1. Wargames Illustrated

issue 186

Chris Peers has two articles “Strange Characters in the Back of Beyond” Nice scenario for BofB. Also, “Gorilla Warfare, a real adventure scenario” modified rules from Mammalian Mayhem for Big Game hunting, with random events generating system with die, very nice so very good ideas.

Issue 187

“The American Plains Indian in Wargames” by Mike Blake very nice, has random generated encounters, great ideas, And is followed by “War on the Plains, a North American Indian War supplement for ‘A Good Day to Die’” by Chris Peers interesting stuff, nice general info a several Indian tribes. Several ads are interesting – Foundry Colonial India figures are available again, West Wind’s “Nam” has Vietnamese civilians that could also be painted as Chinese civilians, Copplestone’s Back of Beyond latest figures.

2. Military Illustrated, issue 177.

“Blood on the Frontier” by Ian Knight a great article, good photographs and great illustrations. The article concerns the Tirah Campaign on the NW Frontier, well written, short (well it is a popular magazine), with great sketches of the medical field units- plenty of info for a great tabletop campaign. “Death March to Bronkhorstspruit” by Ron Locke writes on the first Boer Rebellion 1880-81, interesting read.

3. Soldiers of the Queen

issue 109

A couple of articles interesting to read but nothing useful for gaming. An interesting obituary for Donald R. “Washing of the Spears” Morris by Ian Knight, also a thought provoking letter to the ed by Ian. The events calendar for May and June at the National Army Museum has stuff of interest – 17 May “Researching Soldiers of the 20th century, Boer War to National Service”; 29 May “Food in the Field” a lunch lecture; and 19 June “Waterloo” a lunch lecture.

4. Colonial Campaigns

Boxer Rebellion 10 Colonial Wargame Scenarios, by Mark Fastoso, 1911 R St. NW. #402, Washington, DC 20009

WOW!

The second book in this series is another worth having. The ten scenarios include three Boxer versus Imperials and seven on the first relief column (get your plastic train out). Great Scenarios! Includes OBs, historic introduction, scenario introduction different from the Intro text, illustrations all very nice. The rules variations are based on The Sword and the Flame rules by Larry Brom (And That’s The Way It Was). The 8 figure units makes these easier on the pocket book and the scenarios still play well. I have two questions, well actually one are all nationalities of Sailors really the same fighting quality? and the same question can be posed for the Marines. One annoying aspect are the typos, seem to be too many, I shouldn’t be the one to write that with all mine. Overall, I think this is a great addition to anyone’s scenario collections, and I can’t wait to see more.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

5. Lone Warrior

issue LW141

Well, nothing colonial but still a good read.

LW has increased its price for the first time since 1995 going from $20 to $25 for four issues, still well worth the money for a good read.

6. Osprey Men-at Arms

Number 379, Armies in East Africa 1914-1918. Loads of photos and really great artwork, includes: Germans and Askari; Brits, Masai, Askari, Indians, So. Africans; Belgians and Askari; and Portuguese and Askari. Includes OBs.

7. The National Museum of Denmark

has a web site that could prove to be most interesting and useful. http://congo.natmus.dk/billed-galleri.htm

This brings you to the prints from four books: Three years in the Congo (unknown author), Congo River by Stanley, In Darkest Africa by Stanley, and The German Emin Pasha Expedition by Carl Peters. The thumbnails lead to larger pics and are pretty cool, particularly the Peters stuff I have never seen before with Masai attacking Askari, very nice! At the bottom of the page if you click on FORSIDE it takes you to more stuff on the Congo, it’s in Danish but there are some photographs. Click on LINKS, which shows other world museums with Congo stuff online, go to the American Museum’s Congo Expedition 1909-1915, tons of stuff great maps from 1540ish on, very nice, fast too. Chapin’s watercolors are pretty good, especially the village, but it’s verrrrry slow. This site also has some 2000 photos from the expedition, amazing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VIEWING!

8. Krylon Paint

Krylon Fusion a spray paint just for plastics is now available, supposedly no prep work, and won’t come off. We’ll see, but a great addition for those painting plastic figures.

9. Shire Books

Shire Publishers, Cromwell House, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 9AA UK, www.shirebooks.co.uk

If you haven’t seen these books before they are usually very good introductions to various subjects that include reading lists and museums to visit. Three titles should be on your shelf: The British-Indian Army 1860-1914 £5.99 (includes color), Victoria’s Wars £5.99, and Early Armoured Cars £2.95 (includes color). Each is very nice, with great photos, fairly good text, well worth having. Other titles of interest include: British Campaign Medals 1815-1914 £4.50, Military Barracks £5.99, Naval Cannon £3.50, Police Uniforms and Equipment £2.95, Traction Engines and other Steam Road Engines £4.50, British Military Badges and Buttons £4.99, British Regimental Traditions £7.99, (ancient) Egyptian Warfare and Weapons £4.99. They also have loads of booklets of Victorian life that would be of immense use for Victorian RPG.

10. Virtual Armchair General

Patrick Wilson, 10208 Haverhill Place, Oklahoma City, OK 73120-3922, 405-752-2420

Several new goodies are available, two packs of B’Hoys BG005 Morts (Woman Brawlers) five figures 1 with two pistols, 1 with rifle, 1 with knife, two with stuff to throw. BG006 Gangsters with long arms (no with rifles not knuckle walkers) five figures very useful in any city defense scenario, I like both these packs. $10 per pack. Urban Barricades - resin $3, two sets (one with two 1 by 1 inch pieces and one with a 2 by 1 inch piece). When I first heard about these I thought who needs this, then I looked it up on the web site and changed my mind. The barricades are actually boxes, bales, barrels, buckets and furniture that could also make some very nice loads for an expedition, trains, steamers going up river all sorts of scenarios could use these.

Studio 33 (These guys are full of, well, ideas) Buffalo Chips are paper buildings some with interiors for Wild West scenarios. Actually some of these could be used almost anywhere there is a water front.

The Dynamite Deck, ($7 post paid in US, $9 overseas) a game playing aid for almost any rules set. If planted/hurled dynamite sticks or charges (actual TNT or black powder) appear in a game scenario to be ignited by fuses or powder trains, the Dynamite Deck will add a new dimension suspense, and decision making in the simplest way possible. It is a deck of sixteen cards printed in full color, front-to-back, on two heavy cardstock sheets, ready to be cut out for play. The Deck consists of a special mix of cards which indicate the progress of the fuse's burn and results for the charge--with possibilities of burning out, being a "Dud"--or going off in the faces of the untrained! By adding or subtracting cards from the mix, players can give advantages to Military/Mining engineers or others trained in using explosives in combat situations to blow bridges, railroad tracks, gates, etc. A sheet of instructions comes with the Deck to start you off immediately.

This is one of the most useful aids I have seen for gaming, the ideas for the use of these cards and the idea itself are immense, I REALLY LIKE THIS, WELL DONE - STUDIO 33. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED