so that the ones on the bottom get a chance to be used. My dad did this as well so it is genetic, habit or family tradition...<br /><br />I gave up on painting years ago - I don't mind it, but it is the least interesting part of the hobby for me - and focus on playing and reading history.Shaun Travershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05691522858410783769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-19930662608047638482013-03-11T02:42:59.929-07:002013-03-11T02:42:59.929-07:00Ah, yes. sometime I must explore this idea of feel...Ah, yes. sometime I must explore this idea of feeling sorry for your toy soldiers, and so getting them out just to make them feel better.<br /><br />Actually, the original post was written when I was struggling, wargame wise, something along the lines of 'why am I painting yet another batch of Roman Auxillia?'.<br /><br />Mrs P., who has had to put up with this sort of thing for years, spotted the problem and said 'why don't you have a battle?, so I did.<br /><br />And I'm better now. Honest.The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-42909733939622814102013-03-11T02:39:26.653-07:002013-03-11T02:39:26.653-07:00Someone once said 'how can I know what I think...Someone once said 'how can I know what I think unless I write it down?'<br /><br />It fits me. <br /><br />At one point I was considering pacifism, and someone asked me 'how can you be a pacifist and a wargamer?' <br /><br />Good question, I thought. To some extent the blog is an occasional effort to answer it.<br /><br />Still, I doubt if this blog with have an air of competence about it. Like Xerog and Nierev, I'm sure I keep failing the command rolls...The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-61798877363548147082013-03-09T19:35:09.675-08:002013-03-09T19:35:09.675-08:00The sixthly fits me to a T. What I have learnt fr...The sixthly fits me to a T. What I have learnt from gaming is that I enjoy reading history, probably more than gaming. I started solo gaming mainly as I had not gamed much for 10 years, had 2 small children, and had lots of figures that I felt sorry for.<br /><br />Blogging. As you state - blog for your own reasons, not to be popular. Unless the reason is to be popular, then that is as you say lots of time and effort!<br /><br /><br />I don't like the idea of emoticons, but use them sparingly anyway. My prose always seems to come across cold and dispassionate (as my wife and others tell me). It is probably from a lifetime of work spent writing reports, briefing notes, plans, options analysis etc. I find emoticons help me out.Shaun Travershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05691522858410783769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-44296172744231497292013-03-09T05:49:53.425-08:002013-03-09T05:49:53.425-08:00I believe my irony detector is alive and well. My ...I believe my irony detector is alive and well. My experience with my own daft blog is that sometimes (not often) I write something I'm quite pleased with, and get no comments and hardly any hits, but a quick, easy-option photo of a new painted unit will get interest and comments in plenty. I guess people are attracted by the obvious end of the hobby - I have become pretty much relaxed about the fact that the world doesn't give tuppence for my considered views on the Ludic Fallacy and suchlike, and the world is probably quite correct, at that. Doesn't matter - I still enjoyed writing it!<br /><br />As often as not, I find it valuable to be forced into the discipline of writing down my thoughts - it puts a linear coherence into them which, as often as not, clarifies to me what it was I was thinking in the first place. There is a slight risk that the aura of published competence which a blog can impart will sometimes encourage us to take ourselves seriously.<br /><br />Not very often, though - and not for long. A former boss of mine used to have a fine phrase about "erecting a silk umbrella over a midden".<br /><br />Onward and upward. If we can't win them all, let's at least scrape the occasional no-scoring draw.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-75262131599472561502013-03-09T05:28:05.062-08:002013-03-09T05:28:05.062-08:00Hi,
I suppose the look of slightly grim faced iro...Hi,<br /><br />I suppose the look of slightly grim faced irony didn't come over in the text, and I refuse to sink to the level of using emoticons...<br /><br />Anyway, the blog is for my own pursuit of my own slightly odd objectives, and I've got no intention of stopping any time soon. But I do need occasional pointed comments to spark new ideas, so keep them coming.The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-28022212754908887202013-03-09T04:04:34.321-08:002013-03-09T04:04:34.321-08:00Interesting post, as ever. The last paragraph was ...Interesting post, as ever. The last paragraph was a bit downbeat, I thought. It depends why you are writing the blog - if, like most bloggers, you are doing it because it is an enjoyable activity and it gives somewhere to record stuff that would just be lost, then anyone who reads it is a bonus - often a surprise bonus. If you're consciously writing for an audience who you believe require to be told something, then you can be disappointed, I agree.<br /><br />I enjoy your blog very much, just as it is. I don't imagine you would change it to increase its mass appeal, and you might well lose a few followers if you did.<br /><br />If you get fed up with it, then you can take a break or pack it in as you wish - you can even change it if you want to - but I think it's important to avoid looking over your shoulder or using words like "compete"! It could be that some of the more gripping blogs are written by guys who are easily pleased - who knows?<br /><br />Keep up the good work - please. TonyMSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.com