Last month I ordered ONE HOUR WARGAMES by Neil Thomas through Amazon. I bought the actual book, not the Kindle version. It is not due to be shipped until November 19. Yesterday I checked on the status of my order, hoping that the books came in earlier than expected. Nothing had changed on the due date; however, if you do buy the book, Amazon offers the kindle version at a good discount; for ONE HOUR WARGAMES I got the kindle version for $2.99. And it was on my Kindle in a few minutes after the purchase. Between the Kindle and book version, it still only cost me $20.00. Not a bad deal. I'm starting to really like my Kindle!
While looking for another book, I came across the first set of war-game rules I ever bought. When I was in high school one of my brothers took me up to the big city (Boston) for a day of sightseeing (with no adults!). We went into a bookstore on Beacon Hill and I found the book THE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME by G.W. Jeffrey. It was produced by Almark Publishing, first published in 1974. I never did play them.
You are not alone in having bought George Jeffrey's book ... and not having ever used the 'rules'.
ReplyDeleteIn theory George's Variable Bound concept was a good one, but it was very difficult for wargamers at the time to get it to work. I met George Jeffrey and saw the concept in operation, but I always felt that you needed George to be there to get it to work.
All the best,
Bob
Bob et al
DeleteHistorically I was in a great position to see the early development of wargames rules and in particular those written by George Jeffrey. This period started in 1972 but was greatly disrupted in 1974 as George was a serving soldier and Her Majesty desired his presence in Cyprus.
George was the man who introduced me into 'club' wargaming and we became good friends very quickly. I was one of many who helped him develop his concepts and you will find me amongst the many acknowledgements in his book.
George attempted a return to wargaming after he left the army but never managed to recover his previous position amidst various family concerns.
George moved on to his VLB concepts which he never really managed to sell to his wargaming buddies, both old and new.
George sadly died a good few years ago of a heart attack which according on one of his sons killed him before he hit the pavement. I was one of only two wargamers at his funeral.
Jim
I was around 14 years old when I bought this. By that time my brother who I had tried wargaming with earlier was out of school and was busy working. And compared to the rules we had used, I don't think either of us were up for Mr. Jeffrey's book. If it had only been a Featherstone book instead!
ReplyDeleteI had a copy as well but it came after Featherstone, Charge! And wrg. With all the agonizing over depth and scale distortions and details it didn't stand a chance .
ReplyDeleteBut I agree on the ebooks. I still like real ones best but instant and cheap is pretty attractive too!
I think when it comes to wargame books, I will still buy the paper version over ebooks. As for regular history books, it will depend if it's going to be a one time read or a book that I will be consulting often. One time reads will be ebooks.
ReplyDeleteI got a copy as a Christmas present together with Pericoli's 'Armies at Waterloo'. I was a huge Napoleonics fan, at the time, and really wanted the rules to work, but they were so buried in the book that it was almost impossible to use them. I still toy with the idea of trying to find my copy and trying to write out a summary of the rules without all the blurb.
ReplyDeleteAnd real books will always be better than e-books; you can't use e-books as mug coasters or to whap cockroaches.
I should take a look at the rules myself, but i really hate games that I have to stop to figure out what the rules are then figure out basic math. Still there are rules I skipped over then went back and found there's novel ideas to them.
ReplyDeleteI still like real books myself, but right now on the job (I spend most of my day driving a van) having the Kindle is easier than a normal book. Still, all my gadgets have been occupying too much of my time and have been interrupting my wargaming. I am trying to cut the time I spend on the computer down.