Author: Topher

I've always enjoyed writing. I see this as an opportunity to share my love of movies, action figures, comics, music, and just about anything else. As much as I enjoy writing, I also enjoy interacting with other folks online. If any of my stories or articles spark an idea for discussion, let me know. I read every email and comment I get! So look around, make yourself at home, and above all, enjoy your visit to my virtual discussion page!

The Ever Growing Pile

I was looking over a handful of miniatures from my “pile of disappointment” -it’s like what other hobbyists refer to as a pile of shame, but rather than being un-built, it’s more focused on being let down by projects I started, but never fully completed. And it also isn’t a single pile. It’s an assortment of minis, projects, bits, etc., that grows at an exponential rate. It is also not limited to miniatures – it includes model kits, action figures, book series, etc.

I’ve been pondering this phenomenon. I’m prone to such bouts of self examination, having worked for most of my career in mental health treatment. I sometimes look for maladaptive behaviors more overtly than the average person. And if there’s one thing I’ve discovered, it’s that I have a couple of maladaptive behaviors.

Like most problems, its root cause doesn’t seem to be simple or straightforward. I can get distracted by the next new, exciting thing, pushing the original project to the never-ending back burner. This sudden “SQUIRREL” moment typically happens 1/3 of the way through the current project. It’s a trait i picked up from my late father, and it was made all the more clear when my brothers and I were cleaning out our parents’ house. He had his own piles of disappointment. The only difference was that he had a 25-year head start on his collections.

I recognize that I’m an easy mark for FOMO (fear of missing out,) especially in regard to “collectibles.” Limited edition sounds pretty exciting, since they always increase in value…right? I mean, with only a few tens of thousand available, I’ve GOT to have it before they’re gone forever. But even if I did happen to trip over that signed first edition of “The Old Man and the Sea,” 1909 S-VDB Lincoln cent, or original Honus Wagoner baseball card, I can almost guarantee I’ll open it, remove it from the box, and likely, throw away the one thing that stands any chance of making it retain its value – the packaging. And the fear of missing out doesn’t seem to care about these facts.

There is also an actual, irrational feeling of need to complete sets. If there are 12 of something, people tend to feel uncomfortable if they only possess 10 of them. Sometimes it isn’t even a conscious feeling – just an internal drive. If a TV show has 4 seasons, and he’s only seen the first 3, he will feel like he must see the final season. Even if the quality of the writing seems to have gone down over the run of the series, he’ll want to “see it through.” And the very nature of being a “collector” of something implies completing the set. The problem is that most of these sets are open-ended. You will never get them all, because they always make more.

 

As I said a couple paragraphs ago, I was cleaning out our parents’ house. Along with all of dad’s half – completed projects, I found several of my own, stored in boxes in the basement, attic, and garage. It drove the point home that this tendency to leave things incomplete wasn’t going to self-correct. And rather than simply accepting my fate, I should work to improve the situation.

I have a lot of interests, and many involve creativity. But not all of my ideas need to turn into masterpieces. In fact, they probably shouldn’t. Some of these efforts aren’t worth continuing. My next project is going to involve evaluating these initial efforts, and where appropriate, ending the experiment.

So, with that in mind, I’m starting a new collection. I’m collecting things to take out to the dumpster.

-Toph

Flying your Freak Flags

We often get together with friends to watch football. If we’re lucky enough that one of our teams is available on TV, we can watch at home.  Or (since they are often out of market,) we have to go to a sports bar. Some friends came over the other day, and my wife got a little football banner to put out on the front porch for the occasion.

Must be game day at our house.

I got to thinking (the activity that usually prompts these little literary anecdotes,) about battle standards and military flags. They don’t make a lot of sense now, except in parades or special ceremonies, but as recently as the late 1800s (and dating all the way back to the earliest days of organized warfare,) signs and flags were necessary to help organize forces. Imagine a football game, but with a few hundred players on each team, and no referees. Now take away the rule about “personal fouls,” and give all the players weapons. It would be pretty difficult after the first snap of the ball to get everybody to line back up for the next play without a way to signal to your players. However, with a visible rallying point that was brightly decorated with your team’s colors and symbols, you’d stand a much better chance of showing your guys where to get together and regroup.

Historical tabletop wargames usually include units carrying battle flags (think of the US Civil War Battles or Napoleonic Wars.) Although the contestants of the game can clearly see their miniature forces while standing over the table, the flags add both a sense of realism, and colorful visual interest to the field. The same holds true in fantasy and sci-fi wargames. Probably the most recognizable example are the ones by Games Workshop. So much so that the term “Warhammer” has been genericized to  mean any brand of tabletop wargames in some countries.

Photocopied from a 1990s White Dwarf magazine, just waiting to be deployed.

Since the early 1980s, Warhammer Fantasy Battle has included units with fantastical war banners, incorporating the glyphs and icons of those fantasy armies. White Dwarf magazine often had examples for players to cut out and use on their units. I have several of those magazines on my shelves. They are all widely available with a Google search for “Skaven banners” or “Dwarf battle flags,” etc. if you don’t already have original magazine versions.

Note the sample banners on the bottom right of this old Space Marine box set from the 1990s.

 

I really enjoy incorporating battle flags into my miniature units. They are a great opportunity to add a little colorful whimsy, and because I don’t actually play the wargames, I can use them in any way I choose.

I am NOT bound by your silly game rules!

GW goblin banner, painted by yours truly.

 

 

The first flag is one of GW’s ready made goblin banners, painted as if it were  a tiny acrylic coloring book. I found it online last week, and painted it the other day. It’s pretty simple, but also very iconic of the original fantasy armies.

 

Smaller goblin, made useful as a mascot / standard bearer

This second one is a goblin that I 3d printed in resin.

I accidentally made him about 20% too small for the other guys in his unit. Rather than toss him out, I kitbashed him into a standard bearer, standing tiptoe on a little pile of skulls. I think he’ll be pretty cool once he’s completed.

Freehand Space Wolf banner, painted years ago on paper. Needs a little freshening up.

This third example is a freehand Space Marine Grey Wolves banner I painted in the late 80s. The pole and attached miniature have been lost over time, but I found the flag itself among some loose, broken stuff in a box. The additional text that was glued below the wolf is missing. The paper is pretty thin and creased (in addition to the intentional battle damage I added at its inception.)  But maybe I can shore it up and make it usable. With a little creativity, it may yet again serve as a rallying point for some tiny pretend badassery.

 

-Toph