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Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 7:26:39 AM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

Post #: 1

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 10:19:04 AM

AxelNL

Posts: 2386
Joined: 9/24/2011
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1- game and simulation of geopolitic/economic constraints/interactions for how things went as they did
2- compared to some of the posters not that good, but I know enough to stand my ground at any party
3- high level strat and the side stories showing through the chrome (Pursuit of Glory is one of my favorites in that respect)
4- reading Churchill's memoires as a 16-year old.

Cheers,

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 2

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 10:51:45 AM

Centuur

Posts: 8802
Joined: 6/3/2011
From: Hoorn (NED).
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1. Both. I enjoy games and am interested in history in general. I'm also interested in Fortresses and Castles.
2. Same as AxelNL.
3. High level strategy, mainly, but also the political madness which appeared in the time before WW II too (going all the way back to the time before WW I, which for me was the main reason WW II started. The way the Germans were dealt with in the peace treaty was asking for another war...
4. The books of the Dutch writer K. Norel. They were written for boys and contained quite interesting stories of how WW II happened out of the Dutch perspective.
One was about a couple of fishermen sons who were 17 when war started and went over to an escape to England, entered the Dutch navy and than later got into the Dutch underground when dropped out of England.
One was about the Dutch navy and the Dutch merchant fleet.
And the last one was about the Dutch flying corps in the war and later in England.
For a 12 year old, those books were real adventures...

_____________________________

Peter

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 3

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 11:29:27 AM

Empire101

Posts: 1950
Joined: 5/20/2008
From: Coruscant
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1. MWIF ( and WiF FE ) is in my opinion THE WWII strategy that encompasses the whole conflict in the most comprehensive and complete package. That said, the period from the end of WWI to the end of WWII is one of the most fascinating and truly horrible periods of human history, from technological advance, social change, political upheavals, great military triumphs and reverses, and the very pinnacle of human courage, bravery and stoicism vs the very depths of human depravity and brutality.

2. Level of WWII knowledge is very high, in most aspects of the period.

3. Main interest really covers all aspects, and have read extensively on the subjects.

4. Reading Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad, a book written by William Craig and published in 1974 by Penguin Publishing, and also purchasing SPI's ( may they live forever in Valhalla ), War in the East.

_____________________________

Our lives may be more boring than those who lived in apocalyptic times,
but being bored is greatly preferable to being prematurely dead because of some ideological fantasy. - Michael Burleigh

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 4

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 11:43:25 AM

AxelNL

Posts: 2386
Joined: 9/24/2011
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

Warspite1 - just read the appendixes of volume 2 of the manuals because of another thread, and stumbled upon the sources from the unit write-ups. I must say that some of the people who helped in this area have very respectable libraries. Very impressive if that is all read.

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 5

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 12:21:06 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

Thanks for your answers guys - I think this sort of thing is good to help build a thread community - they are relatively common in the WITP-AE forum.

For my part I love history generally (inherited from my mum).

1. I do not know exactly, I guess its a case of what came first the chicken or the egg!? I have always loved playing games, and I developed an interest in history - I think its a case of one constantly feeding the other. If I find a game I like I want to learn about the history - the more I learn about the history the more I want to game it.

2. WWII knowledge level (particularly naval) has grown a lot over the last 5-years. I started off as a kid looking at the cool pictures of battleships and carriers in my big brothers books and the maps of Barbarossa and Case Yellow and the Desert War in my dad's Purnells History of the Second World War (I rarely bothered reading the text - that was too boring). As I got older, so the actual reading started, and it was another game - Desert Rats for the old Spectrum! - that really got me reading about the war.

Since joining the forum I have had a lot of good tips for books I would probably never have read e.g. Empire101 suggested Nomonhan 1939. Yeah right.. But it came with his recommendation so I thought, having had my interest picqued by having just read about the Japanese at Guadalcanal (Frank) (another recommendation by one of the guys in the WITP-AE forum) I would give it a go. What a couple of great books!

Now, playing the Germans on the Eastern Front I have got hold of a book on the Romanians in WWII and will read this as soon as I have finished The Gathering Storm.

3. Main interest surprise surprise is the naval war, although have an interest in most things. Less interested perhaps in individual stories and detail at squad or battalion level (prefer bigger picture).

4. Interest in the period came from my parents (dad was in the army before being invalided out in June 1940 and mum was an auxilliary nurse sent to Australia near the end of the war). As said above, there was lots of books on the period in the house, and in the 70's watching a big war film on TV with your family was a big occasion! - Dambusters, Battle of Britain etc.

