Rulebook Collection

Hey All,

I'd like to mumble about things other than what I managed to paint in the course of a month, and to get back on track with that, I'm going to talk a minute about a little project I wrapped up late last week.

I finished my Collection of the Age of Sigmar 1st Edition Grand Alliance Rulebooks, each a tome of varying lengths for Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction. The rules herein are akin to the Ravening Hordes publication Games Workshop released for the advent of Warhammer Fantasy Battle 6th Edition, which like Age of Sigmar transformed the unit statlines and the rules entirely.

For some reason, I really love these books. Beer and Pretzels wargames are definitely a jam, and I find them really accessible for players just coming to grips with the concepts inherent in the hobby. The rules for this edition are four pages long, and are in the back of each of the Grand Alliance books, meaning you can just hand someone the relevant paperback and they have everything they need to understand what's going on.

Another boon (I feel) for this version, is that there are no points values, and in their stead the game entrusts you with the responsability to either embrace an unbalanced game, or to evaluate fairness for yourself. Unbalanced games are neat, as when done with intent can make for drama, where the odds are stacked against intrepid heroes or in the favor of mighty villains. It makes for a more narrative experience, trust me and every bookie that's ever lived; fair fights don't carry nearly as much anticipation as an underdog usurping a heel, and conflict is rarely sparked by an equality of power.

That said, if you're excited for simulations, this probably isn't the game for you. I mean, it wasn't for a lot of people, since the simplification of the game alienated a huge portion of the audience. Between that, some goofy rules, and people being generally miffed about the exclusion of a points system, those early days are not remembered fondly.

But you're allowed to draw your own conclusions. I did, and it was chill.

This collection also means something to me, as its an complete game system. Youtuber Uncle Atom makes a really great point about finding wargames you like, and how they're shelf stable if you have the right books. He argues that while contemporary online video games may update out of a version you enjoyed, or the server you've played on for years dies, your books are forever. So long as you don't throw out your rules or your models, all you need is a willing opponent if you're to revisit an old favorite. While this no longer can be said about the day 1 DLC approach Games Workshop has taken to its rules, the sentiment is nice and can be applied when you don't care.

Huh. Maybe you can love things and not get worked up over the details. 

Anyhow, I started on that project immediately after polishing off the 8th Edition Indexes. If you're sensing a trend here... well yeah, you caught me.

That's all for now. Ciao!