THE ZOUAVE - Fall 88, quarterly $14 - 605 Sadie Ave, Metairie, La 70003 - This is my first issue of Zouave and I was much impressed by the professionalism, the content, and the printing quality. The editors call their work a "labor of love" and it is obvious. The magazine consisted of 28 typewritten 8x11 pages with advertising, several maps and other illustrations to compliment the articles. Of major note was a section on Confederate battle flags from regimental to company level with promises of more in future issue#. Very useful. Another great work was a history of the Louisiana Tigers by Ryan Toews, who also supplied a gaming scenario for a little touched on Federal invasion of Florida in 1864. Also included was a bloody little descriptive piece on the Tigers in battle at Port Republic, a review of Dennis and Knight's 2-6mm ACW rules, a section on available used ACW books, and-more. Good job, editors Brian and Clayl EMPIRES, EAGLES, & LIONS - bi-monthly, $3.75 an issue, $18.00 sub - Refs Co, 19 Concession St., Cambridge, Ontario, Canada NIR 2G6 - Another first issue for me, and while Napoleonice are not one of my interests, one has to be impressed at the amount of material presented fa its 60 pages. The magazine has a MWAN style format and covers the Napoleonic period with a special section for the War of 1812. Included are product reviews and hobby news on items pertaining to the theme, gaming scenarios, uniform and flag information, a naval section, and more. I especially liked George Nafziger's article on 19th century Fortification Terminology, a well-detailed work defining those terms like bastion and casemate, which you've always read about but nobody bothered to explain before. Nothing superficial about this magazine, the in-depth research and hard work is obvious. If you like Napoleonics, you should be reading this. HELIOGRAPH - Milton Soong, 6580 Prague Ct, San Jose, Ca 95119 - 153, Oct 88, $5 for 10 issues - This issue Mr. Soong outdoes himself. First off there are uniforms for the Imperial Army of the Regular Chinese Forces during the Boxer Rebellion. Covered are enlisted and officer's coats, as well as a Tigerman jacket. These are very nice plates with lots of up-close detailing for those with wee paintbrushes. Next is a detailed article on the casualty system rules for Science vs. Pluck, by MWANer Howard Whitehouse. Howard presents his reasoning behind the system in his usual entertaining, clearly understood, (usually tongue-in-cheek!) manner. Indeed, if everyone wrote for the hobby like Howard, a much more enjoyable experience reading would be. There's also an informative article by Mark Keigwin on Germans in Southwest Africa during the early part of the 20th century. Much little known info on a little known period. Helio also has a gaming scenario, several book reviews, and ads from Wargames Foundry Crimean War range, complete with illustrations, which was a nice touch. Good issue, Milton! CANADIAN WARGAMER'S JOURNAL - #13, Oct/Nov 88 sub is 6 issues, $10.50 (US) - Canadian Wargamer'a Grouo, 207 Bernard Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta CA T3K - At last, something from our Canadian cousins! This periodical is similar to MWAN in size and format. It has less pages, but excellent graphics with an excellent printer. Its very boardgames oriented, with encouragement given to rqle-play and play-by-mail (PBM) games. There's a historical article on Canada in the WWII Sicily campaign, plus a western gunfight solo game that was more fun than some of the solo games in professional glossies. 'there's hobby news, games reviews, a report on Origins 88, ads from Canadian dealers, and a classified section stressing gamers seeking other gamers, which seems a good service. Useful stuff for boardgamers on either side of the border. THE MAGAZINE FOR WARGAMERS - #30, 5.40 for 6 issues - A.J. Dumelow, 70 Ferry St. Stapenhill, Burton-on-Treat, Staffordshire - This month features an article summarizing the recent Libyan-Chad border conflict, which is good stuff, and another article on Stone Age Warfare in the Pacific, this time on Easter Island. Another interesting article is the editor's Long and Winding Road, concerning thoughts for factors affecting armies on forced marches and how to apply these' to a set of rules. Other articles, hobby news, letters pages and more make this magazine good value for the money. HASA JOURNAL - #6 Oct 88 - Heart of America Society of Ancient* $20 includes 6 issues plus membership 1900 S. Lindenwood Dr, Olathe, Kansas 66062 - This Midwest club has released a special Con-Quest issue, commemorating their area convention of the same name held in Kansas City. From the looks of the journal the quality level of gaming was high and diversified. Many were described as visually appealing with a lot of hard work going Anto troops, terrain, and buildings. The journal itself shows a lot of hard work. Its 18 8x11 pages long with computer print and an average of two photos a page. The photo reproduction stands out and was over and above what's normally expected from photo-copy paper. You could make out facial features, and details on shots of games, even being able to tell what the troops were! To sum it up, the pictures stood the ultimate test when a photo of Johnston Hood of Wargames Inc. actually looked like Johnston Hood. Good job NASA editor, Mike Cook.  