Gaming Great Bridge IV: Playtesting Insights

 “Nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals.”

— T. E. Lawrence

I’ve been spending time writing down the rules for processes discussed earlier, with an eye to producing both a rulebook for a board wargame and a streamlined player aid format of rules for the event where I expect to run the Battle of Great Bridge game demo. Once I had some firm rules down as a baseline for game play, I devised a gridded map, found some generic pieces to use, and started some self-play testing (with me taking turns running both sides), given my general lack of local players. I made a few adjustments, but overall it seems to deliver the experience I’d hoped to offer: basic rules with player choices, short play time, and all taking into account some historical considerations.

Game with Friends or Strangers?

 “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met.”

— William Butler Yeats

Friends with pizza, dice, games...
and an otherworldly stranger.

Recently someone on my social media feed asked if folks preferred gaming with friends or strangers. It’s an interesting question, with the answer often depending on our own gaming preferences, social circumstances, and personalities. I’ve been gaming more than 40 years and have done my share at tables with friends and strangers. Both experiences gave me headaches and drama...and both provided amazingly fulfilling moments. Each forced me to take a closer look at how we interact over roleplaying games as players and gamemasters, examining what worked and what didn’t, determining how best to prepare, and considering how what happens at the table — how we interact with each other — makes everyone feel.

Culling the Game Collection

 “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

The West End Games Star Wars Roleplaying Game shelf.

I am a pack rat. I hate sorting through my stuff and deciding to get rid of any of it, whether to trade, donate, recycle, or trash. Especially books and games, which hold an almost sacred significance for me. But lately, for various reasons, I’ve found myself more closely examining books and games acquired over the years. Many still have sentimental meaning; many still provide a sense of wonder and joy when revisiting them; many remain relevant to my writing and game design interests as inspiration and reference material. Yet some, probably more than I’m willing to admit, do not. Their luster has faded, my interests have moved along, or I’ve kept them despite their never really having measured up to my expectations or needs. So this year I’ve reluctantly embarked on a campaign to cull my book and game collections...for which I have outlined a general rationale; nothing hard-and-fast, but some flexible conditions under which I’m willing to part with items in my collection.