Thank you for contributing to The New Rules Directory (TNRD). Below you will find detailed instructions on how to write a summary and review of a rules set.

 

These are a lot longer than they need to be, but I wanted to give good, clear direction and suggestions. If you are familiar with the rules this will probably only take you 15 or 20 minutes to write.

 

In all things, keep in mind the overall purpose of this directory: to provide a place where gamers can quickly read a page or two and get a good detailed overview of the rules. The focus is on presenting the facts – basing, turn sequence, price. Opinions come at the end but it is these facts that will really make this a valuable resource!

 

General Notes:

 

  1. Please write in simple complete sentences. Lists are fine, but try to write in “English.”
  2. Be specific especially in offering your opinions. If you feel they especially capture the feel of the period, explain why. If you think combat is slow and cumbersome explain why. Are there too many steps involved? Are the die roll modifier lists 18 pages long and impossible to memorize? Don’t just say “the morale rules really suck.” That is not helpful.
  3. Avoid the use of acronyms. Even if you define them at one point, it just greatly reduces the utility of your review. Spell it out. The prime exception is you may abbreviate the titles of the rules, so General de Brigade becomes GdB; Galactic Knights becomes GK.
  4. Keep in mind we’re just trying to hit the “high hard ones” here. If the rules cover 60 unit types, when you describe basing just list the 3 or 4 most common (line infantry, line cavalry, officers, etc.).
  5. Many rule sets now have web sites or discussion boards with FAQs etc. Very often you can simply copy that language here, especially for the game mechanics and turn sequence portions. You should NOT copy the full description in the rule book! For turn sequence, for example, we want just a line or two on each major segment of the turn, not a cut-and-paste of the whole three pages from the rule book! Not only is that not the purpose of this Rules Directory, but it’s a violation of the author’s copyright!

 

TITLE:

 

List the complete title of the rules, including any version number if applicable. Also, put the year of publication (if known) at the end like this:

 

  • Panzer Korps: Divisional Warfare Miniatures System (2008)
  • Ancient Battles 2nd Edition (1996)

 

AUTHOR:

 

List the author, if unknown put Anonymous

 

PUBLISHER:

 

List the publisher, if known, along with contact information (web site or address)

 

PUBLICATION DATE:

 

List the date the rules were published if available.

 

WEB SITE/SUPPORT FORUM:

 

List any online support sites such as Yahoo groups or home pages where players can get answers to rules questions etc. You may list more than one.

 

It also helps to list what can be found at some sites like this:

 

  • www.website.com offers free downloads of new scenarios, unit stats and the payer reference sheets. You may also purchase additional army lists for download as well.

 

PRICE (with date):

 

List the price of the book and the date that price was current:

 

$30.00 (in 2007)

 

If the rules are a free download or online page, list them as:

 

 

REVIEWED BY:

 

If you want credit and want to plug your web site or whatever put a line or two here. You can put your real name, screen name or leave this blank, whatever you like.

 

I am happy to have an interested party (author, publisher, friend of the author) write this review but please indicate any connection you have here. Example:

 

  • REVIEWED BY: Mark “Extra Crispy” Severin – I am the US publisher of this rules set.
  • REVIEWED BY: Mark “Extra Crispy” Severin – (author)

 

PERIOD COVERED:

 

List the war(s) or period(s) for which the rules are designed. Do not include periods for which you think it might easily be adapted (you can add that in your comments later). Examples:

 

World War 2 Ground

1919-1938

War of Jenkin’s Ear

 

THE BOOK:

 

Briefly describe the book physically, along with what is included. Full size? Small size? Full color? Separate play sheets included? Example:

 

The Maximilian! Rule book is a comb bound 8.5” x 11” booklet. It runs 80 pages. It has a color cover with a B&W interior. It includes two card stock playsheets for 15mm and 25mm.

 

 

SCOPE:

 

Are the units tactical, grand tactical, operational or strategic? These categories are not clear cut, just make your best stab at it.

 

ARMY SIZE:

 

Try to give an idea, if you can, of how big a “typical” army would be. The idea is to let a prospective player an idea of how many figures he needs to play. Examples:

 

  • Looking at the army lists most armies will require about 250 figures in 15mm and 110 figures in 25mm.
  • In The Greatest Rules Ever, units are mostly 12 figures for infantry and 8 for cavalry. Most armies require 8-12 infantry units and 3-5 cavalry units.

 

It will be understood that there will be extremes at both ends: horde type armies will be larger (think WW2 Soviets or Gauls) and some will be much smaller (think crack Roman legionaires or the French Foreign Legion). But try to give a general sense of army size.

