[unofficial weekender] Rulebooks

[sundancer 43668xp 1]

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First time visitor to OTT? Then please introduce yourself in the New Member Thread and look around in the Project System. Then come back and read on…

https://www.beastsofwar.com/forums/topic/introduce-yourselves-new-member-thread/

https://www.beastsofwar.com/project/

Read all of this before you start as it will save you any trouble later.

First thing you must do is make your “pledge”. It can be anything gaming related, big or small, and you don’t even have to finish it. No, in here, happiness is the road. Have fun doing whatever it is, but it is not a race. Accompany your work with pictures or we might think you are do something sinister and just using us for cover.

You are also presented with a few questions. It is to get the conversation started. Try and keep your answers ‘conversational’, no text speak, and certainly no “basically”. This is how we all get to know each other better. While you are here feel free to tell us a story, show a picture, joke, tales of love or woe, or just add your own little bit. This is the whole point…in here it is just us.

If you have never taken part before we may bark and bite, but we also like a cuddle! It is all done in the best possible taste and it is character building. feel free to give as good as you get.

A few other things to note: NO RELIGION & NO POLITICS! Glasgow pub rules are in effect. If you need to make a better point then it is fine, but don’t take the piss. And always keep it civil. This includes no philosophy, no home computer culture wars.

Play plenty of music to go with your work. Loud and through proper speakers. Write us a playlist of things we might not have heard before.

Now, after all of that there is only one ‘real’ rule in here and it cannot be broken: NO DICKS! (Exceptions may be made for little fighting men with little plastic/resin/metal wieners)

And don’t forget the highlights of the weekend: The Weekender on Friday and XLBS on Sunday. And the little show that is The Hobby Hangout over at twitch.tv

If you fancy to see some nice WIP pictures go to the WAYPN thread https://www.beastsofwar.com/forums/topic/what-are-you-painting-now-2025-edition/

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Question of the week:

• Rulebooks: how do you like them? ( @brennon please say ‘sorry’ to your cat for me as I have nicked the topic)

And now back to the show.

[sundancer 43668xp 0]

Pledge: no pledge. I failed myself to many times the last weeks.

Answer: This is a long’ish one.

So I feel I need to differentiate the various forms I like and use. Most (if not all) had been mentioned on the XLBS.

Hardback tome to slap one with

Those I like for a coffee table bock, fluff read and some hobby tips. It should contain rules, fluff and background, hobby tips and tricks and some high glossy mini pr0n pictures of display armies. That’s the one for the main game to show off with. Maybe even has basic stats for all armies/races in the game

A5 booklet in a box

The main event. All the main rules are in it, maybe a short little box with fluff here and here but basically it’s just the rules. Fits in your bag, can be scribbled in and marks made. The workhorse that should be in every starter set. Two if it’s a two player starter set.

Digital rules

Something you can read on your screen, what ever size it is. Searchable with clickable hyperlinks. Doesn’t need to be a PDF, can be a proper HTML file or online resource. No pictures, only rules.

Errata, rules updates/clarification

Those shouldn’t exist at all. In a perfect world the rule set would be flawless after testing and printing. But since this is not a perfect world I’d like to have those in the same fashion as the digital rules. And maybe, like Justin said, once a year a “book of corrections” to put on the shelf next to the big hardback.

Music:

[limburger 22054xp 0]

Can I say I hate the A5 rulebooks?

My arms are getting too short for that kind of tiny print.

Best rulebook from a thematic point of view has got to be the Blood&Plunder deluxe rulebooks with their fake leather covers.
And they somehow managed to pick a paper that feels like it belongs in there as well.

Digital rulebooks should embrace that format or not be done at all.
So indexed, clickable links and little animations  to explain concepts.
Effectively a website that has the rules instead of a pdf as it were.

Digital rules have several negatives:
– they need to be stored somewhere locally or else you risk losing them when the company goes under or decides to remove the rulebooks

– you cannot stick to your favourite version of the rules, unless you ensure there is a local copy

– you can’t smack someone in the face with the rules or drop them on the table with a satisfying *thump*

Time for some heavy metal:

[sundancer 43668xp 2]

Can I say I hate the A5 rulebooks?

My arms are getting too short for that kind of tiny print.

You can but you’d be wrong. You hate getting old and needing glasses. Plus just because the rulebook is A5 that doesn’t mean it’s just a shrunk down version of a A4. I’d highly suggest to do a different layout on A5 altogether. But that costs time and money.

[limburger 22054xp 1]

A good quick reference sheet + unit cards are more useful though.

