"Who are the 'Old' and 'New' Rules Designers?" Topic

Just looking at the current polls and wondering which game designers would you classify as old and new?

Well, clearly old designers are the ones who did this during or even before my youth, and new designers have published in the past five years. (There is, of course, a wide middle ground.)

Generally, I would put HG Wells, Peter Young, Charles Grant, Don Featherstone, Fred Vietmeyer, Joe Morschauser and Charles Wessencraft in the "old" category. Maybe Aelred Glidden, too.

Daniel Mersey and Andrea Sfiligoi would rate as "new."

However, in answer to your question, I think only only Phil Baker and possibly John Hill could be classified as old AND new.

For practical purposes, though, I don't use "old" or "new" at all when considering rules. I use a four-part division:
1. Casting Removal
2. Stand Removal
3. Roster
4. Multiple Volume
5. Computer Resolution

Then I ignore 3, 4 and 5 altogether. It's a great time-saver.

Daniel Mersey … would rate as "new."

Except that he designed "A Glutter of Ravens" which was published nearly 20 years ago (1998).

And how do you rate Frank Chadwick (for example) who has been publishing more or less continuously for over 40 years.

Even SOBH is 10 years old now….

…time flies when you're having fun….

Yeah, I was wondering about whether Chadwick or Conliffe might rate as old and new. But I did say "new" was published recently, not BEGAN publishing recently.

And I set it at five years, because I find the older get, the further back "recently" extends, and the less impact last week has. Movies leave the theaters and TV shows are cancelled while I'm still debating giving them a try.

They tell me these Kardashians in the headlines are not part of Star Trek, and Jessica Simpson is no relation of Bart's.

I would rate Sam Mustafa as new.

Phil Barker is both old

Phil Barker is both old and new (ish).

Now I feel old!

Some of these "new" game authors you're mentioning have been around for 20+ years. If that is "new" then Harry Potter is a "new" series of books.

"New" to me means: Somebody who is currently active/publishing AND has only appeared in the past 10 years or less.

I can't think of a single example. Every game on my shelf has been written by somebody who has been in the business for at least 15 years or more.

What poll is this about please?

I enjoy this kind of debate so had a look but could not work out what poll this is about. Thank you.

new to me is someone that makes rules that are not "1 man = 36 men" etc and has figure removal. Someone that does not believe he is really making a simulation and accepts some abstractions. Someone that does not tell you how you need to base your figures.

*cough*

Designers should put their ages on their rules so we'd know for sure.

"young" in this hobby seems to be upper 70's :D

Exactly!

And "recent" seems to mean: "Published during the Reagan years."

I am an old designer of new rules. That's because I can't remember how to play my old rules: they make no sense when I go back and reread them. So! a new set is created, to play, the same, old, game………….

Movies leave the theaters…while I'm still debating giving them a try.

<chuckle>

Man, isn't that the truth!?

On the other hand, rules and games are immortalized in flea markets (having just picked up a few 'oldies but I don't know if they're goodies' at Cold Wars…

What does that make me at a mere 60 somehing.