"How often do you buy new rules?" Topic

I am curious about how often TMP'ers buy new rules for their favorite periods/genres. Here are the choices I came up with:

(1) I've been using the same rules for the same period(s)/genre(s) since I started back in the day.

(2) I've changed rules a couple of times, but then I stopped -- I'd rather spend my hobby money on miniatures!

(3) I buy new rules as often as the new sets interest me -- I own 3+ sets for the same period(s)/genre(s).

(4) I buy the latest set of rules -- it's an addiction, I tell ya'! I gotta have 'em all. If they cover my favorite period(s)/genre(s), I gotta have 'em!

(5) I buy rules sets from companies/authors I like. I do it regardless of whether I want/need another set of rules -- I do it to support the makers.

(6) I buy the latest rules set because I am a tournament gamer, and I need to keep up with the tournament crowds, in order to compete.

(7) I buy the latest rules sets to keep up with the current crowd. For example, I bought 5e D&D because it is what is current. This allows me to be able to mix with the current gaming crowd -- rules are not important, being relevant, is.

(8) I'm a collector of rules. I buy as many as I can, to own a copy of everything published for my favorite period(s)/genre(s).

My answer is: (1). I play the rules I like. I do not compete in tournaments. I play games in my somewhat 'isolated'/insulated group. We play what we enjoy, with the toys (mini's) we enjoy. That is all that matters. I still play 2e AD&D RPG, 2e BattleSystem (fantasy mass battles, circa 1992?), and 2e BattleSystem Skirmish (miniatures game, with a thin veneer of RPG over the top, circa 1993?). I also play the WW I game, Red Baron (circa 1990's); and, my own game, Plastic Wars (Army Men) game (1998). I, and my friends, are still having a blast with our 'antiquated' rules.

How about you, and your circle of gaming friends? Cheers!

3.

3

3, I think, but that's me personally. (I do not have a circle. I can perhaps muster a triangle.)
The objective, really, is a satisfactory set for each miniatures collection--and ideally multiple sets at different levels of representation so that my 24 Prussian infantry can be a battalion, a regiment or a brigade depending on the battle I want to put on the table. And sometimes you need rule sets for odd conditions.

3

3

All but 1, depending on the day/week/month/year

I'm a milder version of 8.

I like rules, I like to read and study them. A lot I know I'll never play, but there may be comments, mechanics, research that I can profit from. I buy many, many at flea markets, so a lot of them I only paid a dollar for. I certain don't buy everything, though I may have nearly everything from certain companies. Certainly not any genres, no matter how narrowly you define that.

Not sure. Somewhere between 2 & 3.

3. Basically the same as everything else I buy. Sometimes interest is the result of long term analysis of where I am going and sometimes it is

Mostly 3.

3

I would say between 2 and 3. I still buy new rules, but have become much more selective.

Christopher

3

9. I stopped buying the latest new and shiny rules because I'm tired of being disappointed.

10. I'll stick with what I'm familiar with.

It's interesting when someone tries to summarize ALL possible results and misses other logical ones.

2 and 3 depending on the period. I tend to find something I like then tweak or develop it myself.

3 like many others.

2 to 3. I basically hate reading rule sets so I'll stick with ones I like.

3

Generally a 3, but a 1 at the same time !

3, I by rules for the periods I am gaming and like to try out new ideas. I have some period favorites, but I am not so entrenched that I won't try new and interesting rules. I am no longer a tournament gamer.

Chris

3 happy to try a new set, or buy f it looks interesting, but have no urge to buy the latest new thing. Also no urge to buy the latest version if the previous one works well enough. Since I have no interest in tournament games this works well for me.

I used to be an "8" for Napoleonic era games, but now I'm a "2" having gotten solidly in the habitual category.

3

Used to be a 3, but now a 2. It's not that I've seen every kind of game system or that everything that could be done in rules has been, rather it's the realization of what are the odds of someone else in 100 miles having the same rules and forces based for that system? Not great. To me, this is a huge problem in the hobby that there are hundreds of rule sets for each period, but trying to find someone who likes the same rules as you (or who is at least halfway interested) is really becoming difficult.

It's interesting when someone

reads

Here are the choices I came up with:

and asserts that person is trying

to summarize ALL possible results

3. And I echo etothepi's original post— I will buy something new when I've done some research and it fits my particular ongoing interest, or when SQUIRREL!

2/3. I generally don't like new rules just because they are new.

I'm a 7. I like to see how different systems cope with command and control and the friction of war. I also like getting their take on different historical periods.

3 for about the first 25 years of my career. Only a couple over the last few years tho.