OVERSEAS HMGS MEMBERSHIP

I commend you on taking a political stance (Issue #67). I feel that your stance was timely and accurate.

Speaking of HMGS, how does someone become a member, especially someone stationed overseas (I live within 100 miles of the Czech border, so I am really east of HMGS East!)? I have been gaming for over 20 years, with 12 of it in Europe with other members of the US Military.

The other issue that I wish to bring to your attention is: What ever happened to Enola Games? He moved from New York to San Diego a few years back. A recent order that I sent was remmed. the envelope was stamped Box Closed. Did the owner die? Or did he just give up distributing Ros Heroics Miniatures? Or did he sell the business? Issue #64 of The Courier is the last with an ad from Enola Games! Please check this out. Enola Games has provided us gamers with great service for the 20 years that I know of. To have a small and yet reputable enterprise suddenly disappear without a whisper hurts us all!

Finally. About the rumor that The Courier is in need of a bailout. Remember what General Patton said about rumors: Rumors are like gas from the rear of the body! Keep turning out the magazine! - FRANK LESLIE. APO AE 09173

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Frank. HMGS has set up a means for overseas military to maintain their membership and participate. They have set up a chapter called HMGS/GI (Gamers Intennational) for military and at large membership. Pete Panzieri is that chapters rep on the national board. HMGS/Mid South will serve (for the hme being) as the link for members of the new chapter. Write to Cpt. Pete Panzieri (USArmy, Infantry) 2548 Scioto View Ln., Columbus OH 43221. E-Mail Address: Panzieri@osu.edu.

As to Enola, I do not have any information. Ken Smigelski wrote withdrawing the remainder of his ads without explanation. I have heard that he has become a lawyer and dropped out of the hobby. - DICK BRYANT

SOME FIGURE COMPANIES' PRACTICE DESERVES PRAISE

I am a long time reader of your magazine, and am writing today to comment on a practice I would like to see more from figure companies. this isthe practice of packaging groups of figures. The company that springs to mind is Old Glory. These guys know how to attract a buyer! Thirty figures for $21.00 that is a deal in todays 25mm market! This is basically buying a army by the unit, but at less than one dollar per casting it is very hard to pass up.

Continuing with this, buying a complete unit may not be in the best interest of some gamers I know. The DBA folks make this practice very appetizing indeed. Then with DBM, and large units needed there can I say more? for you 15mm users the deal is for 100 figures for $22.00 (infantry castings). You're probably saying that this is old hat, but I think if more firms considered this sales practice, it would be a boon to the market.

I hope The Courier, and other magazines are heaping praises upon companies that cut the consumer so much slack. I would also like to say 'Well Done!' to the folks at Old Glory. Oh! before I forget, Mini-Figs used to do this, but since acquired by the new management, I'm not sure the practice continues.

Keep up the good work, you can never do enough Ancients to suit my tastes. I know -YAWNNN. But I do like articles on most of that period. - WALTER M. PECK

First, I would print more Ancient articles and Medieval articles if I got them - contrary to popular misconception their is no prejudice in these pages against these periods. I used to run the Ancient competitions at Origins after all.

As to your comments about packaging. Most manufacturers package their figures in groups though, often to represent units as needed for a particular set of rules. I often hear the complaint that one cannot get individual figures and has to buy a pack of 6 - 20 to get the few he might need. Brookburst Hobbies sells 1st Corps both as packages and individual figures as do many other distributors - DICK BRYANT

CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE WEST

This is in reaction to your comment to David Edington's comment in the last issue - asking for "more correspondence from our readers in thc west".

For a few years I sent you a couple of our newsletters and never saw comment on the existance of THE WARGAMING SOCIETY. Brian Lum (a staff cartoonist for The Courier) is a member of our group and so was Jack Scruby until he moved to Cambria and then gave up wargaming.

Speaking of Jack, he wrote about us in Vol. 5, No. 2 (1973) of The "Old " Courier - see page 11, The Campaign of Chancellorsville, but referred to us as the Central Valley Wargame Club of California. We also called ourselves The San Joaquin Valley Wargaming Association. We became The Wargaming Society in May 1975 (the other names are retained for specialized groups. We were filmed (along with Jack Scruby) by Charles Kuralt in Aug 1977 for one of his On The Road segments for CBS. There are 30 of us in the Society and we continue in "The tradition of Jack Scruby'. -RAY JACKSON

I 'm sorry that I hadn't mentioned you before this, Ray . Your society seems to have a very active group as evidenced by your newsletter "Salle de Arms". Readers from the San Joaquin Valley area should look into this organization. Contact Ray at 224 Ceda Ave., Atwater, CA 95301.

PS. A belated thank you for honoring me as a Marshall and General of The Army of Miniature Wargaming. The company in that organization; Don Featherstone, Charlie Sweet, Ted Haskell, Fred Vietmeyer, Jean Lochet are all people I have always looked up to in the hobby - DICK BRYANT

MORE ON RUMORS

(#68) was not a bad issue for a publications rumored to be going out of business. I'm sure glad we have solid dependables like Historical Gamer! - H. JAROSAK, NY

VOLLEY FIRE

VOLLEY FIRE RESPONSE #68

Responses 346 (3.8%)

The cover 7.382

Entire Issue 7.441

ARTICLE/DEPT	RATING	Not Interested
Sapper's Report- Palm Trees	7.676	0%
Uniforms of the Southern Campaign	7.059	6%
The Reviewing Stand	6.971	5%
Turkish Delights	6.912	3%
Retreat from Bataan	6.736	6%
Oxhill ACW Scenario	6.735	5%
The Courier Dispatch	6.529	0%
For a Few Feathers More	6.353	7%
Vanguard (Editorial)	6.147	3%
Dispatches From the Field	6.118	9%
Guide to the Swedish High Seas Fleet	5.971	4%
Modern Tactics in Wargaming	5.647	9%
The Tactics of Game Production	4.529	26%

VOLLEY FIRE WINNER

The Volley fire Winner for Issue #68 is James Davis of Rowlett, TX. He will receive this issue's (#69) special book offer as a prize.

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com