While I bought Neil Thomas' Wargaming Nineteenth Century Europe soon after it was published two years ago, I still have yet to give the rules a try on the gaming table. Thomas' book is enjoyable to read and the rules seem quite elegant but, up until now, a brief review (Book review of Thomas) was all that I could muster. Why no test game yet? Well, really no good reason. One excuse I can put into play is that I had not taken the time to pull all of the relevant rules out of the text to create a QRS for in-play reference. As of today, that excuse is no longer. I transcribed the few tables from the text and printed them to fit onto a double sided 4"x6" QRS. For my own rules (and some published ones as well), I try to boil all of the needed reference material onto a playsheet that is no larger than one 4"x6" sheet. I then laminate the sheet to give it some rigidity and durability and away I go. Sometimes the QRS must expand to an 8"x11" sheet but I much prefer the smaller size. With the QRS completed, I ought to pull out the 1859 collection and give the rules a test. Now, to develop a good scenario...
Never been able to get my own QRS that small, but I agree they are a necessity for play!
ReplyDeleteQRS' are a necessity for me. When playing so many different rules, it is easy to mix them up without a QRS to guide you along the way.
DeleteI have the rules too but also have never played a game using them. I do love rules which are also a "proper" book - probably showing my age!
ReplyDeleteI agree about hardback rule books. The downside is that they are difficult to use during a game since the book will not lay flat.
DeleteI certainly would be interested in your impressions of Thomas.
Where could I find a copy of the QRS?
ReplyDeleteThanks