As you long-time readers know, I don't usually review other wargaming journals in these pages; I haven't had the room to do so and still print everything found in the world-wide edition of Lone Warrior. However, I am making an exception this issue because of the fine contents of several magazines which have crossed my desk. In no particular order we have:
The Gauntlet. Editor Craig Martelle publishes this colorful magazine along the eclectic lines of Hal Thinglum's MWAN and Issue #12 is a wonderful collection of rules and scenarios. Craig introduces his ruleset Pirates! Rules for Pirate Pillaging Ashore. These are designed for skirmish level play in 15-28mm. Bugles of the Sudan rules are designed for both multi-player and solo action. The ancient period of war is covered in Pilums & Peltasts and Kashmir Gate is a set of rules for the Indian Mutiny. The scenarios are extensive: Battle of Gembloux Gap – May 1940; Battle of Yamazaki – 1582 (scenario for Killer Katanas); Swords, Saddles, & Saddlesores – solo wargame of the Charge at Huj, 1917; Sauchieburn – The 2nd Battle of Bannockburn – 1488; and finally Flowers in the Forest – the 4th Cameronians Counterattack on the Somme Valley, 1940. An overview of Napoleon's intervention in Spain, a "how to" terrain guide, and extensive product reviews round out this fine issue. The Gauntlet, a quarterly journal, is available for $20 from Craig Martelle at 1203 English Bluffs Ct, Brandon, FL 33511.
The Heliograph. Editor Richard Brooks always puts together a fine edition of this newsletter for colonial period gamers but # 107 was particularly rewarding. Besides the usual extensive array of nifty figure and publication reviews, SWA's own Scott Hansen provided a generic Spanish-American War scenario. Another article was a remarkable collection (9 pages!) of photographs and sketches from the official U.S. history of the Span-Am War many of which I had never seen. The reader's forum is always interesting. If there is news in the colonial period of wargaming, you will see it first in the Heliograph. Subscriptions are $12 U.S. and $15 for Canada (U.S. funds). Contact Richard at Rt. 6, Box 771, Saluda, SC 29138.
Zouave. The new Zouave, (Spring 98) is a "magazine of the American Civil War History & Gaming." Editor Ivor Janci's first effort has produced stunning example of the marriage of modern print technology and a creative mind. Gorgeous color graphics (photos and maps) on every page are visually satisfying and convey the content with clarity and charm. This issue is chock full of scenarios and battle reports of historic and fictional engagements written for skirmish as well as larger scale actions. The "how to" build stone/rail fences is particularly well done. The figure reviews are supported by detailed photos. All in all, well worth the cost of $24 for this quarterly journal. Contact: Zouave, c/o Marek/Janci Design, 725 Ranch Road, Wheaton, IL 60187-3656.
Simulacrum: The Quarterly Journal of Board Wargame Collecting. Editor John Kula has put together an intellectually stimulating magazine which I find most entertaining even though I board game infrequently. The July 98 issue of this quarterly magazine is a delightful 48 pages full of the histories of various games as well as reviews, and a tongue-in-cheek piece titled How to Run a Successful Wargame Auction. Laced with Latin phrases, John states that "Latin is one of the four cornerstones of a good classical education, and so will be found throughout Simulacrum. I am not doing this to show off. Rather I am exacting revenge for having been forced to spend four years of my high school youth studying it, and to no obvious avail as Latin is still, to the best of my knowledge, dead." Simulacrum is $21 CDN for Canadian addresses and $21 U.S. for U.S. addresses. Write to John at 204-345 Michigan Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 1R7.
Vindicator: The Journal of Classic Science Fiction & Fantasy Board Games from Yesteryear – and Today. I am very, very pleased to welcome Vindicator back to print. Michael Friend got this magazine started and for personal reasons had to temporarily suspend publication. In stepped Duke Ritenhouse who has taken up the baton with Mike's full confidence. In doing so, the basis of his effort has been expanded. Whereas Mike focused on the old Metagaming games and other out-of-print, classic SF and fantasy board games from the 70's and early 80's, Duke has enlarged the scope to include all SF board games and even ventures into SF miniatures! This issue was 24 pages of interesting material (history of metagaming, rules variants, readers' forum etc.) Vindicator will appear bi-monthly. U.S. subscribers pay $11 and non-U.S. pay $15 in U.S. funds. Contact Duke at 2160 Lakeview Drive, No. 272, Ypsilanti, MI 48198. Email DukeRit@aol.com
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