Becoming a Grognard

[Odhanan]

Since I believe "grognard" has its roots in the word "grumbler", my own personal definition of "grognard" is:

Someone who spends more time grumbling about the games he's not playing than endorsing the games that he is.​

Actually, Grognard yes does come "grogner", growl, grumble, in French, but it was originally a joke, a pet name Napoléon gave to the most trusted, rugged soldiers of the Grande Armée who would follow him everywhere, but complained about their standard of living. It was meant as the sort of nickname you give to the tough guy on your football team.

So being a grognard meant that you were a darn faithful, experimented veteran who sort of earned his right to complain if he wanted to, because he knew what he was talking about, but at the end of the day, regardless of the conditions, would do his job til the end on the battlefield.

These guys went on with Napoleon in exile. These were the tough nuts, la crème de la crème.

 

[Mercurius]

A question: Are there female grognards? And if so, would they be called grognettes?

 

[Odhanan]

A question: Are there female grognards? And if so, would they be called grognettes?

In Napoléon's Army? No. And would they be called "Grognettes"? No.

If there was such a thing as a female Grognard, you would call them "Grognarde" with an -s for plural, the difference of pronounciation being that in French, you don't pronounce the "d" of Grognard [gro-nee-ar]. In its female form, you would instead pronounce it, Grognarde [gro-nee-ar-d].

 

[TarionzCousin]

When you can snatch the d20 from my hand....

 

[ExploderWizard]

Ok guys we could really make something out of this! There is enough interest from the whippersnappers to make them want to be irritable old farts. Lets give them their hearts desire.....


GROGNARD BOOT CAMP

Alright you maggots listen up. You wanna piss and moan about the good ole days then by golly you're gonna learn to do it right!

Back there on that table are over 500 unpainted rank and file minis. Get that lot painted and flocked then return here for your next lesson!!

Now moooove it!!!!

Think it could work?

 

[scruffygrognard]

I think you slip into "grognardom" once you come to realize that newer doesn't necessarily mean better and that your preferred style of gaming has gone out of vogue.

 

[Odhanan]

I think you slip into "grognardom" once you come to realize that newer doesn't necessarily mean better and that your preferred style of gaming has gone out of vogue.

Basically, yeah.

One day you wake up, check ENWorld, wonder where the heck all these people get their weird ideas from, and suddenly realize "man, I am a grognard, now..."

 

[Hussar]

THIS is when you become a Grognard

Heh. Is there anything they don't have an answer for?

 

[TarionzCousin]

Back there on that table are over 500 unpainted rank and file minis. Get that lot painted and flocked then return here for your next lesson!!

Now moooove it!!!!

Think it could work?

Yes, if they prime 100, partially paint 8, and only actually finish one fully painted mini.

In order to qualify, every true grognard must have at least 100 unpainted metal miniatures.

 

[darkseraphim]

We grognards are the dwarves of D&D society, "new"comers are young humans or at best half-elf. It all makes sense then.

IMO a grognard is someone who doesn't like the new wave of product, or at least prefers the old. In the old days they were wargamers faced with OD&D RPGers, but these days, there's even 3.0 and 3.5 grognards.

It's not a binary status, it's generational!