Chris Nelson:

Harry Harrison has an alternative history novel out Star and Stripes Forever, Del Rey (Ballantine Books (hardcover). In it the Trent Incident (11-8-1861) and the death of Prince Albert trigger a war between the US and Great Britain. The book is well crafted and researched. Things go terribly wrong when instead of attacking a US Base on an island off the Mississippi coast the British attack a Confederate port killing the entire garrison. When the British troops get out of control - raping and killing southern women things go from bad to worse. That one action drives the divided country back together to face a common enemy. Well worth reading.

I recall reading from some people (manufacturers) that the sale of wargaming figures is down and that's why they sold off their figures (Platoon 20 was sold to FreiKorp). What I believe is the truth is that a lot of factors have entered have entered into declining sales - 1) cost of figures have gone up over the years, 2) wider choice of figures (just look at WWII - 20mm - there use to be just (in metal) Platoon 20, then Combat, then Drews, FAA, SHQ, Britannia, It figures, Dixon, Lancashire Games, Out Post and 3-4 other companies), 3) more demands on ones income - Video and computers have also taken away a lot of the spending power and 4) Taxes and other living expenses have gone up. Still I do believe that more money is spent on miniatures today than at any time in the past.

While the colonial period has faded from wargaming, there is the chance that it could make a comeback as 1999-2000 is the anniversary of the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion. It is too bad that Space 1889 never caught on and that journals which promoted it have gone under. I still have my 'Martian' Legions and if I ever get enough money I will try to buy up enough elves to fill out the units. I still hope to make a new gashant mold one of these days.

The Harrison book sounds pretty interesting. I pretty well agree with Chris about the many factors adding to the apparent decline in sales. I think the total amount spent is up but with so many new manufacturers there's just not enough to go around, just witness the passing of Houston's. I'm not sure that the anniversary of the Boers or Boxers will make a difference, it did not for the Sudan but did for the Spanish American War. Chris' gashants have helped fill out my Legions and I have purchased some "Dark Elves" to help fill out units.

Timothy Boyd

What a surprise to find myself quoted in the Heliograph! Jeez, if I had known that that was going to happen, I would have worn a tie when I wrote to you!

I don't remember if anyone has mentioned it in putting together lists of 15mm figures for colonial gaming, but the English/Australian company Tin Soldier, makes first-rate Boers (carefully differentiating between early and late war) and a wide range of troops for the Italians in Abyssinia in the 1880s-1890s. With their figures and the De Bello book Le Guerre Coloniali Italiane 1885/1900 by Raffaele Ruggeri (it's got an English translation of the text in the back), you can have a very good (and unusal) time.

Thanks for the info and complements. The Ruggeri book is good, unfortunately the translation is abridged not complete. I think that John Hollyoak's letter below indicates that US readers and Manufacturers are not communicating with our English cousins.

John Hollyoak

Many thanks for issue 107 and what an excellent one it was too. Ican only admire your speed and dedication, I wish I could produce stuff this quick. I must also congratulate you on the pictures, I know from experience that these are difficult to do and they came out well. My last letter was a request for information on American products (incidentally no-one has sent me any). I have written letters in the past which have not been replied to and I was hoping that some kind soul would send me a catalogue or a sample or just a note. I would happily exchange figures/magazines/information. Mark Copplestone has recently given me several issues of MWAN and I have only managed to trace 2 American manufacturers in 15mm - Musket Miniatures for the 1846-48 War and Frontier for various ranges across the period. I eagerly await samples from them. Your own magazine carries adverts and reviews for Richard Houston but I will have to wait until (if?) the figures are available individually or in small packs.

Finally it shopuld be pointed out that the article was written in July 96 but there have been no major releases since. Once I receive something from America I will update it and include extra information on figures from other ranges which may be of use.

I think that John could use our combined help, if you know of any American Manufacturers of 15mm figs for the colonial period please write to John or me and I will pass it on. John's address is listed in #16 above.

On Sat, 12 Sep 1998, Andrew Preziosi wrote:

Dear Milton,
I thought you were going to call, BUT . . I have a 16 year old daughter who lIVES on the phone . . . so you may have given up.
Anyway, here's the scoop . . . Savage & soldier is now YOURS! I have NOTHING to send you, as Boeke had/has it all, so you're on your own in that respect, but S&S is OFFICIALLY yours as of now. NO $$$, no artwork and no articles will exchange hands, just take your idea and run with it!

