"Osprey Wargames Series – Open Submissions" Topic

None of my home grown sets of rules would be anything like long enough to meet their 22,000 word requirement.

Sigh.

A compendium perhaps?

Interesting. I've just submitted something. Lets see what happens :)

It said they'd take ideas/concepts so why not? The Editor should submit all those Osprey titles we came up with:)

64 pages would require me to submit 64 sets of rules.

I follow the "Six-Pack and two brain cells" methodology of game design.

Eric

You can do it, Eric – there must be at least 64 periods to cover ;-)

So what's the commission to the author, Osprey Joe?

Other than Tomorrows War what was the other rule set they introduced?

Field of Glory and ten million supplements.

Well, what about a simple, modular, set of fast play rules bundled with "The Osprey Treatment" in terms of production value and historical content; something with a strong and flexible basic structure which could have bits bolted on to suit different era of gaming. I would be all over a series of books with a "one stop shopping" approach to having rules, scenarios, army lists, and research materials presented in one handy volume. In fact, it would have been my dream "stater" product to have a "Great Battles of Imperial Rome (or The Vikings Age, The Crusades, The Samurai, etc.) series.

I think I got into fantasy and SF gaming first because they were made accessible and engaging to me as a consumer. Some of the big names in Fantasy/SF gaming are, when you get down to it, little more than recycled Featherstone in a spiky helmet…with pretty pictures and aggressive (at times bombastic) marketing to an identified core market. If Osprey were to produce an "all in one" series as a basic jumping off point for novice, or casual gamers, I think it would be just the thing to make historical gaming more accessible. I feel that FOG is not really the best intro to wargaming since the basic rule book for Ancients had the cost and thrill factor of college text book. It looked great and it even made it into large chain bookstores but, it is a bit too much, in terms of rules complexity, start up cost and price, to grab a novice gamer. What we really need in order to grow the market are more ways for new players to put a toe in (without it costing an arm and a leg)and try the water. I also think making available a CD or PDF of high grade figure /terrain flats / counters (perhaps based on Osprey Art),as sister product to the "starter" books, would overcome a major hurdle to getting folks playing games.

And oh, the important question, what does it pay?

I to would need to submit many of my rule sets to fill a book, but how about a 'catch all' book with say a dozen different SIMPLE rule sets? I always thought that Fetherstones Skimish book was excelent as it let me try many different periods with out having to amass hugh armies & learn complex rules. Paddy Griffiths Napoleonic book was also great as it took one period and looked at ways/rules for covering different aspects (from skirmishers foraging for food up to Napoleon having to fill his day with reading reports, giving orders, improving morale by chatting to the troops, eating, sleeping etc.) Eather approach would get my vote.

my first thought would be the ruleset GRUNTZ,
but Robin did such an outstanding job with both writing and layout that I dont think osprey could make it any better, except in distribution or advertising

be careful.

Normally Osprey only buys total rights for a set fee. This means if this is the case (and I suspect it is), you'll get a one time check, and then you have NO say over what happens to your rules. Maybe they become the next WH, and they own all of it.

Hey guys, let me answer a few questions and lay a fear to rest.

For the Wargame series, Osprey is NOT buying all rights. We understand that ownership of these rules sets is important to their creators. We are buying the right to produce and sell the rules, but the IP remains with the author.

As for payment, we are offering a small advance, but most of the payment will come through royalties.