Anyway that's my background.

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 6

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 1:27:12 PM

Centuur

Posts: 8802
Joined: 6/3/2011
From: Hoorn (NED).
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Thanks for your answers guys - I think this sort of thing is good to help build a thread community - they are relatively common in the WITP-AE forum.

For my part I love history generally (inherited from my mum).

1. I do not know exactly, I guess its a case of what came first the chicken or the egg!? I have always loved playing games, and I developed an interest in history - I think its a case of one constantly feeding the other. If I find a game I like I want to learn about the history - the more I learn about the history the more I want to game it.

2. WWII knowledge level (particularly naval) has grown a lot over the last 5-years. I started off as a kid looking at the cool pictures of battleships and carriers in my big brothers books and the maps of Barbarossa and Case Yellow and the Desert War in my dad's Purnells History of the Second World War (I rarely bothered reading the text - that was too boring). As I got older, so the actual reading started, and it was another game - Desert Rats for the old Spectrum! - that really got me reading about the war.

Since joining the forum I have had a lot of good tips for books I would probably never have read e.g. Empire101 suggested Nomonhan 1939. Yeah right.. But it came with his recommendation so I thought, having had my interest picqued by having just read about the Japanese at Guadalcanal (Frank) (another recommendation by one of the guys in the WITP-AE forum) I would give it a go. What a couple of great books!

Now, playing the Germans on the Eastern Front I have got hold of a book on the Romanians in WWII and will read this as soon as I have finished The Gathering Storm.

3. Main interest surprise surprise is the naval war, although have an interest in most things. Less interested perhaps in individual stories and detail at squad or battalion level (prefer bigger picture).

4. Interest in the period came from my parents (dad was in the army before being invalided out in June 1940 and mum was an auxilliary nurse sent to Australia near the end of the war). As said above, there was lots of books on the period in the house, and in the 70's watching a big war film on TV with your family was a big occasion! - Dambusters, Battle of Britain etc.

Anyway that's my background.

Now, those are two nice movies about WW II you've mentioned here. I don't know if you are interested in European films of WW II but if so, I think you will be interested in the film Soldier of Orange.

_____________________________

Peter

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 7

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 2:11:41 PM

Klydon

Posts: 2251
Joined: 11/28/2010
Status: offline

Good thread!

1. Both. I think WiF is the best grand strategic game of WW2 and it isn't close. Game gives a lot of latitude in terms of "what if". I am looking forward to when they come out with the "Days of Decision" aspect of it, although I am afraid that is likely years away yet.

2. I would like to think my knowledge of WW2 is pretty good. I know there are a lot that are better at it, but I think I can hold my own in a conversation. I am more of a generalist in that I know the nuts and bolts for the most part of much of the equipment, be it tanks, ships or planes and I also know about the battles and also the leaders/personalities.

3. Pretty much everything. I think I started with more interest in naval stuff and it grew from there.

4. Hard to say. I have always been interested in history since I can remember, especially military history and especially WW2. I have branched out from there in both directions. Most of it started from a naval perspective, but has grown to other spheres. I enjoy reading stories from the perspective of 1 person (Rudel, Saburo Sakai, Erik Hartmann, etc), about battles, and about campaigns. I also enjoyed reading military fiction as well.

(in reply to Centuur)

Post #: 8

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 2:11:43 PM

Shellshock

Posts: 533
Joined: 12/31/2010
From: U.S.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

I think you will be interested in the film Soldier of Orange.

I fondly recall being interested in Susan Penhaligon.

(in reply to Centuur)

Post #: 9

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 3:20:53 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Thanks for your answers guys - I think this sort of thing is good to help build a thread community - they are relatively common in the WITP-AE forum.

For my part I love history generally (inherited from my mum).

1. I do not know exactly, I guess its a case of what came first the chicken or the egg!? I have always loved playing games, and I developed an interest in history - I think its a case of one constantly feeding the other. If I find a game I like I want to learn about the history - the more I learn about the history the more I want to game it.

2. WWII knowledge level (particularly naval) has grown a lot over the last 5-years. I started off as a kid looking at the cool pictures of battleships and carriers in my big brothers books and the maps of Barbarossa and Case Yellow and the Desert War in my dad's Purnells History of the Second World War (I rarely bothered reading the text - that was too boring). As I got older, so the actual reading started, and it was another game - Desert Rats for the old Spectrum! - that really got me reading about the war.

