Great instalment Lee. I am constantly wondering whether I am a writer, editor, blogger, vlogger, Patreon creative or, in the precious few minutes left over, a wargamer! Of course the answer is that none of these are mutually exclusive-but when the peripheral activities become what you do for a living , it can leave you feeling drained. The well of inspiration can sometimes run dry.

You are a wargamer. I have been a wargamer for over 50 years. I started a blog around 15 years ago. Originally started as general blog and a means to keep friends and family up to date with my mother (In a home with Alzheimer's), but it quickly became wargames related and served as a crutch and incentive to game and was in affect part of my wargaming hobby as mum took up more time. The blog lost impetus in 2017, as I became more time poor. I am now thinking of restarting , as I am gaming more and time seems to be available. The blog can be part of my wargaming hobby, as per the Egan Doctrine.

Let's tackle the question posed. David Chandler was a historian. He wrote the definitive work, The Campaigns of Napoleon. Did this make him a writer rather than an historian? And would he have been 'more of a historian if he hadn't turned his exhaustive research into a form that could be disseminated easily and accessible to people without a history degree? I think you know the answers here and the parallel is obvious. Chandler, the historian was able to share more widely his knowledge and his passion by his writing. Let's look at a similar question, which is almost never asked in the same way. Is the time spent painting miniatures a waste of limited hobby time that might be spent playing? I'm not suggesting that it is, but, imo, the question is just as valid as the original question. Indeed, why use miniatures? From a pure game perspective, blocks of wood could perform the exact same game function with far less expenditure of time and resources. The fact is that what we call, the wargaming hobby, is not a single hobby, it is a blended hobby. It's enjoyed by different people in different ways. Alfred may hate painting and only does it reluctantly. Bert loves painting, but really just wants to paint and game with his armies, he doesn't really care that much about the historical context of the Battle of Wagram he just wants his Austrians to stop the French on the tabletop. Alfred, has grudgingly applied paint to his Grande Armeé and reread the six books he has on the campaign and the battle and is really in the mood. When Alfred and Bert refight the clash, is either 'more history nut/painter than wargamer? No, the question isn't even a thing.

Whatever you are, I'm glad you're doing it! Obviously your dice rolls in the Sudan game were a direct result of the Dice Gods looking favorably upon your recent video about dice. 🙂 Enjoy Tankfest!

Enjoy Tankfest! I’d like to see the Tank Museum someday. I have been to the Musée des Blindés in Saumur which has an incredible collection. I think they often lend out their running vehicles to Tankfest.

It is a good topic, especially since like you say yourself, all aspects compete for your limited time, yet they are kinda interdependent to each other. If you don't do anything hobbywise, there is not much to talk about. I've only been doing this for about half a year now and I try (and don't always manage) to keep a 2 weeks schedule, wouldn't even want to try the frequency at which you post. Having said that I agree, there are lots of new skills to be picked up by branching out into the blogging and vlogging sphere.

Clearly, you are a wargamer who blogs and vlogs. The thing is, it changes your outlook on what you want to achieve to make your hobby enjoyable. Some get despondent with trying to think of things to 'interest' those who drop by to view your scribblings and verbal output. If you are thinking that, take a rest from it and game a little more. A straight up this is what I painted/made/gamed is really all that is required with a bit of opinion or questions thrown in. You might even get a comment! I have my blog, am on LAF AND the VBCW forum(recently joined). Being retired has given me time to do all these things, including the painting bit. But I couldn't do it to a schedule, that would bore me.

Have fun atTank Fest. It's a great place down there

Had you not been a gamer you wouldn’t have had anything to blog about. I wish it’s something I had explored years ago, but only really started watching KZfaq during lock down.

I'm still relatively new to the active blog and YT area. Time and the balance is sometimes really difficult. But before, my hobby was more chaotic. Chasing butterflies or trying to live up to other people's butterflies. During my YT blog time, I pursued the hobby more and more sensibly than many years before. And you get into some kind of conversation with really interesting people. One part of the hobby can no longer exist without the others. 😅 Happy Tankfest! 🫡

Even while writing, making videos, etc. you are actively thinking about the hobby and giving back to "the community." Anyway, yes you are a wargamer. You also happen to know how to increase engagement with your youtube channel 😅