After discussing the problems of figure "piracy" and costs in the last column, ten new castings were received by mail in a regular letter-sized envelope. They are samples of the new Scruby 9mm troops, and they are impressive and exciting in quite a number of ways! These new figures are, quite probably, the best thing that has happened to miniature wargaming in years.

Generally, the majority of mapboard game enthusiasts in this country dismiss miniatures for reasons like these: The cost of a sufficient force to make the effort worthwhile is beyond My limited means. In order to have an army of miniatures, I would have to spend hours of time readying the castings and painting them -- time I could otherwise devote to playing boardgames. There is no room for a big table where I live, so what's the use of collecting hundreds of figures that will never see battle?

These objections apparently don't apply in two areas: Modern and the Airfix devotees. However, many players who collect WWII equipment would like to expand their wargaming to new periods, but the reasons just given then come into consideration.

Airfix figures have several drawbacks, among which their tendency to flake off the carefully applied paint is probably the most aggravating. Then again, those that don't paint them find the spectacle ofminiature warfare totally lacking, and it is difficult to believe that such battles can long be continued with enthusiasm. Finally, despite regular additions, the Airfix line is quite limited. So in the two areas where the reasons for not collecting miniatures for wargames, (for these wargamers are already engaged in some aspects of miniatures) closer examination reveals that the objections do at least have the effect of limiting the scope of involvement.

An Answer to Costs

The new 9mm castings offer a very reasonable answer to the three problems.

First, at around 15 cents, a force of 300 or so costs no more than the price of four of five new boardgames.

Second, the little castings need very little preparation as they are relatively flash-free; and although they are well-detailed considering their size, painting is simpicity itself, for fine painting is out of the question, and a few strokes of the brush serve to settle the matter with expedition.

Third, small battles can easily be fought upon a card table, while the largest engagements need only a space of perhaps 5' x 8' -- a very minimal size for other miniatures. There are some modifying factors which also tend to enhance the desirability of these castings.

The base sizes of 9mm fiqures are about 1/4" x 3/8" for infantry and 1/4" x 9/16 for cavalry. Thus, stand sizes of an inch or two in length and three-quarters to one and one-half inches in depth are ideal. Although this small space requirement makes a ratio of one figure equalling ten men feasible both economically and area-wise, consider the possibilities inherent in a scale of 1:100: Certainly some distortion of movement and missile range distances would then be necessary, but worrying about reality bending is laughable; for wargaming is, after all is said and done, game playing and more important still, the realism of the simulation can be re-established by means of adjustments in the time scale, missile fire results, and melee outcomes

So the fellow with an army of 100 castings then has a game-strength of 10,000 men rather than only 1,000. A recreation of the Battle of Kadesh, for example, would require some 200 figures per side -- surely a reasonably easy and economical array for almost any wargamer. A table of perhaps 4' x 6' would suffice for the playing area! An expenditure of sums equalling the annual cost of boardqames would allow continual increase in army strenqths and expansion into different periods.

Of course, I do not believe that the 9mm figure will be equally popular in all periods. Due to their diminuative size, there-must be something to make up for spectacle. Several hundred 54mm Civil War figures deployed on the table top present an exciting array, but a like number of little fellows would resemble only a few bits of butternut and blue. (Oh yeah? You should see mine! DSL)

It seems, therefore, that the greatest allure will be in the most colorful periods -- Ancient, 18th Century, and Napoleonic. This is not to discount their use in other eras, but greater numbers will be required in all liklihood. So At least in the immediate future, the demand will be for troops of the colorful wars of history.

Again, popularity will be somewhat restricted by the availability of rules. Guidon Games is working on this problem, even with regard to rules which allow a 1:100 ratio. It is possible that some future date there will be supplements to the entire rules line, detailing how to convert the basic ratio employed in each booklet to the 1:100 scale. This is speculation at this stage, but if the 9mm figure proves as popular as I believe it will, it won't miss the mark by much. Meanwhile, expect to see new rules for Napoleonics and Ancients within a short time -- Guidon has already released GROSSTAKTIK, rules for 18th Century wargames.

Another big plus for these small chaps is the ease with which they can be converted to represent some other figure. Many such changes can be done merely with a bit of paint. Other work is almost as simple, for small features are far easier to alter than are large ones.

One interesting use for 9mm figures that I cannot resist mentioning is their addition to board games. While it is a good bet that some firm will eventually produce a mapboard battle game which utilizes miniatures as an integral element of the design, one game which is currently available is highly suitable for the grafting of 9mm troops onto it on order to enhance the spectacle of the battle.

The game is ALEXANDER THE GREAT. Appropriately painted figures, with their bases trimmed a bit, can easily be cemented to the cardboard unit counters, thus the original playing pieces serve as movement trays with strength information still readable Casualty reckoning devices indicate when a unit is at half strength.

These new figures will be the means by which many new enthusiasts will be introduced to miniatures. In addition, they are a great benefit to those of us who have engaged in this aspect of the hobby for years but were prevented from getting into many of the periods we would have liked to because of the financial aspects of building forces of the necessary size. The future of miniatures will be seeing a whole lot of 9mm troops.