Since joining the forum I have had a lot of good tips for books I would probably never have read e.g. Empire101 suggested Nomonhan 1939. Yeah right.. But it came with his recommendation so I thought, having had my interest picqued by having just read about the Japanese at Guadalcanal (Frank) (another recommendation by one of the guys in the WITP-AE forum) I would give it a go. What a couple of great books!

Now, playing the Germans on the Eastern Front I have got hold of a book on the Romanians in WWII and will read this as soon as I have finished The Gathering Storm.

3. Main interest surprise surprise is the naval war, although have an interest in most things. Less interested perhaps in individual stories and detail at squad or battalion level (prefer bigger picture).

4. Interest in the period came from my parents (dad was in the army before being invalided out in June 1940 and mum was an auxilliary nurse sent to Australia near the end of the war). As said above, there was lots of books on the period in the house, and in the 70's watching a big war film on TV with your family was a big occasion! - Dambusters, Battle of Britain etc.

Anyway that's my background.

Now, those are two nice movies about WW II you've mentioned here. I don't know if you are interested in European films of WW II but if so, I think you will be interested in the film Soldier of Orange.

warspite1

To the best of my knowledge this has not been shown in the UK - would certainly be keen to see it.

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to Centuur)

Post #: 10

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 3:30:11 PM

Extraneous

Posts: 1810
Joined: 6/14/2008
Status: offline

What is My key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history? Both game and history. Considering that WiF is one of the few "Monster games" to encompass strategic combined arms and politics since Strategy I (Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) 1974).

What is My level of WWII knowledge? Not having published anything on WWII I will have to claim "Novice". Regardless of My work on the write-ups and researching units.

What is My main interest in WWII (e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics)? All of them.

What started My interest in WWII history? Being a "Baby Boomer" it would be Stalingrad (Avalon Hill 1963 (I was 13 when this came out)) before that movies, books, and comic books. Being a voracious reader and reading above my level since third grade (when the school library was completed).

_____________________________

University of Science Music and Culture (USMC) class of 71 and 72 ~ Extraneous (AKA Mziln)

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 11

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 3:43:54 PM

Ur_Vile_WEdge

Posts: 585
Joined: 6/28/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

-what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

Key driver: Game. I grew up with this thing in my basement, my Dad was a HUGE fan and went to WiFcons, and I played my first impulse (as the Chinese, because Dad didn't think I could break anything too badly) at the age of 7 or so. If anything, the game is what fueled my interest in history, not the other way around.

Level of knowledge?: Deeper than the average person, but I'm hardly a buff. I don't particularly know or care about the technical differences between different models of fighters, or which battleships fought in which actions, or quite abit of hat. I do have some interest in strategy in tactics in general, which WW2 is a sub-set of, but my interest is more about the leadership and the maneuvering, not about the war itself.

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 12

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 4:01:15 PM

WarHunter

Posts: 1207
Joined: 3/21/2004
Status: offline

warspite1, Nice topic of discussion.

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
Both.
The game forms a framework to either mirror known history or embark on alternate history. The short span of human time the game takes place in is so full of war history. No one can know all of it. But each time i have played in the past, it motivated me to learn more. Even now it has rekindled that passion.

As a game its a rare blending of Air/Sea/Ground simulation in a board game. Now translated to the computer media. It compliments what i know and what i want to accomplish within a gaming framework. I'm lucky to live in a time where some game designers in Australia created this masterpiece. I'm doubly blessed to be looking forward to playing all of you because of Steve's dedication in coding the game for us and Matrix distribution.

- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
Better than some worst than others always learning

- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
My interest is in the big picture. Like a woman. What appeals to me at first just makes me want to know her better with time. Unlike all the women I've known, WW2 history still keeps my interest. So, back off my gal!

Learning about the Personalities is the window from which all else is viewed. You could say its always been my main interest. i appreciate reading about the people at all levels of the spectrum.

Naval, Air, Ground forces are all a close second. These 3 death dealers are a fundamental source of learning WW2 history.

From knowledge of the above all else follows. Strategy, battles, economics, home-front, entertainment all factor into interest. Some days more than others.

- what started your interest in WWII history
My dad. He left a uniform and regimental book from the 45th "Thunderbird" Division. He was the 1st personality that opened the window to learning about ww2 history. Between my dad an avid pool and card player and my mom the expert puzzle solver. My life as a wargamer, soaking in history was sealed.

