From Jon Michal, Chicago, IL: Very glad I took a chance and subscribed to your fine publication. MAN has been needed for a long time and I really enjoy and look forward to receiving it. I've been out of gaming for about three years, but MAN rekindled the fires again, and I've dusted off my armies. Keep up the good work, I can appreciate the amount of time it takes, as our club used to publish a monthly magazine, and it really tied up the time. Attended LITTLE WARS and really enjoyed it. Played in fellow MWANer Greg Novak's Herero game and Greg Principato's BritishEgyptian battle and both gentlemen did a great job. Both were worth playing!!!!!!!
From Paul Badal, Chicago, IL: About your editorial on if you should try a convention with D&Der's (Editor's note: I think Paul is referring to including D&D'er's in our local group's games), I think you should because first of all you would make more money for the next convention 6 second you'll have a bigger turn out. The problem is that the older men don't wait to spend the few minutes to explain the rules while the D&Der's are playing and so the kids don't understand. I don't get anywhere. I myself know friends that used to be D&Der's; I brought them to a convention and they tried playing some miniatures, but they didn't understand the rules. They saw me walking around and asked me to help them with the rules, even though I wasn't playing, I did 6 then they understood and one of them even took first place. So what it boils down to is explaining the scenario and rules and then you'll have an OK player.
(Editor's note; We should pay more attention to Paul's contention about convention games 6 rules!)
From George Grove, Northbrook, IL: A very good interview with one of the few big names in both parts of the historical gaming hobby (Frank Chadwick). Hal, as you know, I am a newcomer to miniature wargaming after a 20 year absence which was spent playing and collecting military board games, an Avalon Hill baby. Because of my long association with board games I could follow Frank's thought and reasoning concerning our hobby. It was my strong interest in history, in particular military history, that got me started. I agree with Frank on there being no real big differences between board games and miniature games. Although for years it did seem as though the two groups tried to foster a difference bordering on disdain for each other. Like Frank, I would say that at least 50% or more of the miniature gamers started out with board games or play them now. Here is where I believe most new miniature gamers in the future will come from. Actually I think it would be easier to convert a board gamer to miniatures rather than vice versa. Frank's idea on more universally accepted or more widely played rules, particularly on the basic lower complexity side would be a great help to the hobby. The TSATF rules have probably come closer to this goal than any other. Widely accepted rules would allow all gamers to start on a more common ground and get more players playing together without having to learn a new system everytime. Boardgamers do this with standard rules, for a series of games with only special rules added to deal with different elements or factors concerning each individual battle (i.e. SPI's and TSR's Great Battle of Civil War series).
From Gerald Leenheer, Chicago, IL: First, I'd like to thank Ken Bunger 6 John Butler for their response to my question regarding CAMPAIGNS. I am finally sending you a SEGC4 2Smm plastic Napoleonic figure which I had promised - The figure is an Austrian which I tried painting as a Wurtemberg Guard - all the SEGOM infantry come in the same basic pose except the British rifles which are firing from a standing position - you can get an idea of the detail 6 size. (Editor's Note: Thanks for sending the figure. It is quite well done as regards detail. Is it still possible to pick them up?).
From Kevin Fitzpatrick of Overland, M0 I still say in regard to a name change MWAN is fine. You've established that name with 22 issues of publication, why change a good thing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We will be happy to cooperate with HMGS in the acquring of names for the directory, I'll post a sign in the store, soliciting names 6 addresses for the project. When we fill a couple of sheets, I'll forward it to you, so you can pass it on. Interview with Frank Chadwick, enjoyed the whole article. He made several valid business points, One that GDW, a "major" game company has only 20 employees. It points out how small all of our respective companies are. The second point however I disagree with Frank on is his comments on marketing 6 informational support by the 'metal' companies (pg 17). True, metal companies are small and strapped by tight budgets but how hard is it to writ up a one-sheet release plan for the next six months and forward that to some 20-25 distributors so they can forward it to the retailers and then to the buying public. I don't think its all that difficult to do twice a year and wouldn't cost over $10.00 total. Napoleonic skirmish rules (pg 40) - that's my kinda rules - 1 page, no looking for charts or rules - love'em. Letters (pg 43) Tom Field - concerning prizes for convention games. Something we tried and seemed to work out well at WAR CON in Fairview Heights, Il.last October was to run one tournament based on a point system for prize determination and then hand out attendance prizes at the six introductory games we sponsored. Attendence prize winners were choosen by drawing the participant's convention badge out of a hat (watch for the pins on those badges!). The attendence prizes were small - a pack of figures/set of dice, but it was a nice touch. Think HMGS has made an excellent decision to attend GENCON this year and next. I'm happy to see the beginnings of the end to this rift in the hobby. Sci-fi, fantasy, computer, boardgame, historical, we are all gamers, 'bout time we started to work together on making the hobby better 6 bigger.
