Encouraging!

Sue and I were looking after William and Emma yesterday. William has been a keen visitor to GHQ since he was little and I've tried to encourage his interest without being pushy. He has a heap of plastic Airfix figures I found in our loft and yesterday he bought the ACW figures with him and asked if we could have a game. As it happens I'd cleared away the Italian Wars game, so the table had only terrain items on which William swiftly rearranged for a game which, with hindsight, I'd label Routed on the Roundtops! Ever since he first wanted to play we've used the same approach, a nod to free kreigspiel, aimed at him having fun and usually winning. Mind, if I could bottle his dice luck I'd be well set up!

The Union army of Major General Useless S Bykleigh takes up position.

Brigadier General W.D.Watkiss and his Good Ol' Boys ready their attack.

Federal skirmishers push forward but come under heavy fire from Rebs on Bigger Round Top.

The Federal skirmishers are driven off in rout and the troops on Littler Flat Top steady themselves for the coming assault.

The Rebs are victorious! If I threw dice like William does I'd be jolly happy in most games! The main thing I want you to draw from this is that enjoyment is central to any game experience for a beginner. So, if your club is lucky enough to recruit new members making sure it's an enjoyable experience is central to encouraging folk into our wonderful hobby. Will William grow into a Wargamer? That's down to him really, but I'm doing my bit to encourage him. Who knows, I may beat him in a game, some day...