File - BeginFAQ.txt

WABlist Beginner's FAQ (Frequently asked Questions)

The WABlist can be a forbidding place for the newcomer, but we hope to help you ease yourself in with this guide to some of the cultural aspects of the list. This FAQ does NOT include rules queries, clarifications etc. For those you should go to the separate FAQ in the Files section.

What it will do is try to help you understand some of the more obscure references which have built up over the life of this list, and that of it's predecessor. So here goes:

1. Some abbreviations in common use:

WAB - Warhammer Ancient Battles (less commonly also WHAB)
AoA - Armies of Antiquity (short army list supplement)
CW - Chariot Wars (longer army supplement covering early period)
FBIGO - Fall Back In Good Order
EIR - Early Imperial Romans
NKE - New Kingdom Egyptians
Repub Romans or Repo Romans - Republican Romans
Mongrel - Mongols or Nomad Horde
Sushi Slicers - Samurai
HYW - Hundred Years War
WOTR - Wars of the Roses
GW - Games Workshop
WI - Wargames Illustrated magazine. Once compared to 'Playboy' because of its pretty pictures.
WFB - Warhammer Fantasy Battles - like WAB, but with magic and monsters.
40K - Warhammer 40,000 - like WAB, but with space stuff.
AB - Army Builder. A computerised army list maker available from www.wolflair.com
PHB - Pseudo Historical Bulls***
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
SSRB - Self Serving Rat Bast***

2. A guide to where to get the rules:

This will depend on where in the world you are. Several on-line stores will sell WAB, AoA, CW, etc. to you.


In North America try Brookhurst Hobbies www.brookhursthobbies.com or Sabres's Edge www.sabersedge.com


3. A short guide to figures

Most people on the list use 25mm figures, which in reality are more like 28mm high, for reasons too complex to go into. Some people use 15mm figures, and a few even use 6mm or other obscure sizes. Opinion is divided as to which are best, and it would have to be said that several factors come into this, including taste, expense and availability. For example many people think Foundry figures are better quality than Old Glory, but they're more expensive and slightly harder to get hold of in the USA. Gripping Beast are another favourite of mine.

The Society of Ancients does a good review of figures, try checking out their webpage www.soa.org.uk for details of availability of various figures and ranges.



4. A brief history of The Keeper

A few hundred years ago the Cult of The Keeper of Lead would have been counted as heresy, and it's followers hunted down and dealt with mercilessly. Luckily we live in more enlightened times and the mysteries of the Keeper are gradually becoming better known and understood. The evolving mythos of the Keeper is sometimes referred to within the list. Perhaps all you need to know is that The Keeper is the unofficial god of wargaming........


5. Theories on the importance of buying more figures than we could ever possibly hope to paint:

Theory One is that it is to keep the earth from becoming unbalanced and wobbly - the lead figures should be equally spread round the world, so if one of us has loads of figures, everyone else needs more of them.

Theory Two is that The Keeper does not allow a wargamer to die until all his/her figures are painted. Immortality can therefore be achieved by making sure you have plenty of figures in stock. In practice most people just insure for the next few years with their current lead mountain..

Theory Three is that in case of nuclear attack you can bury yourself under your figures and the lead content will mean that you will be safe from fall-out radiation.


6. How to protect your Sherdan from squirrels:

You what? See, I said some of this stuff was obscure! Listowner Don was apparently once following good practice and spray varnishing his newly finished Sea Peoples figures in the garden (good ventilation!), when a squirrel took a fancy to one of the figures and stole it, hightailing across the garden with it, with a furious Don chasing after. This gave rise to much hilarity and leg-pulling, and the subject still surfaces sometimes.



7. Where is the Centre of the Wargames World?

This is in Nottingham. Nottingham is home to the WAB creators, as well as Foundry, Games Workshop, Harlequin Miniatures, POP Enterprises and me! Not to be confused with the 'spiritual home of wargaming' which is in nearby Newark, home of the Partizan show, Newark Irregulars and Wargames Illustrated magazine.
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This FAQ posted and maintained by Laurence. If there is anything you think should be added, altered or otherwise changed please let me know off list. I'm at laurence@innotts.co.uk

3rd September 2000