"Is it a "Game" or a set of "Rules"?" Topic

I hear people say they want to "play a game" of whatever rules they are using (FOG, WH, BP, etc). Or they say, "I like this GAME better than that GAME", when they are really talking about different rule sets for the same period.

In MY mind, the GAME equates to a period such as Ancients or WWII. I can play a WWII "game" using any one of a dozen sets of different rules but its still a WWII game.

So, here's the question..

Do you equate the terms "Game" or "Wargame" with a period, a set of rules, or something completely different? Pick as many as you like, or make up something of your own.

1. "Game" equates to a period, not a set of rules.

2. "Game" equates to each individual set of rules, not an overall period.

C. Its all semantics and who cares?!

5. There is no #5

9. It can be both. (Because some folks will refuse to take a stand on important matters such as this.)

D. It is neither one. Its something completely different.

13. Yes, I think so.

Q. I don't know, don't ask me, I'm an idiot.

c

c

2

C.

To me rules and game are not synonymous, rules are a tool you use to play games with.

Perhaps this is another transatlantic cultural difference?

One plays a WW2 game using X (or Y or Z) rules.

maybe – but only a sad silly sod would game the entire north African campaign using a skirmish level rules set.

I use different rules for different scales of battle, so my ancients gaming is lost battles / DBMM for army, and shock/imperium for wing/division scale.

So the game / period / size of action are different and interdependent.

7

1. We say Napoleonic wargame, Punic wargame, Colonial wargame etc. once the period is chosen, then the rules to use are applied.

c

Well, first, semantics are important from a communications standpoint, so having a conversation about the definition of the word 'game' is useful.

In general, I use the word "Game" to refer to a specific event as in "I'm hosting a game tomorrow" or "Would you like to,play a game of checkers?" I'll also use it to refer to a specific product as in "I think Monopoly is a tedious game". Interestingly, I almost never refer to a set of miniature rules as a game but will always refer to a board game as such. Panzer Leader is a good game, but Command Decision is a set of rules that will give you a good game. Chess is even stranger. The set of rules is called the game of chess, but the board and pieces is referred to as a chess set.

C

@Martin
- Exactly!
But I don't think its so much of a cultural difference since I agree with you (Brit) and I'm in the US, seems to be more of a residual of GW's tendency to identify its different rule products as "games" rather than "rules" for the game.

1. We say Napoleonic wargame, Punic wargame, Colonial wargame etc. once the period is chosen, then the rules to use are applied.

Don gets it.

I agree with Martin

X) Splunge!
To me a game is facing another opponent. We will play a game.
What we play will depend on what era we choose, and then what rules to use.

c

I would go with Security Minister Critter's X
We decide to get together to play a game. Then we decide what genre, then which rules to use.

3.
I mean, blue…

Or +1 to Ogdenlulimus.

2

I'm with SMC on this.
First we decide to play a game. Then we decide on what kind of game. Then when and where.

22: A Foot.

QQ

C

I play different rules sets but game (as in wargame) periods of History. I am a Punic Era wargamer. I play Classic Hack among other rule sets.

Pretty simple really.

VR
James Mattes

X) I'm in the same camp as SMC

D. I consider a "game" to be an instance of the combination of a rule set and a scenario. Similar to what SMC said, but I think you have to bound the "game" before gaming (facing opponents and playing) becomes "a game" (facing an opponent for a specific contest).

C

Z

c

None of the above. A game is what you do when you use a set of rules. "Let's play a game of Johnny Reb", "let's "play a game of Monopoly."

I also prefer the word "gaming" instead of "playing." Playing is what I did when I was eleven with my tonka trucks. Gaming is what I do now with historical miniatures and a set of rules.

So you equate "Game" with the rules rather than the Genre.
That would be choice #2 above.

I would say "lets play an ACW game. We'll use Johnny Reb rules". I am equating "Game" with the period.
That would be choice #1 above.

would say "lets play an ACW game. We'll use Johnny Reb rules". I am equating "Game" with the period.

The phrase "an ACW game" indicates that "ACW" is a type of things within the domain of "game".

It does not equate them any more than "an orange fruit" equates the color orange to the class of fruit. All fruit is not orange, nor are all orange things (necessarily) fruit.

So "ACW" is a period, but the way you use it, it is only one of many potential ways to subdivide up games. Maybe a ruleset "TSATF" is another way to divide up games. Perhaps the subsets of TSATF games and ACW games overlap.

… Quick! someone please shoot me … I feel a Venn diagram coming on …