BLOG: YEAR ONE

It's been one year since this blog was launched (officially--if such a term can be applied). Of my original aims, the only clear one was to migrate material from my old Yahoo Groups to a blog (and to dump Yahoo Groups entirely, which is what I've done). That was successful (the original content page, Dubious Designs, was up and running from the start). Since then, I've added other content pages and have more in the works. As you may have guessed, I'm always designing or modifying rules and am happy to inflict them on the public--this blog, like my Yahoo groups before, is my very own vanity press. I recognize that in the future I need to complete the works-in-progress on my content pages, though, for them to be viable (the Chocolate Box Wars in particular).

Sharing content aside, I realize that blogs are much more than file-sharing platforms. I have been a long-time follower and admirer of many blogs, and it has been a pleasure to join the wargaming blogosphere and enter the conversation, literally and figuratively. I am a bit concerned that I'm falling into a limited range of posts, though--battle reports, convention reports, painting reports, e-books for antiquarians, and the odd rules announcement.  I'd like to expand into other kinds of posts in the upcoming year. For instance, the Interlude on my origins in the hobby seems to have been well received, and I always find these sorts of ruminations on the hobby interesting when I read them on other blogs. I'll see if I can expand into other sorts of material like this (without getting too self indulgent).

So, what has gone on in the first year? Well, I have tried to keep the blog active--I generally aim to post once per week, at least. Sometimes, this has been a challenge, but I have noted that like any writing activity, the more you do, the more fluent it becomes. And given that I'm always thinking or doing something hobby-related, there isn't a real issue with material (making material engaging, that's another thing).  

I've also steadily expanded the links on the page.  I very much appreciate blogs that both inform and provide resources, and this is another aspiration I have for my blog.  If you haven't noticed the "Wargaming & Hobby Links" to the left, and the "Other Interesting Links" on the right under the "Popular Posts" sections, you might want to poke around there some time.

I have also found that blogging has kept me more active and engaged with the hobby--I have never painted so much, for instance, as I have while blogging. The connection to other bloggers and their works-in -progress helps to motivate me to keep at it myself. This is good stuff, and I thank my fellow bloggers and followers for the support.  Even though I am lucky to be a member of a very active gaming club, much of what goes on in the hobby, like painting, is solitary and only sees the light of day periodically, especially when it's a work in progress. Blogging has changed much of that for me. 
 
As far as other activity, you can see for yourself the web counter on the main page for the number of visits, as well as the number of followers. I reckon the numbers are respectable (even if I may not be).  What is hidden is the activity on the content pages, where there seems to have been a good amount of traffic as well. Here is the wrap up of activity on the content pages for the curious:

Ed's Nine Year's War Scenarios and Resources: 729 Visits

(I wouldn't have thought that this would have been the leader)

Dubious Designs: Ed's Downloadable Games: 544 Visits

(I'm surprised at the number of visits here--and curious)

Colonial Gaming: Ed's Colonial Gaming Resources: 455 Visits

(I need to add my home brew rules here, so this is a spotty page, I admit)

Miniatures On a Grid: Baroque Battles: 349 Visits

(Like my colonial page, this one needs more content, so my bad on this one)

Smalle Warre: 17th Century Skirmish Rules: 131 Visits

19th C Rules: Chocolate Box Wars and VnB Variant: 64 Visits

(this one has only been up for a week, though--and I need to complete the CBW rules)

I'm happy that these pages are getting visited--my vanity press is working! I'd like to know a bit more about how people are finding and/or using the material (especially the Dubious Designs games).  It may just be the nature of the beast, though--I know that when I visit other blogs' similar content pages that I'm mainly on those to check out the rules or resources, and my mindset is different than when I'm on the main blog. It certainly seems that the stuff is getting looked at, though, so I am content. We'll see what the numbers look like after two years! Which leads me to the next bit. 

At this point, I'll wrap this up with one of my characters whom you haven't heard from since about a year ago...