_____________________________

�We never felt like we were losing until we were actually dead.�
Marcus Luttrell

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 13

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 4:19:19 PM

lomyrin

Posts: 3741
Joined: 12/21/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline

what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

[/quote]

I like complicated strategy games.
I actually remember some events from the last parts of the war
Seeing, as a young man, the aftermath in Germany where even 10 years after the war in 55 there were lots of ruins and people living in their basements, large empty areas with streets and nothing else.

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 14

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 6:05:23 PM

Centuur

Posts: 8802
Joined: 6/3/2011
From: Hoorn (NED).
Status: offline

My mother has got pictures of the train journey they made from the Netherlands to Austria in 1951 when they went to visit the family there (She was 12 years old at the time). The journey took three days at that time with a lot of detours, due to bridges still not repaired. Those pictures are quite disturbing, seeing landmarks like the Cathedral of Cologne in a mass of ruins and stations where the only thing repaired were the railtracks through them. Not nice at all...

< Message edited by Centuur -- 1/26/2014 7:06:16 PM >

_____________________________

Peter

(in reply to lomyrin)

Post #: 15

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 6:11:53 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

My mother has got pictures of the train journey they made from the Netherlands to Austria in 1951 when they went to visit the family there (She was 12 years old at the time). The journey took three days at that time with a lot of detours, due to bridges still not repaired. Those pictures are quite disturbing, seeing landmarks like the Cathedral of Cologne in a mass of ruins and stations where the only thing repaired were the railtracks through them. Not nice at all...

warspite1

I thought the twin-towered cathedral survived (or am I thinking of a different city) - like our St Paul's it was a miracle when all around was destroyed. Isn't the cathedral on the football club's badge?

Edit: Yes - just checked it out. Took 14 hits but the towers survived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral

http://www.fc-koeln.de/en/homepage/

Never knew they were the billy goats!!!

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 1/26/2014 7:15:43 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to Centuur)

Post #: 16

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 6:43:19 PM

Orm

Posts: 22154
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Sweden
Status: offline

1) Seeing if different strategies could work.
2) Hard to put a level of since I have no scale. I would think I know more than most but not as much as most that are members on this forum.
3) Now days I am interested in most aspects of history. But I am more interested of the European theatre of operations during WWII.
4) I was interested in WWII history from a young age. It probably begun with ESCI figures. But it could been that the WWII comics I read was first. When I was eight I read Biggles Sees It Through and I remember that I was very confused by the story. The German and Soviets worked together in the book

while I thought they fought a war so my WWII interest must have begun before that.

_____________________________

Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 17

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 7:43:24 PM

paulderynck

Posts: 8201
Joined: 3/24/2007
From: Canada
Status: offline

quote:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

- the game

- I know a thing or two about a thing or two

- campaigns, naval, land, battles, personalities, diplomatic entanglements (order varies depending what I'm reading)

- When I was a kid, it was the Fiftieth anniversary of WWI. Life magazine had a series of installments that I was reading - mind you there were lots of pictures. I found an old trunk in the basement and while exploring it I discovered stuff about my grandfather - a picture of him in uniform, his medals and the notice that had come to my Dad's mom when he was killed at the battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918 - one of the "shock troops" of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, on the first day of "the hundred days".

Around the same time there were TV series like The Twentieth Century and Victory at Sea. I've been hooked on military history ever since. I'm always reading a book about military history. My favorite periods are WWII, the American Civil War, and the Roman Empire, but I'll read anything about anything if it's military history. My first wargame was AH's Battle of the Bulge, and I've been hooked on wargames ever since. The best one I've ever played is World in Flames.

_____________________________

Paul

(in reply to Orm)

Post #: 18

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 7:49:03 PM

patchogue

Posts: 140
Joined: 6/15/2008
Status: offline

Soldier of Orange is available to stream on LoveFilm in the UK. Well worth watching.

_____________________________

"It takes three years to build a ship, it takes three centuries to build a tradition"
Admiral Andrew Cunningham
1941

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 19

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 9:35:17 PM

Posts: 4176
Joined: 5/1/2009
Status: offline

Great thread.

75 years ago WW2 started, good lord and it is still the most read about talked about war in our nation and other nations history. I still play COD 2 at times just to get me back in that frame of mind of WW2. Of course if the Germans had some of the soldiers on COD 2 they would never have lost.

I am also a minor American Civil War buff, I found that very interesting but not in High school I hated the subject.

