White Death GNW Donnybrook at York in 2015 |
Sometimes life is just nice to you. When I opened Wargames Illustrated issue 359 an article about Donnybrook caught my eye... Why I Love Donnybrook! well, I had to read on!
An enthusiast for the rules has written a very glowing piece extolling the virtues of the rules and recommending them for periods well beyond the core 1660-1760 span (which is of course what we intended).
Jim Masson's creative Cult Leader.. Lord of the Hunt? |
I can do little but endorse Rick Hudson's insightful comments and state for the record, that I do not know Rick nor have we ever discussed Donnybrook! If we ever meet Mr Hudson, I will stand him a large one of his choice. Thanks Rick!
The Wolf pack attacks the Swedes in White Death |
Donnybrook has to some extent not be supported by H&H as well as our other rule sets only by dint of us having little time to follow through on supplements, scenarios and Donnybrook Dark.
Hungry like the Wolf...led by pack master Simon Duran? |
Clarence has recently been made aware of a Facebook group (Donnybrook, the Skirmish Game) who have a liking for the rules and interestingly Toggy and I have seen it in action at several shows including Partizan and Tactica.
Rick was right about creative flexibility - skill is needed to steal goats! |
If anything Donnybrook's flowering is in spite of our circumstantial neglect. There exists a steady stream of email correspondence, pictures, posts on TMP, Facebook updates, figure painting, character conversion and scenarios being brought to our attention.
Donnybrook is well suited to the world of Pirates |
I have had a fair bit of face to face feedback at shows about published scenarios in Wargames Illustrated such as Escape from Anyburg and Goat Riders in the sky. These both seem to have been tried by several groups who were also keen to tell people about their gaming experiences.
It has been used for modern gaming too - Clarence has written vehicle rules |
Back for a second to the WI piece. Clarence and I have yet to hook up and discuss the writings of Mr Ric but it certainly has given me a poke up the posterior in terms of getting more collateral out there.
Donnybrook is being used for Napoleonics - Waterloo skirmish |
If any Donnybrookers are reading this and you have a scenario to share, please email it to me and we'll get it on the blog.
I can truthfully say, I have been through Donnybrook - twice! |
In a moment of synchronicity two weeks ago whilst travelling into the centre of Dublin from Co Wicklow, my wife got very animated, pointing to the left and right - Look! Donnybrook this and Donnybrook that.. yes, we were in fact travelling through the suburb of Donnybook - home of the ancient Fair, origin of the euphemism for a bit of a barney and the source of our rule set's title.
How appropriate. I think someone is trying to tell us that Donnybrook needs more oxygen from its creators.
Harrison! Hilton! Do better! |
Addendum (Clarence): Wow... I don't know how to get in touch with Rick, but I'd like to thank him for the article! What we intended Donnybrook to be is exactly what Rick found with it. I've documented the fact many times that I've used the rules for pretty much every period I game in. I'd love to make supplements available for all of them, and I hope that we can, but it's been gratifying to see what others have come up with and see people enjoying the rules! Check out the Facebook page (no, we didn't start that either) and post your Donnybrook adventures!