How's that for a catchy intro? To digress, several years ago when I first began the rules project, I asked Phil what he thought about it. For all of those who complain about Phil's demeanor and ways of dealing with things, I can only tell you that he has always been helpful and forthright with valid criticism. Anyway, one thing Phil told me was to be prepared for the never-ending desire on the part of many gamers to change the rules, no matter what. Perry made a point in his email about how we seem to have settled into a compromise situation. If that means have I tried to listen to everyone's arguments and suggestions, then I suppose, yes, I have tried to compromise. If an idea is valid (and the missile limitations, supply wagons, fire and flee rule and signals are all realistic) and can be easily amended into the rules then I have accepted them. Other things such as incendiary pigs, floods, strange weapons, and many other items have not made it past the editor's desk. It is well nigh impossible to have all things for all people. No matter how much I like the rules, others will hate them. Still others will sort of like them, or at least parts of them and (thankfully) many others really enjoy them for what they are. Face it, they can't be as realistic as any of us would like. Remember the old S&T game, Terrible Swift Sword? I set that game up one day...and it took hours...tried to play it and gave up. It was too much work! Realistic? Maybe, but I didn't want to devote that much of my life to it. How many people have said the same about WRG 7th? Now some are saying it about DBM as well. What it all boils down to is, the game is as it is. I designed it for a certain level of play, with features that maybe some don't like (i.e. the slower movement in engagement range and orders to keep the omnipresent general from reacting to every situation). Chess gives you all the control you can possibly have, except over your own level of skill. My rules are for fun and to replicate battle as I understand it from my 40 plus years of study. I can't do any more than this. Back to Saga #73 Table of Contents Back to Saga List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Terry Gore This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com