From Sam Mustafa
From the "Sarcastic Observations About Games" Department: This past Historicon I was wandering the dealer area, and there were no new rules that grabbed me this season. Usually I collect rules, and snatch up several at each convention; I'm fascinated by the ways people model reality. Although I didn't buy any new rules sets this time, I have noticed something odd about many of the thicker ones that are on sale. On the back covers, where the author is supposed to give a sales pitch and summary of the game's good points, many of these rules are described as "playable." (As in: "Nappy's Big Day is a fun, playable set of Napoleonic rules that allows you to... blah blah.") Am I alone in finding that a really strange thing to say? If games are not meant to be playable, then what are they meant for? This would be like advertising bananas as "edible," or doing an ad for a car, and calling it "drivable." The mere fact that you've described your rules as "playable" makes me immediately suspicious. Do you normally play unplayable games? Finally, on page 3 (of MWAN #120) you discuss Guy Sajer's "Forgotten Soldier." Sajer did not join the SS, as you write. He *claimed* to have been a soldier in the "Grossdeutschland" division, which was an elite Wehrmacht unit - not SS. I say "claimed," though, because Sajer's book has been pretty much discredited by serious historians, who have found so many contradictions and lies that it almost certainly is pure fiction, not a genuine memoir. (There is no record of Sajer in the unit during half the engagements he describes, for instance.)
From Rav Garbee
Regarding the Sikh War project - I know you want material 'not submitted elsewhere' and I had a first draft of the supplement published in HMGS - Great Lakes The Herald. It covered the period rules and the Battle of Moodkee. I can gin up another scenario along with the revised period rules for MWAN in a little bit. I game it using slightly modified Volley and Bayonet in 25mm using a mix of Foundry (Most of the Sikh infantry and artillery, all the Cavalry and some Sepoys, Old Glory (most Sepoys and some British Infantry, plus Russian 12# guns) and Lizard's Grin Classic Colonials for the occasional odd unit (camel guns, akali fanatics). It results in a fast playing game that plays to a conclusion in about five hours. The modifications are mostly period specific, though some of rules include 2nd edition playtest rules not officially published. I'll see what I can put together! I just received a copy of Nijjar's ANGLO-SIKH WARS in today's post. A small tome written by an Indian researcher, it appears to be a broad overview of the two wars. Featherstone is as good and Cook's work is better in terms of detail.
From Guv Barlow
A quick update on the wargaming scene in Southwest Ohio. I just returned from HMGS-Great Lakes Advance the Colors 2002 in Springfield, Ohio. I had an excellent weekend wargaming. Though I hosted two events I still had time to participate in the DBA tournament (28 players-an AtC record!), peruse the dealers area and catch up with my friends. The games were again first rate with some real visual treats. There was a superb San Juan Hill Piquet game by Chris Velas, Pat Hreachmack's 25mm S.S. Keystone riverboat game again graced the convention and Doug Roger's did a marvelous Shiloh ACW game. Attendance seemed to be up and I found plenty to buy from the vendors (mostly 25/28mm pack camels from RLBPS). All in all a great convention. I'm already looking forward to Advance the Colors 2003. As I know you have an interest in the Sikh Wars Hal, you may be interested to know that the Sikhs were victorious in my 25mm Battle of Ferozeshah Volley and Bayonet event. Though a close run game, the British division's collapsed with victory almost in their grasp. I'm hosting it again at Gamefest in Indianapolis this November. Current projects include managing an ACW naval campaign using my Anaconda campaign rules with the Smethhurst's Basement gaming group in Loveland, Ohio. So far the Union have the upper hand, but the Battle of Memphis looms large in our future! The Wayne's Legion Historical Garners are working on an Arab-Israeli project in micro-scale for 2003. I continue to enjoy MWAN and now thanks to magweb.com can catch up on many of the issues that I missed in the past. Having access to these past issues is like having the keys to the library. I've got lots of reading to do! Regarding the Sikh War project - I know you want material 'not submitted elsewhere' and I had a first draft of the supplement published in HMGS - Great Lakes The Herald. It covered the period rules and the Battle of Moodkee. I can gin up another scenario along with the revised period rules for MWAN in a little bit. I game it using slightly modified Volley and Bayonet in 25mm using a mix of Foundry (Most of the Sikh infantry and artillery, all the Cavalry and some Sepoys, Old Glory (most Sepoys and some British Infantry, plus Russian 12# guns) and Lizard's Grin Classic Colonials for the occasional odd unit (camel guns, akali fanatics). It results in a fast playing game that plays to a conclusion in about five hours. The modifications are mostly period specific, though some of rules include 2nd edition playtest rules not officially published. I'll see what I can put together! I just received a copy of Nijjar's ANGLO-SIKH WARS in today's post. A small tome written by an Indian researcher, it appears to be a broad overview of the two wars. Featherstone is as good and Cook's work is better in terms of detail.
