Hello again. Did you miss me last issue? No, thought not. For the inquisitive I was away serving as a gunner in Milan, and thus missing the magazine deadline, but fear not, I am back.

Thanks first are due to those who have sent replies to my queries about Empire troop classifications. I now feel slightly better. It has to a degree put me off the rules though, as has play testing the Chef de Bataillon system, which despite the writers' claims of being easy to play are quite the opposite. There is nothing more irritating than having to regularly go to the rule book, and any set of rules that can't put a fast play sheet on two sides of A4 is too complicated.

On the thanks front I want to give a big plug to PKS Co., of 8 Wick Close, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, who have helped supply the beginnings of the NA's 15mm figure collection. This is of course a long term project, particularly with funds being restricted, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and with luck we will soon have enough figures to start considering putting on games for members. PKS also make excellent scratch built terrain at very reasonable prices and they are well worth contacting should that be your need.

P Wilson of 39 Greenbourne Gdns, Windy Nook, Gateshead, NE10 9TD has written to me asking if there are any wargamers in his area interested in Napoleonic gaming. He uses 15mm Prussians (sad, isn't it?) to Empire rules (don't hold it against him) and attends the Tyneside Wargamers Club, so if you already know him feel free to extract the proverbial. If you live up that way and feel so inclined why not drop him a line? He probably won't bite.

Have you noticed recently the emergence of other columns similar to this (but clearly less witty). It seems to be the vogue to have some dashing rogue chuck a few opinions about. That said, I noticed that in Mike Siggins' column in Wargames Illustrated he praises John Tuckey to the heavens. My best memory of JT was being invited to a wargame he was putting on and then being de-invited because I had the temerity to criticise Grand Manner rules and use computer stuff myself. Draw you own conclusions. What is ironic is that I still play Gilder to this day, and I still moan about them. Mind you, the bits I moan about have long since bitten the dust down our way.

Changing the subject to new products you may read my reviews of Eagles (a card game) and Flintloque ("Napoleonic era" skirmish rules and miniatures using elves and orcs) this issue. I would be more than grateful for a few contrary opinions should you wish to express them. The Editor may even print them if they are amusing.

I hope you noticed that I haven't actually had a moan this month. I did feel like it, considering the general apathy of a lot of you out there. I had planned several grandiose skirmish games at events this year, but following the stupor that I have faced this is likely not to happen, which is a shame. Still, if you want things to happen, you've got to get involved; speaking of which I have been digging in to the re-enacting side of the hobby of late. This is quite a good crack, albeit that I don't get as much time to dress up as some of the hard core, what with me having to swing the lead on regular Sundays.

Still, it has taught me a few things. One is that the late lamented Peter Gilder was right in his attitude about morale checks for routing cavalry. Infantry really don't care. In fact seeing them b****r off rapido is rather amusing, until the victors show up and make you form square, that is. On the other foot, PG was and remains wrong about 'Routed Ground', that sad concept that troops cannot move over ground which has been used by routers. You just shove them out of the way, unless you are routing with them.

All in all there is quite a lot to learn from trying your hand at re-enacting. Yes, I know that you aren't really under fire and that a lot of it is scripted, but imagination has always been a big plus to human beings, so if you're one of those people who just turns up their noses then expand your mind a bit.

Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #30
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