GuyBoy
Hero
In the light of the (rather funny) Grognardia thread, I thought I’d post some random thoughts in defence of Grognardism.
Firstly, a health warning; I’m aware that there is probably no clear definition of Grognardism, so how can I defend it? Fair point, but I’m going to try to defend it anyhow.
Secondly, why me? Well, I started playing White Box in 1976, aged 13. Moved to AD&D 1st ed till mid-1980s, then took a bit of a sabbatical for a decade to focus on professional career and sports, returned to find out that 2E had happened, played that for a bit, then 3e. Skipped 4e for Pathfinder and returned for 5e, which I love.
So, why is Grognardism good?
1 I could apply aspects of classical conservatism in the sense of Edmund Burke’s “conserve what is best and dispense of proven abuses.” I don’t go much for this on a personal level, but I get where it comes from. Old slippers are comfortable and a style of gaming that one enjoyed will tend to be defended until a totally convincing case for its removal is made.
2 Nostalgia. To me, this is a key argument. Assuming that we enjoy D&D ( if we don’t, why play?), then the older editions will hold positive memories of place, time and friends, and those memories will be treasured in our heads. Returning to the Keep, wounded but treasure-laden, or the great battle in Nosnra’s Hall or whatever; precious memories to be enjoyed and defended. They rank alongside pulling on the school’s rugby shirt, birthdays, holidays and first romances.
3 Love of History. As a Historian, I would always tell students to “love it, learn it” because the two go hand-in-hand. History is awesome, and not only does our game have its roots in a love of (especially, but not exclusively) medieval history, but it also has its own history dating back to Gygax, Arneson and a particular time in US culture.
4 Talking of US culture; soft power. It may not be as obvious to actual US citizens, but to Grognards from the UK it matters. Those of us who played 1E are, by definition, children f the Cold War and the soft power of the US was pervasive at the time; buying in to D&D was like buying in to Levi’s, skateboards and McDonalds; it mattered. For any doubters, I’d refer to a Russian friend of my own age who told me “the day McDonalds opened in Moscow, we knew we had lost the Cold War.”
5 “Children, they have bad manners, they show no respect for authority or decent speech.” The fact that the quote is from Socrates, shows that cultural grognardism is pretty much inevitable anyway, so we may as well roll with it.
Wishing you all 10’ poles and owlbears.
Firstly, a health warning; I’m aware that there is probably no clear definition of Grognardism, so how can I defend it? Fair point, but I’m going to try to defend it anyhow.
Secondly, why me? Well, I started playing White Box in 1976, aged 13. Moved to AD&D 1st ed till mid-1980s, then took a bit of a sabbatical for a decade to focus on professional career and sports, returned to find out that 2E had happened, played that for a bit, then 3e. Skipped 4e for Pathfinder and returned for 5e, which I love.
So, why is Grognardism good?
1 I could apply aspects of classical conservatism in the sense of Edmund Burke’s “conserve what is best and dispense of proven abuses.” I don’t go much for this on a personal level, but I get where it comes from. Old slippers are comfortable and a style of gaming that one enjoyed will tend to be defended until a totally convincing case for its removal is made.
2 Nostalgia. To me, this is a key argument. Assuming that we enjoy D&D ( if we don’t, why play?), then the older editions will hold positive memories of place, time and friends, and those memories will be treasured in our heads. Returning to the Keep, wounded but treasure-laden, or the great battle in Nosnra’s Hall or whatever; precious memories to be enjoyed and defended. They rank alongside pulling on the school’s rugby shirt, birthdays, holidays and first romances.
3 Love of History. As a Historian, I would always tell students to “love it, learn it” because the two go hand-in-hand. History is awesome, and not only does our game have its roots in a love of (especially, but not exclusively) medieval history, but it also has its own history dating back to Gygax, Arneson and a particular time in US culture.
4 Talking of US culture; soft power. It may not be as obvious to actual US citizens, but to Grognards from the UK it matters. Those of us who played 1E are, by definition, children f the Cold War and the soft power of the US was pervasive at the time; buying in to D&D was like buying in to Levi’s, skateboards and McDonalds; it mattered. For any doubters, I’d refer to a Russian friend of my own age who told me “the day McDonalds opened in Moscow, we knew we had lost the Cold War.”
5 “Children, they have bad manners, they show no respect for authority or decent speech.” The fact that the quote is from Socrates, shows that cultural grognardism is pretty much inevitable anyway, so we may as well roll with it.
Wishing you all 10’ poles and owlbears.