From Bart Wood
Our group (NUTS) has had some great games of recent. Early WWII desert action between the Italians and British where the Italians try to hold a defensive box against British Matilda tanks. When Craig Tyrrell (GA]O) offers up a scenario it is well researched and offers a great challenge. The Italians were found to be a difficult position of trying to buy some time, get troops off the board, and make the British pay dearly. The British choose to use the two front approaches and British Armour was quick to put pressure on Italian defenses. Further, British artillery was successful in pinning and greatly weakening one side ... too bad the armour in place was distracted and not in position to provide the anvil for the pincer action. Our group enjoys the challenges of using early WWII armour and infantry in a variety of challenges; we use CDIII and find the system offers a good game with a good feel for the period. We also have tried using CDIII for Eastern Front with the same success. In both the Desert and now Eastern Front our group has assembled a large collection in 15mm that offers great opportunity for visually striking games. 15mm allows for great modeling opportunities and our more creative members have created some great scenics and models for our various games. As with many groups, our group has a number of members who enjoy various periods so that it difficult to enjoy all the games possible. We have Fire & Fury for ACW and Napoleonics in 15mm, Colonials in 25mm, WWII for Desert & Eastern Front for 15mm plus we do Cross-fire in 25mm, AWI in 25mm using Age of Reason, soon we will be using Medieval Rules for some 25mm action, and we even try our hand at DBM in 15mm. Many collections sit dormant for years waiting their turn and we work hard to balance the various interests of the group. Plus we even dabble outside historical with fantasy (warhammer) and Sci-fi (40K - Full Thrust). Over time it has worked to this ... they who develop a scenario and offer to host the game get to pick the next action. It seems to work well but far from perfect. We have had some grand games with terrain and effort that is as good as any game hosted at Historicon (well based upon our 2002 and 2001 attendance). Some games are part of 'extended' campaigns like our adventures in Colonials within the universe of Gary Grove as various nations seek the glory and honor of being the group to find the lost mines of Solomon. It has been fun to watch either a member or a subset of the group work to create a new period of interest. Usually the purchasing and painting takes a year or so before the first battles are offered. Some members show signs of compulsive buying habits, Tom Dickson has more Colonial troops in 25mm than the rest of the group and probably more than what was actually fielded. Gary Grove has is one to one Russian Division in 15mm plus his huge Austrian & Russian forces for Napoleonics- he appears to really like the Russian front, no matter the period. I of course, show no such weaknesses and therefore completely normal ... well except for a some what large collection of Science Fiction but we cannot mention that in a MWAN :-)
From Will Haggart
I appreciated the discussion of the moral aspects of our chosen hobby. Your editorial and Sam's article, 'The Games We Play and How People See Them" felt like deja vu. I was just visiting with my son and his German girlfriend and she had much the same response to the idea of 'wargames' as Sam's German friend. Luckily I didn't have my pastime challenged to the extent that Sam did as the conversation quickly passed on to wiessbier. But the issue and the reactions are real ones, and I have been faced with /embarrassed by people questioning the morality of gaming war. This is my take on it. People I have talked with take issue with wargaming for several reasons: 1. It makes killing and mayhem into a game and entertainment 2. It glorifies war 3. It ignores the pain, atrocities, and destruction that are the real products of war--or worse, makes it a fun pastime. 4. it perpetuates the attitudes and thinking that supports the continuation of war. I think that there are two ways to challenge these criticisms. The first is "compared to what?" And the second is to ask if it they are true. The first challenge suggests that wargaming is unique in treating war and aggression as entertainment. It is hardly unique. How many DeoDle watch the following mayhem and murder as entertainment: WF wrestling? Movies like Total Recall, The Patriot, Halloween XII, Lake Placid, the Die Hard series, The Sum of All Fears, or Enemy At the Gates, or LOTR, Black Hawk Down, etc, etc, etc.? Cop shows and series like JAG where shootings and combat is weekly fare? Football, rugby, hockey, boxing, and yes, even basketball. How many people plav or compete in: Paint ball, computer and playstation games like James Bond, Rainbow Six, Medal of Honor, Wolfenstein, and all the 'karate combat' games, Martial Arts Tournaments, Football, rugby, hockey, boxing, and yes, even basketball, Dungeon and