WARGAME CLUB NEEDS HELP This column has received a letter from a Mr. Joel Boyan. This letter has to my knowledge has been sent to at least one other gaming magazine, namely P.W. Review who printed it in their March edition. However to judge from the context of the letter it seems likely that many other copies have been sent out. The letter is basically an appeal for information to help a club that by its own admission, is not doing so well. I don't wish to reprint the entire letter here but they are having problems with slow defensive games and arguments among participants. Mr. Boyan is also interested in gathering information on what armies in which scales are owned and used by wargamers, which figure manufacturers are preferred and which rules are used most frequently. The requests are much more detailed in the letter and I'm sure Mr. Boyan will be happy to send a copy if interested parties would write to him. I am prepared to provide a forum in this column for any wargame club, association or society that wishes to send details of its activities, ruules employed, figure scales(s) used etc., along with some philosophy on whether or not gamers should organize in clubs. I'd also be interested to have the thoughts of individual gamers on what is important to them about the hobby; is it painting the figures, organizing campaigns or is it the historical simulation of actual events, Do you prefer playability or some type of historical accuracy in the rules you use? Which would you be prepared to compromise? I'm sure you get the idea and I look forward to receiving some feedback. RAL PARTHA WINS Last year THE COURIER instituted its annual award for best minature line. This was a direct result of System 7 winning the "Best Miniature" award at Origins. THE COURIER staff felt that historical Miniature Wargamers should vote for what THEY feel was the best new line of the year. This avoids input from boardgamers and fantasy wargamers from biasing the result. The popularity of the idea is indicated by the fact that the Volley Fire response of the issue calling for the vote was almost double normal response. In reality, it was no contest, Ral Partha's Condotieri (designed by Tom Meyer) gathered over 50% more votes than the next runner up. CONGRATULATIONS! NEW WARGAMER'S ASSOCIATION THE COURIER has received a flier from the Rhode Island Military Modelers and Wargamers Association, a collection of individuals and small groups with interests in modeling, boardgaming, miniature gaming and S F. and fantasy gaming. R.I.M.M.W.A. does not have a centralized meeting hall and the whole group only meets twice a year tfor a business meeting) and at special functions. Membership dues for R.I.M.M.W.A. are $5.00 annually and members are entitled to discounts from local hobby shops. The club also publishes a quarterly newsletter to keep members aware of club activities and items of interest within the hobby. YAQUINTO PUBLICATIONS INC. (P.O. Box 24767, Dallas, TX 75224) are beginning a program of instore product demonstrations to familiarize the existing gaming public with Yaquinto products. If you are interested and would like an itinerary of demonstrations from June 24 to August 4 please write to Mr. James Daunhauer at the above address. NEW STORE FOR MILITARY BUFFS The courier has received the following letter from Mr. Peter Hollinger that should be of interest to our North American readers. "Finally a store has opened in Ottowa catering to wargamen and military buffs alike. It's a store that sells books on military history and also has a larye section on wargaming. This is the only one of its kind in eastern Canada and fills a gap for gamers and buffs alike in Canada. THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL, located at 3653 Bank Street, Suite 6 in Ottowa is the brainchild of Terry Lyons. Terry won the W.R.G. ancient tourney at Origins two years ago. After dealing miniatures for a fewyears, he discovered that more people were in need of quality reference material than miniature. in Canada. Hence THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL. There is a search service available and he also buys and sells used books. A mail order service is being set up. This should be of interest to Americar readers as the American dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar and savings can be made by buying from Canada. I feel it's necessary to support new enterprises that support our hobby. I, for one, am tired of sending to England and waiting up to 4 months for my book to arrive." HERITAGE DISCONTINUES HISTORICAL LINES Effective late July 1981 Heritage Miniatures will discontinue production of 15mm Ancients and 15mm Panzer