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Post by leman on Oct 14, 2016 15:11:57 GMT
Tabletop Wargames: A Designers' and Writers' Handbook - by Rick Priestly and John Lambshead
I have written a not particularly favourable comment/review of this book on the Pendraken site's forum. I do not believe this book does what it says on the tin. I think a more apt subtitle might well have been 'a justification of why I write rules the way I do.' I certainly do not believe this book would help the general wargamer to write a set of rules. Just a couple of points to illustrate my frustration with this book (the only one in 64 years I can remember actually hurling at the wall). Firstly:
Too much randomness de-skills the gaming experience.One reaction to this issue was the development of the average dice ........... but these are pretty much obsolete. No doubt somewhere there is an extant rule set utilising them but offhand we can't think of one. A more elegant solution is simply to roll more dice.
Give me strength - despite his 'research', he did not come across Honours of War, the Lardies' If the Lord Spares Us or the various guises of Piquet?
Here's another little pearl of wisdom:
In reality it is only occasionally that wargamers will get together and attempt a refight of an actual historic battle.
I don't know about you, but about 50-60% of my gaming is refighting actual battles. There are just too many of these offhand remarks to enable me to take this book seriously as a guide to writing rules.
Verdict - don't line this man's pockets.
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Post by cennedd on Oct 14, 2016 17:42:22 GMT
now,now, leman dont let it push your blood pressure up.Have a nice cup of tea and if that doesnt work a large glass of something stronger.You could always give the book to someone you dont like at christmas or leave it in the bathroom where it can help you if your constipated or keep the circulation going when the house is full.I wont be nasty and say you could give it to Jeremy Corbyn, but suppose I just did.We've all bought books we thought where going to be the next Harry Potter and then once home found they where from Barbara Cartland,if all else fails it can prop the sideboard up.There is a certain latin expression which Ive forgotten ,but basically dont let it get you down.We have been warned and thank you for warning us.
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Post by leman on Oct 14, 2016 17:57:15 GMT
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Post by Keith on Oct 29, 2016 19:10:22 GMT
I actually quite liked the book. My review can be found here: Books, Books, Books...Of course, I also had a go about the average dice thing.
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Post by leman on Oct 30, 2016 11:48:50 GMT
Yes, I saw that. Not too surprised. I think my main issue is with the maths - it's always been so much gobbledygook to me (even though I did manage to get a very respectable O level in it), but the other big issue is the mixture of "witty" prose and the evident smug satisfaction he has with his own rules. Not surprisingly it was Black Powder I dumped in favour of Honours of War.
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Post by fencingfrog on Nov 14, 2016 15:53:27 GMT
Not surprisingly it was Black Powder I dumped in favour of Honours of War. Me too
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