Quote from: Shemek hiTankolel;944535Cool.
Did Phil observe you DM, or did he play in your campaign? If so, do you remember what character type he played?

Shemek

He played in at least two different campaigns, at least one as a fighter (I think a fighter in both but I couldn't swear to it.)

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;944656Not to mention that the Shermans were 1/87 scale, the Honeys and Mk. Is and IIs were 1/72 scale, and the Grant was 1/76 scale, because THAT'S WHAT WAS AVAILABLE.

Yes, indeed. No 'official' and 'authorized' lines of merchandise, no 'directed play', no 'sanctioned play', none of that. We, to quote somebody, "made stuff up and had fun." Is it just me, my General, or are those days long gone?

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944885... are those days long gone?

Yes, I believe so.
Now we must only use our imagination in pre-approved ways.
Accept how things are and feel helpless to change them.
If you must imagine, imagine escape not rebellion.
=

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944885Yes, indeed. No 'official' and 'authorized' lines of merchandise, no 'directed play', no 'sanctioned play', none of that. We, to quote somebody, "made stuff up and had fun." Is it just me, my General, or are those days long gone?

Not gone, no. However, they are no longer the emphasis of the mainstream path of the hobby.

Just like there are still folks out there who still build model locomotives by starting with brass sheet, bar, and rod stock and carving away everything that doesn't look like a C&NW class R-1 4-6-0, but Model Railroader no longer runs the "Kitchen Table Locomotive" series like they did in the 1950s.

Convenience sells, and the mainstream of any hobby will tend to move towards greater convenience.  You can still build a model airplane out of balsa strips and tissue paper and a drawing, but you can also buy a complete ready to fly radio control plane.

Quote from: Greentongue;944888Yes, I believe so.
Now we must only use our imagination in pre-approved ways.
Accept how things are and feel helpless to change them.
If you must imagine, imagine escape not rebellion.
=

That is the way it seems, from what I've seen at conventions and the local shops. I find it pretty daunting, especially after all this time in the hobby. But then, there may be hope yet...

I had kind of a wild moment the other weekend with the D&D group I'm playing in; we visited Lord Chirine and his family, and the group was astonished at the 'free kreigspiel' / 'open sandbox' play style, where I - the 'deputy GM' - had all the world-setting details at my fingertips, and it was up to them to have an adventure. They did, had a lot of fun, got some goodies, and are thinking about coming back every now and then. They know nothing about the setting, but had fun with it and would like to know more.

I thought that it was pretty fun to run for them, myself. We'll see what develops...

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;944927Not gone, no. However, they are no longer the emphasis of the mainstream path of the hobby.

Just like there are still folks out there who still build model locomotives by starting with brass sheet, bar, and rod stock and carving away everything that doesn't look like a C&NW class R-1 4-6-0, but Model Railroader no longer runs the "Kitchen Table Locomotive" series like they did in the 1950s.

Convenience sells, and the mainstream of any hobby will tend to move towards greater convenience.  You can still build a model airplane out of balsa strips and tissue paper and a drawing, but you can also buy a complete ready to fly radio control plane.

Agreed, on all points. I mean, I do have lots of ready-to-run locomotives and rolling stock, but I still enjoy a bit of scratch-building now and then. I'm just bemused at the people who look at my little efforts on the game table and insist that they could never do anything like that.

Maybe I should start doing paint-and-take sessions? It'd go a long way to clearing out all that unpainted lead that's been piling up for decades. (Although, if the Missus finds that her vintage Ral Partha 'Elfquest' and RAFM 'Dr. Who' figures - in their original TARDIS boxes, no less- have gone missing, I will find myself lovingly immersed in boiling oil in no time flat.) Something to think about...

EDIT: I can see it now: Blue Peter does a Tekumel episode. Auntie Beeb would never be the same again.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;944657He played in at least two different campaigns, at least one as a fighter (I think a fighter in both but I couldn't swear to it.)

He was a scholar, a gentleman, and a man with a good taste in classes he played, evidently;)!

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944638Agreed. I can't imagine life without my books.

And it's a good way to set yourself apart from the masses.

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;944656Not to mention that the Shermans were 1/87 scale, the Honeys and Mk. Is and IIs were 1/72 scale, and the Grant was 1/76 scale, because THAT'S WHAT WAS AVAILABLE.

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944885Yes, indeed. No 'official' and 'authorized' lines of merchandise, no 'directed play', no 'sanctioned play', none of that. We, to quote somebody, "made stuff up and had fun." Is it just me, my General, or are those days long gone?

