MAIL-INCOMING:

The Toy Soldier 3.0 of Amesbury, MA sent HMGS-GL a flyer on DAY OF BATTLE by All About Games Publishing. It's a set of feudal miniatures rules with Proximity Movement (which "allows realistic battlefield movement based on how near the enemy is"), plus Harassing (sic) Morale, Leader Motivation and Honor Points. At the low cost of $10.00 + $2 S&H they should have sent me a review copy; then I could have told you something about it. If you're interested call 508 3882512.

Specialty Travel of Wenham, MA is doing the Great Battlefields of Europe: France, Belgium & Luxembourg (WWI & WWII only); June 14-28, '97. Rates per person (including air from NYC) $3,595 twin/share, $4195 single. Colonial New England Weekend: October 15-19, '97 at Concord, MA. Rates $795 twin/share or $1,095 single. For information, call 800 625-2553.

LITTLE WARS:

Well, I didn't get to play anything there but I still had a good time. I did my Columbia Games thing (there were over thirty dealers) and when I deal I'm generally too exhausted to sit around and play a game in the evening, but I do look them over. Having missed Cold Wars I can't swear to this but I was told that the games at Little Wars provided a superior visual display. I will admit that games like Jeff Hammerlund's Three Musketeer tavern fight are just a delight to look at. HMGSMidwest runs a mighty fine show; go when you get the chance.

THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE HOBBY:

Place-Little Wars'97, dealers area, H. G. Walls table. Time-Sunday 3 PM. People-Herb Gundt & myself.

HG (in a soft whisper) "Ferkin, you're coming next weekend, right?"

F (in a normal tone of voice) "Where?"

HG (hands making keep-your-voice-down motions) "Keep your voice down. 'They' might find out."

F (whispering) "Who? Where? What are we talking about?"

HG "Why, the Fourteenth Annual Seven Years' War Association Convention, of course."

I have always heard about this show after the fact so when I got home I looked it up in the various HMGS newsletters I get. Not a word. So I called Herb for details. I arrived on Thursday for a pre-show dinner, got to talk with Professor Christopher Duffy and was introduced to Four Horseman Ale, a mighty fine porter.

Friday morning, I played a 25mm SYW action using modified FIRE & FURY rules run by Bill Amick and Greg McCluskey. We fought until we reached a resolution around 4:30; the Prussians finally broke the militia in the center of our line and the cavalry on our (Austrian-French-Russian) left fled the field. I fled to my room to watch the amazing ROBO-GOLFER, Tiger Woods. That evening Professor Duffy gave a lecture on the Croats role on the battlefield. I crashed early since the games started at 8:30 the next morning.

I played an AWI battle with Jim Purky and the ALTE FRITZ rules. I took the militia knowing that I'd be blown off the table quickly and I could get into another game. Wrong again, Doyle. I wasn't advancing to the rear until the end of the game and that was after defeating one Hessian line unit and giving the Hessian grenadiers nine casualty rings. I took a total of five rings out of my three units. Not enough time for another game so off to a late lunch, some shopping at the dealers and more ROBOGOLFER.

The evening was kicked off with a banquet, then a lecture by Professor Duffy on the Battle of Maxen where the 'good guys' (his words) won one. Then one more game; Bart Rebmon's The Marquis of Granby Cup: a 25mm horse race of fun and chaos which I will not attempt to describe. I was the first person to finish the game with only a horse and rider; no purse, weapons, riding crop, clothing, nothing!

I joined the SYWA so the show next year won't be a secret. It cost $25 to join; contact Jim Purky, 3127 Park Place, Evanston, IL 60201. You get four issues of the SYWA Journal: 70+ pages of conflict in the mid-18th century. A great deal.

GAMING WITH GLENN:

Over a weekend, once a year, Glenn Davis of Sidney Hobby Shop runs a monster game (25-plus players). On a playing field of 25.5 by 12 feet with 2850 20mm miniatures we fought the Battle of Waterloo; Hougoumont and Papelotte were just off the edges of the field and La Haye-Sainte was a lovely 25mm model in the center. Saturday was the serious gaming day with Sunday being mor^ laid back. We declared the French the victors but even with the 2:1 kill ratio over the British and their allies Napoleon's army was bled badly and the ogre still would have landed up in the South Atlantic.

The British right was ruptured early on Saturday with the loss of a Guards brigade which took out a Highlander brigade by rout and lowered the morale of the British players. Meanwhile their left stopped the French I Corps but were finally turned on Sunday by a series of charges by the IV Cavalry Corps. The I Corps commanders (four of us) rolled the worst dice I've ever seen, all weekend long; and believe me, I've rolled some stinkers in my day.