Well, my apologies to Ron Telucky for my attributing his letter and ideas to Ron Lizorty. I am very sorry for this mistake. (Corrected in MagWeb.com--RL)

That said see Ron Telucky’s letter. It gives me more ideas for my game room. Yeah, too d*&%$# many ideas. Anyway, Telucky’s game room photo and the models for Space 1889 are very, very nice and inspirational.

Mentioning Space 1889, I am confused, several years ago I was under the impression that Bob Giglio was re-editing the rules, recently I saw a new edition at the game store dated 2000, I recently read on the Heliograph web site, (no, no relation) that they with Frank Chadwick were going to re-release Space 1889 in Summer 2001. Huh! I’m confused.

One of my games with Ben this summer, before he went back to college, was to give TSATF 2000 Scenarios a try, since we mostly do his Warhammer 40K, yeah, yeah I know the dark side but the rules are kinda cool especially the naval stuff fits in very nicely with colonial era steam navy.

Anyway we used Scenario 21 “The Zeriba” with the terrain basically as described, which in actuality made no difference to the game. The game lasted nine of the twelve possible turns with the Dervish routing off table after sustaining either 50+% losses in a unit or failing to receive a charge by the cavalry unit. The Egyptian Platoon lost 50%, including their CO but rallied at the last turn to charge the last two Dervish units with the Yorks and Lancs and the Dervish routed off table. The British cavalry (I thought I had more units but it turns out I have one lancer and one dragoon unit each of 12 figs, must do something about that) initially refused to charge, became pinned, then rallied to charge and route two dervish units, the first after a melee and losing half their command but not failing their morale test. On the whole, the scenarios are quite enjoyable.

I have recently been reading P.C. Wrenn’s Beau Geste sequels, more next issue, and have purchased a number of bags of the Old Glory French Foreign Legion (Sons of the Desert), so I have tricked myself into another set of figures, more in the next issue after I buy some more to fill out three infantry and one mounted companies. I can see it now-I’ll have to make a Beau Geste fort, sand table and all the rest.

We recently took a week and a half off to go to my mother-in-laws, no jokes I actually like her, while there I painted some, went to the local library for some Africa research, and read five of the nine Lost Regiment books by William Forstchen.

Several friends have told me about them over the last few years and due to a large book backlog, no I have not caught up, I thought I would fit these in. WOW. These are full of great ideas as well as scenarios for VicSciFi. The first book starts during the ACW and rapidly moves the 35th Maine and the 44th New York Artillery to another planet where they have to overcome a horde of 8 to 9 foot tall creatures who consider humans as cattle to be eaten.

At the same time they attempt to bring freedom to the various Earth societies that have been transported there in the past: 10th century BC Chinese and Japanese, Zulus, Vikings, Medieval Russians, 2nd century BC Romans and Carthaginians, not sure who else yet. But the scenarios and ideas are really great. Parroom Station’s Martians would make great Horde figures, while 20mm ACW figures, and 25mm horses would all really work well together. Other VicSciFi here include: narrow-gauge railroad; balloons; winged balloons with multiple steam engines; as well as steam powered Gatling guns; steam powered tanks; breech loading guns; armored trains; and much, much more.

I guess you could easily make up skirmish games for this, but generally the fighting is on the grand scale of multiple corps. Now where’s that catalog of 20mm ACW figures. This issue sees the listing of companies and their figure ranges for the colonial period.

I am not sure whether I have all the manufacturers; if I have missed some please let me know. Most of this information is taken off the web or their catalogues. I will probably do this each October to keep the list updated.

Finally, let us hope that what the President has engaged in with the military is the right thing to do and that the war of words with the muslim world changes into our favor and not continue with the extremists favor in the rest of the world. I received two letters from subscribers in Europe concerning September 11th see their letters in the Dispatch section.

Figure Give Away

The rules are simple: send me a note of what you want, with an alternative, and two 34 cent stamps (unless you want the Old Glory 15s then $2). Just tell me what scale and war covered and I will send you figures. I can’t guarantee specific figures because it’s first come first serve. Everything is available except Parroom Station and HLBS. That includes any Ultimate Miniatures reviewed so far. And will, also include their N-Scale figures--claim them now. As well as their 28mm figures which are 26 to 27mm to the eyes.

Note: This offer is for Heliographs print subscribers only, not MagWeb.com members. You can order a print subscription by sending $12 to Richard Brooks, 207 Ivory Key Rd., Saluda, SC 29138.--RL