Troops. They will hold the molds and masters so that "the lines can be regenerated i market interest picks up". Heritage is expanding their 15mm Napoleonic line. The Poles are in production and the Bavarians/early Austrians will be by mid-summer. BANKRUPTCY HITS TWO FIRMS There is news from overseas that Airfix and Atlantic (both manufacturers of lowcost plastic wargame figures) are if financial trouble and art (or will soon be) in receivership. Atlantic is being run by an Italian Government agency while Airfix is holding open its doors while it sells off existing stock. A Martial Elegy for Some Lead Soldiers By Robert Louis Stevenson For certain soldiers lately dead Our reverent dirge shall here be said. Them, when their martial leader called, No dread preparative appalled; But leaden-hearted, leaden-heeled, I marked them steadfast in the field. Death grimly sided with the foe, And smote each leaden hero low. Proudly they perished, one by one: The dread Pea-cannon's work was done! O not for them the tears we shed, Consigned to their congenial lead; But while unmoved their sleep they take We mourn for their dear Captain's sake, For their dear Captain, who shall smart Both in his pocket and his heart, Who saw his heroes shed their gore And lacked a shilling to buy more! Gleanings Slingshot (free with membership in the Society of Ancients) Information available from Michael Wasilewski "Treasurer), 100 Woodhouse Road, Finchley, London N12 ORL. No. 94 tMarch 1981) carries articles on Later Romans, heavy phalangites, tactical galley rules, troops of the Hitite Empire, melee dice in ancient wargames and more in the way of descriptions of campaigns and brief descriptions of individual games. There is also an article on the ScoKish armies of Wallace and the Bruce, complete with an Army list for 1275-1235 which looks as though it would be quite useful under WRG 6th Edition Rules. There has to be something that beats late Romans. There is also an order form that will allow you to purchase a Society T-shirt complete with slingshot Motif. Wargame Digest $17.95 for 12 issues) McCoy Publishing Enterprises Inc., P.O. Box 5526, Madison, Wisc. 53705. The two issues on hand, February and March 1981, have a couple of interesting articles in addition to the usual features. The February edition contains an article by Bowden and Getz that introduces the 3rd edition of their Empire rules. Apparently empire 3rd is to be a "historical simulation of Napoleonic land warfare" and not just another set of rules. It is to be hoped that playability has not been sacrificed in the interests of historical accuracy (however that term is defined). The author assures us that it is not. If so, it will be the first time in my experience. For those of you anxiously awaiting the publication of Empire 3rd this article will certainly serve to whet your appetite. The March edition contains a lengthy report on a ficticous battle within a fictitious Napoleonic period campaign. The report is very well written beginning with an outline of the campaign and the events leading up to the battle, followed by a detailed recounting of the battle itself complete with maps showing troop dispositions. All very fine and entertaining but it has one obvious deficiency, apart from a single paragraph that gives the troop ratio of 50:1 there is no mention of how the rules operated and were played. However the rules work, they seem to be very effective to judge from the description of the battle. I'm sure the author only intended to write a readable account twhich he did) but a postscript explaining some of the rules effecting the outcome of the critical points in the battle would have been nice. Campaign $10.00 for 6 issues) P.O. Box 896, Fallbrook, CA 92028. The March-April issue (102) has articles on the landings at Inchon, Modern Armor tactics and several game reviews. The magazine is heavily oriented towards boardgaming with some articles of interest to the miniature enthusiast. Empire, Eagles and Lions $12.00 for 10 issues) RAFM Co., P.O. Box 62, Paris, Ontario Canada N3L 3E5. This excellent publication is a mine of useful information for wargamers and historians interested in the Napoleonic period. The latest issue to hand, No. 5 tMarch 1981), has articles on the Austrian Divisionmasse, the organization of French Guard Infantry, Part 3 of an ongoing series of articles on average battalion strengths during the campaign of 1809 and U.S. Light Infantry during the War of 1812 among many others. The regular features- Readers Forum, Uniform Notes, Questions and Answers, Book, Movie and Figure Reviews and more are very well done. The tone of the whole publication is scholarly. The contributors