Dragoons and other fantasy games, Scale models, RC warplanes, tanks, and ships. How many people Read: Stephen King novels, Tom Clancy novels, Westerns, Science Fiction, Romance, Mysteries, and other types of Horror or Thriller novels? (All of them regularly contain killings, mayhem, physical fights, and aggressive behavior.) This is not counting all the novels that are directly concerned with war. Military History? I have just touched on the variety of ways our culture provides killing, war, physical injuries, fighting, and aggressive behavior as entertainment in and of itself, ignoring the real consequences and even glorifying them, while certainly glorifying aggressive attitudes. I submit that if you add up all the folks that engage in one or more of the above, who do you have left? Very few. If playing wargames is morally reprehensible, what about watching James Bond blow away the bad guys in "Die Another Day," or children seeing an Ogre give a knight "the Chair" in Skrek, people being dismembered and eaten by aliens in 'Men In Black II' or reading about the student deaths in 'Harry Potter'? Perhaps such activities are morally unsupportable, but there sure are a lot of them, many far, far more graphic and extreme than anything done in our wargames. Does anyone challenge the people walking out of Craven's "They" or watching 'Lethal Weapon 3' for the umpteenth time as being immoral? But to say everyone does it isn't a particularly convincing argument. Perhaps taking the criticisms one at a time: 1. It makes killing and mayhem into a game and entertainment Do wargames portray killing and mayhem? Yes, but only in the most abstract way, AND it is not the blood, killing, and maiming that offers the entertainment. The entertainment involves the intellectual challenges of the military strategies and tactics, the look of the table, and the history behind it. the computer game 'Quake' or 'Mortal Combat' makes the actual killing and wounds a central part of the 'entertainment' in a way that is completely absent from our wargames. 2. It glorifies war Our hobby does game aspects of war, but "glorifying it" suggests that somehow that it makes actual war more attractive and 'OK' in the eyes of the participants. Does it? I have met very few gamers that want war, look eagerly for another, or even act all that aggressive for that matter. In fact, I know that one thing wargaming does that few movies or books do at all. It demonstrates how unlikely any glorious victory is, and that losses are unavoidable. There is no combat without casualties, no Stallone standing with hundreds of the enemy scattered at his feet. No one in the hobby would join a war thinking it would be over quickly, or that Desert Storm is the norm for every battle. We do game war, but I can't really say that we 'glorify it' to any great extent or believe that the actual experience is attractive. We are far too educated about such things. 3. It ignores the pain, atrocities, and destruction that are the real products of war--or worse, makes it a fun pastime. Ignores it? No, I can't say wargaming does. Many of the products of war are right there in the rules we play, but neither do they revel in them or make such things entertainment anymore than chess does when a piece is taken, even though death and pain is what is being represented just the same. Most gamers are quite aware of the destructive nature of war, better educated about the causes and results than many of the critics. That has been my experience, and I don't see that as a bad thing. Being realistic about the nature of war is critical to understanding it and avoiding it. 4. it perpetuates the attitudes and thinking that supports the continuation of war. I doubt that very much, any more than chess or football perpetuates warlike attitudes. War and conflict are very much part of our society and world events. I wish it wasn't, but as it is, hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens choose the military and war as their life's avocation. That doesn't mean they want war, nor would it matter if they did. It's already here, which is why the military exists. I feel really strange glibly taking about something so real, ugly, and universal as war, but I think that those who question our hobby should feel just as strange glibly questioning our hobby, as though it is a source of real war. They really haven't taken notice of what is going on in the world, society and mass entertainments, nor what our hobby really consists of in either entertainment or attitudes. The next time someone questions you about your hobby, ask them if they paid money to see the latest Bond movie, or read the latest Knootz book or are a fan of Tolkein's works. Ending war and the beliefs that perpetuate it are important issues, far deeper morally than any judgments about our hobby--and I think that in many ways the hobby educates and challenges any positive attitudes concerning war. I find the most committed cynics when it comes to the glories of war are wargamers. Thanks for bringing up the issue, Sam and Hal.
