"How much history in your gaming books?" Topic

For games, scenarios etc. how much history writing do you want?

I'm thinking of actual pages of background information as opposed to just the notes needed to play the game.

A: It's essential to me.

B: It's nice but not required.

C: A little bit to set the tone but keep it short.

D: I'd rather the game keeps to the game.

E: I never read games anyways.

A

A

A

A.

A for scenarios.
Not at all for rules.

A

Okay, someone say something else, so we don't have all the same answer for the first time ever :)

Sorry weasel
A for me too

A with a side of A

C, to include design notes. I can read the history elsewhere.

Scenario books can be A or B. I do like a good "historical result" note. :)

A

A I love it when it is in the game rules. I may buy the rules just for the history.

D!

For history there is this thing called… Books!

C. I'll use other sources for more detail. I do see C as A.

C.

V/R,
Jack

C. I would hope for a summary putting each scenario into historical context, but don't really expect a comprehensive history.

A

Depends. On an obscure period, A or B, otherwise C. A bibliography is always nice.

A. for me, too!

A. Absolutely

Mostly C.

A for scenarios

C for rules (designers notes are always welcome though)

C for rules. I quite like the way Black Powder does it, putting little bits on the side.

For scenario books A. For rules C.

C

A. It's essential. But not necessarily pages. I usually prefer paragraph clusters at appropriate places.

C Just enough to whet the appetite then I'll buy/ borrow real history books to flesh it out.

I dont like the usual short historical abstracts, what happened, that is better in every real history book.

But what i like are historical explanations what the rules try to represent and simulate.

A. What and how a designer writes this part up can often times be very telling about how they view the period and give insight into their design decisions. As a rules junkie, not having it gives me no context about what the designer was thinking and what his view on priorities are for the abstractions he took.

A.

A

A

A and B.

Rules: B

Scenarios: C – I like what Skirmish Campaigns does. A paragraph or two to set the stage. A paragraph or two to explain specific terrain or unit specifics. A paragraph or two with the historical outcome. Then a few footnotes of source info for further reading.

A with a touch of B

A for scenarios. B for rules.

If I am buying a rules set, I have already read several period and campaign histories. Rules Authors who put in pages of history are wasting their time with me. Don't need it.