tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post7515092295616416841..comments2024-03-29T07:14:52.846+00:00Comments on The Marienburg Gazette (Sigmaron Edition) : Fluffy Rules Are Better Than Balance Rules (The Quiet Rules Revolution: Part 2)Daveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01338536132702316924noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-25275373624793044452011-11-02T10:48:01.209+00:002011-11-02T10:48:01.209+00:00Fair points Hoodling, although as you can probably...Fair points Hoodling, although as you can probably tell, the kind of game I prefer has an abundance of unit/character specific rules. Of course, it's important that these don't impede the overall experience of gameplay, because no one wants to be making reference to stats and rules every time they any game turn action. This, I would say, is probably avoidable through playing smaller games - between 500 and 1500 points - as part of a linked campaign. <br /><br />I agree Von, some of the background that's added to take the books up to approximately 90 pages can be very ropey. I have a suggested solution for this that I'll put in my next post...Daveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01338536132702316924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-46598498494178986362011-11-02T09:35:54.737+00:002011-11-02T09:35:54.737+00:00Another advantage of fluffy rules - they save us f...Another advantage of fluffy rules - they save us from dry wads of poorly-written background padding. If 'who this dude is' can be extrapolated from 'what this dude does on the table' plus some brief flavour text describing the faction he belongs to and maybe a scenario in which he appears... do you really need the Fantasy Encyclopaedia Entry that sits alongside it?Vonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12583821960347555993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-79556668305637993452011-11-02T01:58:18.417+00:002011-11-02T01:58:18.417+00:00The shift toward "generic" special rules...The shift toward "generic" special rules probably has as much to do with making it possible to learn the game as it does balance. It doesn't take long before people start complaining about an endless tide of special rules appearing in each book, and it being impossible to keep track of them all. <br /><br />Special characters will often have something that is unique to them, however in general I think most players would prefer units to have a set of rules that can be easily understood through general game knowledge, rather than every new unit doing something nobody has ever seen before.Hoodlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08507134198601519253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-64440828520866286792011-11-01T22:51:13.135+00:002011-11-01T22:51:13.135+00:00Just an additional thought... the unofficial books...Just an additional thought... the unofficial books by Mathias Eliasson are worth a look (such as DoW and Estalia). The others, like a recent one for the Fimir, are a mess and best avoided.Daveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01338536132702316924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-77721553408680063922011-11-01T21:53:00.555+00:002011-11-01T21:53:00.555+00:00Thanks all for commenting.
I imagine - although ...Thanks all for commenting. <br /><br />I imagine - although I've not had the chance to check as of yet - that pikes etc. are well accounted for in Warhammer historical (as well as a number of other rule sets of course). The picking and choosing without being shackled by the GW monoculture is what's key, i.e. not swallowing the notion that only the new and shiny is the only thing that's good and right. <br /><br />On points value, I think it would be hard to game on a regular basis entirely without a points system - in this way, I'm in favour of them. <br /><br />But the trouble with assigning points to abilities is that this is usually done on a per model basis. This doesn't account for a whole number of factors, including, for example, how many of these units are fielded and how the benefits are lessened or increased by this. I'm going to write about this tomorrow... probably...Daveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01338536132702316924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-6729907383787774482011-11-01T20:04:19.006+00:002011-11-01T20:04:19.006+00:00Nice one. Agree entirely with the philosophy. I ha...Nice one. Agree entirely with the philosophy. I have ignored a lot of the homebrew armybooks, but might have to investigate. I also agree with Ben - getting the balance right might just come down to assigning a relative points value to an ability.<br /><br />But hey, why not have pike wielding Orcs too!zhu bajieehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004498036257289234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-46274881050065190062011-11-01T19:46:25.822+00:002011-11-01T19:46:25.822+00:00The pike rules and indeed pavaises have been aroun...The pike rules and indeed pavaises have been around since the DoW army book by Alessio Calvatore, i think pdfs of the army lists including the RoR are still about on the web. As you say though nice touches and the 'unofficial' army book you use as your example is very well put together, along several other ones the same team has put together and worth checking out.<br /><br />As you say, you need some like minded players to be able to put the fluff before the product, and if you've got that then the game is enjoyable for everyone.<br /><br />GW are a company who have share holders to keep happy the same as all the other plc's, not a problem, as a punter you've just got to pick and choose where you spend your cash and get the fun out of your gaming you want too.Hendridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17336497594850535093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537071612815653912.post-31331801426263489072011-11-01T18:11:29.173+00:002011-11-01T18:11:29.173+00:00A long time since I played WHFB but I'm sure t...A long time since I played WHFB but I'm sure there used to be rules for pikes. Pavises I don't think I've ever seen, but don't the current Bretonian infrantry have something like that? I assumed there would be rules for them.<br /><br />As for your general point: I agree that rules should start off inspired by the fluff, though it ought to be possible to preserve balance, for instance by costing abilities properly. So there shouldn't be the need for an either/or decision.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05855493092944795699noreply@blogger.com