From James Baker
Your editorial and Sam's article made me think a bit about the hobby. I do not think that wargamers equate to warmongers (in fact, quite the opposite). What wargames do is spark an interest in history, which often expands from the rather limited study of weapons technology and battles into a study of the social and economic factors as well. If the study of history is a good thing in itself (lest we be "doomed to repeat it"), wargames offer starting point in that endeavor that might bring in people who have little or no interest in becoming professional historians. In these days of "politically correct" revisionist history, it often does us good to research the topics in depth and get a better understanding of what happened. Also, to be a good game, a scenario needs to give both sides a chance of winning. Even the maligned colonial games need to give the "native" forces a chance to beat the "colonialists" (I remember a fun game at a convention where I captured the British supply train while playing the Zulus). The interest of wargamers is not in bringing "civilization" to the "heathens" but in having a mentally challenging exercise. It should be noted that that game sparked one my many tangential 128 historical studies I immediately read the "Washing of the Spears".
From Douglas Kline
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From Duke Seigfried
After sculpturing the subject twice - once at Der Kriegspielers and again at Heritage, I'm into the Lord of the Rings theme. What I seek are three of the old FANTASTIQUE types: Swan Knight of Doi Amroth - rider on cloaked horse walking with a "swan" helmet and shield bearing a ship. Originally it had an add-on right arm. Ranger of the North - Man riding galloping horse wearing a hooded cloak and brandishing a sword. Quiver at right and scabbard at left. Nazgul on Winged Beast - this was a dragon-like pterdactyl with outstretched legs on a base. The original had large metal bat-like wings. I'm only seeking the body - don't need the wings. Would very much like to get one of each of these in any condition. Missing parts are no problem. My e-mail address is: UncieDukes@aol.com A magnificent Tales of Tolkien project is planned for Historicon 2003!
(Editor's Note; if anyone can help Uncle Duke out, please let him know ASAP!)
From Curt Traina
I'd like to pass on this gaming website: 222.theminiaturespage.com. This website has news on the latest releases from different companies, an alphabetical directory of manufacturers (with links to their websites) and many other features. One very useful feature of this website is the zones of interest - historical, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. There is really a lot of information on this website and I think other MWANers may find it interesting!
From Jerrv Lannigan
Sam Mustafa's article held a great deal of interest on several levels. Obviously, judging from your editorial comments, some gray cells were charged for you as well. Why do we do what we do? The interesting thing is the "what" part but that's something to return to a bit later. Mustafa obviously was motivated to write as a direct result of two conversations. The first was with his Nigerian friend Tariq. The second with a female acquaintance, Ursula. Both people were adult in age and had differing perspectives on the activity of wargaming. Tariq's points about the hobby were valid - from his point of view. Certainly an area such as Africa had much to complain about with its treatment at the hands of the Europeans during the 400 years. Then again there was much damage done by Muslim invaders both across the northern coast of Africa during the "conquest" period of religious expansion. It is with a great deal of humor that I would point out that the Africans who seem to be suffering the most currently are those being slaughtered by their own countrymen in places like Uganda, Rwanda, and the Sudan to mention just a few. The reason this is being belabored is to make the case that memory and history are both selective and interpretive. After all, Africans scream imperialist slaughter at the activities of the British in Zululand but fail to comment at all upon the equally bloody expansionist activities of Shaka. Again, to make a point, my German American grandmother argued to the day she died that the US should have sided with the Germans and were tricked into the alliance with Britain by a series of tricks by "Perfidious Albion'. (My descriptor, not hers.) Tariq's indignation is understandable, perhaps, but falls short of exclusivity. The Irish kems pursued by heavily armored English knights, Aztecs set upon by Conquistadores, Mongols exterminating whole nations of Central Asian peoples all parallel the African experience. None of these are noble or praiseworthy but it is interesting that they all have their following in our