Oldesthammer - Get The Fu*k Off Our Lawns! I Blame Dipping Solution And Bad Parenting....

I have been in reflective mood this week, as my plan to wind down gaming acquisitions in 2025 is almost at it's zenith.

It occurs to me that it's ancient history and forgotten, that Sheffield was probably second only to the Lead Triangle in the early days of the hobby, in terms of manufacturers, clubs and shops. Of course, those who seem to cham[pion what has become Oldhammer are often younger than the figures the so often claim to 'have had them since they were released' causing much mirth from the considerable and somewhat invisible Elder Statesmen of the hobby around here, who really were there at the time and who, like your correspondent have stupendous numbers of untouched 'preslotta' figures, sitting in cellars, tool boxes and gaming rooms, as well as painted.

Believe me, the fanatics in this venerable circle were in Games Workshop and the other sundry gaming stores every day - you would have been seen and spoken to, kiddies, we were a gregarious lot back then.

We are by nature of 'coming up' in the days when gaming wasn't mainstream, a tight knit bunch who scoff at these thirty-something and even forty-something Johnny-Come-Latelys who, if given a set of Humbrol 'Bobcat', probably wouldn't be able to even open the jars.

It's like this - you were either there or you weren't.  So many friendships were formed and dark deeds done in these formative 'Golden Years' of gaming, that books have been written, lives lived and lost and friendships made which, endure down the years and across sometimes thousands of miles.

You see, we were fortunate, blessed even to have been in the right place, at the right time and, to have been outspoken and obnoxious little bastards who stuck their noses into everything. If you saw a group of kids in a shop, chatting, you would interject yourself into that group. 

Sometimes you'd get rebuffed, but more often than not, you would at least extend your circle of clandestine contacts, and often find yet another gaming group to play with.

I find the current crop of gamers to be oversensitive and overposturing types. I'm not the only one who laughs at how sensitive these Millennial Demi-Hipsters are. They really would not have lasted a week in the late 70s and early 80s and come across as pretty shallow, with their talk of 'builds'. 'factions', 'running' this or that and what seems like a need to buy every paint product to be seen as a serious gamer or painter.

I keep seeing posts by a so called pro painter, who is actually proud of figures which wouldn't have even got into the Beatties cabinet (look it up kids) let alone Games Workshop. I bet they charge a premium for that work too, but really, it shows no sense of colour, texture or let's be honest, skill.

They probably use Artist's Opus brushes (they come in a little wooden box you know - it makes them better brushes) and Speed Paints, because that's what you have to use to be a 'proper' painter these days isn't it?

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking to a gamer who was at the younger end of the Golden Era's tranche, and we fell into discussing paints and their relative merits. He was telling me that he had recently expressed his disatisfaction with speed paints on a forum populated seemingly by these Enfants Terrible of modern gaming. He related how he was given some real abuse and told 'Why don't you fuck off with your old paints, you old man?'

Now, I am a crusty old bastard and I've seen and heard a lot in 45 years of gaming, but I honestly found this to be amazing. I asked if I had heard him correctly and he assured me it was. Now, we had not met until then, so I am not defending an old friend - but that for me, summed up exactly why the current generation are not doing anything positive for the hobby.

Every time I go into a certain shop in Sheffield, I get stared at as if I am some kind of new kid on the block. If I walk to the counter with what I consider an 'average' purchase, I get a reaction of incredulity and in one case, a comment of disgust that anyone could 'spend  that much. Must be a drug dealer...'

Get the fuck off our lawn, kids! I buy armies... Look it up in the Oxford Concise. (That's a book by the way. Ever heard of those?)

I grew up learning from the older gamers. Not only how to paint, but about history, the history of the hobby at grass roots level and moreover how to 'get on' in the hobby. You served what was to all intents an purposes, an apprenticeship and when you had had the rough corners knocked off you and had your chops, a whole new world opened to you. Being 15 and being taken all over the country to shows, sometimes for two and three nights, you met a wider range of gamers and each time, the fact that you were part of a certain group, would get you recognised as a fellow traveller and member of the cult. But, you had to play to a set of rules which meant there was a time to be irreverant and a time to show respect.

Nobody then would have shown anything other than respect to say, Terry Wise, but I sense that today's shower would call him an 'Old Twat' and disregard him because 'Y'know, he's 'old' and we don't need to learn anything because y'know, we know everything and have our Artist's Opus brushes dont we?'

There's a series of meetings being planned to discuss a convention, (maybe two) in Sheffield for the the future where it is mooted the 'Hidden City' of it's gaming history will be brought out into the light. Yes, we are an old lot, and some of us are dead - some way too soon - but these poeple were there at the start, brought gaming into the city - Games Workshop? What's that? - and I think they should be recognised and celebrated, not obliterated. 

A friend suggested we put together an aerial map of Sheffield with all the stores, clubs and hangouts on. It's a great idea and I think it's got potential to be so much more too, but more of that in a future post.

Well, if you will excuse me, I have to go and have a coffee (Rombout, freshly ground - it's better) and buy a new outfit for York next weekend. I'll be the one in yellow leather jacket, and trainers with unruly hair and 'fuck with me not' scowl.

Older gamers, come and have a chat and a laugh, if you wish. Younger gamers - It's your call, but I don't do political correctness these days, being old.

TTFN