Craig Ambler: An excellent issue this month, (Lone Warrior 124) without being too creepy, it is probably up there with the best ever. Keep up the good work.
[Craig, glad you enjoyed it and my Chinese await the visit of your Romans! Results will be published irrespective of who wins. Kenn]
[Well, after a confusing battle, from the report, it was a close run thing but there will be no Chinese filling the Roman slave markets after this encounter. Chris Grice called the Chinese Army, 'unusual' - not where they come from! Great fun. Kenn].
Michael Friend (Manlius, New York): I'd like to thank you for your short review of my Vindicator journal in the most recent issue (#124) of Lone Warrior. I had every intention of starting it up again in early 1999, but when Duke Ritenhouse contacted me way back in February 1998 and asked for permission to "take the helm", I readily gave him my blessing. Now he is the editor/publisher and I'm listed as "editor emeritus" on the masthead. Yes, it's true that when I was publisher, Vindicator was strictly meant to support the out-of-print SF boardgames, but when I was going to revive it, I decided to expand coverage to include the new SF boardgames that have been published over the past few years as well as such SF miniatures games as Full Thrust, Dirtside, and Stargrunt that are rapidly becoming more popular. I discussed my ideas for expanding coverage with Duke and he readily agreed; thus the new Vindicator will have a wider base of support than its previous incarnation.
I'd like to correct one item from your review. A few months ago Duke moved out to California, so the Ypsilanti address is old. Duke's new address is: Duke Ritenhouse, P.O. Box 4806, Palm Springs, California 92263. (email is the same: DukeRit@aol.com) Subscription rates are: six issues, $11 US ($15 foreign); twelve issues, $20 US ($26 foreign); sample issue $2.50 ($3.50 foreign). The newsletter is now bi-monthly.
All ten issues that I published are available as back issues and can be ordered from me at: Michael Friend, P.O. Box 384, Manlius, NY 13104. I will be glad to answer inquiries by giving a back issue price list as well as a list of contents in each issue.
Nic Birt: I joined English Heritage this year and have thoroughly enjoyed visiting historical sites and watching some excellent battle re-enactments. Talking to the enthusiasts who participate in the battles has been a valuable part of my wargaming research this summer. They have a practical experience of using historical weapons and battle tactics which provides a rare insight into the problems facing the armies we simulate in our wargames. I would strongly recommend other members to join next summer, when all the re-enactments start up again, and after they've paid their SWA subscription fee, of course!
[Nic, having 'trailed a pike', well fell over it more often than not, in the Sealed Knot in days of yore I support your sentiments. I was then doing 25mm ECW during the week and 1:1 ECW at weekends - great fun! Kenn]
Ian Tucker: Thank you for the latest edition. I think that the new cover is an improvement. Is it permanent or will it change every so often. Anyway, they say you can't judge a book by its covers but in this case the contents are up to your usual high standards. Congratulations.
[Ian, must admit to having had a 'vote' against the new cover and thanks to the member who wrote and let me know his feelings. The change has been mulled over for years because, as much as we love 'The Charging Knight', it was felt he did give the Association a bit of a medieval feeling, which is incorrect because we cover the complete spectrum of solo wargaming. Fear not, he will return in colour for guest appearances in the future. The cover will change every issue. Any member is free to design the cover and just get in touch with me and we can talk turkey (topically comment on 271298). Kenn]
Ian Hall: Sorry I haven't been in contact for a while, but a combination of circumstances have kept me away from soloing ( new computer + Internet + Civilisation 2, joining the October Wargames Society, agreeing to buy & paint up a 15mm modern African army for our forthcoming "AK47" campaign and researching, buying & painting my 1860 Garibaldini army for the club's "Principles of War" ladder competition etc., etc.). I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all the "Lone Warriors" - they just seem to get better with each issue. Lone Warrior 121 was probably the best I have read so far, the "Solo diplomacy", "King Arthur" & "Desertion" articles are all superb and having just finished Cornwall's Arthur trilogy I think I'll go & buy that Donnington "Sub-Roman British" army that has been trying to seduce me at my local games shop. And some more paints. And a reference book. Or two. And a Saxon army to oppose them. Oh dear. A sincere well done to all who made issue 121 possible. I thought that as I enjoy the LW so much, I had better do something to contribute for once. I am going to volunteer as a 19th Century (Colonial, European & North American) advisor, as I'm a member of the "Victorian Military Society" & the "Continental Wars Society". If can't answer a query, I know several chaps who can. That's twice in one day, excuse me while I go and lie down with a large whiskey! I will snail-mail Jason Williams with my details before this insanity wears off.