hobby. What do we do, actually? You and I both paint for its relaxation value. We both enjoy planning projects and acquiring lead to implement our plans. Tons of research is done before any gaming is begun. We create terrain and very occasionally push toys across the fields in some vain attempt to model the history from which our games are drawn. But Sam Mustafa and his friend Tariq miss one essential point - all of this is a form of play. In some cases it may be an outlet for aggressive behaviors or even a vehicle for the expression of a compulsive need to collect (I'll only speak for myself.). However, whatever symbolic value it may have is just that - symbolic. If I play with any toy, I suspend disbelief and give vent to a flow of imagination and joy. If I read Sam right, he had a proverbial "hoot" at Historicon. He hung around with his friends which Don Featherstone says is at the heart of game play. He collected some new toys. He slept when he wanted to and ate food he probably doesn't touch throughout the rest of the year. None of this - and this is the important part - hurt anyone. It is unfortunate that Tariq did not see that. No one even seemed to have hurt feelings after a loss. You can lose a whole army and laugh. And that illuminates what is at the heart of my ramblings: none of this is real, play is not advocacy, rolling dice does not equate on any real level with violence. As Freud once said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Maybe a dice is just a dice and not a Freudian sublimation of some deep seated desire to put on a black uniform and conquer the world. So we paint, we write, we talk, we plan, we develop gaming systems, and we criticize the plans, games and painting of others. We enjoy each others company, even the virtual conversations that occur across the Internet. It can become an obsession but so can a beautiful work of art or our first love. Our play is a "tonic for the mind" to paraphrase Ben Franklin or as that most wise of sentient life forms, Mr. Spock, once said "The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play." Please thank Sam for producing such a provocative piece. But when all is said and done, playing with lead is a whole lot different from firing at someone with lead!
From Bill Nevins
It is with great interest that I read your piece on wargaming and your wonderment of how other people "look at us." Well, first of all, let me say that even though I have been a MWAN subscriber since the first Alamo special issue (# 14 I think) I am not a wargamer. I have never played a game and have no desire to do so. I simply enjoy painting figures, making scenery and terrain and then "playing" with them. I read about the periods that interest me and I buy uniform books to use as paint guides. I am by no means a good painter nor do I really care if a unit had pewter or silver buttons. As long as the figures look pleasing to me I am happy. I read your magazine and other wargaming publications for the painting and scenery tips. I buy the glossies for the great photos. Wargamers are perceived by me to be too intense and too wrapped up in the rules to be any fun. After 12 years of Catholic school and 21 years in the NYPD, I have had my fill of rules and regulations. My idea of fun does not include 50 pages of rules, not counting graphs and charts. Way too complicated for me. It also strikes me that most of the players are too concerned with minutia and not he spirit of the game. But this is just my opinion, and to be fair, I have only witnessed a handful of games. As an outside observer, I have seen Wargamers evolve from older gentlemen in smoking jackets, through the great unwashed period, to the normal people period it seems to enjoy now. Some of the people I trade figures with are avid wargamers and they seem to really enjoy it. They are always trying to recruit me into it. I resist, as I have no interest in reading thousands of pages of rules. But perhaps Hal, this is skirting the issue. The tone of your article suggests you are having pangs of conscience about setting up little figures on a table and rolling dice to see who wins. The fact that some people find this offensive is utterly ridiculous. Your painted armies have no more to do with real war than someone who plays Monopoly wants to be a Robber Baron and return to the days of child labor and union busting. In regard to Sam Mustafa's article, I find it curious that his friend from Senegal is upset about the Colonial Period war-gaming. Does he really believe that war-gaming has anything to do with past injustices in Africa? What nonsense! War-gaming is a hobby just like model railroading. Would anyone suggest that people that play with model trains are insulting the memory of the thousands of Chinese workers who died building Americas railroads. I doubt it. How about people who collect Military memorabilia. Are