Ava Joe Swartz

Over the last several years a I have been attempting to distinguish for better or worse the idea that the rules I design and get published are intended to be changed by the user. In no way can myself or anyone else be the last word in what is right. Right in how to game. Right in historical interpretation revealed through miniature gaming. What is right is making changes to the rules that are sensible in methodology of play and history. Every once in a while I meet people who get it right and Joe Swartz is one of those gamers.

Several years ago without any prodding by me, except for my asking for people to put on demonstration games, Joe started running games at Cold Wars and Historicon. While I was surprised at his exceptional games as well as their size, I was not surprised at the recognition Joe has achieved as a thinking historical gamer. Joe gets it. That in my mind makes him evocati. Joe is a self starter who saw what he wanted to share with others and then went about doing what it took to get his interpretations out there. This approach makes my game his game. That's really getting it. What a wonderful compliment.

By understanding that rules are not meant to be served but must serve the user makes Joe a true evocati. Ava Joe!