Wednesday 2 August 2017

Just a Game

So what's next?

It's been a while, oh Internet of things.  In fact it has almost been a year since I posted on here (other than the recent dose of salt of course).  It would be very easy to get into a whole post on why the blog was abandoned, and then bring it back around to why I'm here today, resurrecting the dead.. sorry thread.  It would be very easy wouldn't it.

However, lets go with the abridged version.. I got through the divorce, ended up drifting off the gaming scene (because I couldn't be bothered trying to find a gaming group I could get to.. or at least played on weekends), I struggled to keep the blog going on my own, discovered someone was already in my life that meant a lot to me, and in the next week or so I will becoming a father for the first time.  Things sort of just happened and this blog wasn't one of them.

Basically... I forgot.

The last few months have become something of a blur, and yet in the middle of all of it came the unabashed desire to actually get off my weighty frame (re: backside) and start gaming again.  I've still, not really, managed to do that of course, but its bought the blog back to the table.

Concentrated for more flavour

There is, clearly, going to be a small bundle of (*Insert personally appropriate definition*) coming along soon and so I'm not promising regular updates.  However, in order to make sure I do get back on track the new and improved (and present) Big Grumpy Gamer blog is going to be a bit more concentrated and a little more fixed.

I'm going to, personally, be focused on two games in the next few months.  The first of these is going to be Guild Ball, and this site is more or less going to be dedicated to it.  I might show you the odd thing I pick up from Kickstarter, but I'm not going to be doing the weekly trawl to show people what I like.  If nothing else, that took a lot of time and I didn't get anything out of it.

When I do get around to it there will be painting information, rules posts, possible match reports and lots and lots of general chatter about teams and the like.  I was going to focus on the Alchemist's when I first started, and I still have them.  I may even revert back to them, but in the next month or so I'll be moving to the new Farmer's Guild.  This will be what I take to tournaments and probably will end up with a lot of "stuff" as I get going with my new Guild.

IF, and its a pretty big IF at the moment, I can get myself going on the blog then I will also resurrect the idea of a Podcast or a YouTube set of match reports.  However, I don't intend on doing that alone... more on that later.

On that point - Can I please point people at the following:

The Battlehammer - These guys pretty much have kept me going for a while.  Potentially keeping me interested in gaming in general, but have also become very close friends.  Seriously.. these guys are awesome

Don't touch the Beard - One of those people I've been connected to by utter chance several times over in the past (yet never met in person).  His Match report style is awesome and a lot of fun.  If you haven't already go watch (People from CP, I insist you go watch these.. especially if you remember High King Tristan).

Singled Out - My Guild Ball podcast of choice at the moment.  A lot of fun, really good content, really good way of explaining and outlining how they are finding the game.  Well, when Jason isn't talking over people of course...

Oh and I'm sure people spotted that Guild Ball will be the first of the two games I will be playing.  The other is going to be Wild West Exodus.  I'm not sure how much content will go on here though, as I've volunteered to write stuff for the official Wild West Exodus blog.  What I put there won't be on here, but you may see the odd thing appear over here if the mood takes me.  In a similar vein to Guild Ball, there is also always the chance I'd move onto Podcast or YouTube if I can.

And in the vein of linking people I think are pretty important in my gaming world

Sarah Cawkwell - So Sarah will probably be aghast at being linked.. probably.  Sarah writes an excellent array of short stories and full novels.  Part of her work is on Wild West Exodus 2nd Ed, and I really look forward to getting my hands on the first book she is doing for them.. and the 2nd Ed book of course, in which Sarah as been quite busy I believe.

If you happen to be local

So here is the hiccup, I still haven't managed to do anything in terms of "regular" gaming.  The fairer and smarter half has pointed out that this is something I should fix.  I know.. I'm very very lucky.  So I'm hoping to get something sorted out for around every other week (and the odd tournament).

I'm hoping I can start getting myself over to Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster or even Barnsley soon enough.  I will need to get past the self confidence and chronic anxiety mind you.  I'm also hoping people might be able to come and game over here (or I can drive.. this is a thing.. Parker/Straw can attest to this.  In fact I need to get down there again.. once the baby is here though).

The Podcast and YouTube stuff though.. well I'm hoping someone local might well be interested in joining me is something silly like that.  As noted before, doing the blog on my own actually became more daunting than I want to admit, and if nothing else comes of this it's that I'd quite like to open the Big Grumpy Gamer site up to other contributers (perhaps to bring in other games, now I'm not).

So yeah, if you play Guild Ball, or Wild West Exodus, and happen to want some one to have a game against let me know..