they warmongers? What about artists such as Dale Gallon or Don Troiani? They paint pictures of historical battles. Does that make them responsible for the slaughter that occurred during America Civil War? Are they glorifying it? If the gentleman from Senegal doesn't like it, well no one is forcing him to partake in a game are they? He is entitled to his opinion. On a personal note, as the Commanding Officer of the NYPD Homicide Squad, I am far more concerned with the American public's fascination with serial killers. It seems to me that you can't turn on your TV without seeing some show about serial killers. The same for the movies. And our best-selling books (the Silence of the Lambs for example) all seem to dwell on murder and degradation. This bothers me a hell of a lot more than a bunch of old men playing with toy soldiers. As for Sam's friend Ursala well honey, if it wasn't for the resolve of the American Military, she would be goose-stepping today and her beloved country would still be under the boot heel of the Nazis. She should be kissing those figures instead of disdaining them. Why is it that our so called "Intelligencia" is always so anti military? They are always so quick to criticize anything military, yet they very much enjoy the freedoms that our soldiers protect for them. And our European "friends" conveniently forget the sacrifices our soldiers made to liberate their miserable countries. Rather two faced if you ask me. Well Hal, that is my answer to your question. War-gaming is a hobby like stamp collecting and is meant to bring relaxation and enjoyment to its participants. Nothing more nothing less. Stop taking other peoples opinion so seriously. When I invite people into my home they always ask to see my "soldier room." The men instantly become little boys again and the women always admire the skill it takes to represent real life in miniature. Not a single visitor has ever commented on the "evils" of toy soldiers. So take heart Hal ... it really is all in fun.
From Paul Petri
One other thing I would like to ask you is if you have any idea if anyone is making 25mm Prussians for the Franco Prussian War? I emailed the Helion company to see what happen to there line but I never received a response. I saw that Eureka has a foot figure but nothing else. Foundry has locked their line away and I really don't want to pay their prices when they repackage it. If you know of anything off the top of your head I would love to hear about it.
(Editor's Note: Try Castaway Arts of Australia; run a search on them; they have quite an extensive line of French and Prussian infantry figures. Aside from them and Eureka, I don? know, Paul; I agree with you, however, re Foundrys prices! Good luck; let us know if you find anything else)
From Roger Pearce
I was attracted to War Gaming through that old AH box declaration, "you are in command." I always saw the enterprise as trying to figure out what happened in a battle/campaign and why. I never seemed to get enough of simulations and rules because, as I am sure you are aware, every set highlights different factors and has its own version of friction. I turned to miniatures not because I like painting or pageantry but because sometimes looking at the cardboard counters is too impoverished an activity, a hold over, I suppose, from all those ranks of Marx toy soldiers I had when a child. I have never been able to forget the fact that the cardboard counter or stand of figures that go into the "dead" pile or off the table represent killed, wounded, and maimed men. I dislike circumlocutions like cohesion hits and the like, because I believe garners should never forget what being in command means being responsible for mayhem. When the puff of black cotton marks the "brewed up" tank, there should be in our minds the picture of burned bodies. I am sometimes amazed that an opponent will orchestrate an attack that results in horrendous casualties, but that is also like real battle. The indirect approach is not always apparent or possible. I do not shrink from the implications of my hobby when asked. And there are certain sides I have difficulty playing with an enthusiasm. Still I want to understand if I can the result. And to Tariq my reply would be simple. I want to know how Chard and Bromhead survived. And no ideologically charged explanation that reduces Zulus to victims of European technological superiority can provide that explanation. I will command either side with the same enthusiasm and seriousness in my desire to understand. And I know there will be casualties, those I never forget. I suppose in the end that I am not the kind of "player" who thinks of what I am doing as an adjunct to beer and pretzels. I guess I've always been the serious type; you see my dad was a POW in Germany during WW2. I may have gotten my serious attitude to our avocation from him.
