Gringogamer

What is this about?

I like to play wargames. There, I said it! In the beginning it was just the consequential next step up from complex eurogames. But it became much more. Nowadays I almost exclusively play wargames.

So far I was quite happy playing away, following other wargamers on social media, reading about old and new wargames, researching my next purchase. But recently I started wondering if and how I could contribute to the amazing wargame community.

I’m not an experienced player, and I’m not a crack tactician or strategist. My history background is limited and I do not have access to game designers or any special insights into the boardgame industry. I don’t own a huge wargame collection. And I don’t have the space and time to play any monsters. I’m not particularly funny (at least that’s what I’m told) and my writing skills are sub-par.

I’m an advanced wargame noob. And maybe that’s something I can offer. Maybe my wargame ramblings are of any help for other beginners, and maybe, just maybe, it let’s the grognards chuckle.

I don’t want to make any predictions about this site. If you will this site is an experiment (You can tell, I’m a scientist in real life.). Let’s see where this will lead.

Really? Yet another blog?

I don’t consider myself a content creator, at least not like other blog authors. The thought of writing long blog posts on a regular basis triggers my anxiety.

So rather than being a blog this site is more a loose collection of thoughts, ideas, questions, rule discussions and clarifications, and everything else that crosses my mind concerning boardgames and especially wargames. In that sense this site serves more as a public personal notebook.

Why ‘Gringogamer’?

I live in Brazil and foreigners like me are called gringos. It’s not meant in a derogatory way, but it’s a label that marks you as an outsider. It doesn’t matter how long you live here, you will be always a gringo. It took me some time to get used to the expression but I made my peace with it and have no issues anymore calling myself a gringo. Because that’s what I am.

I’m also gringo when it comes to boardgames. It’s true that boardgames always played some part in my early life, but I didn’t touch a single die for 20 odd years. Only two years ago I rediscovered boardgaming while being on a longer business trip. Via Mage Knight, Robinson Crusoe, A Feast for Odin, The Gallerist, Vinhos and Lisboa I eventually found my way into the wonderful world of wargames. And that’s where I am at right now. Trying to play as often as possible as many wargames that fit in my gaming area. But compared to wargamers with 10, 20, 30 or even more years under their belts, I am and always will be a gringogamer.

Abraços,
Carsten