"Rules That Should Be Republished?" Topic

Which out-of-print rules would you like to see available once more?

Push of Pike for ECW

Pony Wars!

Rogue Trader.

Johnny Reb II

Beat to Quarters (age of sail) by Barry Fox

A noter vote for Pony Wars !

Please excuse my IPad corrector : Another vote for Pony Wars

I'm guessing Pony Wars would be unlikely, as sadly the author, Ian Beck, died quite a long time ago, whilst the original publisher, Tabletop Games, is also long gone.

Pony Wars…the co-authors, who include Peter Berry of Baccus are still very much alive.

Virtue 'Gainst Fury (Italian wars), though I'm not entirely sure it was actually published in the first place.

Tony Bath's ancient/flats rules …

Figure out the definitive version (there is some debate I think) … tidy it up and repackage it.

Phil

Johnny Reb III

Joe Miceli's 1776.
Not to be confused with Avalon Hill's 1777, which is decent, but the miniatures game.

Pony Wars will be republished as soon as I can get the logistics of doing so sorted out. It is one of the classic publications of the wargaming world and a great example of Ian's creativity and his love of classic westerns. It's also great fun and deserves a new lease of life.

Rally Round the Flag.

Three cheers for Mr Peter Berry!!!

Bashytubits,could you expand on that? I bought JRIII when it came out,but confess I've never played it. You must consider JRII superior. Why is that?

Second Winston on 1776. One of first rules I bought and played. Lots of great memories.

Combined Arms – modern version of GDW's Command Decision or the new CD Test of Battle supplement with modern stats

Sticks and Stones

GDW's Over the Top.

General Quarters 1

Another vote for Pony Wars.

"Thirds" to Winston's original nomination!

For a 70's Era set of rules, a remarkably playable, yet realistic (I know--the "R" Word) and well thought out set of rules which I finally settled on after playing 7 or 8 other sets, including some two and three volume wonders, and one that counted individual musket balls!

Yeah, I was still damaged from earlier Napoleonics rules.

Does anyone know who last held the copyrights? I would like to acquire them, if possible, and bring the rules back with more scenarios, maps, OB's, uniform plates, flags, etc, but leave the rules mostly untouched--maybe totally so.

PLEASE, someone, WHO DO I CONTACT?

TVAG

Good idea Patrick.

Oh, and to make my own contribution to this thread--"Yellow Ribbon," and it's invaluable companion, "Continually Wear The Blues."

Can anyone confirm if Greg Novak can still be reached at this now 6 year old address?: g.novak@insightbb.com

I was provided this years ago in an attempt to contact him to determine if the publication rights were negotiable, or if any arrangement could be made, but I have no record now of results.

Again, I VERY much want to bring these rules back with a few modifications for simpler order procedures to speed play, but not a touch against the brilliant heart of the system--"Medicine" and the mindset of the Native American Warriors so well portrayed here (and only here!).

PLEASE, someone, WHO DO I CONTACT?

TVAG

Oh..

Striker. The original one but with some vehicles premade and a different design system for stupids (like myself).

And 1st edition Warzone. And that one game we all thought was gonna take off.

I'd like to not have to pay a crapload for Warhhammer Historicals Waterloo though I understand they are terrible as a game. Still, I'd like a copy.

Unfortunately Greg passed away a few years ago.

It is with heavy heart I post this link…
link

We lost me several years ago…

Joe Collins

Yellow Ribbon from RAFM is still in print. I even have copies at ScaleCReep.com

I also think Rally Round the Flag is still available (though there is more than one set by that name).

Re: 1776.

Legally, you an write a new version using much the same mechanisms and you are not violating copyright. So long as you don't copy the language you're fine. You can even give it the same name, because titles are not subject to copyright (though trademarks may come in to play).

After all, roll a D6, hit on a 4+ has been used in more rules than I can count.

Now, doing this without permission/blessing may feel a bit slimy, but that's a separate issue.

The Soldier's Companion for Space:1889

I see,as could be expected,that others were saddened by the loss of Greg Novak not so long ago.I can't say I really new him,having talked and corresponded with him only a little in connection with Ulster Imports,back in the 80s.

AWI gamers owe him a debt of gratitude for the prodigious work he poured into the two volumes of OBs published by Old Glory,clearly a labor of love. Disappointingly, almost the entire index was inadvertently left out in the printed work.
I asked Russ Dunaway about this--he said I was only the fourth person to complain--apparently,he was keeping count!
I think Greg had taken great care with this,since he'd made a point of compiling an expanded index in the previous,Ulster Imports edition,responding to criticism in The Courier of the first edition. In fact,it was in trying to find out if he had put the index on line that I learned of his death. My heart lept just now,when I saw that Wiki link to his blog,but of course it's defunct.

