Machen
Vassal
I certainly hope Oldhammer isn't dying out. Particularly this forum. Heck, I just got here!
In the broad sense, whether Oldhammer is dying probably depends on what "Oldhammer" is for you. For me it's primarily about the aesthetic of handsculpted miniatures from the 80's and 90's and contemporary works inspired by that style, as well as all the associated lore and worldbuilding of that era. It's less about playing the actual old wargames, not because I'm averse to it or disinterested, but because I've never had people to wargame with.
As far as this forum goes, I hope it has a healthy future, as I'm really not a fan of facebook for three reasons. First, the idea that I'm contributing to a giant data-collecting behemoth in the service of better predicting and controlling human customers turns me off. Second, way too many advertisements, visual noise, and recommended posts popping up and interrupting what I'm perusing. And third, my wife used Facebook for years before they suddenly terminated her account, no explanations given. She's not been able to get it back since, so all the content she'd logged there is basically gone for good. She was a good faith user who used Facebook to communicate with friends and family and follow news about knitting, so I know she was blameless. Maybe her account got hacked, or maybe a Facebook algorithm made a mistake, but regardless, she's locked out now. Needless to say, it's left me very skeptical about investing time there. (Which is a real pain, since I know there are Facebook groups that sell Oldhammer fan sculpts not available anywhere else. Perhaps I'll find a way to source them through contacts made here.)
There's a lot to recommend about simpler, "Old school" websites like this one: Much easier to navigate, a lot less intrusive advertising, less being tracked and monitored by Big Brother style profiteers, and very little chance of being arbitrarily suspended without due cause. I've enjoyed participating in dakkadakka's forum for many years (where my handle is Vermonter, though I now live in NH, USA) but it's great to find one like this that is Oldhammer specific.
I hope those in charge here will take heart and find reward in continuing, because this site is providing a valuable service to older hobbyists like myself, and with a lot less of the BS associated with the trendier apps favored by young whippersnappers.
In the broad sense, whether Oldhammer is dying probably depends on what "Oldhammer" is for you. For me it's primarily about the aesthetic of handsculpted miniatures from the 80's and 90's and contemporary works inspired by that style, as well as all the associated lore and worldbuilding of that era. It's less about playing the actual old wargames, not because I'm averse to it or disinterested, but because I've never had people to wargame with.
As far as this forum goes, I hope it has a healthy future, as I'm really not a fan of facebook for three reasons. First, the idea that I'm contributing to a giant data-collecting behemoth in the service of better predicting and controlling human customers turns me off. Second, way too many advertisements, visual noise, and recommended posts popping up and interrupting what I'm perusing. And third, my wife used Facebook for years before they suddenly terminated her account, no explanations given. She's not been able to get it back since, so all the content she'd logged there is basically gone for good. She was a good faith user who used Facebook to communicate with friends and family and follow news about knitting, so I know she was blameless. Maybe her account got hacked, or maybe a Facebook algorithm made a mistake, but regardless, she's locked out now. Needless to say, it's left me very skeptical about investing time there. (Which is a real pain, since I know there are Facebook groups that sell Oldhammer fan sculpts not available anywhere else. Perhaps I'll find a way to source them through contacts made here.)
There's a lot to recommend about simpler, "Old school" websites like this one: Much easier to navigate, a lot less intrusive advertising, less being tracked and monitored by Big Brother style profiteers, and very little chance of being arbitrarily suspended without due cause. I've enjoyed participating in dakkadakka's forum for many years (where my handle is Vermonter, though I now live in NH, USA) but it's great to find one like this that is Oldhammer specific.
I hope those in charge here will take heart and find reward in continuing, because this site is providing a valuable service to older hobbyists like myself, and with a lot less of the BS associated with the trendier apps favored by young whippersnappers.
As an aside I still think middlehammer should be called Midhammer, sounds much more like a city in the Old World to my mind and therefore better!
).