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Post by derv on Jul 26, 2015 6:31:03 GMT -6
This is an idea that has popped into my head on and off again. It's a shot in the dark considering Chainmail is a niche game within a niche genre (wargames) within a niche hobby among a niche group of hobbyists (old school).
Many of the earliest wargaming groups had house newsletters and even current producers of wargames often have magazines to support their games. I thought it might be worth while trying to put something similiar together to support Chainmail.
I acknowledge that even if there would be interest in putting such a zine together, it might be a one time thing. But, if there is interest and if there are people willing to contribute to such a project, the intent would be to put out a free zine in digital format that would support people trying the game and making it more accessible to both new and veteran players. For this to be worth while, I would need at least six articles from various contributors who would all recieve acknowledgement within the credits.
Types of articles I'd be looking for: *Scenario's- historical & fantasy *Play reports Relevant historical overviews Miniature and terrain advice, preps, and mods (DIY) Strategy & tactics Analysis Campaign tools Talks on running a Con- advice & insights from both a player and refs perspective -Main criteria for a submission would be that an article must involve Chainmail or at least be applicable to the game.
All articles would need to be .txt, .doc, or .odt All maps and images would need to be .jpg *I'd also be in need of some technical support in compiling and converting the final work into a searchable pdf.
I'm off for a weeks vacation with no access to the internet. I look forward to hearing people's thoughts on this idea once I return.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Jul 26, 2015 10:40:14 GMT -6
I like the idea, but I know that I'd never have the time or concentrated interest to contribute. It would be awesome to have some more interest in a game that we wish was released to public domain!
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Post by Punkrabbitt on Jul 26, 2015 11:46:46 GMT -6
I'm not making any promises here. But I have a nice backlog of scenarios that I will try converting to Chainmail. Are you looking for straight up medieval, or fantasy as well?
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Post by philotomy on Jul 26, 2015 17:46:50 GMT -6
I wonder if a wiki would be a better format for this. It would be shared content with a more fixed or permanent presentation than forums or a shared blog, could still be curated, and could be added to on no particular schedule. Just a thought.
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Post by Finarvyn on Jul 26, 2015 18:42:25 GMT -6
(1) I would hope that articles would be about fantasy as well as historical. Both sound interesting to me.
(2) I like the idea of a fanzine, and think that one key might be to not tie oneself to a schedule. Announce that issues will be based on frequency of submission. When enough articles are submitted, an issue will be released. Also, I'd be more interested in a smaller newsletter more frequent (such as Strategic Review) than a hefty magazine less frequent (such as Dragon). Just my own opinion, of course.
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Post by Red Baron on Jul 26, 2015 22:12:42 GMT -6
I wonder if a wiki would be a better format for this. It would be shared content with a more fixed or permanent presentation than forums or a shared blog, could still be curated, and could be added to on no particular schedule. Just a thought. Seconded. A wiki would be a more navigable and easy-to-contribute-to format. I would be interested in seeing/contributing-to pages dedicated to: Info on historical battles and how to adapt them to tabletop. Info on historical tactics and how to simulate them on the tabletop.
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Post by philotomy on Jul 27, 2015 1:14:21 GMT -6
FWIW, I'd be more interested in historical than in fantasy.
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Matthew
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Master of the Silver Blade
Posts: 254
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Post by Matthew on Jul 27, 2015 11:12:59 GMT -6
The benefit of a "zine" is that it can collect a lot of information in one place for easy digestion, especially if thematic [e.g. the first crusade]. However, it is a lot of work to put a zine together and so a good place holder might be a wiki, as Philotomy suggests.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Jul 28, 2015 2:53:07 GMT -6
A wiki would be available online, electronically searchable, and not require additional production effort.
A zine would have discrete "issues", be tactile, and be enjoyable without a light emitting screen.
The former could possibly be used as a content-staging-area for the latter.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Jul 28, 2015 11:18:02 GMT -6
A wiki would be available online, electronically searchable, and not require additional production effort. A zine would have discrete "issues", be tactile, and be enjoyable without a light emitting screen. The former could possibly be used as a content-staging-area for the latter. ...and a zine's easier to read whilst taking a dump.
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Post by Finarvyn on Jul 29, 2015 7:01:51 GMT -6
...and a zine's easier to read whilst taking a dump. I can never decide why people insist on taking a dump. I usually try to leave one instead.
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Post by Red Baron on Jul 29, 2015 8:28:06 GMT -6
Gross
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Post by derv on Aug 6, 2015 17:14:39 GMT -6
Thanks everyone for your input ( and output comments ). Since no one asked, I won't go into the titles play on words- maybe it was obvious? Maybe it's just me, but when I hear the word "zine" I always associate it with the counter culture and underground of the 60's and 70's. These were not well polished publications. They were often photocopied or mimeographed and simply distributed from hand to hand on irregular schedules. I consider most of the early wargame newsletters pretty much on the same par. What I was envisioning with this, was a zine that could easily be printed out and used by people running a game of Chainmail at a club, gamestore or con. Something to offer the players to encourage them to continue on with the game. I guess what I'm really hearing from your comments is that everyone would be interested in seeing more Chainmail related content, but not necessarily interested or motivated in contributing articles for such a zine. Or maybe, not convinced that a zine would be worth while. I can deal with that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2015 21:06:24 GMT -6
I like it but I'm at a very busy time in my life right now.
