The following letters come from the GMT magazine C3P0 or whatever it is called. I find them utterly awful in what they tell us about the American gamer (I am assuming these chaps are above average). One should take account that Americans usually only have 11 and minus 11 on their (Spinal Tap) enthusiasm meters but even so the tragic belief that these games represent ultimate reality is quite breath-taking.
There is also a lot here about the completist elements of our hobby. Frankly, if this appeared in the UK we would assume a leg-pull, but they are not, these are sincerely held views of one of the more (most?) successful series in gaming (in the UK you can pick them up cheap at Virgin). As Meatloaf would say read'em and weep. En Avant!
"Now, as a 30-plus year veteran of the wargaming hobby, I would like to offer a few editorial comments. Though my interests cover all spectrums of the hobby, I am first and foremost an ancients nut. Needless to say, the GBoH Series (SPQR, Deluxe Alexander and Julius Caesar) has become for me a truly beautiful experience. Though one can learn some history from any wargame, what I have learned from GBoS about the history of ancient warfare is immeasurable. Berg, Herman and the Staff of GMT have done more than a series of wargames. You have produced a new sense of history. Now, I know and can appreciate why Alexander was the greatest general in military history. Why Caesar was such a lucky stiff who was fortunate to control the greatest army in the world. Why the Roman Legion, though beset by setbacks throughout its glorious history, always had the one quality cherished by all armies throughout recorded history. Did I learn this from reading a book? No, I learned it from opening a box and playing out history on my table in my den. Thank you very much from a veteran grognard who discovered its never to late to learn the lessons of History." [Name Withheld by the Mighty Whitey]
Next Letter
"Well, you all have made an old wargamer very happy here in the last couple days. I received Deluxe Al a couple months ago and was becoming a little perturbed since War Elephant had still not arrived. Then, last week, when I got home from a really crappy work day, my oldest daughter handed me a brown envelope with the GMT logo on it. I suspected it was what I had been waiting for since I had already gotten my copy of Dictator. I opened the envelope and found second edition War Elephant inside. I was thrilled and my crappy day ended right at that point. I will finish trimming the unit counters this week and should be rampaging elephants at Raphia by the weekend."
"I came late to the Great Battles of History series, and missed the Juggernaut and War Elephant modules. As I got deeper into the series, buying SPQR, Caesar, and all the later modules I realised the ancients were more interesting than I thought.
I started wargaming with Panzerblitz (TAHGC) in 1976 and then buried myself in Squad Leader (TAHGC) for the next ten years or so. I developed an interest in Napoleonics and bought every La Bataille title on the market...but always went back to Squad Leader and then Advanced Squad Leader. I am, by choice and self training, an Eastern Front W.W.II aficionado, with a strong German lean. I know lots about Panthers and Tigers, battles and leaders, guns and planes, and so on. My tastes in military history are not too diverse, mainly W.W.II and Napoleonics, and I was a happy grognard. I dutifully hand trim each unit counter for each game I own (Yes, even the thousands of Squad Leader counters!)... and I have a veritable glass shop on hand to defeat the various sized mapsheet trampolines. (One must not have fuzzy edges and bouncy boards!)
I watched a miniatures game of Ancients about fifteen years ago and commented to one of the players that one of my Tigers could destroy their entire little, human, armoured army. I was amused...and the guy did not even smile." (CHV: Nurse! He's up again!)
"Then one day, more recently, I was at a hobby shop in Fort Lauderdale and saw Rodger MacGowan's box art on SPQR. I recognised the work, but had no idea what the hell Spee-Quer meant. I read the back of the box, and plunked down the cash. Now, after two years or so, lots of reading (Thanks for the bibliography!), and video rentals (Burton is hilarious as Big Al!), I not only know what SPQR means, but I also know the differences between African and Indian elephants, and what cataphracted cavalry is, and who the Immortals are, and why the shaft of a pilum was made of soft iron, and the nature of the debate on the length of a sarissa. I am hooked, just like I had been with Squad Leader."
"I have played hundreds of games over the years and spent literally thousands of dollars on supporting books. Your system, from The Great Battles of Alexander to Julius Caesar, is by far one of the best I have ever played. I have already gotten hundreds of hours of pleasure, both playing and studying, out of your games. That is the beauty of our hobby, and all of you are to be commended.
The little pieces of cardboard and coloured sheets of paper help bring knowledge and passion back into lives that are often dulled by the world around us. The sense of humour, so evident in your rule and scenario books, is refreshing in an age where nearly everyone takes themselves much too seriously. The game system is subtle, appears representative of the period of warfare, and is great fun. I guess my own love for armoured fighting vehicles is reflected in my enjoyment of the elephant battles, and my love for classic struggles is reflected in my enjoyment of the King Pyrrhus scenarios. (I have played Heraclea at least seven times and each time I really get a kick out of committing the Lucanian oxen.)" (CHV: What about muffin the mule?). [Ed: You're fired, hired and fired again].
"The bottom line to this epic letter is I want you all to know how much the games are appreciated and enjoyed. They are great fun! I look forward to additional modules covering Hellenistic warfare, more of the Roman Republic, and whatever else you all think up. Most importantly, I look forward to coming home some time in July, after having a crappy work day, and having my daughter hand me a brown GMT envelope. I will look to the west (GMT Land!), smile, and whisper to myself..."Diadochoi - Battles of the Successors!" [Another name withheld]
Another Letter
"I have purchased The Battles of Waterloo, and after my satisfaction with that game, Arctic Storm. I have found that the quality of your games and your customer support are excellent. Most importantly, your map and counter graphics are divine; especially so for Waterloo."
"If I may add one suggestion. I am a fan of the old Game Designers' Workshop type counters. If you could make the lines on your standard military counters (e.g. Arctic Storm) a little bolder, so that the information really stands out, it would make it slightly easier to read them. As for the soldiers depicted on the Waterloo and Deluxe Alexander counters I have seen, well ..wow. They make looking at, let alone playing your games, a joy!"
(CHV: Bolder!!!! This boy must have SAD!)
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© Copyright 1997 by Charles and Teresa Vasey.
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