From Ronald Telucky, Las Vegas, NV: I would like to make a few comments about several of the articles appearing in MWAN, Vol. 4, $5. Your opening editorial, Rich Borg's Winter Fantasy Con, Greg Novak's Culture Shock, Kevin Fitzpatrick's Rookie Gaming Classes, and finally your interview with Greg Novak, all acknowledge a very important issue of what can be done to increase others interest in our hobby. The number of articles alone indicate that this issue is a recognized priority. It it is not at the top of the list of wargamer concerns then it should be made so. Not to minimize anyone elses interests, for I do find on occasion some articles dealing with "Why I play wargames" interesting, but I would have to put it along with the long running controversy of "playability vs reality" way down at the bottom of the list. When it comes right down to it, I don't really need to rationalize why I play wargames, or who really cares if the game was simple to the point or if it took several hours of study and preparation to carry it off. The bottom lime is: DID YOU have a chance to participate in a game tonight, during this last week, sometime during the month, schedule permitting of course? Even if you didn't have the time, was there a game going on? Were there enough players in the area to set up a game and play at it? It really doesn't matter if YOU didn't find the game of particular interest, or YOUR house rules were not used, or not everyone there is of YOUR liked-mind, social background, age, or whatever REAL excuse you would like to use for not being there to push your own units around. The bottom line is simply NUMBERS. We really do need to organize, bring together, ad to, accommodate, sacrifice our time to bring up those numbers. I'm sitting home writing a letter to Hal Thinglum, I would rather be wargaming (Editor's Note: My mother would rather be writing a letter to me).
I think you have all seenthose bumper stickers, I'd rather be fishing, well, I'd rather be wargaming. Now I must admit I'm envious of your situation, Hal. So many games to choose from, so many gamers of like interests to meet and talk to. The midwest and east coast along with Southern California all seem to be meccas of wargaming. I can think of several other areas too, every place but Las Vegas. Now the Las Vegas wargaming community has its problems, but I would rather not go into them right now. Other than to say there is a need to organize, bring gamers together, overcome individual differences, and find that new blood. What we could use in Vegas is some leadership, a small group willing to introduce and promote the hobby. Try to cultivate that new blood and circulate the old into some semblance of an active gaming community, which holds all interests of the hobby important. Miniatures, boardgaming, role playing, computers, historical research, or whatever is your thing - all need to be encouraged not only here in Las Vegas but wheresoever there is a lone gamer looking for a game. Hal, you made an editor's note in Kevin's article on Rookie gaming classes, where you stated that you would like to teach a historical miniature wargaming class at the local school district's adult education program. I would like to do something like that too. That could be the first steps to bringing wargaming civilization to Vegas. Would you be interested in correlating an education program that would be acceptable to both our school districts? For that matter, one that should find no problem being taught nationally? I would like to put together a course that would have instructional goals of bringing gamers in the long run together. The contents of the class would have to tie into a cross area of different cirriculums, cover various teaching strategies, and possibly introduce teachers and other interested parties to simulation gaming. Maybe others would be interested in becoming involved in putting this program together. I'm sure there are other teacher/wargamers out there. How about a package that could be taught as a one to three credit course. Hope you find this letter of interest, if nothing else it might get a few off their soft easy chairs and out looking for new blood. (Editor's Note: Ron's letter brings up a number of interesting points, ones that I, as well as many other people I know, have been thinking of for a long time and I feel we are really making some progress in this area. Attracting newcomers is an important issue for our hobby, as it is for all hobbies. It is something that each and every wargamer can do to one degree or another. Not all of us so firmly believe in the 'cause' so as to go out and publish newsletters, host games at fantasy conventions, etc. However, each of us would welcome someone who expresses an interest in learning more about the hobby and in that way, we can all do our part. For the men on horseback, as Bill Protz likes to refer to them, I think Ronald's idea holds some promise, though I myself would set the sights a little lower and closer to what could be accomplished by a single person teaching an adult education course on wargaming with miniatures as opposed to a national program which could be taught by any number of people. This is not to say that a number of interested wargamers (we do have lots of teachers in our midst) shouldn't work together on the project, or at least make the results available to others (perhaps through the pages of MWAN?). Ronald stated that he envied our local group for the number of activities/games we are involved in - well, at one time we were two small groups of less than four people each, who did not get along all of the time. Someone has to be interested in enough to do the work behind getting small groups/individuals together and not only urging others to overlook personal differences but to overlook them yourself as much as possible and to work on them slowly and intelligently via group consensus, not one person's view of how things should be. I will be glad to assist with such a project as Ronald suggests though I feel it should be of a smaller scope and I urge others to contact him if they are interested. I might add that I am exceedingly pleased to see such issues being identified through the pages of MWAN and to have something come of them. If MWAN accomplishes that, it is a lot more worthwhile than I ever envisioned it to be.
