I feel I have got to put pen to paper to air some of my thoughts, because after the Convention I feel that they will soon need to introduce lawyers to wargaming! I noticed a remarkable drop in (a) attendance, (b) comfort and (c) interest in the actual games. I have nothing against the Leicester Club and I think they did as good a job as any club can do. I am complaining about the general attitude that seemed to hang over the whole concern. When are we going to be able to go to these meetings and enjoy the main item the actual games? We sat down at 12-45 to watch the Napoleonic Finals (timed for 12 noon). The players and the umpire eventually arrived and after a further 1 hours orders had been written and a few figures appeared. By 4.15 there had been only 4 moves so we got up and came home. Heaven knows who won - they might still be playing now! I don't blame the players just the RULES - and something has got to be done about them! Spectators amble up to the tables, look for a while, become bored and stroll off to another table, where they look just as bored. Unless people can enjoy the games they will not come end if this happens even the trade stands will suffer. Here are some suggestions for improving the situation: 1. Each player should, well in advance, be given a map of the terrain so that they can pick their armies and decide on a Battle Plan - to be given to the Umpire when they arrive at the table. 2. Whilst the umpire is reading them, they set out their troops; later the umpire checks them. 3. Bring in the "Alternate Move" system, with the umpire making sure that the players keep to Battle Plan. Any change of orders can be made by a player with a "Penalty Move Limit" before the new order can be carried out. This will make the game flow more quickly and can be followed by spectators. 4. There should be a time limit on player's moves and anything not moved stays put. Obviously, none of this will be any use with the type of rules in use at the moment. There are lots of rules that can be used to give the same skilful result without a rule book of some 50 pages! Let everybody who feels this way make themselves heard before these so-called intellectuals ruin everything! Too many of our comrades seem to be trying to convince somebody, including themselves, of their cleverness in playing these very complicated wargames and yet all anybody wants from any sport is enjoyment in playing and watching. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter #141 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1973 by Donald Featherstone. 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