No sanctioned play here, either.
I still find the idea baffling:).

Quote from: Greentongue;944888Yes, I believe so.
Now we must only use our imagination in pre-approved ways.
Accept how things are and feel helpless to change them.
If you must imagine, imagine escape not rebellion.
=

I haven't got the memo, though, so I'm going to stick to my old ways;).

Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;944927Convenience sells, and the mainstream of any hobby will tend to move towards greater convenience.

...I'm afraid you're right.

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944961That is the way it seems, from what I've seen at conventions and the local shops. I find it pretty daunting, especially after all this time in the hobby. But then, there may be hope yet...

I had kind of a wild moment the other weekend with the D&D group I'm playing in; we visited Lord Chirine and his family, and the group was astonished at the 'free kreigspiel' / 'open sandbox' play style, where I - the 'deputy GM' - had all the world-setting details at my fingertips, and it was up to them to have an adventure. They did, had a lot of fun, got some goodies, and are thinking about coming back every now and then. They know nothing about the setting, but had fun with it and would like to know more.

I thought that it was pretty fun to run for them, myself. We'll see what develops...

Great news, Uncle! Keep us informed!
But that's what I kept thinking you should be doing in order to start a group and teach those people the ways of the old masters...

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944962Maybe I should start doing paint-and-take sessions? It'd go a long way to clearing out all that unpainted lead that's been piling up for decades. (Although, if the Missus finds that her vintage Ral Partha 'Elfquest' and RAFM 'Dr. Who' figures - in their original TARDIS boxes, no less- have gone missing, I will find myself lovingly immersed in boiling oil in no time flat.) Something to think about...

EDIT: I can see it now: Blue Peter does a Tekumel episode. Auntie Beeb would never be the same again.

Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead, into the boiling oil:D? Or maybe you can just stash the vintage stuff away while doing the "paint-and-take" sessions?
It might not be a bad idea, really - not that I would know much about this business, I've just got my gut feeling!

Quote from: chirine ba kal;944885Yes, indeed. No 'official' and 'authorized' lines of merchandise, no 'directed play', no 'sanctioned play', none of that. We, to quote somebody, "made stuff up and had fun." Is it just me, my General, or are those days long gone?

No those days live on.  I started doing tabletop RPGs again consistently in 2006 to present after a brief span from 1990-1996, but nothing from 1984-1990; and the golden years of 1978-1984.  For those of us who started in the late 70's, and like minded younger folk, imagination is key, we use broad stroke rule sets so something just "made up" can be "mechanically" implemented in a heart beat, even the most out there stuff is easy to fit in well after some mature and good nature discussion (and inevitable jokes and ribbing).

This is definitely getting to be Ye Olde Farts thread :-)

Is there anyone regularly posting here that's under 50? I'm sixty-four this year and still gaming like it was 1974 although the miniatures gaming has passed me by (not done any since 2008 as my eyesight no longer holds up to painting stuff).

Quote from: Xanther;944980No those days live on.  I started doing tabletop RPGs again consistently in 2006 to present after a brief span from 1990-1996, but nothing from 1984-1990; and the golden years of 1978-1984.  For those of us who started in the late 70's, and like minded younger folk, imagination is key, we use broad stroke rule sets so something just "made up" can be "mechanically" implemented in a heart beat, even the most out there stuff is easy to fit in well after some mature and good nature discussion (and inevitable jokes and ribbing).

Broad stroke rules that can fit anything is the whole reason I like unified resolution systems:).

Quote from: Hermes Serpent;945003This is definitely getting to be Ye Olde Farts thread :-)

Is there anyone regularly posting here that's under 50? I'm sixty-four this year and still gaming like it was 1974 although the miniatures gaming has passed me by (not done any since 2008 as my eyesight no longer holds up to painting stuff).

I'm 36, man, and the oldest in my group by at least a few years;). The whole Olde Farts stuff is something that people that hate old school games want others to buy.

Quote from: Hermes Serpent;945003This is definitely getting to be Ye Olde Farts thread :-)

Is there anyone regularly posting here that's under 50? I'm sixty-four this year and still gaming like it was 1974 although the miniatures gaming has passed me by (not done any since 2008 as my eyesight no longer holds up to painting stuff).

44 years young!!!

H;0)

Quote from: Hermes Serpent;945003This is definitely getting to be Ye Olde Farts thread :-)

Is there anyone regularly posting here that's under 50? I'm sixty-four this year and still gaming like it was 1974 although the miniatures gaming has passed me by (not done any since 2008 as my eyesight no longer holds up to painting stuff).

