This issue begins a new millennium for NHMGS and the Citadel. So this is as good a time as ever to take stock of where I think we are, as an organization and as a hobby.

First, let me address the hobby as a whole. In my opinion, it's never been healthier, although major changes are making themselves felt. I got into gaming as a kid back in the late 60s and 70s. Back then, getting anything gaming- related was a coup.

One painful lesson I learned back then was that if a new line of figures came out and you liked them, you had better buy them right now, because they may not be available in six months (for example, does anyone else remember GHQ's 25mm 7 Years War range?). Rules came from the 'one set fits all periods' school of thought. Before Dungeons and Dragons took off, Gary Gygax and friends used to write miniature rules. But they were all basically the same rules, with slight changes for the period in question. We used to use Testor's enamels on Airfix figures to play games that were pretty much the same if you were doing Romans vs. Barbarians or Yanks vs. Rebels. Because that was what was feasible. If you started buying into a line of lead figures, you did so at your own peril.

We're now living in a golden age of gaming, and I think we should appreciate it while it lasts. We have choices of different scales and manufacturers of figures for even the most obscure periods, plenty of different types and brands of paints, and more different rules sets for specific periods that anyone could ever play. If you start buying a line of figures, you can be fairly certain that they will still be in business in 6 months. Even if they aren't, there is a good chance that someone else will pick up the molds and put them back into production.

And still we complain...

On the other hand, I think miniature gaming is threatened by electronic gaming. Playstations and computer games are much easier for people to get into. You load it up and start playing - no figures to paint, no terrain pieces to collect. The Internet makes it possible to play against other human opponents in games that are increasingly visually stunning.

The Internet also makes it easier to purchase figures and rules (often at a discount), which puts a lot of pressure on stores that stock historical minis. Gaming stores have always lived on the edge, and I fear that the increase in Internet commerce will push more and more of them over that edge.

I don't think that 'e-commerce' is going to threaten real main-stream stores like Target or The Gap, but I think that eventually niche stores like those we frequent will be overwhelmed. Savor those stores while you still can. And buy your figures there, as opposed to on the Internet, or you'll see them go away that much sooner.

NHMGS Marches On Into the 21st Century

One thing that doesn't seem likely to change is that things are still done by the a small group of individuals. This limits what the organization can do, but that seems to be what the membership wants.

Our main purposes as an organization is to put on Enfilade and publish The Citadel. The auction is part Of Enfilade and proceeds go to help fund the convention. We've taken over Breakthrough, but it may prove not to be financially viable in the long run.

One big problem is the increase in the cost of renting venues for shows. Prices for hotels and halls in the Puget Sound area are going through the roof. This means to cover costs, we have to raise prices, and attendance drops. Catch 22 anyone? If any of you have an idea for getting us out of this situation, for goodness' sake share it with us.

Speaking of the auction, it will be occurring on February 10 at American Eagles in Tacoma. This was a last-minute venue change (see Norris' missive). This year we're trying to give you plenty of advanced warning, barring problems with my printer and the U.S. mail. You don't have any excuses not to come and sell you old stuff, so that you can buy someone else's old stuff and thereby make it 'new' stuff again. You know there isn't a better opportunity in the Northwest to add to your collection.

This publication continues to limp along, although the number of submissions seems to get smaller with each issue. I get to start the new year with a bang, however, by welcoming back Larry Leadhead, new and improved and more crazed than before. Larry went home to Canada for a while, but now he's agreed to make the occasional trip down this way for "cheep booze and smokes, eh." My thanks to Doug Hamm and Eric Hotz for allowing me to use their strip, which is now amusing gamers worldwide from their website (http://www.larryleadhead.org/).

I would once again encourage members with a gaming-related business to submit a copy of your business card for inclusion in the Citadel. You have nothing to lose by getting some free advertising, now do you?

The secret organization through which the Canadians pursue their inexorable march towards world domination seems to be the Trumpeter Club (http://www. trumpeterclub.com/). Aside from their regularly scheduled and wellattended gaming nights, they are once again bringing us Salute in March. This promises to be bigger and better than ever, with up to 102 games being presented. As I do every year, I encourage even the most xenophobic of our U.S. members to attend, for the good gaming, the good beer, the beautiful women, and to abuse the long- suffering Canadian dollar. You'll be glad you did.

That's more than enough for me for this issue (as I've conveniently filled up all the blank space I had left over). Next time I promise I will try to contribute something of actual use to the readership. Which would be a first, I know. Enjoy yourselves!