Comments by the Editor
On Rules. Joe Morchauser in 1962 introduced the, then, still nascent hobby to movement stands with more than one figure glued to them to represent platoons, companies, battalions, what-you-will; and to the concept of a Roster Sheet as a means to keep tract of casualties in his book How to Play Wargames in Miniature. (See The Courier Time Line link in the sidebar to the right). In his forward to the book he says:
"Someone, somewhere, at some time, has thought of every rule, and every exception to every rule, and every exception to the exception."
This is as true today as it was in 1962. In spite of our advances in "game technology", multi-sided dice, computers, etc. we would be hard put to find a rule that has not been used by someone somewhere before. The improvements seem to come in the way these rules are combined to better simulate the period they are trying to express.
I thought I had come up with a device that no one had tried yet in this period of many sided-die, the one -sided die! Then I remembered the two headed coin of ancient lore - there is nothing new under the sun
My ability at prediction.
It all started in my early days as editor of The Courier magazine. Gary Gygax sent us a copy of his and Dave Arneson's D & D to review. We gave it a great review but said that the rules were too complex, too difficult for the average gamer and would not go far. Gary never lost an opportunity to remind me of my prediction.
Later, I noted with chagrin, the first offers of painted armies for sale at conventions. My view, published, was that no self-respecting wargamer would spend money on painted armies or on having people paint armies for him. After all, wasn't half the fun the painting of your own armies - giving them a 'personality' of your own? Again I was proven not to be at all prescient!
Still later, I noted with even more chagrin, the first offers of beautifully sculpted terrain pieces and table covers. My view, again published, was that no self-respecting wargamer would spend money on commercial terrain. After all, wasn't half the fun the building and sculpting of your own terrain? Once again I was proven not to be at all prescient!
More recently, at Historicon 2010, I discovered a company offering beautifully crafted wargame tables at no mean cost. http://www.geekchichq.com/index.html I have finally accepted the inevitable and assume that gamers will now run out and buy these tables!
We have figures, painted by others, terrain made by others and tables made by others. I finally understand the trend of these 45 years. I am going to start a gaming service - once you have all these items in place, you can rent my club to come over a play the games for you, at a reasonable cost, to be sure.
On Rules. Joe Morchauser in 1962 introduced the, then, still nascent hobby to movement stands with more than one figure glued to them to represent platoons, companies, battalions, what-you-will; and to the concept of a Roster Sheet as a means to keep tract of casualties in his book How to Play Wargames in Miniature. (See The Courier Time Line link in the sidebar to the right). In his forward to the book he says:
"Someone, somewhere, at some time, has thought of every rule, and every exception to every rule, and every exception to the exception."
This is as true today as it was in 1962. In spite of our advances in "game technology", multi-sided dice, computers, etc. we would be hard put to find a rule that has not been used by someone somewhere before. The improvements seem to come in the way these rules are combined to better simulate the period they are trying to express.
I thought I had come up with a device that no one had tried yet in this period of many sided-die, the one -sided die! Then I remembered the two headed coin of ancient lore - there is nothing new under the sun
My ability at prediction.
It all started in my early days as editor of The Courier magazine. Gary Gygax sent us a copy of his and Dave Arneson's D & D to review. We gave it a great review but said that the rules were too complex, too difficult for the average gamer and would not go far. Gary never lost an opportunity to remind me of my prediction.
Later, I noted with chagrin, the first offers of painted armies for sale at conventions. My view, published, was that no self-respecting wargamer would spend money on painted armies or on having people paint armies for him. After all, wasn't half the fun the painting of your own armies - giving them a 'personality' of your own? Again I was proven not to be at all prescient!
Still later, I noted with even more chagrin, the first offers of beautifully sculpted terrain pieces and table covers. My view, again published, was that no self-respecting wargamer would spend money on commercial terrain. After all, wasn't half the fun the building and sculpting of your own terrain? Once again I was proven not to be at all prescient!
More recently, at Historicon 2010, I discovered a company offering beautifully crafted wargame tables at no mean cost. http://www.geekchichq.com/index.html I have finally accepted the inevitable and assume that gamers will now run out and buy these tables!
We have figures, painted by others, terrain made by others and tables made by others. I finally understand the trend of these 45 years. I am going to start a gaming service - once you have all these items in place, you can rent my club to come over a play the games for you, at a reasonable cost, to be sure.
Hi Dick,
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure to meet you and game with you in the old days of the Gathering of the Clans in the Boston area. Have not seen much of you since but I hope you are well.
I enjoyed "touring" your blog.
Gerard Casanova
Still gaming though my dice haven't improved in the lo, 45 years+
DeleteI still think getting someone to paint figures so you can wargame is like getting someone else to impregnate your wife so you can have kids, lol
ReplyDeleteHmmmm - I know I have a funny rejoinder somewhere but at my age, it takes a lot longer to surface.
Delete