GAMES, CRAFTS. HOBBIES & STUFF - 9220 Lackland Road, Overland, Missouri, 63114: Kevin Fitzgerald, several months ago sent me a copy of THE BOOK OF MARS, published by FASA. I took it to be a science fiction/role playing type publication and since I was pressed for time, wondered why the hell he had sent me it and relagated it to my MWAN drawer. I looked it up again a while back, intending to send it back to him with a letter stating the fact that I prefer to review only historical wargaming items, however, I took a quick look through it and lucky that I did! Kevin did indeed know what he was doing. THE BOOK OF MARS is written by David Tennes and is a 77 page volume purporting to be "an extensive reference source of military technology and combat technique ranging from the archaic past to the near future. In itself, THE BOOK OF MARS may be applied as basic rules for miniature wargaming capable of recreating any small scale infantry scenario whether historical or hypothetical". I would have to agree fairly much with this - it provides detailed information regarding nonedged weapons, edged, polearms, pistols, carbines, rifles, shotguns, machine guns, submachine guns, etc., concerning a wide range of factors (i.e. load time, magazines, chance for misfire, ranges, etc). Just for an example, there are 11 types of smoothbore flintlocks listed! At a charge of $2.00 for the book, I suspect many wargamers may want this book just for a reference when writing rules.
Kevin was also kind enough to include six different types of dice, all transparent, I believe. They included an average die, 20-sider, 12-sider, 4-sider, 10-sider, and 8-sider. They are marked with white ink and I think they are .50 cents each - thirty cents each for opaque dice. Look good to me.
FRONTIER MINIATURES - 7343 Branding Iron, Canutilli, TX 79835: Atley Turner, who has turned Frontier into a real leader in the hobby, has published Larry Brom's CHASSEPOT & NEEDLEGUN Franco-Prussian rules. It consists of 16 pages of simple, straight-forward rules and a seven page painting guide, much the same set-up as for Larry's very well-received THE SWORD AND THE FLAME rules set. These are tactical rules with the basic unit being the battalion for infantry, the regiment for artillery and one gun equals two real guns. The rules are exceedingly well organized and Larry provides information for putting together a division of both French and Prussian forces, something I found of interest/assistance. One model soldier equals 40 real men in this game. I really enjoyed these rules and must admit that upon reading them, I looked through FRONTIER's fine range of Franco-Prussian figures and thought about starting up another period, something I really don't have time for, but it was great fun to think of! The movement chart, as in TSATF, is entirely based upon throwing dice to determine movement. There is also an interesting command response system and the idea of card movement (a unit is not moved till it's card is drawn) is utilized. Most worthwhile set of rules!
Frontier has also released a very nice 25mm ACW line which they enclosed samples for. Thus far, there are three Union infantry, three confederate infantry, as well as command stands and color guards for both sides. There are two each Union and Confederate cavalry (4 for $5.50) and a cavalry command stand for each. Infantry are 8 for $5.50 and infantry command/color guards are 6 for $4.00. The figures are well done. Detail is excellent and size-wise, they would fit in well with Minifigs and the new RAFM figures, I believe. I especially like the Union infantryman firing as he is standing with his head way back to obtain a better aim.
Also included for review were 25mn China 1920's figures which I found quite interesting. It appears as though there are five U.S. Naval fqrces - three sailors (rifle advancing, attacking and firing B.A.R., all with trench helmets, and a naval officer w/trench helmet & pistol as well as a sailor with springfield rifle. The Chinese figures consist of three students (rifle, leader, sword) and two army regulars (advancing & attacking). Prices are 8 for $4.99. These again, are fine figures and I would think it would be a most interesting period, especially for Colonial gamers doing a sort of Sand Pebbles scenario. One would not need many figures I would assume. OF DICE AND MEN provided Rodger's Rangers in 25mm from Frontier for the FrenchIndian War which are nicely done - they are advancing with musket (8 for $5.50) although they also offer them firing. They also have Iroquois, Mohawks, Frontiersman, French infantry, French trapper, British infantry and assorted other Indians. These figures fit in well with RAFM's Flint & Feather line. Frontier also announces that their 15mm American Revolution War figures are available (20 foot for $4.00) and this is a quite extensive line covering Americans, Hessians, British, French & Indians as well as guns. Send $3.00 to Frontier for their new catalog.
SAVAGE & SOLDIER - Lynn Bodin, 23902 SE 42nd St. Issaquah, Washington, 98027: George Grove, a new subscriber to MWAN, kindly sent me the 5th Edition of IMPERIALISM: Victorian Era Wargame Rules by Lynn Bodin. These rules are intended for 20/25mn figures although modifications can be made for 15mn. There is an interesting system for determining if a unit being charged can fire off a full volley or not, rules for rockets, and rules for gunboats as well as the standard type of things one finds in rules sets. There is also a good looking system for command control. Lynn also lists figure manufacturers for this interesting period. The rules are $6.00. Seems as though they would give a good game.