MWIF is to me without a doubt the most complete game of WW2 I have ever had the pleasure to study about it and play it, albeit not that well

The reasons behind the rules in this game are marvelous, when something happens and you step back and think about it you have to say YEAH that must be how it was in this battle or that battle in WW2.

The other night I watched Tora Tora Tora again, one of my favorite movies. I think to myself how did those Japanese aviators feel when they heard that Pearl would be their target, what did they feel when they flew some 250 miles from their carriers to attack Pearl, the terrible mistakes that Naguma made not destroying the oil tanks on the island which would have forced the US carriers back to the mainland to refuel, and just maybe there would never have been a Midway or at least not in June of 1942.

The tides of war are mind numbing and I think this game brings that feeling out into the open unless your just someone who hates to move all those dreadful counters around

Bo

< Message edited by bo -- 1/26/2014 10:37:33 PM >

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 20

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/26/2014 10:29:57 PM

Sabre21

Posts: 8231
Joined: 4/27/2001
From: on a mountain in Idaho
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My interest in the military and military history date back as far as I can remember. I think I was born with it in my DNA. My dad served as an infantryman in the Pacific during WWII, primarily new Guinea and the Philippines. I've had relatives that have served in nearly all the theatres of all the various wars the US has fought. I had an uncle killed near Salerno in WWII and a great uncle killed in France in WWI. I had relatives on both sides in the US Civil War and several that fought in the Revolutionary War.

I served 26 years in the US Army, much of it in recon or the air cav and have always enjoyed games that involved detailed tactics and strategies considering that stuff had been drilled into my head for a few decades. Squad leader has always been my favorite but WiF is up there.

I consider my knowledge of WWII pretty good and it is my favorite era, but I read up on all the various conflicts with the US Civil War and the Napoleonic Wars as two more of my favorites. I have had the pleasure of being able to visit a variety of battlefields worldwide and its a humbling experience to stand above Omaha beach or Gloster hill and think about what transpired there.

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Post #: 21

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/27/2014 12:03:40 AM

ecz

Posts: 24
Joined: 7/8/2002
From: Italy
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Interested to know a bit about those that play (M)WIF in terms of their appetite for WWII history.

I assumed that everyone that plays a game like this or WITP-AE or WITE must be WWII / history buffs who, if they are not playing and planning, are reading military books. But from reading various forums over the years I do not think that is necessarily the case, and for every gamer that can tell you the precise wingspan of any aircraft that ever flew, there are those whose knowledge is "light" at best. Absolutely nothing wrong in the latter - I assume that its the gaming that is the important factor for these people, rather than the history.

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1) game. I see wargaming as something like chess, but much more fun
2) I'm not a schoolar, but hands down WWII is the part of history I know better. 95% of my wargaming life, btw, is dedicated to wargames about WWII
3) Being today a full time ASLer I should answer the tactical level of land combat. But I also like the "grand-strategy" behid the main battles and events. Probably the naval part of the war is the one that hits less my interest.
4) my brother's toy soldiers and WWII comics when I was a child.

< Message edited by ecz -- 1/27/2014 1:06:05 AM >

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Post #: 22

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/27/2014 5:53:59 PM

Courtenay

Posts: 4003
Joined: 11/12/2008
Status: offline

1) I play the game for the game; I read history for history.

2) Reasonably decent knowledge of WW II.

3) No particular interest, but a parochial bias towards the US.

4) I have no idea; remember reading many of the Ballantine Illustrated History of WW II books when I was in junior high school, but that was a reflection of an existing interest, not the source.

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I thought I knew how to play this game....

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Post #: 23

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/27/2014 6:34:57 PM

micheljq

Posts: 791
Joined: 3/31/2008
From: Quebec
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1. Both of them.
2. Quite deep, but some here have a lot more deeper knowledge then me.
3. High level strategy, naval, battles, personalities of the leaders.
4. I was reading books when young, played Axis & Allies board game. I also like the napoleonic era a lot and I played Empires in Arms, the board game.

Michel.

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"Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious" - Oscar Wilde
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Post #: 24

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/27/2014 6:35:45 PM

Cad908

Posts: 1333
Joined: 10/9/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So if you fancy it, would be interested to know:

Here goes

quote:

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?

The game.

quote:

- what is your level of WWII knowledge?

High, lots of reading over the years.

quote:

- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.

