A young businessman who fought back from a debilitating condition has set up his own table-top war games business.
Orc-Ward Battles will pit desktop warriors against each other.
Jacob Noble, 26, of Slaithwaite, had been a gamer since the age of 12 but it was only when he was struck down with Crohn’s Disease two years ago that he decided to turn his hobby into a business.
Last November Jacob opened his gaming club inside the WonderLand PlayGym in Slaithwaite.
It proved such a success that three months later he was able to open his own shop.
A family friend, Angela Hanlon, had a spare unit next to her hair salon in Lightcliffe Road, Crosland Moor, and offered it to Jacob for a modest rent.
Now he has staged his first big event inviting 25 Linthwaite Scouts to battle it out on his gaming boards based on The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Jacob said: “A lot of people enjoy computer games but war gaming is much more exciting.
“Once you’ve played a computer game that’s it but war gaming is a game of chance, based on the throw of a dice, and no two battles are the same.”
The Hobbit hit movies have also lifted interest in gaming.
Jacob was a security manager at the Storthes Hall complex when he was taken ill the day after his 24th birthday.
“I started suffering with illness and didn’t know what was wrong,” he said.
“I was admitted to hospital by ambulance six times in nine weeks and at times I was in absolute agony.
“Eventually the doctors said I would need surgery to find out what was wrong.”
It was found Jacob had a perforated bowel and Crohn’s disease was diagnosed.
Jacob had eight inches of bowel removed and had a colostomy which, fortunately, was later able to be reversed.
Jacob couldn’t return to his previous job because the risk of assault was too high.
“I thought with my illness I would struggle to get another job,” he said. “Even though it’s discrimination no one really wants to employ anyone with problems like mine so I decided to create a job for myself.”
WonderLand got him started and Mrs Hanlon has given him the chance to grow his business.
His shop will be open five days a week and on Mondays and Thursdays he will service his thriving mail order business.
“I can’t believe people have given me this chance,” said Jacob. “I am so grateful for all the help I’ve had and I’m determined to make a success of it.”
To find out more search for Orc-Ward Battles on Facebook.
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