KNIGHT DESIGN - 95 Tyrrell Avenue, Welling, Kent, DA16 2BT, England: Ned Zuparko sent me a copy of American Civil War rules to be used with 2mn or 6mn figures. This set is written by Cliff Knight and Peter Dennis in association with George Jeffrey and it should be mentioned that our own Howard Whitehouse was listed in the credits for assistance rendered as regards the combat value system. This is a simple, basic, only 16 pages long rule set, according to Ned which utilizes George Jeffrey's VLB system. Ned reports they will sell for about one pound and he feels that the rules can be converted for figures of 15/25mn. In these rules, the smallest command group is the brigade and the groundscale is 22cm to the mile so very large battles can be played using the 2mn and 6mn figures. This works out to 1nm 8 yards. In 6mm, 1mm = four yards. The rules are simply written and give a number of examples.
ULSTER IMPORTS LTD - Box 1748, Champaign, Illinois, 61820: Ulster Imports is now importing Frei Korps 15 and Platoon 20 figures into the U.S. and they supplied me with a large number of 15mn Frei Korps figures. Included for review were the following for the American Indian Wars:
IW1- American Indians mounted (5): all different poses, 2 with lances, one w/rifle, 1 /club and one w/tomahawk.
IW2- American Indians on foot (10): five different poses (kneeling firing, standing firing, lance/shield (4), and tomahawk/shield.
IW3- American Cavalry mounted (5)s all different poses, one in kepi, rest in slouch hats (I believe that's what they are called). IW3A- American Cavalry mounted (5): all different poses, all in slouch hat. IW4- American Cavalry Command mounted (3): Officer, standard bearer, bugler.
IW4A- American Cavalry command dismounted/casualties (5): Officer, bugler, std bearer, as well as horse casualty figure and cavalryman casualty. IW5- American Cavalry dismounted (10): all different poses, kneeling firing, kneeling loading, advancing, standing firing/loading, etc. IW6-Frontiersmen (3 mtd, 3 dismtd): Appears as though there is one dismtd figure for each mounted.
I find these figures most attractive - great detail, animation is very good, they seem to have character, and tons of variety as regards poses (13 different Cavalry mounted!). It appears to me as though these figures are not as brittle as the early Frei Korps 15 figures were (increased tin content allows more detail but makes the figure more brittle). I might add that I can not remember the last time figures were imported from England by an American company and no increase in price was made! These figures are $1.00 for a command pack and all other packs are $2.00 for 10 infantry or five cavalry.
Also included were a number of 15mm ACW guns including whitworth, requa, mountain rifle, gatling, brooke, James, Armstrong, Williams, and Confederate Napoleon. The guns range in price from .50 (machine guns) to $2.50 although most, I believe are $1.00. Very well done indeed!
For the 15mm Ancients gamer, Frei Korp has Gauls & Germans of which Ulster Imports included a large bag of assorted figures from this range. They are all very nice, again with good detail, animation, character, etc. I've always liked to field wargames armies where you had a wide variety of poses available and one would have no difficulty doing this with this line of figures. One would be hard pressed to find better quality figures and the prices are quite low, in my opinion! One could do the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 15mm with these figures alone! Ulster Imports also carries a line of 15/20mm, though some could pass for 25mm, terrain features made of plastic and vacuum formed. Number 122 is a gun emplacement; #121 straight pieces of log fortifications with dirt thrown up in front of them; #113 is a log emplacement; #110, I believe is a stream (straight) or river section; and #108 is a stream/river straight section with a trail along one side (Vietnam gaming?). Don't know prices but I suspect they are quite reasonable! Good stuff!
FALCON MINIATURES Suite 102, 1 High Street, Medford, Mass. 02155: Falcon has released their 15mm Franco-Prussian War line and sent some samples for review to MWAN. The Prussians include four infantry poses (advancing, on guard, charging, & overcoat) plus command group, Jaeger/Landwehr (firing/advancing), Wurtemburger, three Bavarians (advancing, charging & greatcoat), artillery crews, four cavalry (cuirassier, dragoon, ulan and hussar), general, two guns (#4 & #6) and a limber. The French include three infantry (advancing, on guard, charging) plus command, Chasseur a Pied, Garde Mobile, Zouave, Sailor, Imperial Guard, artillery crews, five cavalry (cuirassier, dragoon, lancer, chasseur a cheval and hussar), Chasseur d'Afrique, Spahi, field gun, mitrailleuse, and limber set. Twenty foot or eight cavalry are $4.00 as are four guns. Included for review were all the Prussian cavalry and two horses as well as a number of foot. The figures are nice detailed, detail is good, proportions seem very good, animation is fine, and they contain very little flash. I like these 15mn figures very much and I think they would paint up well! Like to hear from gamers who game in this period.
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© Copyright 1986 Hal Thinglum
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