34 here.  Still been a gamer since I was 10.  But obviously a young'un relatively.

And on to Uncle Chirine, any luck on Mrelu sources?  Still got a week to prepare, so not a real hurry, but curious now that I'm emerging from the fugue of being sick as a dog due to my evil sinuses (seriously, I think the single most depressing thing about Tekumel was that even the Lords of Humanspace never cured the common cold!)

From AsenRG:
He was a scholar, a gentleman, and a man with a good taste in classes he played, evidently;)!

I'd agree with that; I think he would have done well as a Caliph or Rajah, myself.

And it's a good way to set yourself apart from the masses.

Agreed, but it does get lonely when I talk about books that we all had read and considered the basic texts of the hobby - both what's become the 'RPG niche' and the 'wargame niche'. I feel, a lot of the time, that I simply do not speak the same language or share in the same culture as the people that I meet.

No sanctioned play here, either. I still find the idea baffling:).

I've never liked 'tournament play' even way back when the 'national wargaming championships' were being mooted about by a lot of East Coast gamers. (Historical miniatures, to be more precise.) The thing became a marketing ploy to sell more stuff to the masses, especially with the era of GW's big and much-ballyhooed events - which seem to have died out, locally -  designed to get new players into the 'GW Hobby' with massive buy-ins of product a requirement. Thank you, no thank you; the hobby has always been - for me, anyway - all about friends having a good time.

I haven't got the memo, though, so I'm going to stick to my old ways;).

Agreed!!!

...I'm afraid you're right.

Which does kind of scare me...

Great news, Uncle! Keep us informed!
But that's what I kept thinking you should be doing in order to start a group and teach those people the ways of the old masters...

Well, I don't mind running games; it's getting people to play in them. There seems to be a very real bias against 'in-home' game groups; one ash to be at the local con, or the FLGS, or not at all. We'll see; I am appearing at the local game con as part of an exhibit next weekend, and I may chum the waters a little bit and see what bites.

Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead, into the boiling oil:D? Or maybe you can just stash the vintage stuff away while doing the "paint-and-take" sessions?
It might not be a bad idea, really - not that I would know much about this business, I've just got my gut feeling!

I have lots and lots of vintage lead I'm willing to part with - I've been at this for some forty years, and there are figures I bought back in 1978 that have yet to get a lick of paint. The issue is that these are Herself's figures, and I have been warned in the bloodiest possible terms what will happen to me if any of them turn up missing. I had to go to quite extreme lengths to convince her that I was not raiding her stock of 'N' gauge locomotives and rolling stock to build my 'OO' scale narrow gauge equipment...

Quote from: Xanther;944980No those days live on.  I started doing tabletop RPGs again consistently in 2006 to present after a brief span from 1990-1996, but nothing from 1984-1990; and the golden years of 1978-1984.  For those of us who started in the late 70's, and like minded younger folk, imagination is key, we use broad stroke rule sets so something just "made up" can be "mechanically" implemented in a heart beat, even the most out there stuff is easy to fit in well after some mature and good nature discussion (and inevitable jokes and ribbing).

I am, if I may say, delighted to hear this!!!  Hurrah!!!

Quote from: Hermes Serpent;945003This is definitely getting to be Ye Olde Farts thread :-)

Is there anyone regularly posting here that's under 50? I'm sixty-four this year and still gaming like it was 1974 although the miniatures gaming has passed me by (not done any since 2008 as my eyesight no longer holds up to painting stuff).

I'm sorry; I am being a Grumpy Old Man - at the young age of sixty - mostly because I have a bad head cold at the moment and I'm going to be spending all of next weekend sitting in a hotel lobby at the local game convention watching the crowds go by. I'm providing one of my Skyline displays for an exhibit, and I'm going to have to be there mostly to make sure that the laptop I'm having to provide doesn't walk off.

The good news, as far as I am concerned, is that this is the very last time I will ever have to go to a convention - of any kind- while working for someone; any future conventions will be working with someone. (There's a huge difference, as Gronan can tell you all about.) While I am not talking about resurrecting our old 'Akbar and Jeff's Traveling Tekumel Road Show' - the Gods forfend!!! - I have an 'Events Guide' now that spells out in excruciating detail what I can and can not do - and what I will and will not do - for events organizers. One thing that I simply will not do is organize events - been there, done that, still have the left-over T-shirts sitting around.