Shorts 1 - Tabletop Wargaming - Simpler is Fun...ner

I like tabletop wargaming.

Objectives, terrain, characters, critters or an opponent, suspense, and of course narrative make for a fun activity that allows ones imagination to roam within a fantastical landscape for a while.

As time goes on I've found myself wanting the simplest expression of this as possible. Measuring distances is fine. Dice to add randomness is fine. Complex calculations to resolve an interaction are less fine.

Simplicity in One Page Rules (OPR)

This is one reason OPR appeals.

You have a character, is has a 'to hit' roll and a weapon that does n possible hits.

The target is either hit or it is not. The weapon does (or doesn't do) a viable amount of damage no matter what it's pointed at.

There is armour check which is variable and modifiable - fair enough. Then the target takes a wound or it doesn't.

And that's that.

By comparison, Necromunda...

The added level of 'weapon damage' where you compare the weapon's strength vs the target's 'toughness' is an extra layer that adds complexity and doesn't add to the flow of the game (in my opinion).

I could also add that rolling for accumulating damage effects. OPR (skirmish version) does have a wounds system but it is simpler.

By Comparison, Epic...

Having specific weapon types, where anti-personnel, anti-tank or anti-aircraft weapon types can only be used on appropriate target types adds complexity to list selection and potentially makes a chunk of your force situationally unviable.  Ok, that's a strategic consideration, but does it make the experience better?

Sure, it would be boring if all games were the same, and I guess authors write things to be slightly different or quirky to make them different from the next game.

But a novel approach to some aspect of the battle mechanics doesn't necessarily make things better. Some people like the micro-management aspect and fair enough.

As I've tried more and more games the quirkiness, complexity, tricks and counter-tricks takes away from what I want to be doing, seeing a battle or story play out as smoothly as possible without the interruptions of extensive calculations, chart checking and rules look ups.

A reasonably rebuttal would be to learn the rules better or memorize stats and charts.

However, if you play 3 or 4 different systems then that becomes more and more difficult and frustrating and confusing.   AND because wargaming is a niche activity if you want to play a game (ANY game) then you need to be versatile and play a few different games based on what your fellow gamers also like.  Otherwise you're waiting around for your game to cycle through again and that could be months.

I'm glad that other games do exist, for comparison, and because if everyone like the same thing that would be boring too.  I've just been thinking about what I want from gaming, and why OPR is so appealing.

Brain dump complete.

Until next time...