Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TraverseTravis 06-27-07, 11:38 PM	I'd like to see WotC's RPG division expand beyond their scifi-fantasy audience with a new kind of game oriented towards history buffs. This would be the reenactment game, REG for short. REGs would be marketed to conventional bookstores like Barnes & Noble, and they'd typically be shelved in the History section of the store instead of the Games or Sci-fi & Fantasy sections. Though history buffs may surficially appear to be conservative joes, their enthusiasm (especially among Civil War reenactors), may actually approach that of RPG geeks. REGs would be offered as a way for historical reenactors to participate in living history in their own homes, during the down times when they don't have a field reenactment to attend. REGs would use the d20 System - specifically the streamlined system that will appear with D&D4E (already glimpsed in the Star Wars Saga Edition). It's conceivable though not certain, that instead of using the various polyhedral dice, the REGs would use only d6s, so as to not scare conventional (non-geeky) people away by "funny dice". If so, the d20 System rules would be the tweaked to work with multiples of d6s. REGs would have four levels of play: personal, skirmish, mass combat, and national. The best features of popular historical-themed wargames would be adapted to the d20 System. Personal play would involve creating a persona, like a PC in a RPG. The persona would likely be a soldier, though civilian characters would be possible. Skirmish play would involve fighting smaller battles using d20 skirmish rules similar to the D&D Miniatures system. Mass combat would apply the d20 System to fights between armies, using something like the Cry Havoc! system. National play would apply the d20 System to a "Civilization"-style game of economics and diplomacy at the national and international levels...something like "dominion-level" rules in fantasy RPGs. For each REG, WotC would hire a well-known author in that genre to serve as a consultant and namesake for that game. The first REG would be a Civil War game. With passing of Stephen Ambrose, Shelby Foote, and Michael Shaara - Jeff Shaara would be a likely choice for consultant: http://www.jeffshaara.com/jeffbio.html. WotC would offer a line of plastic miniatures for each REG, similar to its Axis & Allies Miniatures. Travis
Ranger REG 06-28-07, 03:10 AM	Whoa. I'm a game now? :uh-huh: Kidding aside, doesn't "re-enactment" equates to "simulation"? Because in my book, "simulation" tend to model "reality" to the gritty and often lengthy details.
TraverseTravis 06-28-07, 01:44 PM	Kidding aside, doesn't "re-enactment" equates to "simulation"? Really, the use of the term "re-enactment" instead of "roleplaying" is not because REGs would be much different than RPGs, but rather to distinguish them as being aimed at non-geeky customers. Also, though REGs would support alternate, non-historical outcomes of battles (and even the entire war), they would focus on staging the battles as they actually were in history. Because in my book, "simulation" tend to model "reality" to the gritty and often lengthy details. REGs would not be significantly more detailed than d20 RPGs. However, since the core book (plus any supplements) would be devoted to that one war or event (e.g. Civil War, World War II, etc.), there'd be more detail about all aspects of that event than is found, say, in the short sections on Civil War-era or WWII-era equipment of the d20 Past book. REGs would essentially be non-fantasy d20 Modern games, but with streamlined, setting-specific rules based on the 4E/SW Saga system, and marketed as History books. Travis