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Post by derv on Aug 7, 2015 17:57:26 GMT -6
Here's a little cover mock up in a last attempt to inspire others. Also, in the spirit of all things potty talk I was thinking of a working editorial header of "Get the Lead Out"
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Post by waysoftheearth on Aug 7, 2015 18:15:44 GMT -6
Looks neat derv, what page-size do you have in mind?
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Post by Red Baron on Aug 7, 2015 18:46:15 GMT -6
If this is printed, booklets the size of the chainmail booklet would be nice so it stacks easily
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Post by derv on Aug 8, 2015 8:24:25 GMT -6
Looks neat derv, what page-size do you have in mind? Keeping in the fashion of the Domesday Book, I intended to make it US letter 8.5 x 11 size and stapled in the left hand corner. Not only does this offer easier reading, but since Chainmail is essentially 5.5 x 8.5 all that would be required to stack it with your rules is to fold it in half. Of course, since it will be a digital zine, people can freely print it in booklet format too.
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Todd
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 111
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Post by Todd on Aug 8, 2015 8:45:34 GMT -6
Looks great. I would l love to read something like that.
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Post by thorswulf on Aug 8, 2015 9:48:44 GMT -6
Get the Lead out? Brilliant! Of course that could also be a figure review column as well! So what kind of articles are you looking for? Battle reports? New units? Figure reviews/painting advice?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 10:40:36 GMT -6
Maybe it's just me, but when I hear the word "zine" I always associate it with the counter culture and underground of the 60's and 70's. These were not well polished publications. They were often photocopied or mimeographed and simply distributed from hand to hand on irregular schedules. I consider most of the early wargame newsletters pretty much on the same par. Indeed so, and I miss those things produced with more enthusiasm than money. My advice if you ever sell subscriptions... don't make subscriptions based on TIME, make them based on number of issues. "This magazine is published on an irregular schedule, your subscription is for four issues."
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Post by derv on Aug 8, 2015 12:45:09 GMT -6
thorswulf any and all of the above, as long as it's applicable to Chainmail. Plainly put, I will not be critiquing any contributions and any editing will be light. Articles do not have to be extensive or comprehensive, but I will give play tested and first hand experience at the table type articles preference.
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Post by tdenmark on Aug 11, 2015 18:11:10 GMT -6
My advice if you ever sell subscriptions... don't make subscriptions based on TIME, make them based on number of issues. "This magazine is published on an irregular schedule, your subscription is for four issues." That is terrific advice. So many fanzines get in trouble because of this very thing.
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Post by derv on Aug 28, 2015 17:54:18 GMT -6
You are cordially invited to pledge membership to the
Royal Order of Lost Leaden Squires"This is how a Wargamer ROLLS" More information to be announced in the upcoming issue of Chains that Bind
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2015 11:22:46 GMT -6
Would you like a cleaned up version of my post on flanking?
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Post by derv on Aug 29, 2015 18:46:14 GMT -6
Sure Michael. pm sent.
For those following this thread, there's still some work ahead of me before the zine is ready. But, here's an idea of what might become some of the regular columns.
Get The Lead Out- editorial War Crafts- hints, tips, and projects for the industrious gamer Brass Tacks- strategy and tactics The Examiner- books, rules, and history in review Friday Night Fantasy Feature- all things Fantasy Supplement Settings & Scenarios- putting Chainmail into practice Comic Strip: Chadwick of Lackluster News & Announcements- such as joining ROLLS
Stay tuned!
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Post by Starbeard on Sept 1, 2015 4:40:06 GMT -6
This is a great idea. Like everyone else, I have a scenario or two sitting around I wouldn't mind dusting off for submission if everything goes through.
I second Finarvin's suggestion that if it does expand beyond a single issue, I'd prefer to see multiple short issues. I think you've already got that settled by sticking to the traditional zine mentality, though.
For what it's worth, in regards to wiki vs zine, I think a Chainmail wiki would be fantastic, but ultimately I'd rather see a zine, even if published haphazardly and with an irregular schedule. I think there's something to be said for trying not just to promote the game itself, but also the way players interacted with each other about the game. The 'meta game', the culture of the hobby, whatever you want to call it.
Any hobby from any point in time is a combination of several factors: the thing itself, who's doing it and how they're doing it, and the way in which the hobbyists engage with each other. For classic wargaming, we've got 1) the rulebooks themselves, 2) the miniatures and modelling techniques of the time, and 'old school' mentalities and play styles, and 3) game clubs and individuals who communicated primarily through cons and zines/newsletters.
I personally find the latter two aspects of classic wargaming just as interesting and just as inspiring as the rules themselves, so for me a small Chainmail zine, published with incredible irregularity and probably handed out at GaryCon or something, seems to be a completely natural thing to do.
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