After 14 years, The Sword And The Flame game rules are back where they belong - in the hands of the original designer, Larry Brom. As of November 5, 1998 all copyrights, remaining rule sets and any collateral materials are the legal property of, "And that's the way it was...', a historical owned by Lori Brom, the daughter of the games designer.
In 1984 Yaquinto Publications, the original publisher of the rules, sold the rights to Bob Boyle of Greenfield Hobby Distributors without the knowledge of the designer, Brom - whom, had he known would have purchased the rights himself.
In the ensuing years, Brom, who reluctantly finished some charts, rosters, and rules variants for the 1984 1st revision by Greenfield, had to be content, but not at all pleased to see the rule unnecessarily tinkered with (why are French & Indian, Foreign Legion, and Boxer Rebellion variants included in a rule set for the conduct of battles of the British Empire?) and badly marketed.
The supreme satisfaction since the release of the rules in 1979, however, has been the undying enthusiasm, devotion to fun, and acceptance of Brom's game concepts by the multitude of gamer who for 20 years have kept the 'Flame" burning and made Colonial Wargaming a viable aspect of our grand hobby.
When released, TSATF was the first published set of game rules to utilize: 1. Variable move distances. 2. Random movement and firing sequence. 3. Specific casualty determination ( dead, wounded, leaders, etc.).
All of this was accomplished using a standard deck of playing cards. The designer has derived intense personal satisfaction in the quote, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", as through th years he has seen rule-set after rule-set present these basic concepts in many imaginative, clever, and creative variations.
Time moves on, however, and now with TSATF back in it's own barracks perhaps it's time to consider whether that basic, successful, innovative game concept is ready to expand - perhaps to battalion level - to utilize the hordes of Colonial figures that out-of-control enthusiasts have stacked up in game rooms around the country. We shall see.
In the meantime, my sincerest thanks and warmest regards to all of the Sword and Flame devotees and, to paraphrase Kipling:
- "0 there'll surely come a day
When they'll give you all your pay.
And treat you as a Christian ought to do:
So until that day comes round,
Heaven keep you safe and sound,
And, Gamers, here's my best respects to you"
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© Copyright 1999 Hal Thinglum
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