Attraction to the table?

What does it for you:

When you first saw or became connected to the hobby?

When you had some of your own troops?

Now that you have many troops and are looking to game with them more often?

I ask as I am working with at least 2 others to develop something that will help to attract as many new players as possible.

For me, the answers look something like:

I was first attracted to the color and with a few games the size of the battles represented. I really enjoyed a number of 15mm Nappy's batts games that I played and a few of the Age of Reason ones in 25mm. I needed to move away from close proximity to all these players whom had fantastic 25mm collections, and so have had to start building my own.

When I finnaly had some troops, back when there were many others gaming, all I wanted was to get my guys into battle on the tabletop (thus the reason why I chose Saxons, since they faught on many sides during the 7 years war period). It was always frustrating to know that a game was coming up and to be told that no, the Saxons were not needed...sigh.

Now I find that I am looking to revive the actions of the past with the games run with the others whom had the large number of minis, but rather than a one-shot game (even though I am enjoying the bicentennial Napoleonics I have been doing over the past few years) I have been wanting to have the tabletop actions connect into a greater whole.
Somehow...


What are the views and thought of others on this topic?