Grand strategy and economics.

quote:

- what started your interest in WWII history

My uncle served in the 29th Infantry Division during WWII and was in the first assault wave on Omaha Beach. He was a hero to me growing up, and I seek to honor his memory with this hobby.

-Rob

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Post #: 25

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/27/2014 9:42:27 PM

Dabrion

Posts: 733
Joined: 11/5/2013
From: Northpole
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1
- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?

Game (doesn't reflect history well, still a great game)

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?

films, books, formal education

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.

naval, high level strategy

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1
- what started your interest in WWII history

can't quite remember

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�WiF is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it.�
- Richard P. Feynman, 'WiF, Sex, and the Dual Slit Experiment'.

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Post #: 26

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/28/2014 1:34:28 AM

brian brian

Posts: 3191
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

- what is your key driver for playing (M)WIF - game or history?
- what is your level of WWII knowledge?
- Main interest in WWII - e.g. land, air, naval, high level strategy, battles, personalities, economics.
- what started your interest in WWII history

1 - both. Playing World in Flames is like creating an alternative history of the war.

2 - high perhaps, in some areas. In college I took a grad level course in 20th Century German History. I wrote a paper about how the ending of WWI and the subsequent entry of the various Freikorps into various political activities in the Weimar Republic led to a normalization of using violence in politics which paved the road to the events of the early 1930s. I got a B. I was very content with that considering I was only a junior at the time.

3 - all

4 - My father collects military relics, both via purchase and via finding them with a metal detector. So when I was young I was always visiting battlefields on the American east coast, from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, as well as learning how to research things like where a regiment camped on a march. Unfortunately he is only interested in reading and collecting and will never play a wargame.

When I moved from elementary school to junior high I made some new friends who were into plastic models, mostly of tanks, and soon got into buying the small pre-assembled ones for wars in the sandbox. One day the owner of the hobby shop suggested we take a look at what was inside this box he had just received. On the front it said "Panzerblitz". We were hooked instantly and soon got into Squad Leader just as it came out (missed the purple box though). My friends liked to play Panzerblitz/Panzer Leader by playing all the German counters vs all the Allied counters. Also right then I read Churchill's history of the war, which I have read twice more since.

I still enjoy gaming and study of other wars but spend the most time with WWII.

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Post #: 27

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/28/2014 12:18:29 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

Great - thanks for the responses peeps. Keep 'em coming.

We have a few ex-servicemen amongst us I would expect - same in the WITP-AE forum. Didn't ask ages but I get the impression the average age is north of 40.

Surprised that parents do not seem to be a particularly big influence on becoming interested in history - just a few mentioned that, although other members of the family having served came up a few times.

I see one has a parent who actually does wargaming - how cool must that be?

One thing is clear though, there is an interest (to a (mostly) greater or lesser extent) in WWII, but its the sheer quality of this game that brings us here (and hopefully keeps us here as the bugs are ironed out and the game develops).

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England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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Post #: 28

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/28/2014 7:08:12 PM

Centuur

Posts: 8802
Joined: 6/3/2011
From: Hoorn (NED).
Status: offline

Parents... Well, that came later for me. My father was a history teacher and had a lot of books on WW II (among those the ones I read as a boy...). I raided his collection when I was a teenager (helped by the fact that according to my wife I can read a book in an amazing short amount of time. See once timed me -without me knowing it- reading a 200 page book in less than 2 hours. To her, that was amazingly fast. I don't know if it is, since that's normal for me...

Also, I found out when I was 16 that I had two family members who were in the war. One as a grand-uncle in Austria (from my mothers side. After he died his war diary came available to the family. He never talked about the war to anyone...). He fought in the Sturmpioniere in Stalingrad (got wounded there and was shipped out on one of the last planes leaving), the other my oldest uncle on my fathers side, who got away to England during the war and applied for the Dutch navy.

This strange fact made my already existing interest for WW II even higher...

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Peter

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Post #: 29

RE: Just out of interest..... - 1/28/2014 7:38:35 PM

AxelNL

Posts: 2386
Joined: 9/24/2011
From: The Netherlands
Status: offline

Strange feeling that WWII was mid last century - and for the younger generations already further away than WWI was for us.

One of my parents survived the Amsterdam hunger-winter of '44-'45 and the other walked from Breda to Antwerp twice during that war (at age 4 and 9). First to escape the coming conflict (Breda features our military academy) and at the end to escape the liberation conflict. She still has memories from strafing fighters, having to plunge into the gully next to the road.

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Post #: 30