From Orv Banisik, Marion, Iowa: Nice to met you at LITTLE WARS. I'm working on an article on 1/500 ships and will do some scenary articles after our Borodino game. Also plan some articles on how to build glass display cases. May-June issue was great as usual. Really enjoy the interviews with different wargame personalities. Would like to see an interview with some figure sculptors (Editor's Note: I'll bet I've had ten people request that and I'll work on it). Enjoyed article on "reducing costs on large armies". One of my favorite areas of wargaming is home casting and sculpturing (Editor's Note: How about an article on that, Orv?). A couple of hints to reduce cost further. I use a Hamilton-Beach single plate electric burner (about $12 at K-Mart) which puts out the correct amount of heat without overheating the lead. If I'm correct, lead only gives off dangerous fumes when boiled.
From HELPFUL HINTS FOR CASTING AND PAINTING MINIATURE FIGURES FROM METAL AND RUBBER MOLDS: "A word about using lead and the possibility of lead poisoning. Lead Poisoning can occur in the following two ways: (1) From exposure to lead fumes produced by super-heating the metal to over 1200 F. At this point harmful fumes will vaporize and should not be inhaled for long periods of time (tests of people exposed to these conditions for periods of six months or more have shown a build up of lead in their blood). (2) By ingesting the lead oxides which are present in paints containing lead. Neither of these conditions are present or occur during the normal use or practice of casting miniature figures. The effects of lead poisoning are headaches, stomach cramps, and brain damage to children who have been eating lead oxide paints for long periods of time." Best type of lead to use is linotype (90 cents/pound) mixed with flash savings or old figures. Gives excellent detail. A source of superior quality lead, molds (mostly 54mm-skirmish gaming) and supplies is Casting PO Box 3482, Longwood, FL. 32750 1-305-869-6565.
Articles on getting new gamers started were also good, We restrict our gamers to 17 or older. We figure some will lie about ages 15-16 but don't wish to end up as a baby sitter for some parents. We also use a three game rule to help new players. This allows a new player to have three games in each period played in which he may discuss rules, tactics, etc., with any player during the game. This helps prevent "dumb" mistakes which can be very frustrating to a new gamer. An opposing player when playing a three game rule player acts as if he was playing himself. We also try and keep some extra figures (cleaned and primed) which we give to a new player to get started if he is interested in building some units. This helps them come in and get started right away without waiting for an order to come in.
Another area that helps new gamers is to use less complicated rules. Nothing turns off a new gamer than to drop a Chicago size yellow page rule book on him and tell him it won't be long till you know all the rules! The rookie gaming classes article was also good.. An idea that might be tried is to start a Juniors Program in which the Senior gamers would put on a game once a month for gamers 12-17. A good way to train new and younger gamers. An HMGS project that you might want to consider to help bring in new gamers is that of a poster in a local hobby store. An 'offical' historical gaming poster with a spot to write in the local contact's name and phone number might put forth a more professional image of the hobby. The poster could also have a picture of a game in progress. The project could be paid for by selling the poster to different gaming groups around the country.
(Editor's Note: I liked Orv's last idea and asked him to work on this for HMGS-MIDWEST and he agreed to do so. Look for this some time in the future!).
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© Copyright 1986 Hal Thinglum
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