A Valentine to OGRE

If you read Steve Jackson's design notes in the OGRE BOOK (thanks Dogmatix), one thing you see him discuss a couple of times is how "science fiction" was a more important thing to him than realism or practical design. It paid off because OGRE is great science fiction. But it's also a great game, almost elemental in its simplicity and so open-ended and receptive of player creativity that it really puts a lot of "thematic" games today, many of which are called so just because they're loaded down with card text and professional illustration, to shame. I've just rediscovered OGRE after nearly a decade's lapse and I have to say that it's practically criminal that for one thing, we rarely talk about OGRE to the point where MUNCHKIN is associated with the Steve Jackson name more than his masterpiece and for another that OGRE is out of print and won't be indefinitely.

So this week's Games from the Crypt over at Gameshark.com is a Valentine to OGRE. And an apology. I'm sorry I put you in that bin in the basement, MkIV.

Anybody that wants to learn, PM me and I'll get you set up with VASSAL or Gamebox, your choice. Dr. Mabuse is already taking my training course and he's already learned that charging up the middle with a couple of howitzers in the way is a bad idea.

I also have another article up at Worthpoint.com, this time it's about valuing board games as collectibles. The other day the editor there asked me if I was an "expert" on board games. I thought that was kind of funny, to think you can be an "expert" on them.