Looking at Strategos (1880) - A Game that Influenced D&D

[@Wibstozbin]

That game is fascinating. My favorite part is when the players are writing letters to the opposing generals, and waiting the appropriate amount of days/weeks for it to arrive to them. Those guys were serious gamers back then.

[@TheBasicExpert]

It was all roleplaying designed for military officers to practice being officers which is also interesting.

[@rafaelosuna4784]

Secrets of Blackmore is a must watch!

[@RobbieIsntAmerican]

Yesss

[@iantaran2843]

Hey I found one of the other 10 people who have seen that movie other than me 😂 Hey bro 🤘 Jokes aside it's a must watch for sure. The Lost Dungeons of Tonisborg is a fantastic read as well.

[@stoneworkmegapup215]

Thanks for this video. Back in the day, I only knew that D&D had been somewhat influenced by H.G. Wells' Little Wars.

[@TheBasicExpert]

Lots of old wargames seemed to have influenced it. I picked Strategos because "The Secrets of Blackmoor" documentary puts emphasis on this game as a big influence on Arneson. I should try and look at the other influences too.

[@ARKavli]

Great video. I'd heard of Freise Kriegspiel and Little Wars influencing RPGs, but never Strategos--from the title I thought you were going to talk about Stratego the Milton Bradly game, LOL. I'll have to check out Secrets of Blackmoor at some point. When I was in the Navy, I ran a Star Fleet Battles game in a similar manner; I was referee and the two players moved their fleets across the map, exploring sectors, finding resources, sometimes alien tech, and using those points to grow their fleet. I had a master map and each player had their own. It ended in a glorious mass battle between the fleets.

[@TheBasicExpert]

That sounds epic!

[@DjigitDaniel]

Man, this video is on a topic that I have been immeasurably passionate about. I have spent hundreds of hours trying to discuss this phenomenon in my military career, post military life, hobby clubs, friends, etc. I'm just glad someone else cares.

[@TheBasicExpert]

I find it interesting to see what the modern hobby has it's roots it. I think it helps inform me how to run the game better and things just click and make more sense.

[@DjigitDaniel]

@@TheBasicExpert absolutely. Perspective is everything and the more angles you have the better you see something. I have dozens of RPG and wargaming rulesets that I never have (nor ever will) play, but they serve as reference/ inspiration/ prompt to contemplate/ research/ question their content to better improve my own games and pastimes.

[@TheBasicExpert]

You can read Strategos here: books.google.com/books/about/Strategos.html?id=0XIKAQAAIAAJ Check out my new website: thebasicexpert.com/ Use Code TBE10 at checkout on the Neckbeardia site for 10% off: www.neckbeardia.co.uk/ All my links: linktr.ee/TheBasicExpert Secrets of Blackmoor Documentary: vimeo.com/ondemand/sobfinal

[@RHampton]

Great overview.

[@shanewinter7251]

Nice shout out to vik with the level one fighter is a veteran.

[@TheBasicExpert]

When you read these sorts of things though, the titles make sense a bit more I think.

[@Assassin7001]

I totally agree with how you feel about treating it as a simulation. I don't mind crafting a cool narrative, but alot of the story will come naturally just by simulating the fiction. I think a healthy disrespect for the rules is ok, but it seems that the direction of modern gaming gets more and more like just acting at the table. I've been diving into OSR and channels like yours to get back some of what I love from the game. Great stuff man, keep up the content!

[@Squirrel-Hermit]

I have an original copy...yes..circa 1880...

[@TheBasicExpert]

👀 That's amazing!

[@ARKavli]

Turn length is a fun topic. I sometimes get into the mindset of "I can do more than that in six seconds." But is everyone acting in that same six seconds, or are we giving each participant six seconds? Using typical initiative rules; eg IGO, UGO, it would seem everyone gets six seconds. But then our turn time increases per participant. 2 fighters = 12 seconds, 10 fighters =60 seconds. Using simultaneous actions like Classic Traveller resolves that issue, but can lead to different issues. Always a trade off.

[@TheBasicExpert]

I like the way combat is simultaneous in Traveller. I stole that for Cowpunchers Reloaded. I wanted the gunfight to feel like chaos haha.

[@grumpygrognard7292]

FMW not RPG 🤓

[@Allvaldr]

Is there a connection to the Prussian Kriegspiel? Because it very much sounds like one, and I've been also looking into the connection between Kriegspiel and RPGs, but this is a link between them I hadn't run into before.

[@TheBasicExpert]

This is something I'd like to research. I'm sure there is a link there. Arneson and Gygax were very well read gamers.