The distinguished looking figure now decorating this column is none other than your editor -- who although he only attained the rank of E-5 in two years in the army, can, through the make-believe world of wargaming, become the very model of a modern Major General, or something like that. The new column headings you see in this issue, and those added in future issues, are the work of Joseph Matthews, who also is an illustrator for THE COURIER. His drawings, along with those of Tom Reed who also submits illustrations to MWAN, certainly have improved the visual aspect of this publication and I would like to express my appreciation to them for their fine work!
I find my self completely our of homegrown rules sets to publish within these pages and would like to encourage readers to consider submitting such rules for publication. It seems to me as though there has had been a much greater acceptance of home-grown rules systems within the hobby the last few years than I recall previously and many readers have written to me stating that they greatly enjoy the inclusion of unpublished rules. Speaking for myself, I always study each rules system that I run across, thinking that there may be something within them that I can steal or modify to my own needs in writing my own rules. I am sure others feel the same.
Once again, please be aware that I have moved (22554 Pleasant Drive, Richton Park, Illinois, 60471) to a new address. If you have written to me lately, using my old address, and have not received a reply, it is possible that your mail has not been forwarded to me as of yet.
I am sure you have noted the increase in number of advertisers in MWAN as well as the increased length of the publication (72 pages for November-December). Regular issues, as of late, have attained lengths of special issues in the past and I intend to maintain the length somewhere around what it has been lately. This is possible only because of the advertisers as subscriptions alone pay just a portion of MWAN's printing and mailing costs. So -- please mention MWAN when writing to advertisers -- their support, as well as yours, is critical in allowing me to expand MWAN from the original twenty pages five years ago to what you now see before you.
Because of the extra income from advertisers, as well as the increased number of subscribers, I am considering some other improvements in MWAN to make it a better publication in the future. Thus far, I have not experienced a shortage of articles to fill up 72 or so pages, however, I can always use more submissions. Having a variety of articles on hand allows me to provide a better mix of articles within each individual issue. I will again remind readers that virtually anything concerned with historical wargaming with miniatures is acceptable for publication within MAN and that no one is concerned about writing style, grammar, etc. I do request that writers refrain from personal attacks on others or other's opinions expressed in MWAN.
During the last several months, I have had a number of conversations with both figure companies representatives and wargamers regarding what appears to be the increasing number of conventions in the midwest. One person reported to me that he has attended a total of 18 (!) conventions in 1986. I can easily think of a dozen fairly large wargaming conventions during 1986 and I am sure there have been a number of smaller ones that escaped my memory. I am aware of one convention which will not be around in the future due to poor attendance. Others who run conventions have reported they had either difficulty in attracting judges or gamers who were interested in playing in the historical games.
Representatives from some figure companies have stated they can not afford to attend every convention and some have reported they are making less money at conventions than they used to, possibly due to fewer attendees or gamers have less money to spend at individual conventions. I know that I have had to drastically limit the number of conventions that I attend each year and know many others who feel the same way.
On the surface, it may appear as though the more conventions there are, the better, as it is exposing the hobby to more individuals and giving the chance to game more frequently. However, if conventions start losing money, or if figure companies lose too much money and stop supporting some conventions (resulting in the convention having less money `hey can count on), we may have a problem. Personally, I see the situation resolving itself in that eventually, those conventions not receiving nroper support, whether for good or bad reasons, are going to cease functioning. The problem that I would not like to see, if this were to be the case, is that those people involved in running those conventions may (1) lose money due to it, and/or (2) be disillusioned by the outcome. I'd appreciate any reader responses on this issue.
MWAN COLONIAL SPECLAL
Please don't forget that the next issue of MWAN will he the special issue on Colonials including the French-Indian War and any other war that could possibly he included under Colonials. Please have these articles to me by January 15th, 1987. If they could he typed, single spaced, with one inch margins, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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© Copyright 1986 Hal Thinglum
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