Why I Game: Ulyses Colon

Today we have a guest article, submitted by Ulyses Colon. Ulyses wanted to write an ode to gaming, from the perspective of someone who doesn’t get as much time to game as he would like. A big shout out of thanks to Ulyses. If you have an idea for an article, email me at editor@dash28.org- Editor

Origins

My name is Ulyses Colon and I spent my childhood wargaming in my parent’s basement with my twin brother. I still remember the first box of genestealers we opened in our living room, trying to understand why the box didn’t come with rules and forgetting if the xenos moved 5 inches or 6.

After that we were hooked, and the family Ping-Pong table became our base of operations. It was forever changed. Models, paints and knives on one side of the net, terrain, armies, and dice on the other. We spent so much time in that basement that it has taken on an ethereal quality when I think back to it.

We matured and our growth in the game did as well. We would spend our weekends at the club in Rochester playing with the regulars there. It was great. Older player who would help and discuss rules, tactics, and generally shoot the shit.

I learned about inside jokes, new ways to paint, and fantasized about playing new armies and ogling the new models that came out every few months. It was great!

I consider myself to have grown up as a wargamer first and foremost. I had other interests, sports, and girls who took my attention, but very little makes me nostalgic as that dingy basement rolling dice with my bother. It’s a good memory to have.

Changes with Adulthood

Yet we all mature, and as I went off to college, I had to reconcile that the nearest games club was 2 hours away and my brother was 7. I found other things, World of Warcraft, Magic the Gathering, and Friday Night Hockey. Inevitably I would visit my brother on a weekend, and he would have a new project, or painting idea and it would all come back.

The imagination of my army crushing all before me, the feel of dice in my hand, the first time you open your new rulebook, picking out your paint scheme, and car rides home retelling your tactical genius; and your horrible misplays.

Joining the working world was not kind to my hobby. I have sold out completely and bought back in at least 3 times to my count. Really my hardest struggle on maintaining my hobby has been distance; from a game store, from tournaments, from community, and from my brother. The truth is the last tournament I played was Unplugged GT and before that it was the Keystone GT, 2 Years before that. It’s been a while. I play infrequently, and I miss playing with a community all the time. I listen to podcasts about wargaming every week. Whether I own models or not I am checking out the community pages almost every day. I just don’t get to play often.

So why stay in?

I believe we all share the same hobby, the same competitive spirit, but I also believe that we take that platform, invest ourselves, and make it our own. I invest because, when I go to a game store, or a tournament once a year, I get to relive that experience I had many Saturdays as a kid. I get to imagine a list, build it, and play. I spend some quality time with my brother, I meet new and interesting people, and usually I lose. The best part is I’m ecstatic the entire time!

I remember every battle I had at Unplugged, and how each army and opponent had something interesting and exciting to look at, talk about, and experience. See, as a regular player I would get stuck in the minutiae; “Is this unit overpowered?”, “Why doesn’t that guy paint his models?” “I keep losing with my army, maybe its time for a change”.

Now, I look forward to the tournaments I can make. As an infrequent wargamer I’ve discovered something else that is amazing about the hobby: What we all as a community put back into it. That intangible element of ourselves and what we, as individuals and as a community create together. To me it is beautiful and unique. It is why I stay invested, it is why I think of new projects to work on and why I paint the miniatures I have, even if they are collecting dust.

I know that the next tournament I am in, with my Kingdoms of Men army, I will be able to give back. Create a fun experience for my opponent, myself, and those around. Create memories of jokes, crushing victories, and horrible defeats.

I am thankful that my brother bought that box of genestealers so long ago, because I have relished in so much growing up as a gamer. I have thought, strategized, and built my entire life, and I am a better person for it. Wargaming has forced me to confront my enemies, think about victory, and do so with the aim of community growth and camaraderie.

I may currently be in the wilds of New Jersey, but I look forward to my next game, my next opponent, and my next memory.

Thank you for reading my love letter to this community and the hobby it surrounds.

Best,
Ulyses Colon