tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post3640166110435395112..comments2024-03-27T20:12:05.513-04:00Comments on SOUND OFFICERS CALL!: The Allure of Simple Wargaming?Disgruntled Fusilierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-18920362956797152322020-08-18T16:18:33.693-04:002020-08-18T16:18:33.693-04:00*information*informationDisgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-29481918908725744442020-08-18T16:04:07.636-04:002020-08-18T16:04:07.636-04:00Jonathan I would absolutely love to see what youve...Jonathan I would absolutely love to see what youve come up with, and any additional informmation you'd like to share relative to this project! Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-7517730330444596352020-08-18T12:47:52.682-04:002020-08-18T12:47:52.682-04:00Having played through Fields of Honor (fOh) twice ...Having played through Fields of Honor (fOh) twice now with a second BatRep to follow, I think it fits into your SIMPLE classification. would you like to see FoH given your SIMPLE GAMING QUESTIONNAIRE? Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-30801563610240002842020-08-10T19:29:10.982-04:002020-08-10T19:29:10.982-04:00Excellent points, Phil! Thank you for commenting! ...Excellent points, Phil! Thank you for commenting! I like your point that we should be playing with the miniatures!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-30359961262127718142020-08-10T09:39:53.615-04:002020-08-10T09:39:53.615-04:00Interesting post.
I'm also an afficionado of ...Interesting post.<br /><br />I'm also an afficionado of "simple" wargaming rules, and focusing on the "fun" bits. That's why I also mostly write my own rules.<br /><br />For me, my rules should focus on <br />1. decision making<br />2. playing with the soldiers<br /><br />Let me elaborate:<br /><br />1. Decision making: players should be able to make meaningful decisions during the game. I have drifted towards activation systems, where you roll a die for each unit to do something. If the die roll fails, turn is over. I know that many wargamers don't like such a system, but it's a very flexible way of forcing the players to think.<br /><br />2. Playing with the toys: wargaming is a tactile hobby, and should aim for maxmimum manipulation of the toys. Hence, a strong focus on movement and manoeuvres, and less focus on combat resolution. Combat resolution should be as simple and quick as possible, because that's not where we are playing around with the toys. But during movement, we pick up and move the toy soldiers, and that is what makes miniature wargaming miniature wargaming.<br />Phil Dutréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13607941040736764291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-73118304383651914462020-08-07T11:33:20.355-04:002020-08-07T11:33:20.355-04:00Thanks! I’ll have a look at those.
Thanks! I’ll have a look at those.<br />Daglallarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444811583243247251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-59095770762199019952020-08-07T06:39:20.642-04:002020-08-07T06:39:20.642-04:00Their author, Alex, might be able to send you the ...Their author, Alex, might be able to send you the most up to date versions. His email is: Brasidas19004 at Gmail dot com.<br /><br />He has 2 blogs that I have linked over to the right:<br /><br />"Up the Blue!" For WWII<br />"Spear to the Strife" for Dark Ages and Medieval.<br /><br />Those blogs may have his rules QRS in a post so trolling through them might be helpful.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-23903028021585854702020-08-07T05:22:08.696-04:002020-08-07T05:22:08.696-04:00Thanks for the encouraging words!
Are those rules...Thanks for the encouraging words! <br />Are those rules to be found anywhere? :) I actually lack ww2 figures, but have a collection of medievals somewhere. Daglallarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444811583243247251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-7061553937794567972020-08-06T20:04:30.637-04:002020-08-06T20:04:30.637-04:00Norm I couldn't agree more re the 1HW WW2 set....Norm I couldn't agree more re the 1HW WW2 set. I really have enjoyed Alex's "Up the Blue!" Variant which have much added chrome.<br /><br />That's a really great point about familiarity with a period perhaps leading to a bit more leniency or patience with a rule set.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-75883572000540547812020-08-06T18:17:03.649-04:002020-08-06T18:17:03.649-04:00All good, will head over the C&C post now. ‘si...All good, will head over the C&C post now. ‘simple’ will also be at a different point on the simple v detail line For each and every one of us. I note that in One Hour Wargames, I felt the weakest rules were the WWII set, but I believe that is because it is my primary interest and I want more from a rule set, whilst I am much more forgiving of the rules used for a secondary interest such as ancients etc, where I am more inclined to want a fun game ...... simply because I don’t know enough to be more demanding of the rules, the same with naval games.<br /><br />It sounds like your plate is full :-)Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-9915476283064842202020-08-06T14:57:17.615-04:002020-08-06T14:57:17.615-04:00Thank you for that comment, Norm. One thing I'...Thank you for that comment, Norm. One thing I'm finding with the majority of these comments and ideas from around the 'net is that the allure of simple games - the driving force behind many "Grognards" seeking these types of games out is that they're after a the decision, the game, and the battle. They're strapped for time, patience, and maybe even space, and that they want something that's going to scratch the itch and deliver a good, fun, and historically plausible game. There's another camp that argues that the solution I'm seeking has less to do with simplicity, and more to do with familiarity with the rules played. That's a pretty significant factor that I did not take into account but it makes alot of sense and you touch upon it in your comment here - namely that the more rules you play, the less familiar you are with any one of them, which could increase frustration, research, etc during a game. So the argument being that if you played only Black Powder over the course of a year, you'd be so well-versed in it, that it would be simple for you.