I was casually flicking back over some old posts on the blog and the thought suddenly struck me that I seem to be almost continually tweaking sets of perfectly usable war game rules. In doing so, I seem to spend rather a lot of time testing, agonising over minor changes (which usually seem anything but at the time) and then yet more testing. I can offer no detailed explanation for this curious pattern of behaviour (I am sure that the psychoanalysts amongst us could probably explain some of it - presumably just before they run screaming from the room!) other than I guess that I am continually seeking something rather more elusive than I can lay my hands on any any given point in time.
A restless spirit, forever adrift on the ocean of war games variety or something like that.
Is it some kind of intellectual vanity? Do I think I can make things better than the original author? I am inclined to think that it is neither of these, rather it is more a case of having a particular need from a gaming system and shoehorning any idea into that vision - usually regardless of whether or not it is a good idea or even if it will work. 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is undoubtedly true up to a point but for me I often lose sight of what actually is broke and indeed will try to fix it regardless of whether or not it actually needs fixing!
If it is my war gaming cross to bear then I guess I will have to carry on doing so because, and for reasons I have yet to fathom, I can. Besides, it is fun lifting the drain covers and seeing what makes rules tick!
Volley and Bayonet, Command and Colours, Angels 20, War at Sea - the road goes ever on and on....;-)
....So does my list of 'minor' rules tweaks!
12 comments:
I like to tweak rules and even create my own, but there are some sets I am happy to play without any serious changes at all - Hordes of the Things (especially Hordes of the Things), Fire and Fury and Principles of War, to name three.
I wnet through a 'constant tweak and change' phase about 25 years ago. Then one day I realised that life's too short, and realised that a set of rules that's 95% there is as good as I'm likely to get. Of course, now I'm getting sets that are 85% there, and am tweaking and changing to get that last 10% right :)
One of the reasons that I "tweak" rules is that often there are things in them that I find out-of-balance to my way of thinking.
For example I feel that many rules for the 17th & 18th centuries rate artillery as more effective than I feel it should be rated . . . so I tweak.
-- Jeff
It seems to be a common condition amongst wargamers these days. I too seem to be afflicted and am bolting things on to perfectly good rule sets because I can't seem to leave well enough alone. I think that the main thing is one's own enjoyment.
I've been having similar thoughts as I hone in on the "final" version of a set of rules I've been working at, off and on, for 9 years now.
One of the factors in my case is that while I had a limited idea of what i wanted in the short term, I really didn't have a good over arching idea of what I was looking for from the hobby so in addition to tweaking things that didn't quite work right in games, I also kept changing what I was asking the rules to do which led to more drastic changes.
A second issue that I have identified is that my play testing has not been sufficient, especially in terms of pushing limits and in having more external input, its amazing what other people will think to try with your rules.
I feel like I'm getting close to a final version now, but then what? I'm thinking of starting a different set to distract me!
-Ross
I don't think I've ever played a set of rules that hasn't been tweaked in some way or another, I think its some kind of disease that us gamers all inflict upon ourselves??
The always present challenge. Playing RAW.
Thanks for the great blog.
Hi Kaptain,
Funnily enough 25 years ago I would not have dreamed about 'tweaking' any rule sets, let alone starting from scratch. Does this constitute the gaming equivalent of a mid life crisis?
All the best,
DC
Hi Jeff,
I know that 'if only I just added a little here and took a little from there' feeling only too well!
All the best,
DC
Hi Sean,
Good point well made. I think it helps to get into the mindset of the author to an extent which is no bad thing and also why the first thing I head for are usually the designers notes.
All the best,
DC
Hi Ross,
I take comfort from the fact that I am not the only one thus afflicted!
All the best,
DC
Hi Ray,
That is very true old chap and I do not suppose we will ever be any different!
All the best,
DC
Hi Kevin,
Many thanks old chap for the kind comments. RAW has its advantages but I just cannot help myself!
All the best,
DC
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