[Ian, thanks for this and the chuckle it raised. Hope to see you at a show in 1999. Kenn]
Alex Garden: I thought Chris Grice's idea about volunteers drawing up general orders for a battle (Lone Warrior 123, Forum) was a good one. You ask that members let you know should they be interested. I'd be keen to participate in this kind of scheme: both providing and seeking suggested tactics. While not an expert on any particular period, I tend to game "Horse & Musket" (including the American Civil War). Please include me on any list of participants you may be compiling.
My current postal wargaming involvement is in one of George Arnold's very enjoyable Shenandoah Campaigns, mentioned a couple of times in LW. The "fog of war" is a big factor. To contribute to this important aspect of campaigning, I'm using some ACW illustrations and reports from 1860s issues of "Illustrated London News" in a "newspaper". The hopefully subtle propaganda and reasonable sounding - but occasionally misleading - reports featured in the "Masada Flyer" are meant to create doubt and confusion in the mind of my opponent. I don't know whether this actually works but, if nothing else, browsing for suitable illustrations and quotes gets me reading contemporary accounts I've not seen before. Of course, my opponent may be reading this letter at this very moment, in which case the Federal misinformation machine must come up with some other plausible ploy.
I wrote to Graham Empson about computer wargames and, as well as providing the information I required, he very kindly sent me lots of information about his ACW campaigning system. He was very helpful, and I was most grateful for his advice. Incidentally, I was also very pleased with the help I got recently from David Barnes. I wrote to him concerning older ranges of wargame figures, and his detailed reply arrived more or less by return.
Not having contacted you previously, I would take the opportunity to say how much I appreciate "Lone Warrior".
[Alex, good to hear from you. I hope you picked up on Lone Warrior 124, p 35 where Steve Turner is looking for assistance. It seems that there is a slow start to the Aides service but I have had a very positive response to it from Chris Grice who it would appear took up Steve's offer and is really enjoying the correspondence. Good to hear the Advisers' Service is being used and working so well. I've got quite a few friends out of doing the Samurai part. George's Shenandoah Campaigns really seem to keep the players guessing and long may that continue. Quite a few of the 'Inner Circle' have been play testing a PBM game system that the ever busy Chris Grice has set-up. Personally I think it is an absolutely marvellous system but there again my boring Romans won their first battle against the courageous Ancient Britains, just! There may be details of the system in this edition if Chris is happy with the trial run - in other words watch this space! Thanks for the kind comments and good to hear the Adviser Service is still ticking over nicely. Kenn]
[[I should point out that I went back to Alex to confirm that he wanted details of his 'newspaper' published, because to me it was a great propaganda machine, and he confirmed he did. What will he come up with next?]]
Ken Van Pelt: I am writing to you about a computer game that I've got that features Japanese Samurai in Sixteenth Century Japan. I read in the wargames press that you were looking for a game about Samurai. I can't remember where I saw the reference but I was wondering if you had ever seen "Conquest of Japan" by Impressions. It is copyright 1994. I have played it and had a lot of fun with the game. The graphics are not all that spectacular but it was one of the first games I got for my new computer ( it was cheap $4.99). Here is the name of the company: Impressions, 222 Third Street, #0234, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. I have never contacted them but that is the address on the box. If you have seen this one let me know. Congratulations on Lone Warriors placement within MAGWEB!
[Ken, thanks for this information I have dropped them a line and unfortunately the game is no longer available. Yet again a Solo Wargmers Association member helping another out - that's what makes this Association so special for me. Kenn]
Martin Hogg: Thanks for Issue 125. I got it in the post yesterday and read it cover to cover with my cornflakes. I've written to Chris Grice about the tournament - sounds interesting. I've actually started a solo campaign! (might not seem like big news, but I've lost count of the number of times I've sat down drawing maps, working out tables and uniforms, and then doing something else.) This time I decided to keep it really simple to start with and add stuff as it crops up. Hopefully, I'll get a little further than usual. Wherever I've actually used campaign rules, rather than a bit of creative licence, I've used systems from LW 124 - Nic Birt's excellent article on campaigns (Thanks Nic) and from the Principles of War magazine. The campaign is set in 1866, in the fictitious Duchy of Feuchtwangel an ally of Bavaria, being invaded by a Prussian army. One battle so far, at place called 'Hum' - the Prussians victorious.