<br /><br />That's a great point about too simple and not engaging enough. I feel like the question is "is decision making enough?" or do you want more detail? How much detail? A saving throw for armor? or a D100 chart based on millimetre thickness of armor :) I always felt that's where One Hour Wargames fell a bit short - meat on the bones. that said - the structure is solid enough to add your own (eagles cheaper than brain cells Napoleonic, and Alex's "Up the Blue" WWII mods are examples of adding more meat on the bones)<br /><br />Norm one game a month would be good to learn and stay sharp on a system. I do think you really need to be put it through its paces to learn. My group, and this is my fault probably, can never stay put on a single rules set for longer than a couple weeks. I also find myself confusing rules from one set to another - a classic exmaple that i'm playing too many things!<br /><br />By the way, this is OUTSTANDING dialogue and I'm so pleased with the results so far.<br /><br />Already 2 gamers (you and Erik D) have already played and answered the questions. I have played and am working on the blog post now for Commands and Colors: Ancients and just today at lunchtime finished 2 x games of Mr Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames Horse & Musket, Scenario #20. <br /><br />Thank you for sticking with this neat little project so far!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-78888581653388332682020-08-06T12:03:52.743-04:002020-08-06T12:03:52.743-04:00Steve, adding to the above. I am just embarking on...Steve, adding to the above. I am just embarking on a boardgame. I read the rules that refused to sink into my head and so I played the opening sequences, with rule set in hand to try and get a better grasp. It took a couple of hours to get the flow, but I now feel I understand enough to go away and read the rules again, which should now be easier to absorb and together with a crib sheet, then start to play. Each playing adding to an establishing of the system. Now all of that sounds bad based on what we have discussed so far....... However!<br /><br />Why am I doing this, because the game package is a ‘series’ game. I have three of the games, which will give me 20 battles, including the very, very important Bosworth. I am hoping that in my world of streamlining periods into series rules, this series will become my early to late medieval set and so the question I am asking myself here - and this will be the test of whether I stick with this system .....<br /><br />Does the investment in learning become worthwhile Vs. The number of scenarios and hours that I can get from this and also is the extra learning worthwhile to get something that on the ‘Generic to Detailed’ scale, is at a place that I feel I will give rewarding and meaningful play. <br /><br />I say this from the point of view that I do feel that too simple is too generic and not engaging enough.<br /><br />Time will tell of course and I am already finding the process frustrating rather than enjoyable, so there is a certain discipline needed here. will all of this result in me having an engaging game that is ‘becomes’ relatively simple because of so much investment? <br /><br />I have my reservations, because I play with som much, that I may not return to it for 4 - 6 months and then we will almost be back at square 1 - perhaps a game every month could avoid that, but how many of my systems can I play once a month, I don’t have that much available spare capacity.<br /><br />I am just posting this here because it is another leg of my own journey of streamlining and simplifying and once I get a game or two played, may feed into your own overall ‘evaluation of the matter’!Normhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031444717952755557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-13561066568376416052020-08-05T20:33:11.085-04:002020-08-05T20:33:11.085-04:00Also, my friend Alex has written a dark ages and a...Also, my friend Alex has written a dark ages and also a World War 2 variant of the Neil Thomas 1HW which are very much fun as well.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-69907145979645340142020-08-05T20:32:08.720-04:002020-08-05T20:32:08.720-04:00Very nice post, Erik! I just commented over on yo...Very nice post, Erik! I just commented over on your blog!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-45863568976734623772020-08-05T19:55:43.936-04:002020-08-05T19:55:43.936-04:00I have had thougths on it for a while, and now I h...I have had thougths on it for a while, and now I have started my own gaming blog (and hopefully I will continue with it). I made a battle report and answered most of the questions there: https://theswedishintelligencer.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/opening-salvoes/<br />I will follow it up with my hex-modifications to Eagles. /ErikDaglallarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444811583243247251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-59139850391078538782020-08-05T14:10:30.892-04:002020-08-05T14:10:30.892-04:00Cheers Jeffers! I am a member already of the AMW ...Cheers Jeffers! I am a member already of the AMW formerly Yahoo group! I rarely post there, though. Your description hit the nail on the head here and I echo the reasons you mention here as my own rationale behind going for more simple games and gaming. It is definitely not just you!!!