tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post2257446699563865367..comments2024-03-24T04:20:44.650-07:00Comments on Polemarch: An Analogy for WargamingThe Polemarchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-33403150206593784952014-09-08T00:41:13.796-07:002014-09-08T00:41:13.796-07:00I think card games might be a useful analogy, but ...I think card games might be a useful analogy, but the only time someone tried to teach me to play bridge there was such a bitter wrangle over bidding systems that the whole thing collapsed without a card being turned. That is probably quite close to some wargame rule arguments, of course.<br /><br />I think there might be some mileage in wargame reflecting culture, but I'm not sure what it is. The original wargame writers (Featherstone, Grant, Young) were also soldiers, although some dispute might be had as to the relevance of WW2 action to, say, 7 Years War rules. On the other hand, people have not changed that much.<br /><br />Subtlety can take many forms, of course. Grant et al did know what they were talking about. The real problem with modern rules is that people try so hard to get around them...The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-31420219165799634552014-09-08T00:23:42.274-07:002014-09-08T00:23:42.274-07:00I guess football has some strong analogies with wa...I guess football has some strong analogies with wargamng, but it doesn't really have a plot. I suppose it has a plot of sorts, but a lot of wargaming seems to be narrative driven.<br /><br />Inexplicable event happen in real life, let alone in films, as noted. perhaps real life is just weird anyway.The Polemarchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958736917525649927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-89987410719767977002014-09-07T04:34:37.696-07:002014-09-07T04:34:37.696-07:00The film analogy has some validity. Particularly ...The film analogy has some validity. Particularly historical films compared to cooperative historical recreation display games. But films lack one attribute which is the heart and soul of most wargames, competition, especially a battle of wits and willpower against an opponent.<br /><br />Playing cards can be quite similar in some ways. It lacks the handicraft outlet and the history but serious bridge players for example have been known to study the tactics of past games. I'm not much of a card player but I did join a local group for a short time and it was interesting to see the strategies, the importance of partner cooperation etc as hand followed hand like battles in a campaign as players sought victory in a match.<br /><br />I think nostalgia is part of OSW for most people but from a practical pov there were some well educated and very smart men who produced some ideas and rulesets that were very effective on several fronts. Some of them seem naive on the surface, like chess. But once played more than once or twice subtleties rise to the surface that reflect possibly the combination of years of study mixed with practical experience under fire. Form and intent over detail and pedantics or todays curse, the search for novelty for marketing purposes. (ok that might be a bit cynical the search is sometimes for better nite just different) <br /><br /> Of course other rulesets are as well forgotten or buried with honour for past service.Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053555991679802013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185876513552272723.post-17630444326688946972014-09-06T02:42:40.512-07:002014-09-06T02:42:40.512-07:00Interesting. I think the opposite. Football is a f...Interesting. I think the opposite. Football is a far close analogy to wargaming to my mind than film. Films always have the same outcome as you pointed out, and with most entertainment type films you know the outcome before you've watched it.<br /><br />Football however is notoriously unpredictable and full of "luck". Yes the better side normally wins but there's always the possibility of an upset. "Luck" takes many forms in football and inexplicable decisions by officials can rankle every bit as throwing double ones while your opponent throws six after six.<br /><br />Football in a way is THE archetypal war game. It's even mirrored the evolution from mass tribal brawl into something performed by paid experts who represent us by proxy.nundankethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12895608927860103442noreply@blogger.com