"Time for the Old Guard to Step Aside? No!" Topic

You were asked – TMP link

Is it time for the current generation of rules writers to step aside, to allow a younger and more diverse set of people room to be successful with their own designs?

55% said "no, I do not agree"
26% said "this is ridiculous"
8% said "other (explain)"

So, you're not personally stepping aside, then, Bill? Despite being an older white male and all that?

I didn't know Bill was a rules writer.

Wait… who are the current generation of writers who would be asked to step aside?

I suppose when I think of the current generation of rules for my interests (keeping in mind that I am thoroughly Gen X), I am thinking of games like Gaslands, Frostgrave/Stargrave, Song of Blades and Heroes, Flames of War, Song of Ice and Fire, This Is Not A Test, and such.

The most cutting edge trend for pure miniatures games that I am aware of is the budding Gothic Horror genre of basically Napoleonics vs. Cthulhu, as exemplified in The Silver Bayonet and Sludge.

If I have to think of more "current" and "diverse", the first things that come to mind are the trends mostly affecting D&D right now, which are pushing back against the old Dungeon Crawl and focusing more on interpersonal connections and redefining D&D's Gygaxian/Tolkienesque emphases.

Can we properly define who these younger and more diverse game designers are?

Despite being an older white male and all that?

Multi-racial, actually.

I didn't know Bill was a rules writer.

I've designed several games, but not in this hobby, exactly.

One only has to look at the board wargaming world to see where this is going. Yes, there are new designers putting out all kinds of games with innovative systems that use cards, chits, area movement, etc., with some of them being successful and some not so much. However, designers from the Avalon Hill, SPI, GDW, etc., days such as Mark Herman, Frank Chadwick, Mark Simonitch, and many others are still cranking out very successful games. Gamers are going to flock towards successful designs, no matter the age of the designer.

+1 Aegis. I was thinking the same thing.

I'd like to see some of the innovations from the wargame/boardgame world brought more into the miniature game world. Most of them are from the Old Guard wargame designers, as Aegis mentions.

If we're supposed to judge rules writers by their age, sex preferences and sex and the color of their skin, I see no reason why web site editors should be judged by some other standard.

Mister Tibbles, right off the top of my head I would like to see games like GMT's Last Huyndred Yards and Fighting Formations turned into miniatures rules. They would be a breath of fresh air for WW2 skirmish games as they have some pretty innovative systems.

Basically, when they start writing had rules, then it's time to move on… If the younger people write better rules, I'll buy them.

Age, gender sexual preferences have nothing to do with good rules writing….

Careful, Royston. I'm pretty sure that last sentence has been declared hate speech.

Anyway, I'm not going, Bill. But you can always refuse to buy any magazine which publishes rules by old white guys.

The Last Hundred Yards is one I was thinking about. Compass Games Combat! seems like an awesome game to convert. It's a solo game at its core, though the upcoming expansion is supposed to have multiplayer co-op. A tad pricey, even with their BF sale.

I love several WW2 wargames but just can't find a WWII set of miniatures rules I love.

As a middle aged white dude, I guess everything I say is seen as hate speech nowadays… 😟

As long there is a true free market in games design, which there is, then the best rules will win out. As for their age, who cares, the secret sauce to success is meritocracy.

Exactly, pf model.

For board games I have enjoyed Dan Verssen's solo work, a successful designer for many years. I adapted his Field Commander Napoleon as a solo campaign system, using miniatures and its great.

Sam Mustafa also comes to mind. Blucher can be played with minis or counters. LaSalle is a great tactical game. Sam does great work I feel I can depend on.

Some games just stand the test of time. Volley and Bayonet is solid and adapts well, one of the most successful examples for historical mini rules over many years.

New designers are always welcome, but a good game stays a good game.