George Heath; Just received the June Lone warrior and, as usual, a high standard and plenty of interest.   Jonathan Aird: Thanks for printing the sale list message in the Forum - I've managed to find a buyer for 4 Osprey's already. Just the other 50+ to go ... I've re-sent you the Tumbling Dice aircraft review, since you mentioned it had been a victim of your computer crash. Hope it isn't too long - they did send a rather lot of figures, and it seemed only fair to give them a proper look over. [You certainly did that and I hope you sent them a copy. Thanks. Kenn] The tournament seems to have taken over my (gaming) life - at last I've caught up again with all active games and am ready to get on with second round games as I get in complete sets of orders for both sides. It's fun watching other peoples’ plans work/nearly work/go completely wrong through no fault of their own. Makes a change from watching MY plans nearly work/go completely wrong through no fault of my own. Your chariot game sounds excellent - you've obviously been busy with the old paint brush. [Wrong! It was the duster, getting stuff off the shelf and out of boxes onto a much too crowded table!] I'll try and write a "how it's going" about the tournament either for next issue (or the one after). When it's all wrapped up (all over by Christmas...now where have I heard that before?), would you be interested in a battle report or two as well as the final "rankings" ? [You bet!] Rob Morgan: The “Kraken” article and wargame in Lone Warrior 139, page 16, was most interesting and reminds me that there are many similar Science Fiction/Fantasy scenarios possible from late C 19th books such as those of Jules Verne. One I am currently trying to ‘work out as a solo wargame scenario is that of “The Boats of the Glen Carrig” by William Hope Hodgson who was killed in WWI, ISBN 0-7221 -4794-5 and its currently available in Sphere Books. It deals with a group of shipwrecked sailors who survive in a couple of open boats and the strange adventures that befall them when they encounter an island and a rotting hulk. I’m basing my attempts at a game around the ‘Peter Pig’ ‘pieces of eight’ range which includes an ideal resin ships boat and a suitable crew along with a number of armed figures of a nautical persuasion. The novel is well worth reading, and perhaps someone can come up with a suitable set of figures as ‘opponents’ for the crew? Mike Smith: I’ve been a wargamer for about 30 years, but I’ve only recently become a member of the Solo Wargamers Association. Over the years I painted whole armies in nearly every scale, only to sell them when money was tight [and still is, like most people!) I started out with a 4’ square table in 1970; got to a 7’ x 5’ by the late 90’s and now having recently moved and married I’m back to a 4’ x 2 ‘ board on the dining room table. Stuart Asquith’s article struck a chord. I have a lack collection of 15mm figures, 18th Century War of the Austrian Succession. My main aim is to collect armies of all the combatants and I have almost succeeded. I have a lot of Stephen Manley’s [SW A member] Painting Guides and he himself has also sent me information on request (with a SAE), which has been a great help. He certainly knows his stuff! I recently started collecting HAT’s ancient plastics, which are very good, but I had to give up because I just didn’t have anywhere to put them, so I sent them to another SWA member. Well now I am trying out 10mm Fantasy as an aside to the main period. Both Pendraken Miniatures and Kallistra Miniatures are excellent and I use a mixture of my own rules plus Horde of The Things. I don’t think that ‘Lord of the Rings’ influenced me in anyway!! Enclosed is a Fantasy Map that started life as a doodle. I thought it might be handy for wargamers who do not have the time for preparing the paperwork. I hope it will be of some benefit. [This is very detailed and intricate, on A4, so if any member would like a copy please SAE me and I will send you a copy. Kenn] Note: That would be for SWA members only, not MagWeb.com members. Sorry, but you have to be a member of the SWA to take advantage of this an other SWA offers and services.--RL [Mike, Thanks for this I can certainly relate to the change in table sizes throughout my wargaming life. My first table was literally a sandtable that my father built for me in one of the out buildings and I could run wild with my Airfix figures where rules never got in the way of a good game. Unfortunately, I believe that that attitude is still with me and why I so enjoy soloing. In the Army very little time or space for gaming until I was posted to one unit discovered an empty attic in the former German barracks and went mad using ‘acquired’ former terrain used for map reading etc. training. No idea of the size but I had to walk on it to get the figures moving, which were still Airfix units mounted on A4 size millboards. Jumping many years forward, when I come to inspect this current residence I pulled myself up through the attic access hole. The former owner immediately informed me that the roof was sound! “So what” thought I, “I can get a 6’x 4’ table and all the rest of my wargaming stuff in here!” Bought the house and will soon be looking for a new one the attic being somewhat crowded! Thanks for the map and I am delighted to hear of the interaction between SWA members. The map is great but too detailed to copy for Lone Warrior but I will let members have copies if they wish. Kenn] “What is happening in your Wargame World? Do you have a solo gaming problem, perhaps members can help you with? Just get in touch and through FORUM you can meet gamers of a like mind.” Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior #144 Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by Solo Wargamers Association. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com