"How Long Have You Stuck With Current In Use Rules Set?" Topic

Just curious about rules longevity. If the rules have undergone updates (ex. CD, CD II, CD III, CDTOB or BKC I and II) then count them as the "same set."

We've been using KGC (I and II) for over ten years because we like the flavor and scale. However, we will be trying BattleGroup Kursk at local cons (as an alternative to FOW tournaments).

Just curious about how "stodgy" or "fickle" ya'll are! We decided to stop trying new rules years ago and just tweak stuff in the set we seem to like. But, BGK looks like a good diversion for more limited time convention gaming. We use "divine scale" (20mm). I do have 6mm stuff but only a couple of guys will game in that scale in our group.

I've been playing CD since before it was published, so something around 30 years, I guess.

FFT3 – I bought it 1 to 2 years ago.
Fireball Forward – First played a couple years ago.
IABSM – less then 10 years

I would play CD2 but the local group is not interested, started playing that in the late eighties or early nineties.

Used a home-brewed platoon skirmish set off-an-on for a long time. Been using Rapid Fire for Battalion/Brigade groups stuff for a couple of years and now using Bolt Action for the platoon actions.

Been using my 'Company Commander' rules for about 12 years now.

Thanks,

John

Johnny Reb 3 since 1999.

Operational games: NQM … around 20 years (since I discovered it)

Big days out: Megablitz … since it came out (10 years??)

Tactical games: PBI about 10 years …

Plenty more use to come from them …

Phil
P.B.Eye-Candy

Been playing Volley and Bayonet for I don't know how many years.

The Sword and the Flame has been in my gaming library for decades.

Lets see, WRG Moderns since 1985….

I've been playing FoW since the Fall In in Timonium whenever that was. I haven't played it in over a year now however.

I hadn't thought of using some of these rule sets for WWII.

Charles Grant Battles since the 1970s.

CD and Fire and Fury, both since the start

I've been using MAATAC since 1982, Tractics since 1984.

For that matter I've been using the Shipbase series since I started writing it in 1988.

We've been using KGC (I and II) for over ten years because we like the flavor and scale.

That's my group as well. You're not from Seattle, are you?

I started playing Fireball Forward when it was a one page set of rules at a con maybe three years ago. It is still my absolute favorite WW II game that I have ever played and I have run or been involved in hundreds and hundreds of games now. The Battlegroup series is a close second, although I haven't played that nearly as much since it was only released a comparatively short time ago…

I don't think I'll be looking at any more WW II games!

Not from Seattle--Midwest.

I still have Tractics, original CD, Spearhead, BKC, and many others. I'll buy a set to support the author but end up never playing it (did play a few CD games). Tractics since 1984--that surprised me. We're getting older, err "more mature."

FOW for 7 years – now on V3 – same basic rules just more chrome
DBM played for 10-12 years – 4 versions same basic set but the changes eventually 'broke' the rules – as it was driven by competition values

Crossfire, since it came out. Try and get a copy now.

Car Wars since the 1980's.
Johnny Reb 2 since the 1990's when it came out.

David G.
gamerarchitect.blogspot.com

Crossfire & TSATF, both since they came out.
Peter

Multiple TFL rules since I got back into the hobby a little over a year ago. Since they play well solo, I probably won't ever run a game with any other ruleset.

If you like a particular rules set, why change?
If you like a particular update, why change?
If you think that the author of your favorite rules can do a better job, go with it.
If you think that the author of your favorite rules is out to make a buck by padding and changing, then don't.

Play what you want, and stop worrying about what the Popular Kids are playing.

I agreed with the updates of TSATF so I went with them.
I didn't think that FoW needed any updates, but 5 out of 6 in our group did (me in the negative…) so I went along. Besides, they play in tornaments, so their votes counted more than mine.

Anyway, it's nice to be able to throw the rules at the lawyers if you are stuck, and not have to go with "as the Colonel shay decide". Unless you want it to.
when I do TSATF for periods where they were not intended, like the FIW or AWI, my rulings are ironclad.

Was that WWII rules?

Not played any other WW2 rules since KGN, and now BGK/BGO came out… But then I do help write Battlegroup!

Bought KGN the day it came out (at the huge price before all the discounts) and never looked back. After two decades of trying to find a set of WW2 rules that 'worked' for me, I finally got them. Started a complete rejuventation of the period for me… and got me involved in working on the game with the designer Warwick Kinrade.

Oh and of course its 20mm, my beloved scale for WW2.

Rapid Fire

Space Marine & Adeptus Titanicus

Full Thrust

But the Neil Thomas rule book is the one I keep going back to for most periods.

Battlefront: WWII (Fire & Fury) since they came out – about 1999? No plans to change.

Napoleon's Battles (AH) for about 20 years.

General de Brigade for about 15 years.

IABSM 10+ years, and it, only gotten better. Hope to get another 10+ years playing it.

IABSM for about 10 years, still going strong.

FOW since 2008 albeit increasingly rarely (only 3 games in 2013 and one of those I was an "advisor" for someone who has never played a wargame).

BGK since 2013.

WH40K – main game 1997 – 2008. Played 3 games since 2008, one of which was using old 2nd edition rules.

FOG – 2010 – current

Lately I've been really mixing it up in terms of wargaming – I seldom play the same game twice in a row.

So in addition to 4 above, I've been playing Necromunda, boardgames ala Spartacus and even dabbled with Warmachine.

FOF is next project if I can ever decide on a bloody scale!

Battlefront WW2 for larger games, IABSM for smaller ones.
We used to play Crossfire a lot, but could never get it to work well for multi-player games.

Started with Rapid Fire 2 five years ago, got into FoW two years ago, now on Blitzkrieg Commander II and really enjoying it.

Never found any WWII rules I liked going back to the 90s. Am now painting up minis for Bolt Action. For my needs/wants its a near perfect matchup.

Played Command Decision from the playtest version until CDIII. Too many changes and none for the better, looked at CDIV seemed better but still far too many changes to the basic very elegant system pioneered in CDI. Used to play once a month, now once a year.

DBM played weekly though less an less once 3.0 took over. DBMM better but still over-wrought compared to the original.

DBA then and now.

Johnny Reb up through III.

Now looking at the Battlegroup system – big advange its aimed at 20mm, rules still seem a bit raw in spots but we keep trying.

Occasional games of FOW, it started mediocre and despite expenses changes stays mediocre. Not Bad, Not Good.

If there is a lessen, its to avoid changing rules to cater to a hardcore we want more complexity noisy minority. Turns every game into a niche game.

TomT

Hey Tom, what rules were you thinking were 'a bit raw' in the Battlegroup system? The system appears relatively solid but that's said in ignorance, I have yet to play it (I have had a flick of the book at best)

Ark

I picked up the original Rapid Fire rules in a shop while in London. Began to "seriously" play the rules in 1999. Still put on games at Recon and Hurricon and occasionally Rapier but now use 2nd edition. Great rules overall but especially for conventions since they are easy to learn and play quickly, a consideration where time may be limited.