Origins Goes West
The Cynics were wrong! Most of the people "in-the-know" in this hobby were convinced that Interest Group Baltimore had the Origin's '81 bid sewed up!
It was said that the major manufacturers did not want to assume the added expense of going west. It I was said that Interest Group Baltimore, with its purported ties to AH (also stationed in Baltimore) was a front for keeping Origins here in The East.
It was said that all the talk of Origins being a national convention was so much poppycock.
WE WERE ALL WRONG!
The bids from Interest Group Baltimore and from Pacific Conventions Inc. were both excellent. Both were well thought out and presented. It was obvious everyone had done his homework. But GMA (Game Manufacturer's Association) made the right choice in opting for a truly National Convention and chose Pacific Conventions Inc. for 1981.
ORIGINS '81 will be held in San Mateo California (near San Fransisco) on July 3. 4 and 5. Because of the particular Holiday weekend, many of the hotels in that area full of industry ("Silicon Valley") are empty and hotel room rates will be competitive with the dorm rates of Origins'80! Pacific Conventions Inc. (PCI) is made up in large part by the people who have run PACIFICON the last few years and several of the team have 5 or more conventions under their belt.
ORIGINS '81 should be heavily miniatures oriented. Larry Duffield, the Chairman of the Directors of PCI, runs the GameTable in San Mateo (I believe) and won the 15mm Ancients Tourney at ORIGINS '80.
Ned Zuparko, the Miniatures Chairman - who you all know from his articles in THE COURIER - is about to have his Napoleonic rules published by Chaosium. The publicity Manager, David Hinkley is exclusively a miniature gamer as are several of the other committee members. The GMA also voted to have ORIGINS '82 in Baltimore and ORIGINS '83 will be in Detroit -- a truly National Convention!
Meanwhile watch these pages for more news or Origins. Lead Prices Continue to Come Down
BOARDROOM REPORTS, a newsletter for management in industry, reports that lead is down to 40cents /lb. (from 55 cents/lb. in January) and will drop another 2 - 4 cents/lb. by early summer because of poor demand from battery manufacturers. Figure manufacturers will hopefully give us a break. The numbers quoted represent a 35 percent reduction in lead cost since the first of the Year!
From the News Desk
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers for their positive response to this section of THE COURIER. We hope to do even better in the future but can do so only with your help. Due to our particular publication schedule we need quite a bit of lead time on our articles.
Therefore, if you wish something mentioned in this section of THE COURIER, you must send it to us at least three months prior to the actual date of the event. We cannot use the material otherwise. Also, we are still in need of good B&W photos and accounts of club happenings and competitions. We can only print what we can uncover for ourselves or what you send us. In the long run the content of this section is in your hands. Thanks again for your help and for your kind words.
Positions Open in Seven Years War Postal Game
Walter Compton announces his intention to organize and monitor a SYW postal game. There would be no cost to the players except for their own postage when theY mail their respective orders. The game will involve a campaign and will culminate in a battle. Some eighteen officers in all are needed for the various commands and the time committment will be from 12 to 20 months. Communications will be with a 100 word vocabulary in order to give some of the flavor of the times. There will be a system of ratings so that the participants can see their final standing in the overall campaign. The cast specifically calls for 2 Commanders in Chief, 4 Generals and 12 Colonels. All officers will command a regiment and the Generals and C in C's will command the other officers. All persons interested in this project should contact Walter directly, not through THE COURIER. If there are enough "volunteers" the campaign should kick off in October.
Slingshot Makes Editorial Change
The Official Journal of the Society of Ancients, SLINGSHOT, has made an editorial change. The current editor, John Norris, has resigned and has been replaced bY Duncan Head. The Mayissue of SLINGSHOT went to press in mid June and should be in the hands of its American readers at this printing. We at THE COURIER hope that the problems of late publication dates will be resolved by this editorial change. As we have noted in the past, SLINGSHOT is a must for gamers in the Ancient period and should be supported by gamers here in the States.
Eisenwerk Incorporates
Eisenwerk has now incorporated as Eisenwerk Industries Inc. They have the rights to the manufacture of a variety of figures during the next Year. Many of these should be of great interest to the historical miniature gamer. These new lines include: MINOT'S ZULU line of 25mm figures; the U.K. Iines of metal AIRFIX Armies in approximately 20rnm; WW II Cruiser Task forces in 1/2400 as well as WW II Naval Accessories; Rommel's Armour and Assault Armour in 1/288 and last but not least Lee and Grant's Veterans in 15mm. We are hoping to obtain samples of these products for review in the near future.
