Well Christmas is almost upon us once again and everyone is wracking their brains to think of what to buy for old auntie Ethel or little nephew Tommy. Perhaps some of that superb Renaissance Ink acrylics, Flocking Gel and precision-cut bases from Olympian for auntie so she can paint and base that regiment of grenadiers you got her for her last birthday (you thoughtful guy you). How about a company of those neat 15mm Battlefront T34's and a couple of packs of Soviet infantry from Essex for little Tommy - I'm sure he'd appreciate the thought and, well, until he can walk and talk on his own - you can just look after them for him!
Get the idea folks? This magazine is packed full of advertisements for just about every major wargaming supplier in the country - so what are you waiting for? There are wargaming bargains aplenty to be had from the military bibliophiles' heaven, Crusader Trading, to terrific terrain from Unreal Estates, Cobweb Castles or - even more convenient for all you nethead gamers out there miniatureworldmaker.com! There are also new lines of figures from 1st Corps - get that regiment of 25mm Hoplites you always wanted for your next Warharnmer Ancients encounter. There are more figures, AFVs, warships and even books, buildings and )ust about anything else you could shake a firing stick at from Essex Miniatures in Sydney and the Ordnance Depot in Victoria. There are new ranges of beautiful Napoleonics like the Old Glory Russian Horse Artillery and even more beautifuller(!?!) Polish infantry from Nathan at Elite; both have bags and bags of great value figures that might give you a hernia lugging 'em in your shopping but won't bust the piggy bank! Mick's Metal Models has the new 'AK47' range from Peter Pig - foreign mercenaries and the like in Africa (a la Mad Mike Hoare) and the Tin Soldier has every wargaming need, figure (new & 2nd hand) or terrain etc, etc, known to man! On the 'homegrown' front, Greg Blake of Cannon Fodder fame has some ferocious new Mahdist Fuzzy-Wuzzies, some deepest darkest African types and even some poor beaten buggers in chains - Egyptian slave gun crews with a Simon Legree-like Muslim overseer! Not to be outdone, Gerry Webb at Castaway Arts has a new line of very slick looking Egyptians - the officers are not concerned one jot about those Mad Mahdists - just as long as the uniform remains spotless!
There you have it - if I've overlooked anyone in that sickening grovel for more free 'samples' and further outrageous discounts (heh - reviewing's hard, dirty work pal!) - I do apologise. Sort of. Look - I promise to leave off the eggnog awhile. just till Christmas - OK?
Seriously though - look at the huge number of ads covering nearly every aspect of the hobby and then some, and then look at the number with discounts for Kriegspieler subscribers. just mention you're a subscriber and in the immortal words of Arthur Daley;
"They'll look after you my son!"
At a time when you traditionally pay through the nose for everything you'll find there are bargains galore to be had from your Aussie wargame and military historical suppliers such as Crusader Trading. Hell - they're so enthusiastic that they're giving it away! Yessiree - we're having a competition to find which of you are real brainiacs. just answer a few simple questions and a great book "Die Hard!" by noted (and prolific) British Napoleonic author, Philip Haythornthwaite (and yeth, that ith hith real name) could be yours to kick back and read over the Christmas/New Years break!
Just to show that this is no mistake or one-sided, the Kriegspieler itself is giving something to every reader - a free rule set; "Blundering Onto Glory" Napoleonic Grand Tactical rules for really BIG battles by our own intrepid roving/raving reporter, David Williams. A prolific scribe himself, David is Australia's answer to Haythornth... thhh... thwwah... err... David Chandler and he has beaten DBR into a Napoleonic shape that will fit all H&M gamers. The other half of Kriegspieler, Doug Walsh, reckons it's the best set of rules he's played since 'Fire & Fury' (- if there's a rule set the man hasn't played I've yet to hear of it) - and he ain't lust whistling 'Dixie'!
Now that I've got your attention with all the bargains, freebees and the like, I've got to be serious for a while. Ahem... My fellow wargamers, it is my meloncholy duty to announce the departure from the magazine of Phillip Jones who goes on to pastures new and figure painting galore. With a new job and the rigours of marketing/refining tlan, he has decided to call it a day. Phillip has been a tireless promoter of the magazine through his prolific e-mailing and his many wargaming contacts thoughout Australia and New Zealand; spreading the word across the wargaming fraternity in addition to his editorial contributions. For his sterling efforts on behalf of Kriegspieler, we thank him and wish him well in his future endeavours.
One other matter that I'm sure the more astute of you could not fall to notice - we've put our prices up. We had hoped to avoid increasing the subscription rate until after the new year but 'twas not to be! The twin demons of increased costs for production and more significantly, mailing, have necessitated our modest price rise in order to remain even slightly financial. Advertising rates will rise in line with the end of the current offer that runs until issue #8, due to be released in February next year. It is NOT our intention to make further price rises next year to pass on the 10% GST to our readers or advertisers. It IS our intention to hold our prices at the stated level for as long as it remains possible for us to do so.
So there you have it - sins confessed, accolades given and a solemn promise to continue to bring you what's shaping up to become Australia's premier wargaming publication. Have a great Christmas break, New Years/Millenium party and don't forget to stuff your Christmas stocking with wargaming goodies! We'll see you next with another packed issue after CANCON 2000 (21-24 Jan) when we'll be reporting on Australia's premier wargaming convention.
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