Gleanings: 1988 Magazines

Courier Dispatch
News of the Hobby

by Dan Schorr

Miniatures Wargames (Wargames, Inc., Box 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia, WV 26059; $36.99/12 issues, 48 pp, A4): This glossy British monthly has just begun series on the Crimean War and ECW, and continues another on scenario designs for the Hundred Days. included in the March issue is a treatment of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman which is much like the "choose your own adventure" children's books; each decision, sometimes with a die roll, takes you to the next branch in the story. An article on the construction of a high-quality building is a monthly feature.

Seven Years War Association Newsletter (Bill Protz,5690 West Glenbrook Rd., Brown Deer, WI 53223; $11/4-5 issues, 38 pp, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2): The March issue features articles on Rogers'Rangers, several first-person accounts of mid-Eighteenth Century campaigning, and a commentary on approaches to writing rules. An excellent source for those interested in the period.

Midwest Wargamer's Association Newsletter (Hal Thinglum, 22554 Pleasant Dr., Richton Park, IL 60471; $15/6 issues, 116 pp, 51/2x8l/2): MWAN continues to provide lots of good short articles and innumerable pages of letters to the editor. The March-April issue includes a set of quick and dirty rules for Dark Ages skirmishes and the backbone of a rule set for the American Revolution. Paddy Griffith contributes a scenario for a free kriegspiel of a German attack on Tobruk, and there are numerous battle reports.

Kaiserzeit (Die Kaiserzeit, 82 Atlantic St., Keyport, NJ 07735; $15/year, 32 pp, 81/201): This is the journal of the Imperial German Military Collector's Association, and is full of uniform and equipment details. No. 51 has an excellent article on the factory finishes of WWI aircraft, coverage of Landsturm formations in 1914-18, and a continuing series on NCO training in the Prussian Army.

Practical Wargamer (Argus Specialist Publications, P.O. Box 35, Wolsey House, Wolsey Road, Hemel Hampstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4SS; $11/4 issues, 62 pp, A4): This is the latest entry in the glossy 4-color British wargaming market. For those looking for rules ideas, issue 3 (labeled 'Spring 1988') contains a provocative and well-written piece on reasonably reflecting a commander's influence. Historical pieces include articles on gunboats on the Danube, the Battle of Sluys, the 1141 campaign in Britain, Placenoit, and a Don Featherstone account of Crauford's action on the Coa. There is an article on the construction of a museum model of the Battle of Stirling bridge, and short analyses of ancient and ACW cavalry. Some articles are staff-written fluff, but it's definitely worth a look.

PW Review (Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd., Silver Springs, MID 20906; $10/12 issues, 20 pp 81/201): The Xeroxed publication is given almost entirely to rules discussions and battle reports as rule evaluations. Lots of ideas and reactions, month after month. The February issue has rules for off-table battles, a review of Never Call Retreat, and some battle reports. Recommended.

Lone Warrior (Ian McDowall, 50 Stonefield, Bar Hill, Cambridge CB3 8TB; f:8.50/6 issues, 26 pp, A4): This dot-matrix printed magazine is published by the Solo Wargamers Association. The March/April issue contains some simple WWII Rules, Napoleonic and WWI I scenarios, and an article which uses up two pages to point out that a computer can be used to substitute for dice when deciding what your inanimate opponent will do. It is heavy on battle reports written as historical accounts without reference to rules.

Spearpoint (Jim Hall, 6415 Dancers Image Trail, Tallahassee, FL 32308; $10/6 issues, 10 pp, 81/201): The newsletter of The North American Society of Ancient and Medieval Wargamers is now printed, rather than Xeroxed typescript. The February issue includes an article on the rise of European military orders and Khmer and Burmese army lists with commentary.

Uniformes (Bill Dean Books Ltd., 151-49 Seventh Ave., P.O. Box 69, Whitestone, NY 11357; 325F/12 issues, 50 pp, 81/201): This is a glossy fullcolor French magazine aimed at the history and uniform buff. it's full of good stuff; the February issue includes, among other things, several articles of interest to the Napoleonic gamer; an article on the Second Carabiniers in 1812, a heavily illustrated piece by the Funkens on the campaign appearance of Napoleonic troops from contemporary illustrations, and a review of shoes from the same period. Beautifully illustrated.

Army & Navy Modelworld (Wargames, Inc., Box 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia, WV 26059; 06.80/12 issues, 40 pp, A4): This is a full-color magazine with a tendency to feature Twentieth Century plastic kit conversions, although all periods are covered. Aimed primarily at modellers, it has plenty of useful information for the wargamer. The March issue, for example, has an article on the use of the Vickers machine gun, including a discussion of indirect fire and method of carrying on pack animals.

More Courier Dispatch News About the Hobby.


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