Thursday, December 31, 2009

Rules and Rules

Okay, I'll admit it, I am more interested in playing a cinematic set of Colonial rules than a realistic set of rules.

I have played a couple of versions of "The Sword and the Flame" (generally abreviated as TSATF) and "G.A.S.L.I.G.H.T.", both of which I enjoyed.  But I also found things with each that I wanted to change.

So, to make a long story short, I've been sort of combining these two with many thoughts of my own to create my own "house rules", which I, in the tradition of Larry Brom, have named for a phrase from a Rudyard Kipling poem . . . in this case, "The Ballad of East and West":

"They have looked each other between the eyes, and there they found no fault,
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on leavened bread and salt:
They have taken the Oath of the Brother-in-Blood on fire and fresh-cut sod,
On the hilt and the haft of the
Khyber knife
, and the Wondrous Names of God." 


From this poem I have chosen to call my rules, Khyber Knife.

These will not be a commercial set since they will certainly contain some aspects of the two rule sets mentioned above.  They will be my "house rules" for use dealing with a mini-continent in the Indian Ocean . . . which will be populated with Pathans, Zulus, Ansar and others.

-- Jeff

1 comment:

  1. This sounds very interesting. I wholeheartedly agree about cinematic over realistic. Cinema (and Kipling) are my main sources of inspiration and interest in Colonial gaming.
    I like the mini-continent idea, too. I've been kicking around an idea like that (inspired by things like Mafrica and Afriboria).
    Almost New Year here In Calif., so Happy New Year and an auspicious start to your new adventure, Col. Hud!

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