[Three Hearts and Three Lions] ... also introduced the conceit of a cosmic battle between the opposing forces of "Law" and "Chaos," which would be appropriated by ... some games of note.
Guy Fullerton wrote:a new copy of The Hobbit (picture right)
Guy Fullerton wrote:[ Image ]I only recently began reading Playing at the World in earnest this past week. Serendipitously, a couple weeks prior I stumbled across a Don Featherstone "Wargame Rules" booklet (picture left), bought it, and did some research into its background and the wargames of the 1960's. (Of course, this prompted me to flip through the Chainmail rules again.) And because of the recent film release, I purchased a new copy of The Hobbit (picture right) and began reading it out loud to the family on New Year's Eve.So Jon, as you can imagine, these strange coincidences of timing have created deeper resonances as I read your book!Your book is truly an amazing work! My mind staggers at how much effort it must have taken to organize and collate all the information. You must have something akin to an broad-subject index (or electronic text versions?) of all the periodicals at your disposal to be able to drop in footnotes like #54 in Chapter 2, p. 117. And I love the bits of dry humor in lines like this:[Three Hearts and Three Lions] ... also introduced the conceit of a cosmic battle between the opposing forces of "Law" and "Chaos," which would be appropriated by ... some games of note.
Steve Marsh wrote:For me, the important part about the book is filling in so many gaps.I was always the "outside" inside guy, if that makes any sense. So I got many, many snap shots, but almost all from the outside, and often (when it was from someone other than Gary) from someone with an agenda.So I would be told "x" but would not know it.Other than getting a necromancer, this book as been the next best thing.My comments, from my first pass at the book, are here: http://apostephen.blogspot.com/2012/09/playing-at-world-errata.html
Steve Marsh wrote:Everyone will be at NTRPG Con this summer, if you can make it.It is the only convention I go to these days. Sandy will be there as will others. My youngest daughter will show up in order to bring donuts for Tim Kask (a ritual with her). Since my oldest daughter's husband just got called up and activated separately from his unit (which had just gone active service) and is being sent to Afghanistan for a year, she will probably be there too in order to run some more people over in the chariot races.The ratio of people to people is really good.If you wanted to interview some people you probably could not pick a better con.
Badmike wrote:Steve Marsh wrote:Everyone will be at NTRPG Con this summer, if you can make it.It is the only convention I go to these days. Sandy will be there as will others. My youngest daughter will show up in order to bring donuts for Tim Kask (a ritual with her). Since my oldest daughter's husband just got called up and activated separately from his unit (which had just gone active service) and is being sent to Afghanistan for a year, she will probably be there too in order to run some more people over in the chariot races.The ratio of people to people is really good.If you wanted to interview some people you probably could not pick a better con.Im surprised more people don't use NTRPG con (and Garycon) as a good way to research RPG history. Really an under-used resource, and I wish more interviews would take place here. All the guys who attend are more than happy to open up on the old days. Several of them (Dennis Sustarre, for example) have stories I've never before, probably because he doesn't go to conventions except for NTRPG con. I'm sure there are lots of guys like that up in Wisconsin, also.Happy to hear Heather might make it! Your daughters are fun and we would love to have them both. Doug has spoken to Sandy and he is coming as long as his European convention schedule allows it.Mike B.
