David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Mental Health... or a Hole in the Head?


As you may just recall l got this supplement for Hail Caesar from my daughter and her family as a gift last Christmas. I've also been buying figures as and when for this new venture. You may, like me, ponder on this decision as I turn 75 at the end of the month {DV}. Why embark on a new project then?  Surely GHQ holds more than enough to see me out? Why then? Well, it’s official as it turns out, wargaming is good for you, as we wargamers knew all along of course! Creative hobbies have the capacity to be as good for your mental health as having a job according to recent research! In fact carrying out creative activities can be even better for life satisfaction as working can be. Creativity had as great an influence on people’s wellbeing and happiness such as factors like age and health, a recently reported study found. Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University suggest that having access to affordable opportunities for creativity can be a major boost to mental health. Dr Helen Keyes, head of the school of psychology and sports science at ARU, said: “Crafting and other artistic activities showed a meaningful effect in predicting people’s sense that their life is worthwhile. Indeed, the impact of crafting was bigger than the impact of being in employment. Not only does crafting give us a sense of achievement, it is also a meaningful route to self-expression. This is not always the case with employment. {As I think many reading this would agree!} Engaging in these activities is linked with a greater sense that life is worthwhile, increased life satisfaction and happiness.”  So there we have it: wargaming, which involves historical research, creative modelling and crafting of buildings and terrain features, painting figures and ephemera, is good for you! {A message then that is bang on cue as this week is designated as Mental Health Awareness Week!}
Reading this I felt much happier about the fact that I had decided I would embark on yet another new project! Gone was the sense of guilt brought about by those blister packs of figures balefully staring at me from the old Lead Pimple, the uncomfortable but all too familiar feeling that I needed a new project about as much as a hole in the head! And all this just in time for Partizan in a few days! Indeed I even have a preorder to collect from Eureka Miniatures UK and a short list of Perry Miniatures to purchase from that show stalwart Dave Thomas, given better luck than I had at Hammerhead.
Over the past few days I have been taking refuge from the noise and mess concommitent with our current kitchen refurbishment by cleaning up and organising into units the Wars of the Roses figures I have accumulated to date. My initial target is two 350 point forces for Midgard. The figures to hand so far are from Eureka Miniatures, Perry Miniatures, Wargames Foundry, Steel Fist and Athena Miniatures. They won't see any spray undercoat of course until the kitchen work is completed as GHQ is functioning as a storeroom presently! Here are just a few as a taster from those I've done so far ~

There only remain the hybrid figures to make up from the Steel Fist bodies and the Perry Miniatures plaaaaastic arms, heads, wespons and bits! I may need some help with this stage, Phil... More metal figures then to process after Partizan of course. In the meantime I still have just a few of those ACW figures I mentioned to finish painting...

20 comments:

  1. David, some lovely poses that graced with your handy brush work are going to make for some stunning bases.

    As for creativity being good for the mind and soul, well, no surprises there.

    I have just started learning keyboard and also taken up oil painting as positive brain train things. For the other 22 hours of the day, I have wargaming :-)

    Enjoy Partizan.

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    1. I shall endeavour not to disappoint on any aspect Norm.

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  2. I cannot but agree with the mental health aspects, although I have noticed in the past that my having an intense interest in things 40K is a pointer that I am about to have an attack of the black dog, creating my own stuff and painting bright uniforms being the sure way out.
    The Wars of the Roses has always been a key gaming period for me- Swoppet Knights back in the 60s started it. This morning 5 of us retirees refought Mortimers Cross. The HC2 supplement provided the scenario and a historical outcome as Edward ploughed into the Tudor position with brief preparation, grievously wounding Jasper Tudor in the process. I like Midgard and our collections can be used for both but do not lay aside the pleasures of HC2 too lightly, especially the supplement.

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    1. I shall not forsake Hail Caesar but don't really aspire to such a big project. I have other irons awaiting their firey trial.

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  3. Can't argue with that. I shall look forward seeing what you do with them, the base configurations I saw today look just dandy. Onward!

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    1. Nice to have your and others' endorsements for my efforts in the planning stage.

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  4. Great endorsement for hobbies and the end to guilt over having way too many figures and project on the go, now I can say it helps my mental health and will make me live longer!! Looking forward to seeing how this new project progresses.

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    1. I'm glad to have been of use to you Donnie! Buy more figures and live longer!

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  5. Absolutely agree one hundred percent on the value of a hobby! It would certainly have to be significantly more fulfilling than employment...at nearly 62, I can't wait to retire...unfortunately it will be a few more years yet!

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    1. Work at best was a necessary inconvenience, but retirement is better!

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  6. As you said I think us wargamers knew all along that wargaming is good for our health and so I'm happy to see you are still investing in your health David!:-)

    Christopher

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    1. Indeed we did Christopher! Live long and prosper!🖖

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  7. "Work is the curse of the gaming classes!". I wholeheartedly agree with all of your post about the multifaceted benefits of our hobby, which really do keep the grey cells ticking over nicely. I also enjoy gardening and woodwork, both of which have similar benefits. So I'm never at a loss for something to do!

    The test bases look great and as always, I look forward to seeing them finished and how the project develops too.

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    1. Thanks for your endorsement SteveJ, and for inadvertently reminding me I need to cut the grass...but sadly not the 28mm variety!

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  8. Very nice, I regret selling my WOTR armies, but made up for my sin by building now 8 more armies. I worked to live not lived to work.

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    1. I'd like to think your final sentence would fit us all!

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  9. A good start to a new project…
    Let that butterfly flutter it’s good for you… Official !
    I always feel more relaxed and in less pain/discomfort when I am planning and painting my toy soldiers…
    It is the best kind of medicine.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Yes, taking our medicine is never a chore nor unwelcome!

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  10. I absolutely agree with everything you've outlined above... as we've discussed on a few occasions before, Age is irrelevent!! Enjoy what you're doing and just get on with it... The relaxation and pleasure that collecting and painting brings is such a fine theropy in itself, then there's the fun and enjoyment of gaming with the end product!
    Keep at it, and long may it contiue!

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    1. I fully intend to KBO all things being equal.

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