From Bruce Meyer
I also wanted to comment on "The Games We Play" and your editorial. Hal, both you and Sam seem very concerned with justifying your interests to others. Unfortunately in today's version of our free society it would seem that the only fully acceptable pastime is collecting naturally made foods for distribution to third world people while bicycling 12 miles in homespun clothing. Chess players have always been "geeks," butterfly collectors eccentric, vinophiles snobs, 40+ year old men playing baseball daft, etc. etc. I love wargaming for the history, the problem solving, the camaraderie and the creativeness in no particular order. I feel no responsibility to defend that to any pseudopsychologist that happens to see the need to pass judgement. People that know me and have shown interest have accepted my fascination with history, uniforms and weapons caliber as unconventional but no different than a model railroader's desire to find the perfect Reading RR green. Maybe it is because I choose my friends and associates carefully. Maybe it is because I accept their foibles and idiosyncrancies as well. I can list a dozen reasons why I could never be a hunter that are very important to me and my values. I have friends that hunt. I have never lectured them on killing Bambi but have only asked that they please avoid shooting my dog or my cows. The pursuit of their hobby is not in my province to judge. So when self appointed experts feels the need to impose their value set on me and my friends I gently remind him that the right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously. Besides, he probably painted his bathroom purple and has a collection of Shirley Temple memorabilia in his basement.
From Richard Ort
I particularly enjoy the articles on 54mm. At the Old Toy Soldier Show in Schaumburg, I purchased about 500 plus 54 mm Civil War troops to set-up and game with friends and my six year old. My key focal point right now is on building a game table that will accommodate the scale and still leave room in the house. I noticed on the internet that Armies in Plastic is coming out soon with Beja and Mahdists tribesmen to go along with their British Highlanders and Egyptians. Besides collecting 54mm plastic, I am trying to decide on one range and scale in metal to focus my painting and collecting efforts for the near future. Not sure which one at this point. I am thinking about the Seven Years War or the American Revolution as these are periods that I have not as of yet built armies in 54mm plastic, 20mm plastic or 25mm metal. I have to admit your magazine does not always help as after reading the articles covering the various periods of history, I want to collect them all.
From Jim Getz
I was struck by Sam's article on the ethicality of wargaming as well as by your editorial and decided to put down some of my own thoughts on the subject and as a result have attached an article to this e-mail. As you indicated in your editorial, this is a complex subject and very difficult to get your arms around - hopefully it will make some sense! There are still many facets of the subject to be discussed, such as 'black wargames', but this piece is long enough as it stands - probably too long! In the end, I think this comes down to a matter of taste, for which, as they say, there is no accounting. Frankly I think wargamers are a fairly peaceful and non-aggressive group that usually have a better concept of and sensitivity to what really happen in history than the average person. Of course, having never been accused of being politically correct about anything - I may sure I am missing something somewhere! I really enjoyed Howard Whitehouse's article on pulp fiction gaming. It is a wonderful piece of creative design and clearly demonstrates the 'impromptu theater' aspect of wargaming that I refer to in my article. I am envious of Howard's skills at doing this!! For your information, Don F. is coming along quite well and seems to be making a strong comeback from his heart attack. I doubt that he will be coming back across the pond to visit us, so I guess we will have to go there and visit him - ain't all bad!!
