14/08/2008 (Day 2.227) - Nerd Hero! - a photo on Flickriver

14/08/2008 (Day 2.227) - Nerd Hero!

The trouble with actually being a nerd is that when FGR decide to have a Nerd Day it's difficult to know what theme to go for. Godzilla? Doctor Who? Sherlock Holmes? Popular science? My job in IT? All were possibilities.

I settled for wargaming, something which I think we can all agree is suitably nerdy, especially as my primary interest these days is the fantasy game 'Hordes of the Things' (HOTT). You can't get nerdier than commanding armies of Orcs, Elves and Dwarves*.

I started playing HOTT about 12 years ago, and found it a most enjoyable game. As the years went by I collected various resources together into a website , The Stronghold, and eventually set up what proved to be a moderately popular Yahoo Group as well. In 2001 we helped one of the co-authors of the rules develop a second edition and, not long afterwards, the first major HOTT competition was held in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. Other competitions are now regularly held not only around the UK, but in other countries as well**. The 8th Berkeley competition will be held in a couple of weeks.

HOTT has a relatively thriving international community of players and some of it is due to my website and Yahoo Group. Leastways that was what was felt in 2004 when, much to my surprise, I was presented with a special award at the 2004 Berkeley competition: a 28mm miniature of ... me.

And here it is. It was sculpted from the few photos of me that were on the 'net at that time (how that's changed) which is why the resemblance is not, shall we say, perfect. Only four figures were cast. Three were used as trophies for the competition, the master figure was given to Steve Price (who organises Bekeley every year - long may he do so) and I got the remaining one. I was also given the mould; only I can cast these figures now, so I can choose how Limited Edition to make them. So far I haven't made any more; if you are one of the trophy holders then you still have a relatively unique miniature in your possesion.

The figure shows me as depicted in the mythology of the Yahoo Group; clad only in a dressing gown (half-nekkid, indeed) whilst clutching a copy of the HOTT rule-book in one hand and a trusty mug of cocoa in the other. Sadly that particular dressing-gown and mug (a Science Museum one, showing the periodic table of the elements - extra nerd points there) no longer exist, but are immortalised in this miniature. The miniature I got was bare metal, so that I could paint it myself; this is therefore the only 'accurate' rendition of it :-)

Anyway, a long-winded explanation of what this is - a nerdy accolade given for services to nerdiness.

For extra nerdiness I put on my glasses.

More HOTT pictures here.

A year ago today I was all at sea.

*Not all together in the same army though, as that would be Wrong.

**Including at least two in Australia, so I'll be OK there.

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Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Staines (show map)

Taken on: August 14, 2008

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Sets appears in: • Your Favourites • 365 Days more » • 365 Days - Year 2 • 365 Most Interesting (Year 2) « less

Groups appears in: • NERD • 365 Days more » • 365 More • Half Nekkid Thursdays • UK Challenge Club « less

Camera: Olympus uD600,S600, f/5.2, 0.5 sec, 17.4mm, ISO 250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Olympus uD600,S600
Aperture:	f/5.2
Exposure Time:	0.5
Focal Length:	17.4mm
ISO:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Version 1.1
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