have obviously done a great deal of research on the articles that are submitted. I would imagine that Napoleonic rules writers would find Empire, Eagles and Lions indispensible. Highly recommended. Guidon "Published Quarterly, free to members of the Society of Miniature Figure Collectors of America) for information write M.F.C.A., Box 1245, North Wales, PA 19454. This journal is not a gaming publication, but it maY be of interest to those of you who with to collect miniature figures as well as push them around on a table. The issue to hand (Vol. 38 No. 3) has articles on the Uniforms of the Austrian Legion in Mexico 1864-7. British Dragoon Horse at the end of the 18th century. Collecting Toy Soldiers and full page line and uniform drawings details of a Moghul and Turkish warrior, both 16th century. Membership in the M.F.C.A. is $10.00 annually. Arquebustier (6 issues per year, free to members of the Pike and Shot SocietYy for information write Mr. J.J. Bayton, Upper Flat, 24 Shalford road, Cuildford, Surrey GU4 8BL. This publication as you may have guessed, caters to wargamers whose interests lie in the period 1450-1650 or thereabouts. The January/February issue has articles on the campaign of Charles the Bold, Battle of the Italian Wars, the Battle of Coutras, Renaissance Rules and the Croatian Arquebusiers of Hektor Johann Ludwig Isolani. There is also a figure review and letter section. A couple of additional notes on gaming publications in general: P.W. Review, an excellent publication reviewed in THE COURIER volume 2 No. 4, has raised its subscription rate from S5.00 to $6.00 per Year (12 issues) - Still good value. For your information the CRAFT and MODEL HOBBY industry magazine has a small section on Wargaming Boardgaming and Military Miniatures. The February issue has a review of The System Seven Napoleonics cardboard playing pieces. TIN SOLDIER MODELS WARGAMES AND DIORAMA ACCESSORIES Tin Soldier products have developed, in close cooperation with two of Britain's foremost manufacturers - Miniature Figurines and Skytrex - a range of diorama and wargames accessories. These are cast in "Modelcor.crete", a new material giving sharply detailed, heavy strong castings, able to stand up to much handling. The material can be sawn, cut, filed and glued. Painting can be done with oil or water based paints. The ranges include items in 1/300 scale, 15mm, 25mm and naval items. Tin Soldier produck are manufactured by: GEDEMCO PVBA - DENDERMONDSE STWG 10 2700 SINT NIKLAAS - BELGIUM. MassCon 81 August 22 - 23. This convention to be held at the UMass Campus Center in Amherst, Mass. Details on events will be forthcoming at a later date. Overnight accomodations will be available at the campus center at rates about S20.00/night. Information from Mr. D. Wang, MassCon Director, 11 Dickinson St., Amherst, MA 01002. SPECIAL CONVENTION GUESTS Gen-Con announced recently that Gary Gygax will appear at GenConEast (JULY 2). Gary will conduct two seminars on Fantasy Role Playing. EMPIRE SYMPOSIUM ON NAPOLEONIC HISTORY AND WARGAMING On August 14, 15, and 16, 1981. All symposium activities will be at the luxurious Carrousel Inn in Columbus, Ohio. Special discounted room rates are available for the attendees of the symposium. Room registration forms will come with the symposium information packet. Admission fee to the three-day symposium is $60 per person and includes all regularly- scheduled lectures and wargaming activities, luncheon buffets on Friday and Saturday, plus a commemorative notebook complete with lecture notes form the symposium speakers. Attendees of the symposium will be eligible to participate in the 212th anniversary celebration of Napoleon's birthday on Saturday, thel5th. The birthday celebration will include dinner, a special program, and movie. the additional cost for the birthday celebration is $20 per person. Registration for the symposium is on a first- paid basis. Space is limited to a maximum of 150 paid admissions. The only way you can reserve Your place at the symposium and special discounted room rate at the Carrousel Inn is by written request to: Jim Getz, Empire Games, Inc. -Ohio Office 546 Colonial Ave., Worthington, OH 43085. Once your symposium information packet arrives, return it as soon as possible with the proper forms filled out and accompanied by your payment in full. Naturally, your hotel bill will be paid seperately and direct to Carrousel Inn. If You are forced to change plans, refunds will be honored up to but not after June 15, 1981. Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. 2 #6 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1981 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