Is it possible when playing two sides not to favour one? It doesn't seem to matter what period I play, no matter how obscure and how ill-informed I am, I always end up rooting for one side, and trying to come up with systems to stop myself from giving them too much biased (note I avoid use of the word cheat'... can a Soloist cheat?) Maybe this is an opportunity to use the ADCs service? [Give them ago and let us know how you get on].
Finally, matchstick armies. Tried it, fumbled about and finally took a different tack, making use of my Mac and a simple drawing package, I've been making paper figures to base on Principles of War 6mm base sizes. Ideal if you want to try out the Zulu army without shelling out. Once you've drawn the basic figure, (or adapted a bit of clip art or similar), it's quite a simple matter to scale it down and duplicate it, then you just cut and fold and stick onto bases. So far I've only done a couple of colonial armies, but it would be even more effective for regular European types.
By the way, sorry, but I really liked the old cover better. Maybe it's because I'm still fairly new, the novelty hasn't worn off. I've taken up your challenge anyway and had a go at a couple myself, unfortunately, my old printer's only Black & White. What's the best format for you if I send a disk? Look forward to 126.
[Martin, good to hear from you. The Tournament is intriguing and I will be signing up now the trial period is over. Your 'Clipart' armies are definitely the 'matchstick' armies of today - cheap and effective. The Knight has not gone for good and he will return, in colour, in the future and at present I am unto L W127 with covers but any additions gratefully accepted. I have been given an idea for 128 but have not yet had time to sit down and work it out, so there's room for your ideas. GIF, would be nice. Thanks, Kenn].
Paul Grace: Sorry about the long gap (yawning chasm?) between articles. Enclosed is a two parter and a letter. My planned article comparing Samurai wargaming rules using ' Age of the Country at War', DBA, DBM and DBR has had to go on the back burner. This is due to the latter two rule sets now having new revised editions - which need further study - and the arrival on the market of 'Killer Katanas' which will be going on my Christmas list. Also, my wargames time has recently been preoccupied with a return (following an absence of fifteen years) to gaming WW2 in 20mm - An article on Crossfire & Rapid Fire should be ready by Christmas (I'm not saying which Christmas).
I have been involved in playtesting Bryan Ansell's 'Rules With No Name' and as such, I am sending him a copy of the 'Tales of the Unexpected' article. He may wish to include the scenario in a booklet at a later date - therefore, to avoid complications, I wish to retain copyright of this article. I am more than happy to allow any royalties accrued from its publication in Lone Warrior (including the Internet edition) to go to the SWA.
I enjoyed your article in Slingshot - Which dynasty / period are your Chinese troops? I have a Sung Army to fight my Mongols and can upgrade it to Yuan if I wish to take on my Samurai. I am thinking of adding a few chariots in order to create an early Chinese army - I presume my Sung crossbowmen, spearmen and swordsmen would not look too out of place. Keep up the good work.
[Paul, thanks for the letter and articles. I have enough trouble playing with rules without attempting to compare them, more power to your elbow! Your copyright position acknowledged and supported. My Chinese have a tendency, being a soloist army(s), of moving between periods by the addition of and/or removal of various unit types. In their latest outing the guys never left their 'barracks' and were involved in a remote 'head-to-head' with some Romans in a game under the Tournament umbrella. I did actually set them up and my table to get the dispositions but after that it was in the hands of Chris Grice and his trusty dice! ]
David Barnes: Rob Walker [Adviser], has been most helpful in giving me information about the Belgian Army 1914, sending me photographs and surfing the Net for more information for me. Beyond the call of duty I think. Can we give him a medal? [Sounds like he deserves one. Always good to hear of members getting assistance from the Advisers. Kenn].
A DEEP THOUGHT
If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with. If it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place, you either married it or gave birth to it!
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