Inverclyde has no shortage of passionate hobbyists, but if you wander into the Greenock & District Wargames Club, you’ll quickly notice one thing: the overwhelming focus on historical wargaming. That’s fine for players who love recreating famous battles or diving deep into military history. But for anyone interested in fantasy or sci-fi systems — Warhammer 40k, Battletech, Star Wars: Legion, X-Wing, or other popular games — the welcome is… lukewarm at best.
The Unspoken Divide
There’s always been a split in tabletop wargaming between historical and non-historical players. Most modern clubs try to strike a balance — advertising upcoming fantasy and sci-fi nights as much as they do Napoleonic or WWII games. Why? Because inclusivity brings variety, and variety brings growth.
Greenock’s club, however, seems to operate differently. One of the organisers has openly stated that it’s up to the players themselves to bring in others who want to play fantasy or sci-fi. On the surface, that might sound fair. In practice, it means the club never makes space for those games in its own advertising or promotion.
It’s worth emphasising that this approach is unusual. In most wargaming clubs:
- The club itself advertises and promotes all games, not leaving promotion entirely to individual players.
- Members are only expected to invite friends, not recruit strangers or actively promote specific systems.
- Newcomers can join and try different types of games without feeling alienated, encouraging growth and diversity in the community.
While the general perception is that Greenock & District Wargames Club operates like most other clubs, in reality its approach is quite different. By leaving non-historical games entirely in the hands of individual players, the club fails to provide the visibility and support that most clubs naturally offer.
How This Club Compares
In a typical wargaming club, the club itself advertises all games — historical, fantasy, and sci-fi — and members are generally only expected to invite friends, not recruit strangers. Newcomers can try multiple genres without feeling out of place, variety is encouraged, and the club actively fosters an inclusive and diverse play environment, which supports consistent membership growth. Most clubs also run events, tournaments, or themed nights for multiple systems, helping to maintain engagement and retain players long-term.
By contrast, Greenock & District Wargames Club relies heavily on individual players to promote non-historical games. Members are expected to recruit others themselves for fantasy or sci-fi systems, while many existing members appear aloof or dismissive toward these games. Non-historical players may feel alienated or excluded, growth is limited, and the club focuses almost exclusively on historical wargames, missing opportunities to cultivate a broader, more welcoming community. Newcomers interested in non-historical wargames face a particular barrier: without local contacts or structured events, it’s difficult to participate or find like-minded players.
The Risk of Ostracism
For players like myself who enjoy sci-fi wargames but don’t already know others locally who play them, this hands-off stance creates an unspoken barrier. Instead of walking into a club and finding a welcoming community, there’s the danger of being quietly ostracised simply for not sharing the dominant interest in historical wargaming.
Many sci-fi players, myself included, have highlighted that the club isn’t particularly welcoming to non-historical players. Unfortunately, these concerns are often brushed off, leaving the barrier to entry unchanged. Many existing members have often been observed to be aloof or dismissive toward non-historical wargames, which can make new or casual players feel even more isolated.
As a result, many non-historical wargamers feel compelled to travel outside the local area to find clubs or players that welcome their preferred games — often heading to the Bus Stop Toy Shop in Largs or to Warhammer in Glasgow — adding time, cost, and inconvenience to what should be an accessible hobby. This behaviour explains why few non-historical players stick around locally, and why growth in that segment remains stagnant.
Perception vs Reality
The general impression is that Greenock & District Wargames Club operates like any other wargaming club. In reality, the approach is very different, leaving prospective members under the false assumption that all types of wargames are equally supported. This misperception can lead to frustration, disillusionment, and missed opportunities for community growth.
Opportunity for Improvement
Minor changes, such as scheduling fantasy or sci-fi nights, including them in newsletters, or actively advertising these events, could make a substantial difference in inclusivity and retention. Without these steps, the club risks stagnation and alienating potential members who might otherwise contribute significantly to the local wargaming community.
Why This Matters
A hobby thrives when everyone feels included, and clubs that actively support a diversity of play help the community grow stronger. The hands-off approach at Greenock flies in the face of how most successful gaming clubs operate. The club sets the tone by promoting variety, encouraging newcomers, and demonstrating there’s space for everyone. When only one style of play is consistently showcased, the implicit message is: if you don’t fit this mold, you don’t belong.
Join a Welcoming Community
This behaviour is precisely why I wanted to open my own club, one that is always welcoming of all wargames formats, historical or not. For anyone interested in fantasy, sci-fi, or other non-historical wargames, there’s a forum I run where all wargamers are welcome. We actively encourage new players, provide guidance, and plan to rent a hall with boards, scenery, and a proper space for gaming.
If you’ve ever struggled to find like-minded players locally, felt excluded, or simply want a friendly, inclusive environment for all types of wargames, this is your chance to connect and help build a vibrant, supportive community.
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