Any game that needs more information than what fits on that is likely too complicated for its own sake.

It’s kind of weird how RPG’s tend to have gamemaster screens by default these days with aftermarket options as well, but there isn’t much of an effort to make good quick reference sheets for wargames. The one example that stands out so far has been the Napoleonic rule set that Gerry showed of in a recent XLBS. Using colours to mark different phases is a good thing, even if it isn’t as printer friendly as it could be.

[pagan8th 13122xp 1]

Pledge: I’ve failed a lot lately including this week. I now have a new campaign setting to work on and it’s different enough from anything that I’ve run before that I’m almost enthusiastic… however I think find miniatures might be tricky.

We are going for prehistoric as in 40000 years ago when homo sapiens and neanderthals were coexisting.

So if anyone can recommend some suitably tribal ‘cavemen’, ‘cave women’ and ‘neanderthal’ figures… please let me know.

A4 rules books I like. Warmachine and Hordes had gorgeous art.

A5 rule books are fine if the font is big enough. Bolt Action A5 was tiny text and unreadable.

PDF are great for searching for obscure rules, but I’d rather have a physical book.

I agree with @sundancer in that errata should not exist. If they do exist, print them exactly as they appear in the rules so you print them on sticker paper and insert them in the core rules as required.

[danlee 22572xp 1]

This week’s pledge is to do the last batch of Aeon Trespass models.

 

• Rulebooks: how do you like them? ( @brennon please say ‘sorry’ to your cat for me as I have nicked the topic) – My favourite is an A4’ish hardback that looks good on my shelf once read. I always tended to create my own crib sheet that covered my army’s rules and the rules I struggled to remember for actual gaming.

[Lazagram 47xp 3]

Pledge – Well, some of last week’s pledges also didn’t make it to the do list, but I did start my first project, so I guess there is that. This week, I will paint most of it. Hopefully, it’s all-terrain, so the paintbrush and sponges will be out. Filler Spray, I still need to track down. Auto filler sprays are supposedly alright, must try one on a FDM print to see if it’s worth the cost on the regular. Otherwise, just to stay on track.

Rule Books-  Hardbacks for the win, it’s going to get well used, you’d hope so, it’s a must. Must say my inner anarchist says throw the rules in the bin a lot, but that aside, they should be concise on the rules, lore-filled and full of art. The fewer booster copies of other guides/books I need to purchase, the better.

[zoidpinhead 12684xp 2]

Pledge:  I got the block colours on the Romans so they need finishing.  Transfers should be here tomorrow so I can get them done for the deadline:

Answer:  Gotta be A4 hardbacks for rulebooks.  As consumers we pay a lot for rules and I’d like the full experience from my rulebook – background, setting, rules that have clear examples and even painting and terrain tips.  I’m happy to pay 50% more to get a quality product because I read them and enjoy them even if I don’t play the game.  Oh, and real art by real artists – no AI generated thank you.

@pagan8th I can recommend Copplestone Castings for cave people and Reaper for Neanderthals.  I have a bunch and added in matching figures like Foundry Savage Ancient Germans to bulk out the numbers.  I could probably hunt them out for a photo if you were interested?

[pagan8th 13122xp 2]

Thanks @zoidpinhead for the suggestion. I’ll probably be getting some copplestone castings at least.

[grantinvanman 5711xp 3]

Pledge: yeah, complete! Got my commission dude to his tourney, he nailed the painting portion!

Craftworld Iyanden commission.

 

Rules: NEVER digital. I hate the idea; I like a nice hard book to hold. Eratta be damned! Book over 1/0/0/0111/00 all day, every day.

 

music : here’s my latest acquisition, a Fender Custom Shop 64 in burgundy mist metallic with Texas Special pickups; this is what $6000 gets you when you’re serious  

this is an angry yet tameable Strat; I might throw some custom shop 69 pickups in her, but I’m undecided as of yet

 

Music:

[sundancer 43668xp 1]

Good Monday morning.

SO it looks like “proper big book” is in the lead.

Can someone please DCC me some motivation so that I get my space organised today? I really need more space.

[grantinvanman 5711xp 0]

@sundancer visit IKEA. Buy cheap shelves. Get your shit together. Simple as!

[sundancer 43668xp 1]

@grantinvanman  that would work if there was any free wall space left. But there is none. Every wall in my home office/hobby space is filled with shelves from floor to ceiling. When I say: zero more space available then I mean literally zero space.

[grantinvanman 5711xp 0]

@sundancer then it might be time to …

 

1. clear out old stuff not in use

2. take over another room

3. buy a bigger haus mit more raum…

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