Introduction:
After a lot of interest - and encouraging comments - on Facebook Groups I have decided to bite the bullet and start a blog about my Solo gaming/wargaming projects, rules & techniques.
This will almost certainly turn out to be be a somewhat erratic, idiosyncratic and meandering saga, but the main criteria to which I will be working will be as follows:
Firstly nothing I will write is intended to be anything other than a "this is what I'm currently doing" commentary. It is not going to be an "I suggest YOU do this" blog in any way, set or fashion (Nooo way am I THAT arrogant.....).
Next: nothing I write is intended to be critical of other people's rule sets, fave methods/rules/games, concepts, ideas etc. etc. etc. I MAY state my own very possibly prejudiced and equally possibly wrong opinions on rule conventions an' methods from time to time, but these should be read as mere "personal preferences" - themselves subject, as all opinions should be, to change...
Next, next: I claim nothing as original. I stand on the shoulders of giants; tweaking their ideas and works for my own amusement. All of my musings are seriously plagiaristic (a word nicked from Fitzgerald). Where remembered I will give credit. Where not; I apologise in advance.
Last: I am about having fun. My writing style is probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but nothing is intended to offend anyone... Please take everything I scribble as being unleashed upon the unsuspecting world on that basis... And have some fun yourself.......
*
So, what am I going to be writing about..?
Basically solo wargaming projects; mainly covering Ancient (Roman early Empire), Medieval (my "Robin Hood" project) and AWI but with the odd dip into "Colonial", Sci-Fi and other periods and oddments that take my fancy; from games involving a handful of figures to large scale battles.
Much of what I am going to be setting out will be "experimental" game systems patched together for my own purposes and using House Rules. They are primarily intended to replicate an unpredictable environment and "AI" so as present a challenge to the Solo player (Featherstone's "Lonely Wargamer"). If any of these ramblings spark discussion, an idea, rush of enthusiasm or inspiration in anyone else then all the better.....
Not all of my games are battles, but all of the methods used can be applied to practically any scale, period or fight/incident with a little tweaking. Interspersed will be pics and reports from games, projects, thoughts and so forth.
If I had to sum up what I am trying to achieve in my games it would be:
1) Narrative; I have to know why my guys are there to fight (if they fight at all) and what they are trying to achieve. I get bored with a simple chess-like "tournament" (I have no competitive urge). Hence you will see a number of campaigns and games with back-stories in my posts.
2) Challenge: overcoming the problems that beset a formation or army leader, be those the actions of an enemy (sometimes hidden or who's plans are unknown), the issues of communication and Fog of War, Chance, or the ineptness, recalcitrance or character of my own command.
You will see in many posts make reference to an "AI". This is NOT a computer AI, but mere shorthand for the systems replicating the "other side", where I am fighting one team, and the systems are directing the actions of my "opponent".
Many of the early posts will be based on items or ideas I have previously posted on various Facebook groups.
As with anything I throw up for folk to look at I always welcome questions, queries, critiques, suggestions and comments...
So, off we go......
After a lot of interest - and encouraging comments - on Facebook Groups I have decided to bite the bullet and start a blog about my Solo gaming/wargaming projects, rules & techniques.
This will almost certainly turn out to be be a somewhat erratic, idiosyncratic and meandering saga, but the main criteria to which I will be working will be as follows:
Firstly nothing I will write is intended to be anything other than a "this is what I'm currently doing" commentary. It is not going to be an "I suggest YOU do this" blog in any way, set or fashion (Nooo way am I THAT arrogant.....).
Next: nothing I write is intended to be critical of other people's rule sets, fave methods/rules/games, concepts, ideas etc. etc. etc. I MAY state my own very possibly prejudiced and equally possibly wrong opinions on rule conventions an' methods from time to time, but these should be read as mere "personal preferences" - themselves subject, as all opinions should be, to change...
Next, next: I claim nothing as original. I stand on the shoulders of giants; tweaking their ideas and works for my own amusement. All of my musings are seriously plagiaristic (a word nicked from Fitzgerald). Where remembered I will give credit. Where not; I apologise in advance.
Last: I am about having fun. My writing style is probably not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but nothing is intended to offend anyone... Please take everything I scribble as being unleashed upon the unsuspecting world on that basis... And have some fun yourself.......
*
So, what am I going to be writing about..?
Basically solo wargaming projects; mainly covering Ancient (Roman early Empire), Medieval (my "Robin Hood" project) and AWI but with the odd dip into "Colonial", Sci-Fi and other periods and oddments that take my fancy; from games involving a handful of figures to large scale battles.
Much of what I am going to be setting out will be "experimental" game systems patched together for my own purposes and using House Rules. They are primarily intended to replicate an unpredictable environment and "AI" so as present a challenge to the Solo player (Featherstone's "Lonely Wargamer"). If any of these ramblings spark discussion, an idea, rush of enthusiasm or inspiration in anyone else then all the better.....
Not all of my games are battles, but all of the methods used can be applied to practically any scale, period or fight/incident with a little tweaking. Interspersed will be pics and reports from games, projects, thoughts and so forth.
If I had to sum up what I am trying to achieve in my games it would be:
1) Narrative; I have to know why my guys are there to fight (if they fight at all) and what they are trying to achieve. I get bored with a simple chess-like "tournament" (I have no competitive urge). Hence you will see a number of campaigns and games with back-stories in my posts.
2) Challenge: overcoming the problems that beset a formation or army leader, be those the actions of an enemy (sometimes hidden or who's plans are unknown), the issues of communication and Fog of War, Chance, or the ineptness, recalcitrance or character of my own command.
You will see in many posts make reference to an "AI". This is NOT a computer AI, but mere shorthand for the systems replicating the "other side", where I am fighting one team, and the systems are directing the actions of my "opponent".
Many of the early posts will be based on items or ideas I have previously posted on various Facebook groups.
As with anything I throw up for folk to look at I always welcome questions, queries, critiques, suggestions and comments...
So, off we go......
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