From "MH"
Just a quick comment on the Nov/Dec. editorial/articles on whether it is OK with the politically correct if we wargame or not. It is just a hobby and most of us enjoy it for that, no hidden agendas or racial biases. That some are scandalized by it, well, too bad. There are a lot of things I don't approve of in this country also but that's the way it goes. I could write a long impassioned defense of our hobby and the many wonderful people I've met through my long years of association in it, but hey! I'd be preaching to the choir anyhow and those whose mindsets are horrified by playing with toy soldiers wouldn't be convinced anyway. Sam Mustafa did a good job in his article. I always enjoy his stuff. Nuff said. Now onto wargaming stuff. Since late spring of 2002 most of my painting and planning in the hobby has gone into Mark Copplestone's Back of Beyond 28mm range of figures. They are beautifully done with loads of variety and real personality to the figs. The time period and location is so cool too. As of December 2002, he has come out with Russian Bolshevik troops including some really cool commissars, Chinese warlord troops with their own great officer pack, adventurers, or as some call them, archeologists with guns. One fig looks just like the main actor in The Mummy, another is the young Indiana Jones, etc. The plans are to come out with more Russians, Chinese, etc including the Mad Baron's army of 1920-21. That White Russian renegade, Baron UngernSternberg, considered himself the reincarnation of Genghis Khan and after conquering Mongolia with a small ragged army of all sorts of nationalities, planned on retaking Soviet Russia. Eventual plans are to include Basmachis, Afghans, British Empire troops, all sorts of Russians, Tibetans, Japanese, more Chinese warlord troops, Mongols, etc, etc. The only part I don't like about (and that's my bias) is the next release will include Yetis. I don't wish to buy any Yetis. Perhaps part of my disappointment is his magazine advertisements trumpeted the next release would include Chinese "Dare to Die" assault troops and they instead now have been replaced by Yetis. Sigh. These guys are so detailed and fun to paint up. My best friend has long been on the standing order for Darkest Africa which started when Copplestone worked for the Foundry. Being 28mm and so exquisite I am taking my time and doing the best paint jobs I can with them. I am also working on homemade skirmish style rules for battles in that era, I don't want them too detailed though as my plans eventually hope to throw out a few hundred figs individually mounted onto the table at any one time. Copplestone himself recommends the use of Chris Peer's Contemptible Little Armies rules. I have the first edition and while they are quite good, I prefer to use something of my own. To me the shooting is way too good and when our local group played the rules none of us liked the very very short ranges. We are talking something in the neighborhood of 12" range for rifles with 28mm figs. It might be workable but to me and others it looks just wrong! Chris Peers also wrote up a neat little campaign system for this range in Wargames Illustrated, he is a fun author to read and I enjoy all his stuff. Only drawback is at the slow rate Copplestone is releasing the figures, it will literally be years before those who want to do the campaign will be able to purchase all the necessary figures. Switching subjects suddenly, those fans of samurai warfare who are familiar with prolific author Stephen Turnbull should really pick up his latest book, just out this summer. I bought it on Amazon.com. Its the Samurai Invasion of Korea in 1592, a most fascinating and hard fought war. Our local group did a campaign on that subject some years back. It fell apart for other reasons but the armies and the whole war are interesting. Official title of the book is SAMURAI INVASION. Finally I would like to close with a compliment for William Haggart, who wrote those articles on the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49. Nice job! If I didn't have so many projects already, I'd be tempted to do that one too. I love obscure wars! And yes, I would love to read scenarios, battle reports, whatever else you got on the war, William! When I finally start fighting some battles with my Back of Beyond collection, I will try and send in a few articles on it. I do as of now plan on running a game for Aprils Little Wars convention in Illinois. Hope maybe some MWANers might play! Editor's Note. I very much appreciate the number of MWANers who took the time to read and think about Sam's thought provoking article and my ineffective editorial regarding the subject, Some very good thoughts, in my opinion, have been expressed on the subject, thank you for sharing them with us!
From Chris Roberts
In MWAN #108, you printed the rules call "Privateers" by Orv Banasik. I was in correspondence with him and got some rules clarifications if you are interested. I am also looking forward to trying out these rules with my Junior High School Miniatures Club.
(Editor's Note: Would like to receive them, Chris. Let us know how it goes with your club)
From Terry Pilling
Sorry for delay in getting Custer's Luck to you; my wife had it saved on the disc for the PC and it had been misplaced!! I've played it a few times at my local club (Barnsley Association of Wargamers) with a player per cavalry company and the rest taking control of the Indians as they appear - everyone involved enjoyed the games, though in both games, Custer didn't have much of "Custer's Luck"!! Thanks for all the rulesets - the Northwest Frontier one in particular as I have just got a job lot of Foundry NWF figures that are currently out of production - at a recent show, Partizan in Newark (not far from the Foundry home of Nottingham). Word was around that the out of production ranges will be starting back up by the end of 2002 - Crimean War has started to come out, then the Colonial stuff (The Indian Mutiny range first, then the rest). Let's hope this time it's true!!
(Editors Note: The Foundry Website announces both the Crimean War and English Civil War 25mm ranges are now available, but only by telephone. Thanks for the rules, Terry hope you can use the NWF rules They were written sometime ago and not played with very often so I am sure there are lot of things which require changing! Let me know what you do with them)
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