I am currently working on making excel spreadsheets for Victory at Sea, a project I have been putting off for quite a few years. My friend sent me the sheets he put together for the navies he has but as the Regia Marina (Italian) fleet commander, I have some work to do. At least my workload has been reduced a decent amount! I got about half way through the ships I have before I realized the main Victory at Sea book does not cover the whole fleet. It took me about three years to start the project and I am currently writing this blog post when I should be working on the rest as I now have the stats for all my ships.
While this type of record creating can be boring, and sometimes difficult it is well worth the effort. The last game we played we only used ships I had cards for and record keeping was so much easier than writing everything down on a scrap piece of paper. If you are running a game nicely made stat cards can really up the look and feel of a game. It might not be fun at the time you are making them but you will really appreciate the effort when it comes time to roll the dice. Besides it is easier to make spreadsheets on a lunch break then it is to paint your minis! Of course we all have our version of boring stuff, for some it might be labeling units, basing, putting on the first base coat or anything else.
Whatever it is try to push through it, you’ll be glad you did! Now I need to go back to work on those Victory at Sea stats and go get them printed and laminated. You know, Man O’ War by Game Workshop would really benefit from easier to use stat cards as well. Hmmmm, I have only had that game for ten or so years, I don’t want to rush things. . . .
That was not the Minotaur the Italian fleet was expecting!
- The Wachtmeister