I think Don exaggerates the role of a National Committee a little. I do not envisage a situation ever occurring where Members of one Club are arbitrarily excluded from a Convention, because, for example, there is a disagreement between the National and Club Committee Members. However, the best possible way to ensure this is to make sure that the constitution of any new organisation positively forbids such action. In my opinion, this can best be done by all shades of opinion meeting together, discussing, and finally electing a representative to carry their view to the National Committee. The points raised concerning rules are of course very valid ones, and I would like to see them discussed thoroughly in print in the Newsletter. Bob and I believe very strongly in simple rules, provided they give a reasonably accurate representation of war during the period chosen. Well over two-thirds of the work we put into the Research Group rules is done after the original draft has been completed, and is a matter of: Can this be misunderstood? Is there a simpler way of achieving this effect? All calculation except simple addition is done in advance and incorporated in quick reference tables which can be referred to without thumbing through a whole book. Having said this, we do have some reservations.Firstly, the man who bends the rules or rather follows the letter rather than the spirit finds it easier with simple sets which do not tie the player down rigidly. As an example, at the very first Convention, when people playing under simplified Napoleonic rules were only stopped from employing entirely artillery armies by a last minute ruling. We have far too many "barrack-room lawyers" in wargaming. We also have Surprisingly few players with even a modicum of tactical ability, which accounts for so many of the old familiar faces appearing in the finals each year. In my opinion, the only cure is to have a blanket rule like section 40 of the Army Act which says in effect "Any acts which in the opinion of the umpire are contrary to the spirit if not the letter of the rules will be ruled illegal." Secondly, my experience as an umpire in 5 Conventions now, shows that it is not the complications of the rules that slow things down, but delay in getting games underway, and unfamiliarity by both players and umpires with the rules, however simple. The big problem has always been a shortage of umpires who are fully familiar with the rules in use, and this would be accentuated by the introduction of a special simplified set for Conventions only. It was noteworthy this year that the Ancient games, played under rules that had been used twice before and are now practically universal, went much more smoothly and ended quicker than those for other periods, in use for the first time. This year, the Society of Ancients has undertaken to provide a number of fully experienced umpires sufficient for all the Ancient games at Leicester, and to advise on army lists and terrain. The problem of multiple team entries was discussed this year by the Birmingham Committee. I gather their conclusion was that a one club, one team ruling could be defeated by a club forming splinter clubs, specially for convention entries. The latest news of the proposed National Federation is that Clubs have been holding joint meetings in most parts of the Country and electing representatives to a National Committee. Trevor Halsall of Leicester has agreed to act as National Secretary subject to the approval of the reps. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 121 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1972 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com