Can anyone tell me if that complete index was ever published in any form? Russ, do you have a copy? It would be a shame to lose all that work.

The ONE change I would make to 1776 is to increase the base size. It was published when "true 25mm" figures were scrawny little things. Even then I had problems fitting even Hinchliffe figures on their recommended bases.
The game called for one rank of figures. I can do no more than recommend my own "OFM's Universal AWI Basing System", with three figures on s 2" X 1" base. Adjust ranges if needed. And provide for "change".
Seriously there is no way to fit Perry or Old Glory on those old frontages or depths.

Pony Wars – missed it first time around – thanks Mr Bacchus!

Three cheers for Mr. Baccus! The firing/melee mechanisms in Pony Wars feel a trifle dated today, but in terms of sheer character and fun they have rarely been surpassed, even after all these years.

I'm not sure it's part of the plan, but a linked 6-10mm range to accompany them would be great as well. Both sizes would be a little easier on the pocketbook (not to mention table space) than 15's.

So, Gentlemen, Who has the rights to "1776?"

Our Brother, Extra Crispy, is essentially correct in what he says, but I'd first like to honor whoever--if anyone after all this time still wishes to exercise his/her rights--fell heir to them.

And to "Winston": There's an even better solution to your legitimate problem, Sir, that I would propose in the "new edition," if I were going to do so….

TVAG

Since you asked why Hafen here are my feelings on the matter. Johnny Reb II gives a very good civil war battle. But it really works best when both sides only have 2 or 3 brigades. About 1 brigade per player is best. The biggest problem with Johnny Reb II is that the rules were not organized nearly as well as they should have been and more examples of play would have been helpful. Johnny Reb III was an attempt to streamline play and make it suitable for larger battles but I really quite dislike how it plays. The fact they changed the game scale and the way units are based also was an annoyance, why would you make Johnny Reb players remount their entire armies when this game was supposed to be an update and improvement? The game feels way too gamey and random for my tastes. It was quite popular for a bit but all the people I know who played Johnny Reb II then played III after release have gone back to playing JR II. I have played many battles with both sets of rules but the second edition does the job best for me and my friends. There is no one in Las Vegas playing JR III currently that I am aware of. Lots of games still going for JR II however.

@ubercommando -- The Soldier's Companion for Space:1889 is available directly from Heliograph or through Paizo, even Amazon.

The soldiers companion is also available as a pdf on Wargames vault.
link

OK Bash,thanks,yeah,rebasing is annoying,to say the least, especially for another iteration of the same game. Of course,if TACTICA II ever comes out, basing will undoubtedly conform to DBX,which wouldn't be a bad thing.
BTW,everybody I know plays F&F.

Chainmail.

The original 1970's version, not the more recent game.

And The TSR John Carter of Mars set.

+1 20thmaine even though I own copy sold my falling apart stapled original early (2nd?) edition and bought a better binding later version.

There are times I want to run a game at a con but hesitate to take my copy.

Leicester Micro Armour WW2.

Bashytubits- I realize, mostly from posts here that some people prefer the scale (25men/fig and 40yds/inch) and more tactical feel of JRII, over JRIII (30men/fig and 50yds/in), I know some people in the midwest that also like JRII.
Most of us on the East coast and at the HMGS cons use JRIII.
But I don't understand your comments on rebasing. JRII uses 5 stands to model a Regiment and JRIII uses 4.
As both games use figure removal for casualties and not base removal, you need to have bases with different number of figures per base, usually 3 or 4. John Hill did suggest slightly different sized bases for different figure counts, but everyone I know uses 1" square bases (interchangeable with F&F)for everything.
Moving to JRIII from JRII had you remove a base from the unit- no rebasing. (and a 20% increase in your available bases)
The same comments on rebasing were made about Across a Deadly Field, John's newest (2014) rules, which did NOT require rebasing, only the use of 2 to 3 stands per Regiment.
Johnny Reb has certainly stood the test of time, I played my first game in the mid-80's and there has been at least 2-3 games presented at every HMGS-East conventions since then- sometimes many more.
The JRIII rulebook is not well organized and in need of a workable index- That was partially addressed in a "Clarification Document" organized by Dean West and placed in the JRIII Yahoo Group files section.
And Yes, as you can tell, I am a big fan.

Vor: the Maelstrom.

D&D, original white box + Greyhawk + Blackmoor.

"Fields of Honor"

TMP link

If I could get the author and/or the publisher to sell me the rights, I would update and republish.

The Modern Equipment handbooks for Challenger by Bruce Rea Taylor please