Do any other old school gamers hate the term grognard?

aramis erak · Saturday at 7:02 AM

Hex08 said:
I was reading various threads today and the word "grognard" came up a couple of times and, for some reason, the last time I saw it it really grated on my nerves even though it never had before. I am aware of the origins of the word, from Napoleon's Old Guard to today's usage in gaming, which seems to have different meanings for different people. Maybe it's just because I am a grumpy old man but sometimes I feel that (not all) users of the word seem to mean nothing more than "that grumpy old person who is unwilling or unable to adapt to newer games and/or playstyles".

It used to bother me, back before the beard started greying and the knees screaming most of the time.
Then I realized.... "Grumbler isn't too far off for many of us old guard types."

Autumnal · Saturday at 11:16 AM

Morrus said:
I see it as a description of behaviour not a demographic.

This. There are teenage grognards. Some of the most intense OSR advocates I ever encountered, enthusiastic haters of nearly everything in gaming after about 1982, were college students in the mid-2010s. Grognardy is a state of mind and a choice about how to express it.

John R Davis · Saturday at 11:23 AM

If we identify as Grognards we can have it become a protected characteristic so you can't then use it as a mean word.

I'm from the UK and it isn't really used here. I am an old fart so perfectly comfortable with that! I try not to be too grumpy. I run DND to lots of younglings. They still hang out in taverns and cause brawls, so nothing has changed over the decades!

Reynard · Saturday at 2:07 PM

el-remmen said:
I always think of "grognards" as the generation of gamers before me and earlier, and imagine that I am in that category for the generation(s) that came after me (and so on, forever and ever, amen.)

I started in '83, the year I turned 12.

I have always wondered what we -- those that started with Basic in the 80s while we were kids -- should call ourselves. I lean toward "middle school" because we aren't old school or new school, and it is a nod to the age group we were in at the time.

Bedrockgames · Saturday at 2:33 PM

I feel like 'grognard' is kind of like the gaming equivalent of 'boomer'. It is usually used to dismiss people. It can sometimes be colorful and fun. Depends on the usage. own people drop labels like that to dismiss person, I think it shows shallow thinking. When they use it for humorous effect, they are just being witty. When they use it as an affectionate term, it is just a way of describing a stubborn old gamer (which we all become eventually). One part of it that bothers me, is I was raised to respect my elders and those who are elderly. There is an aspect to it where it feels people are just being disrespectful to old people sometimes.

payn · Saturday at 2:44 PM

Bedrockgames said:
I feel like 'grognard' is kind of like the gaming equivalent of 'boomer'. It is usually used to dismiss people. It can sometimes be colorful and fun. Depends on the usage. own people drop labels like that to dismiss person, I think it shows shallow thinking. When they use it for humorous effect, they are just being witty. When they use it as an affectionate term, it is just a way of describing a stubborn old gamer (which we all become eventually). One part of it that bothers me, is I was raised to respect my elders and those who are elderly. There is an aspect to it where it feels people are just being disrespectful to old people sometimes.

I think the issue becomes some elders act hard to lose that respect. Like when they insult new school gamers. Ymmv

Micah Sweet · Saturday at 4:51 PM

Hex08 said:
I was reading various threads today and the word "grognard" came up a couple of times and, for some reason, the last time I saw it it really grated on my nerves even though it never had before. I am aware of the origins of the word, from Napoleon's Old Guard to today's usage in gaming, which seems to have different meanings for different people. Maybe it's just because I am a grumpy old man but sometimes I feel that (not all) users of the word seem to mean nothing more than "that grumpy old person who is unwilling or unable to adapt to newer games and/or playstyles".

I too find it vaguely grating, but I think you can tell when someone means it in the way you say and when they don't by following the context.

Hex08 · Saturday at 5:03 PM

Micah Sweet said:
I too find it vaguely grating, but I think you can tell when someone means it in the way you say and when they don't by following the context.

Honestly, the way it was used in one particular thread is probably why it irritated me. Like I said in my original post, it normally doesn't bother me.

MacDhomnuill · Saturday at 10:42 PM

The "modern" usage in TTRPG circles pisses me off. 1) the term has been appropriated from wargaming where it was, at least into the early 2000s, a term of endearment for older players who are set in there ways. It was not an insult. 2) its slung at anyone who either has no interest in new mechanics or can point out that the super cool invented by a genius game mechanic was already done in the 70s-90s.

When I was coming up in the wargaming hobby the grogs were the old guys who taught the younger players how to play, ho to be good sports, how to have fun even if you didn't win all the time. Now the term is an insult.

overgeeked · Saturday at 10:47 PM

MacDhomnuill said:
ho to be good sports, how to have fun even if you didn't win all the time.

We need a hardcore revival of that, please.

Do any other old school gamers hate the term grognard?

aramis erak

Legend

Autumnal

Bruce Baugh, Writer of Fortune

John R Davis

Hero

Reynard

Legend

Bedrockgames

Legend

payn

I don't believe in the no-win scenario

Micah Sweet

Level Up & OSR Enthusiast

Hex08

Hero

MacDhomnuill

Explorer

overgeeked

B/X Known World

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