Miniature Figurines To Release new 15s
Miniature Figurines Ltd. has designed a range of super detailed 15mm Napoleonic figures. These do need to be seen to be truly appreciated. Steve Carpenter indicates that they will be released some time this fall. It is also planned to design American Civil War and English Civil War ranges to the same detail standard.
Also from Mini-Figs we learn that the World of Greyhawk Fantasy line is enjoying great popularity. This range does include, however, many figures of use to the historical gamer. These figures include some fine Saxons, Vikings and Hundred Years War items. Dollar sales on this line alone has exceeded six figures since its release.
Empire III to be Out in Fall
The popular Napoleonic Rules, EMPIRE, is currently being revised and is scheduled to be available by some time in October or November of this Year. According to the writer, Scotty Bowden, "The name is the same. The scale is the same. The mounting is the same. Everything else is new!" We at THE COURIER will bring you further details as they become available.
GHQ Releases WWII Naval Line
G.H.Q. has released a new line of WW II "Micro-Nauts" in 1/2400. These are packaged in full color blistercards and it is hoped that this will encourarge more dealers to carry this product line. Also from G.H.Q. comes word that the 1/285 Armour will be packaged in "team packs" containing five different vehicles. This is intended as an aid in marketing' but its impact on sales has not Yet been confirmed. Reader feedback on this approach is required.
Grenadier Models to Focus on Fantasy in 1980
Sources at Grenadier Models indicate that "There will be no new historical figures from GRENADIER in 1980. This company will have as its sole and prime thrust the line of Fantasy figures known as "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons" figures. The current line will be joined by additional sets. Currently GRENADIER markets eight boxed sets of these figures.
TV and Movie News
This is reported in part from John Mansfield's SIGNAL with his kind permission.
THE SEA WOLVES has been getting much publicity. A German ship in neutral Goa must be silenced. The troops available are the members of a British Territorial unit in India -- "The Calcutta Light Horse." They play polo, drink and have an average age of 70. Expect lots of publicity as the film stars Gregory Peck, David Niven, Trevor Howard, Patrick MacNee and Roger Moore as the British agent sent to lead them.
RAIDING PARTY is made in Japan but the ad looks great. It shows both naval and panzer scenes so your guess is as good as mine.
The French are producing WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR as well as WAR GAMES, which deals with a strange story during World War III.
The Russians are covering as many "places" as possible. TEHERAN 1943, deals with the Russians uncovering a plot to assassinate Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt during their meeting in 1943.
BIG RED ONE is finally out. The plot centers on Sergeant Marvin trying to get four rookies through World War II. There is much action. Want to bet on who makes it and who does not?
CanGames 80
by Eric Ritchie & Peter Hollinger
Once again Cangames 80 proved to be a huge success. Now in its 4th year, this Ottawa based convention has become the largest wargame convention in eastern Canada. This year's Cangames attracted over 450 people.
The main organizers of Cangames are Bruce Knight, Jim Lamb, and Ramon V. Ross in competition with the Ottawa gaming community. Bruce, Jim and Ramon dexrve much credit and recognition for their work running Cangames every year.
There were 19 events and tournaments. The main events included a W.R.G. Ancients competition, Micro Armour WW II and Modern, Western Gunfight, Chariot Races, painting competition and the usual D & D tournament. Winners of the miniature events will be listed at the end of this report. As this is a miniatures column I have not listed the winners in the various boardgame events.
Mr. Frank Chadwick from G.D.W. was the guest host. At the buffet Mr. Chadwick mentioned the fact that although he has been to many conventions, Cangames proved to be one of the most enjoyable and successful ones he had attended.
At the buffet a special Canadian award was presented to Mr. John Mansfield in recognition for the work he has done promoting the hobby in Canada. As the original organizer of Cangames and indeed the first to introduce D & D and Mirco Armour to the Ottawa region. Mr. Mansfield truly deserved the award.
Many dealers were present and were very well taken care of by Mr. Ross who was in charge of the dealers section. Among those dealers present were RAFM (Ral Partha), Le Champ De Bataille (Minifigs), Simulations Canada, Torgamco (T.S.R.), Canfigs (Martian Metals), Soldats Lyons, Oxmag, Fandom II and Discovery Games. Despite the crowds, I did not hear of any dealer complaints, a rarity indeed, and there seemed to be the same satisfaction from the gamers.
