Origin of term "Grognard"?

[Robear]

Anyone remember where this came from, and what it refers to in the
original usage in the gaming community?

Thanks,
David Pipes

[Steffan O'Sullivan]

rob...@access.digex.net (Robear) writes:
>Anyone remember where this came from, and what it refers to in the
>original usage in the gaming community?

Grognard means grumbler in French, I believe. I have heard that it
referred to the the veterans in Napoleon's army who had been through
many, many campaigns, and were the quickest to grumble at any inane
orders they received.

I don't know when or where it came into use into the gaming community,
though, though the connection is a natural one. We old-time gamers do
grumble a lot!

--
-Steffan O'Sullivan | "Lose no chance of doing service, wherever you
s...@oz.plymouth.edu | may find it; and if you should see sorrow,
Lamson Library, PSC | pass not by until the sorrow be lightened."
Plymouth, NH | -Rhiannon's advice to Pwyll, _The Mabinogian_

[Michael Silva]

In article <2tansk$c...@access3.digex.net>, Robear (rob...@access.digex.net) writes:
>Anyone remember where this came from, and what it refers to in the
>original usage in the gaming community?
>

Here's how it's defined in "The Complete Wargames Handbook, Revised
Edition" by James Dunnigan:

"It refers to experienced (and, these days, often middle-aged)
wargamers. The term was originally used as a nickname for members of
Napoleon's Old Guard. The term is French and means, literally,
"grumbler." It reflects the attitude of the veteran troops, who knew
what was going on but couldn't do much about it. So they grumbled,
and so do most wargaming grognards."

Mike

[Rick Heli]

In article <1994Jun11....@oz.plymouth.edu> s...@oz.plymouth.edu (Steffan O'Sullivan) writes:
>rob...@access.digex.net (Robear) writes:
>>Anyone remember where this came from, and what it refers to in the
>>original usage in the gaming community?

The term seemed to get used in the old SPI magazines a lot, mostly by
Redmond Simonsen as I recall. Those references from the late '70's are
the earliest I know of.

[Robear]

Thanks for all the replies!

Grognard appears to refer to two characteristics - experience, and a
propensity to complain. The question came up in a discussion in
another group, and since then I have received email citing both usages
seperately, as well as the combined usage I was familiar with. I
believe it is coming to mean merely "expert gamer" these days, at
least to some.

Thanks again,
David Pipes