 

BASE UNIT:

 

List what the smallest unit in the game is. Note that a unit may be made up of multiple stands. For example, in many rules sets the battalion is the smallest unit, but each battalion is made up of 6-10 stands of figures. List the unit in this case. In many cases a unit may have no direct assignment (DBA for example). In this case just put “unspecified.”

 

GAME SCALES:

 

List the game scales, especially:

 

  1. Ground scale (1” = 100 yards or 1cm = 1 lightyear)
  2. Time scale (1 turn = 1 day or 1 turn = 20 minutes)
  3. Figure/Base Ratio (1 figure = 100 men or 1 figure = 1 ship or 1 base=250 men)
  4. Recommended Figure size (15mm or 25mm)
  5. Table Size: If the rules mention what size table is needed, list it here, otherwise put Estimated: and your best guess.
  6. Game Length: If the rules mention how long games take to play, list it here. Otherwise put Estimated: with your best guess. If you really have no idea, just put Not Known

 

For any of the scales in which there is not an exact scale just put variable. For example, if the rules say “ a base is just a combat unit” without defining that, then just put “Variable.”

 

BASING SIZES:

 

List the recommended base sizes for the 3 or 4 most common units. In World War 2 this might be:

 

  1. Platoon: 1” x 2”
  2. Vehicle: 2” x 2”
  3. Artillery: 3” x 3”

 

Or for a Science Fiction game it might be:

 

  1. Ordered Infantry: 1” x .5”
  2. Unordered Infantry: 1.5” x 1.5”
  3. Cavalry: 2” x 2”

 

If the game provides basing for separate figure sizes list them individually. You don’t need to list the basing for every single possible unit. Just stick to the big 3 or 4 unit types.

 

If there are no basing recommendations listed, just put None Listed.

 

If the rules are compatible with other common rule sets for the period, list that separately at the end.

 

TURN SEQUENCE:

 

Briefly list the turn sequence with a brief description of what happens in each phase. Some phases or segments may not need description. You don’t need to list every single thing that happens in each phase. You can just list one or two major ones. Examples:

 

  • Air Bombardment Resolution Phase
  • Morale Phase: All unit that took more than one loss must make a morale check.
  • Leadership Phase: The phasing player checks to see which units are out of command and, hence, without orders.
  • Action Segment: Players alternate activating units. Each unit may perform up to two actions. Each action requires command points.

 

If the turn sequence is more fluid, just write a brief description of the turn and how it goes. Example:

 

  • The phasing player performs an action with one of his units. Unless he loses the initiative (by taking losses, failing a morale check, failing to inflict damage during firing etc.) he may activate as many units in a row as he wants. Once he loses the initiative the other player activates his units in the same way. Units may be activated as many times in a single turn as a player likes.

 

GAME MECHANICS:

 

Provide a brief description of the key game mechanics: combat, morale checks, command points etc.

 

ARMY LISTS/SCENARIOS:

 

Describe how armies/forces are put together, and how a game is set up. Also, are army lists or scenarios included? Are there supplements to buy (e.g. the rules include 8 army lists, others available separately). Is there a points system? Are TO&E’s included? If there are numerous scenarios or army lists included list them. If there are too many you can summarize like this:

 

Army Lists Included:

    • Roman Empire (11 lists)
    • Hellenistic Greeks (6 lists)
    • Persians (4 lists)

 

Scenarios Included:

    • Shiloh
    • Antietam
    • Gettysburg (3 scenarios)

 

REVIEWER’S COMMENTS:

 

Based on reading the rules, please give your opinion of them. This is certainly very subjective, but here are some general guidelines to follow:

 

  • Try to leave personal preferences out of it. So if, for example, you the games with only a D6 for combat, don’t list that here (you can add a comment later about that). Likewise, if you love games with buckets of dice, save it for later.

 

Do cover the quality of the writing, examples, etc. Things to especially mention:

 

  • Is there a table of contents? How about an index?
  • Are there lots of diagrams of play? Too many? Too few?
  • Are the mechanisms easy to understand, at least just by reading them? Are they consistent – that is, do rules on one page seem to contradict rules on another page?
  •  

 

PLAYER’S COMMENTS:

 

Obviously, if you have not played them, just leave this blank. If you have played them (preferably a few times) offer feedback on how they play. Things to mention or discuss are:

 

  • Are the rosters easy to use?
  • Do you feel there are too many markers, pipe cleaners, chits, etc. cluttering up the game?
  • How long do turns take?
  • What seems to be critical to success – mastering combined arms, keeping a reserve, or initial set up?
  • Do the rules feel too detailed or too generic?
  • Do the rules capture the flavor of the period (why? Why not? Be specific please!).