There’s a whole WORLD of historical gaming beyond the tunnel vision of Warlord and Bolt Action (although I’d say Bolt Action is more of a “comic book simulator” than a hard core historical game). Indeed WW2 (and anything later) is such a small slice of our history, it’s such a shame there’s so much focus by gamers in this era. ECW, Naps, Ancients, all of these came be played without a single Nazi in sight.

I do wonder however if we had access to Warlord sales data if Warlord have sold more SS boxes than standard Heer boxes. The number of SS camo pattern paint sets is never ending, and books on the SS still remain on the bookshelves of your local book stores (whereas finding a book on Heer or even Allied infantry units is a lot more challenging.

I wonder why there seems to be a “set” of wargamers fixated with SS units and regalia. I still remember “Salutegate” (where the organisers were slammed for inviting a SS re-enactment society to the event (after all who DOESN’T want people dressed as SS wandering around London handing out flyers for a wargaming event). They hit the wargaming headlines for selling swastika coffee mugs and even Adolf Hitler mugs as well. They countered the allegations of selling Nazi memorabilia at Salute with the observation that there’s were plenty of stands at the show selling SS units, and even swastika transfers for your models.

For me, I’ll never play an SS unit on the table (they fill me with unease that we shouldn’t be glorifying them in miniature form). Heer units yes, although I wonder how many wargamers owning “German” WW2 armies own “basic” Heer army units rather than multiple sets of SS units in various “SS only” camo uniforms and full tank battalions of King Tigers in 28mm.

At my old club we had a “in living memory” rule about putting on demo games at shows or public events. Basically if there’s the possibility of someone alive being “triggered” with bad memories at seeing a load of overweight blokes “playing soldiers” with what they experienced first hand, the we will not put on that game. So no WW2, no Falklands, no Desert Storm etc, Down at the club (behind closed doors) we do play such periods (where we know our fellow gamers and if there’s anyone there who does feel ill at ease with gaming a certain period/conflict, so no offence can be caused).

Posting about this will raise heckles, and start arguments. Perhaps it far better we just move away from WW2 and enjoy the vast array of other wargaming periods that make up “historical gaming (it’s not just WW2 you know) 😀 .