Nice article, indeed: I think that's an updated version of a previous one I've read (presumably at their website) which combined various research threads from elsewhere.
One section at least is still requiring to be updated as the anonymous 1898 reference to using toy soldiers in play is actually Robert Louis Steveson's per http://www-personal.umich.edu/~beattie/timeline/rlstext.html . That, however, dates back to 1880/83 as anyone with a copy of Featherstone's "War Games" can read. Likewise other interesting stories in there, including Winston Churchill... :) Got a smile, then, that someone on Grognardia has made a comment 'bout wargaming becoming popular in the UK at about the same time in the 1960s as in the US. (Albeit we were well behind Germany, the concept of hobby wargaming does go rather further back here than that... and there were probably very good reasons for an /apparent/, relative "gap" for a few decades in the middle).
Yep. Familiar with the issue of Scribners (which I own) where the Stevenson article occurs.
No doubt psychologists/sociologists will trace it back to some pre-ancient point someday, somewhere near the Paleolithic Age, no doubt, where a grouping of rocks (representing a herd of bison-like creatures) are found grouped nearer to calcified sticks pointing at them from many directions and corners, thus indicating the first tribal tactical-planning foray (and by extension an RPG exercise). ;)
David, you lend such a quality of responses rather than just letting me post away, thank you! :)
I am right with you there with the Bronte sisters (all three) and (again) highly recommend Irene Taylor's book, "Holy Ghosts" which I had mentioned sometime ago here: http://lordofthegreendragons.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-are-you-reading-these-days.html
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Close this window Jump to comment formNice article, indeed: I think that's an updated version of a previous one I've read (presumably at their website) which combined various research threads from elsewhere.
One section at least is still requiring to be updated as the anonymous 1898 reference to using toy soldiers in play is actually Robert Louis Steveson's per http://www-personal.umich.edu/~beattie/timeline/rlstext.html . That, however, dates back to 1880/83 as anyone with a copy of Featherstone's "War Games" can read. Likewise other interesting stories in there, including Winston Churchill... :)
Got a smile, then, that someone on Grognardia has made a comment 'bout wargaming becoming popular in the UK at about the same time in the 1960s as in the US. (Albeit we were well behind Germany, the concept of hobby wargaming does go rather further back here than that... and there were probably very good reasons for an /apparent/, relative "gap" for a few decades in the middle).
Cheers,
David.
January 8, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Hey David,
Yep. Familiar with the issue of Scribners (which I own) where the Stevenson article occurs.
No doubt psychologists/sociologists will trace it back to some pre-ancient point someday, somewhere near the Paleolithic Age, no doubt, where a grouping of rocks (representing a herd of bison-like creatures) are found grouped nearer to calcified sticks pointing at them from many directions and corners, thus indicating the first tribal tactical-planning foray (and by extension an RPG exercise). ;)
January 8, 2010 at 10:19 AM
> No doubt psychologists/ sociologists will trace it back to some pre-ancient point someday, somewhere near the Paleolithic Age
Heh, heh... Is that before or after the Brontë sisters, Rob? http://www.fathom.com/feature/122071/index.html
> Yep. Familiar with the issue of Scribners (which I own) where the Stevenson article occurs.
Cool! Don't have that one, here... ;)
verification: (England?) expects
January 9, 2010 at 9:58 AM
David, you lend such a quality of responses rather than just letting me post away, thank you! :)
I am right with you there with the Bronte sisters (all three) and (again) highly recommend Irene Taylor's book, "Holy Ghosts" which I had mentioned sometime ago here: http://lordofthegreendragons.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-are-you-reading-these-days.html
January 9, 2010 at 10:16 AM