tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post3606798147742406541..comments2024-03-18T16:51:23.551+00:00Comments on KEITH'S WARGAMING BLOG: Some Recent VenturesKeith Flinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-31488257500388267092018-08-21T00:27:05.338+01:002018-08-21T00:27:05.338+01:00Thanks for a most interesting blog post Keith. I&#...Thanks for a most interesting blog post Keith. I'm probably too old now to get much out of the "ideal" wargames rule book you aspire to but it would be good to have such a thing to give to the younger generation. Maybe they could get some of the same pleasure we did reading about wargaming in the style of those early writers. A succinct set of rules within it is essential though. I think "Rapid Fire!" First and Second Editions are well written and an enjoyable way to absorb WW2 rules, as is your own HoW for SYW. Good Luck.<br />Chris (the rapidly beating heart of wargaming!!!)<br />http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.com/Chris Gregghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585623032053255569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-60907008898295192602018-08-08T08:48:34.055+01:002018-08-08T08:48:34.055+01:00Jonathan, I was thinking of Mr Thomas in this cont...Jonathan, I was thinking of Mr Thomas in this context myself. His Ancient and Medieval Wargaming was a pretty readable book with the rules woven into a series of chapters. A clever man.Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-51081579004044269132018-08-07T18:50:51.041+01:002018-08-07T18:50:51.041+01:00Much to consider in this post, Keith.
To respon...Much to consider in this post, Keith. <br /><br />To respond to just one of your topics, creating Readable Wargame Rules is an interesting proposition. I popped over to Andy's post and read both his thoughts and your responses. Perhaps rules' precision combined with engaging and entertaining text in one ruleset is too much to ask? One that stands out to me as a good read is Thomas' Wargaming: 19th Century Europe. Unfortunately, Thomas lacks precision in a number areas within the body of the rules. Jonathan Freitaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862373894196924886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-20553996524514931462018-08-06T12:27:16.069+01:002018-08-06T12:27:16.069+01:00A good post that.. lots of interest!A good post that.. lots of interest!Steve-the-Wargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-5417474389988053922018-08-05T17:35:31.072+01:002018-08-05T17:35:31.072+01:00Thanks Steve. Yes, I'd like to have a bash at ...Thanks Steve. Yes, I'd like to have a bash at the Airborne Assault scenario with yourself. I need to run it through solo to make sure the adaptions to Battlegroup are sound, and the relative force strengths make a reasonable ga,e. I'll be in touch.<br /><br />I'll also be posting a more 'scenario based' ancients game in a while, which will also be a bit of an experiment.Keith Flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12903769462646267048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1430463007570237159.post-26158478654779871482018-08-05T08:37:33.368+01:002018-08-05T08:37:33.368+01:00Dare I say it Keith but maybe you are becoming a &...Dare I say it Keith but maybe you are becoming a 'wargames butterfly' like the rest of us!? As always, an interesting read and with some stuff that gave me food for thought.<br /><br />I think one thing I find a tad boring with Ancients is the prevalence of the line 'em up and have a bash scenarios. Personally they leave me rather cold. However some smaller scale actions (not skirmish level) would certainly pique my interest. Stuart's scenarios books have some good starting points I'm sure. It has certainly got me thinking about this 'period' once again.<br /><br />1/32 plastic soldiers eh? Frankly what's not to like? Many fond memories of the old Airfix figures and the smell of them when the box was opened. If I ever gamed in that scale, I'd be sorely tempted to leave them as is, just for that pure nostalgia fix.<br /><br />Glad to see the Fallschirmjager scenario is back on the cards and I look forward to seeing further updates on this. If you fancy an opponent, maybe our diaries and the planets may align, you never know. Flames of War! Well what can I say? I did have some fun games at the club with these rules, but sadly not many. The constant rule changes/updates and new army books etc put me off.<br /><br />The bit on rule books that are an interesting ready got me thinking on this very point and as to what I want in a rule book. I often cite Blitzkreig Commander II as my favourite type of rule book, as it just has the rules, generally well laid out, with army lists and at a good price. Your own 'Honours of War' and the general Osprey stable work well in this regard too. Compare this to the Black Powder 'coffee table' style book, which whilst nice to look at and sometimes to read, doesn't work well as a rule book. Hail Caesar I found to be even worse. I think this is down to the rules being spread out throughout the book, rather than concentrated in one area.<br /><br />I think the original Grant, Featherstone et al books worked well in the sense that they set out their stall in the early part of the book, where you could enjoy reading each chapter without having to worry about the rules themselves. When you did reach the rules, they were generally self contained. Charlie Wesencraft's 'Pike & Shotte' rules I found to be a most enjoyable read and the rules themselves not too bad either, given their age. Of the 'modern' rules writers, I have found Neil Thomas' approach refreshing and have actually enjoyed reading his books, which is rare these days.<br /><br />To finish up, thanks for the 'heads up' on the Grant book, which I have ordered as it was too good a bargain to pass up and fills that hole in my collection. I am looking forward to reading it in light of the above.Steve J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12143308117853983963noreply@blogger.com