The winners in the miniatures events were: Micro Armour WW Il: Joseph McDonald Micro Armour Modern: Ken Pennie; W.R.G Ancients: Don Heeny (Poetic ArmY); Best in Show (Painting): John Laing (Lansknechts).
Gleanings
THE MILITARY JOURNAL (4 issues - $5.00) 218 Beech St., Bennington, VT 05201 U.S.A. Number 12 has articles on: The Secret Weapon of World War I; Autoblinda Fiat 611 "Dovunque"; Panavia Tornado; M25 tank Transporter; Turncoats in Action; Thailand's Border Patrol; Soviet WW II Gunboats; Who Was Charley Smith?; Infanterie Division 45/TO&E and regular features and reviews. The articles in this magazine are written for military modelers and historians and have little direct application to miniature gaming. The magazine is well written and illustrated and is well worth the subscription price.
FIRE & MOVEMENT (6 issues - $14.75) Published by: Baron Publishing Company; P.O. Box 820; La Puente, CA 91747 U.S.A. Number 22 (July - August 1980) has articles on: Iliad, Crescendo of Doom, Streets of Stalingrad, The Ironclads and Desert Rats, all of which are board games as well as regular features and reviews. This magazine is obviously aimed at the boardgamer and attempts to provide coverage of this vast area of the gaming hobby. The articles are well written and illustrated with both line drawings and photographs. The magazine has little relevence to miniature gaming.
HISTORY, NUMBERS&WAR (4 issues - $16.00) Box 157, Dunn Loring, VA 22027 U.S.A. Volume 3, Number 2 has articles on: Soviet Combat Studies, Part Il: The Korsun-Shevchenkovskiy Operation; Crime and lustice in the Days of the Empire; From Armored Detachment to Tank Army; Notes on the Soviet III Mechanized Corps; Armored Cavalry Systems, 378 AD -1346 AD; as well as regular features and reviews. This magazine presents a scholarly, in depth discussion of various aspects of military history and affairs which is designed to help policy makers learn from experience and to provide a historical penpective to the decision making process. Although aimed at persons other than wargamers, this magazine has great application to the hobby in so far as the matters discussed do in fact apply to wargamers in a theoretic if not practical way. For those gamers who are interested in some of the more sophisticated aspects of warfare this magazine is highly recommended.
AFV NEWS (6 issues - $5.00) George Bradford, R.R 32, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada Volume 15, Number 4 (IUIY 1980) has an article on the JagdPanther with interior and detail photos. Book Reviews - MAI-JUN 40, LES COMBATTANT' DE HONNEUR, WHO'S WHO IN WORLD WAR II ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY; Also news releases on the XM-1, the XM-2 LFV, the improved M1. Mortar Carrier. M60A3 sales to Egypt and othe weapons developments and sales. The articles in this magazine are of interest to military modellers and historians and have little direct application to wargaming per se. Past issue have included such data as weapons effectivenes, range and penetration by particular ammunition at specified ranges. This would be of some value t those designinK wargames rules.
CAMPAIGNS (1 year - $15.00) Volume 5, Number 28 (May/June, 1980) has artice on: The Battle of Issos; Rally 'Round the Fla8; Th Work of George Stuart; Virginia's Revolutionary War Cavalry; The Story of Fort Meigs and, Military Wedding. This magazine is well written and lavishly illustrated with excellent color photographs an drawings. The content is aimed at the figure collector but much material is of use to the wargamer. The figure reviews and photographs are really to form. This is a worthwhile subscription.
BATON ROUGE CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY OF ANCIENTS will hold its 4th annual open ancient miniature Tournament on Octobe 25 and 26, 1980. The location will be The Royal Ballroom in the Student Union of Louisiana State University. Rules used will b W.R.G. 5th Edition as officially supplemented Armies will be 25mm.
RHINE CONFEDERATION WARGAMINI CLUB will be sponsoring their 5th Annul RHEIN CON in Wiesbaden, West German on the weekend of 10-13 October 1980. Organized competition will be taking plac during the entire weekend in the areas ~ miniatures, boardgames and D&D. Ther will also be demonstrations, free gaming space and the sale of all types of gamin equipment. Activities will be 8eared to a levels of gaming expertise. Costs will b. $1.50 per day or $3.00 for the weekend plus $1.00 per tournament. Prizes will be give to all first place finisher and certificate to each second and third place finisher. This club is primarily English speaking , but with European and American Military membership.
Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. 2 #1
To Courier List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1980 by The Courier Publishing Company.
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