Check out S&S at: http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/index.html

Patrick Wilson

I have at this hour spoken with Mr. Bob Boyle of Greenfield Publishing concerning the "4th Edition" of The Sword and The Flame. Let flow your tears, those that have them.

Next week the company officially goes into receivership. Products will still be sold for at least another week from today (probably longer), but if you want to buy it from them, do it NOW. Sad enough, but, for myself and so many others, there is not and never was a "4th Edition" of TSATF--not even in ms form. Indeed, all talk of its changes were described as rumors of unknown origin. Currently, a little over 100 copies of the boxed 3rd Edition remain at their offices for sale with some forty to fifty having been sold this month alone. No more printings are currently envisioned as there remain some debts to the printer who holds the masters.

At least one offer from a long established American wargames publisher (unidentified here for lack of my authority to share it) is currently being prepared for submission. Mr. Boyle indicated that everything his company produces is available for sale as part of the receivership arrangement.

NG residents will recognize my "desperately seeking" posts for information and several generous folk answered with invaluable information and leads which have, alas, brought me to these sad news.

I share this with the gaming community in part as thanks for all those who so graciously shared their knowledge. I only wish I could have made a happier report. Greenfield Publishing can (for the nonce) be contacted at 1-800-677-3625 if anyone is interested in purchases or questions about items which might be liquidated.

While I have the honor to address many of you as colleagues, most of you as personal friends, and all of you as exceptionally talented wargame designers, writers, painters, modelers, collectors, and aficionados, it is with all due humility that I come in request of those talents and, I hope, exciting news.

As a fellow "unindicted co-conspirator" along with Dennis Bishop, Chris Ferree, and Andrew Preziosi, I am pleased to announce the advent of a new monthly Internet magazine, By Jingo! To quote from our cover page, "Being in the main dedicated to wargames, historical role-playing, and military history in the Victorian/Edwardian Eras and encompassing the Age of Imperialism, The British Empire, and the Colonial Adventuring of the European Great Powers and the Americas." The Website itself has already been designed and the final choice of service provider about to be made, yet it is the intention of the Editors to seek submissions sufficient to provide a six months backlog of articles before actually going onto the net. Thus it is with our Editor's caps in hand that we urgently solicit your contributions. All six currently envisioned Departments are in need of material from enthusiastic hands and minds beyond those of our own. Please consider what you have to offer to any or all of the following.

By Jingo!, the monthly newsletter containing relevant news of the hobby, and the industry, as well as reports of games played (any and all rule sets) by the readership. The format and design of the newsletter will evoke a Victorian Era illustrated news magazine and, as such, it is requested that all submissions be written in the style of a news report, complete with "correspondent's" byline, dateline, and suggested headline. Further, a brief description of the rule set used (no more than a paragraph) be submitted separately for inclusion in "The Table Top" so that readers may learn a little about the system used to fight the battle being reported.

"The Queen's Own Little Box Of Toy Soldiers" holds reviews of rules, books, figures, products and services available to gamers and collectors. Some reviews will be provided by the Editors, but one unabashed purpose of the magazine is to advertise, promote, and sell the many different games and accessories designed by the Editors themselves. Consequently, material from the readership--including reasoned "non flammable" rebuttals of other reviews--would make the Department of the greatest value to our fellow enthusiasts.

"The Work Bench" will carry articles on all aspects of painting, basing, terrain, and construction of buildings, tents, ships, forts, etc. Besides full length articles and projects, the desire is to collect as many ideas and suggestions as possible, especially those simple, elegant ideas that can be expressed in a few sentences. Thus, for example, with 20 or more short basing systems described and collected under the heading "Basing", anyone seeking new ideas can come to this one spot and find a variety listed (along with the innovator's name). Eventually it may become possible to provide a centralized archive of ideas that could expose newcomers to the untold man years of experience and advice represented by yourselves. This alone could provide a long overdue service to the entire hobby.

"The Table Top" features material of practical use to Colonial Wargamers. Game suggestions, "What If?" scenarios, components for play, new rules and modifications to existing ones, original army lists, and game maps will all be provided. Any of your ideas on game design, philosophy, or just ideas for better game play, are needed right here.

