In this issue we turn to the wine dark sea. Naval warfare has never been particualrly popular with wargamers because it is difficult to simulate naval war. Most attempts land up like the old Milton Bradley game Broadside -- toe to toe slugging matches in which the object is to inflict damage on your opponent while trying to withstand the cannonades of your opponent. Even recent computer simulations such as Task Force 42 have all the subtlety of Rocky Graziano. What is unfortunately lost is the rich tapestry of strategy and tactical thought that is naval warfare. Wargamers (and many military historians) are not that interested in the service that roams over 70% of the Earth's surface. The general public feels much the same way -- no admiral has ever been elected President of the United States. But the drama and the subtlety is there to be found without having to look very hard. Now all that is needed is a game designer with the genius to develop a system that captures this. We're still waiting. Moving on. Our copy editor Kelly West is about to depart the Eastern Province for the wilds of Rabigh-on-the-Red Sea. Not having someone around to correct your spelling, point out when an article presumes knowledge the reader doesn't have and remind you when a semicolon is proper is going to be difficult. Rabigh's gain is my loss and I will miss her. Last, but not least, our next issue will be devoted primarily to the Crusades. Particular emphasis will be placed on the warrior-monks -- the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaler -- and on the Crusader castles. The latter will use this fabulous system of fortifications as a jumping off point to discuss the offensive and defensive aspects of Crusader warfare. But that's next issue. Enjoy this one. And remember your submissions are always welcome -- none of us here are foolish enough to think we have all the answers. Back to Cry Havoc #14 Table of Contents Back to Cry Havoc List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1996 by David W. Tschanz. 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