Further to yesterday's blog entry I have decided to add the text of Fred Jane's FIRST RULE OF WARGAMING and my THE SPIRIT OF THE WARGAME (adapted from the text of THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME in the R&A Ltd's RULES OF GOLF) to the navigation sidebar of my blog. I hope that it will serve as a reminder to myself and other wargamers about what our hobby should try to achieve, and how we show strive to achieve it.
8 minutes ago
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Two simple principles that all too often sadly get overlooked.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
ReplyDeleteI think that they ought to be on display in every wargames club and at every wargames show. Perhaps it might just make one or two people think.
All the best,
Bob
I think that rule 1 should be
ReplyDelete" Have Fun"
and in the spirit of the rules of golf
The game should be played where the projectile*/spear*/arrow*/bullet*/
shot*/shell*/missile* lands.. and according to such reliefs as morale etc permit.
One of my favourite quotations from a very good friend states the following - " there are only two possible types of experience in life 'Good Times' or 'Lessons' - accept both with equal humility"
Love the principles Bob - a lesson i life for us about how to conduct ourselves - not just when throwing die or a tantrum! Excellent post - and as David Crook says - often overlooked! Many thanks Ken
Isn't that a typo in Jane's rule? Should it be 'contrary TO what could...'?
ReplyDeleteKen H,
ReplyDeleteI would certainly agree that 'Have Fun' should be included in the list of basic rules that all wargames should follow, along with Joseph Morchauser's entreaty that if there was a disagreement between player then ...
LET THE DICE DECIDE!
I do like the definition of the two possible types of experience, and I have added it to the list of bòn móts that I like to keep to hand.
All the best,
Bob
SAROE,
ReplyDeleteThanks for spotting that! I must have mistyped it as I was adding it to my blog.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteBill Protz, in his fine ruleset "Batailles de l'Ancien Regime", includes a page of maxims written in a notebook by young George Washington. Included are "Show not yourself glad at the misfortunes of another, though he were your enemy", and "Be not tedious in discourse".
Gentle reminders of proper behavior are never a bad thing....
-Steve
Steven Page,
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the list of maxims in Bill Protz's book ... but I very much like what George Washington wrote. It applies to all aspects of life, and not just wargaming.
Many thanks for bringing them to my attention ... and to the attention of my other regular blog readers.
All the best,
Bob