"What Are The Bugles Blowin' For?" presents articles of historical fact, including dress and uniform information, weapons, machines, tactics, strategies, famous personalities, Native and European army profiles, battles, campaigns, maps, orders of battle, useful illustrations (photographs, paintings, etc.), flags, musical instruments, and so forth. It is the desire of the Editors to encourage scholarship and original research. To that end, submissions must include a list of sources and, preferably, a bibliography. While footnotes are not necessary, statements of fact should be attributed. Articles that can only cite a rehash of previous shallow works (most--not all--other magazines) will be, regretfully, rejected. Opinions of historical events are welcome, but there must be something new (at least to the readership if not the Editors) for submissions to merit inclusion. For example, we have little need of the umpteenth article on Isandlwana and the Zulu War unless it provides specific data (detailed OB's, shield and uniform details, high quality maps, color photos, etc.). Given the already broad scope of By Jingo!, the American Civil War and the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and The Americas are deemed outside its venue (and deserve their own dedicated magazines!). Otherwise, virtually any 19th Century conflict--especially the more obscure and colorful ones, in Europe as well as Africa/Asia--will always get immediate attention.

The sixth Department, "Signals", will publish letters to the Editors, comments, opinions, and suggestions from the readers concerning the magazine or aspects of Colonial/19th Century Wargaming in general. Healthy and vigorous exchanges of views will be encouraged, but "Flame wars" will not published.

As stated, it is the intention to update the magazine as extensively as possible every month. Further, it is also hoped that writers will be paid for their work, though this development frankly depends on how quickly our subscription base grows. Eventually--perhaps in a few months--we will offer low priced advertising space to manufacturers, publishers, and service providers in order to attract high quality submissions. In the meantime, the Editors offer to those of you with products/services at least two months free advertising in return for an article that appears in one of our Departments. Further still, it is proposed the Editors award free merchandise to the best article submitted and published in an issue (though reader's comments will be crucial in guiding the hands that place the victor's laurels!). While originally expected to go operational October 1st, 1998, it seems the better part of valor to hold off until we have written/received sufficient material to keep the magazine growing during its crucial first months. To that end we have turned to you as being among the "inner circle" of luminaries whose contributions can help make By Jingo! into a success in electronic publishing and the wargame hobby.

Looking forward to you own suggestions, comments, grim warnings of certain failure, etc. Unless we find reason to change our minds as to service provider, you can see the first signs of my pretensions and megalomania at: http://members.spree.com/sg/default.asp

We still hope to include any information you care to share with us that might have previously appeared in The Heliograph, or just your own responses to some of the STUFF we expect to put there.

We hope to go active after we've built up a backlog of articles for up to six months of additions and I might even be able to hawk a few of my T-Shirts, jams and jellies, but we'll see.

Looking forward, as ever, to the next 'Graph.

It's too bad about TSATF going out of print. Interesting idea about the webzine.

Grant Sigsworth

I joined Magweb! Wow. I can't believe magazines actually allow their stuff to be posted, with no ads or anything. I almost feel guilty downloading stuff. Today I read a caveman skirmish article by H. Whitehouse in MWAN.

It was hilarious. Did you know Milton Soong is scanning and uploading all the old S&S's? I wrote him a note volunteering to proofread, but no response as of yet. (He always was pretty slow answering the mail). It's at http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/index.html

I have seen S&S webzine, looks great. Howard Whitehouse is one of the hobbies gems.

Response in #110

Blake Walker

I am a colonial gamer and club secretary for The Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance. We have a large group of people in the Saint Louis area who are interested and enjoy colonial war gaming. My colonial gaming interest is mainly focused on the 1879 Zulu War and I've also written some articles about it for our local club newsletter. After talking to a veteran subscriber, I decided to submit two The Sword and The Flame house rules that I've developed: Dark Continent and Tattered Legions.

Dark Continent covers colonial skirmishes in Central Africa from1860-1918, while Tattered Legions is designed as a supplement for 19th century French and Italian colonial warfare. As a final aside, do you know of any uniform guidesd for the 1896m Ethiopian Campaign? I've got some old Campaign articles that gavr descriptions for the 1936-7 invasion, but don't have anything else.

Thank you for the articles they will apear soon. Check out Timothy Boyd'sletter above for an Italian referrence. Articles of War should have copies.

Dan Goodpasture

Got my first issue of the Heliograph and I was pleasantly surprised. How you produce such a fine magazine at such a low price is incredible.

I noticed the request for Rafm's address. From their website:

Rafm Company
36 A Easton Rd.
Brantford, On. Canada N3P 1J5
ph # 1-519-759-1995
fax 1-519-759-=6280
email rafmco@execulink.com

For the new subscriber looking for a copy of The Sword and The Flame, I've got a like new copy of the 3rd rdition that I'd part with cheap. For the new copy, I'd try The Last Square, 1-800-750-4401. I have also heard that Stone Mountain Miniatures distributes it.