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-69767301924583486802020-08-05T13:22:30.078-04:002020-08-05T13:22:30.078-04:00There is also this https://groups.io/g/AMW for mor...There is also this https://groups.io/g/AMW for more Neil Thomas adaptations. You may even find some of my stuff in there! I think the allure of simple rules is probably down to most gamers of an certain age’ starting out with home grown rules or Featherstone and the like. With little adult contact - and probably more enthusiasm than knowledge - we were able to devise rules and fill any gaps with common sense and imagination. When you get older and join groups you tend to meet with the more ‘grown up and realistic’ rules and, worse, competitive types and rules lawyers. After a few years, with breaks for family, jobs etc, you have less time and patience for this sort of nonsense so the simple games of youth beckon. Or maybe that’s just me!Jeffershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319010033525561907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-12528190711432628072020-08-04T10:10:20.257-04:002020-08-04T10:10:20.257-04:00Thanks Erik, I am very much looking forward to wha...Thanks Erik, I am very much looking forward to what you come up with! "Eagles Cheaper" is one of my favorite games and I'm looking to take it into the AWI and ACW eras as well.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-55374257286473278902020-08-04T07:03:45.905-04:002020-08-04T07:03:45.905-04:00I think it's very good. It's a simple fast...I think it's very good. It's a simple fast-play system that I can play from memory. It's also stable, so that one can easily improvise, add specials (I like the list in the end) and make judgements. I've played some Blücher and tried fast-play Grande Armee, but since they are to different degrees more complex systems they are more difficult to modify. Playing Eagles on hexes takes a few minutes to modify. And the dice-rolling are well balanced between "statistic attrition" and "acts of bravery". <br /><br />I was inspired by your post so I actually took a break from painting and had a battle with it today, so I'll be back later with some kind of report. <br />/ErikDaglallarenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444811583243247251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-46511253243698270072020-08-03T18:34:05.921-04:002020-08-03T18:34:05.921-04:00Jonathan I tried to keep things at least in only 2...Jonathan I tried to keep things at least in only 2 scales (10mm and 15mm) but that has backfired on me in recent years. You do have a very eclectic taste when it comes to eras. I for one never even thought about Spanish American War! For me it is starting to become a storage issue, too. I've had to move collections up into our attic because I hadn't played with them in years and they were taking up precious space for eras and collections I do game with more regularly.<br /><br />Part of my problem is also that I have multiple scales for the same era... 10mm and 15mm ACW, 6mm and 15mm Cold War and WW2, 10mm and 15mm SYW etc. This contributes greatly to my storage problem and lent urgency to the idea that perhaps I could downsize a little.<br /><br />I will readily admit that i have tremendously regretted downsizing after letting go of whole armies in the past.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-7798396650843585052020-08-03T18:23:06.412-04:002020-08-03T18:23:06.412-04:00Also what did you think of Eagles Cheaper than Bra...Also what did you think of Eagles Cheaper than Brain Cells? It's one of my favorites!Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-7815279574998907912020-08-03T17:55:15.691-04:002020-08-03T17:55:15.691-04:00The answer to this question (as in many) is, it de...The answer to this question (as in many) is, it depends! For 28mm Napoleonics in the Peninsula, I use this engine. For big Napoleonic battles on the continent, I use a different system.<br /><br />With no many periods/rules/wargames/figures/etc., I ought to consider downsizing as well. My problem is that I have so many varied interests that it would be tough to pick which projects to jettison. <br />My board, wargaming collection is out of control too. I wish I had you and Norm's discipline to pick a few and stick to them...Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-4075373435171451512020-08-03T14:23:28.719-04:002020-08-03T14:23:28.719-04:00Thanks Mike, I'm going to check this out now. ...Thanks Mike, I'm going to check this out now. I like that you have set parameters for what you're looking for.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-55864005132079954282020-08-03T14:22:31.396-04:002020-08-03T14:22:31.396-04:00Wow thank you for that comment! Very well said, s...Wow thank you for that comment! Very well said, sir! It sounds like you want to get down to the business of fighting. I well appreciate that and find myself agreeing with you.Disgruntled Fusilierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995610821904415726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194255716971534690.post-18351267421116671832020-08-03T08:26:49.667-04:002020-08-03T08:26:49.667-04:00I have been seeking the simple wargame for many ye...I have been seeking the simple wargame for many years. For me that means the rules should cover no more than 4 pages of A4 and a QRS should always be one sheet. With some of my rules only taking one or two sides of A4 there isn't a need for a QRS at all. A number of my game designs have featured in the pages of "The Nugget" (the journal of Wargame Developments) over the years, as have other WD members' game designs (most of which are also simple). I recommend you take a look at what is on offer at the Wargame Developments web site:<br />http://www.wargamedevelopments.org/Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392867531639666828noreply@blogger.com