THE NUGGET- Journal of Wargames Developments, #46, 4712 for 6 issues - Bob Cordery, 84 Eglinton Hill, PlLumatead, London SEI8 3DY - Contributors outdid themselves these two issues. Included in 46 were three games with rules and background. The first was a game by Howard Whitehouse described earlier in MWAN, Voorlooper, or the Zulu War ox wagon simulator. Next was Courtroom Chaos, a committee RP game set in Northern Ireland Involving a British soldier's decision of what ro do with a bump thrown in a crowded courtroom. 'Dardenellea' is a map game concerning British submarine action in those straits during late 1914. #47 contains moony discussions on COW, the annual WD meet, most of them of a "here we are, where do we go from here" nature. There's also another committee RP game, this one about liet Nam, plus notes on a Napoleonic workshop. GENERAL - Vol 24, #6, $4 per issue - The house magazine for Avalon Hill boardgames focuses on a WWII Mediterranean theme this issue, with Thunder at Casino, Assault on Italy, thoughts on a Mediterranean campaign, and reflection& on the popular game, Squad Leader. PW_REVIEW - Oct 6 Nov 88 - Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20906 - Two issues are here for review; Oct, which Includes ACW rules and a ACW gaming scenario, plus a short article by someone named Don Featherstone about points on personal gaming procedures. In Mr. Simon's Oct. editorial he promises to vacation in Britain, eventually returning to record his memoirs of his adventures abroad. In the Nov. issue he does, to fact, do so, and such adventures indeed! "Paddy Griffith picked me up... drove to Don Featherstone's.., Gamed at Peter Dennis..." It sounds like a wargamer's fantasy of "when I died and went to Valhalla, they gave me everything I asked for, just like I knew it would be." I was waiting for Mr. Simon to say, "...and then Dr. Griffith asked me what soldiers we should use for the next game." Truthfully, Mr. Simon had what sounds like the ultimate in wargaming holidays, and it was interesting to see through his report what level and what kind of games the regular known contributors to hobby periodicals play. A good report made more entertaining by Mr. Simon's dry writing style, which I rave about every review, 'cause he makes me laugh. EL DORADO - T.D. Hooker, 27 Hellgate, Cottingham, North Humberside, HU16 4DN, in-gland - 6 issues f l-50, Vol 1 14, Nov/Dec 88 - Mr. Hooker offers three articles this issue and the start of a useful service, a sales and wanted section for used books pertaining to central and South America. This ought to be a big help in this area of hard to find research material. The articles cover uniforms and equipment of the. Mexican Army 1865 (Spanish text) uniform plates and color descriptions for the Chilean Army during the Pacific War 1879-84, and warrior dress and color descriptions for Aztecs, always useful for those with growing Aztec armies. LONE WAKRIOR - Sept/Oct 88, Journal of the Solo Wargamer's Association bL-monthly, subs f12.50, Ian McDowell, 50, Stonefield, Bar Hill, Cambridge CB3 STB - I've always wanted to see this magazine and wasn't disappointed by first impressions. LW is 30 8x1.2 computer print pages with figure reviews, hobby information, and the usual variety of wargaming scenarios, geared to the solo wargamer. One interesting touch mentioned in a Romans vs. Gauls article suggests the use of Tarot cards instead of a regular deck. Like the man said, "what sounds better, hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades, or Cups, Wands, Pentacles and Swords?" Also, the deck is larger. Other articles include forage and fodder considerations in the Horse and Musket era, ideas for generating independent enemy moves, and artillery fire in the Franco-Prussian War. THE COURIER - PO Box 1863, Williamsville, NY 14231 bi-monthly, $13 - For the most part, this periodical is a giant classified section for the Civil War era with an occasional article, this month's covering the Union general Wadsworth. This is not to discount it however, for much useful info is sown throughout the pages. For instance, there's some great books advertised, like the one on Flags of the Confederacy or Battle Flags of the State of Pennsylvania, plus a firm called Time Capsule that sells write-ups of researched true-life events that would be great for gaming scenario inspirations. Sixty events are listed, one of them being the battle history of the 5th New York Zouavea at 2nd Manassas. CHALLENGE - GDW's Magazine for Futuristic Wargaming, $3.25 per issue. This issue features an interesting article on "Victorian Times and Society" of possible use for gaming rules by - Howard Whitehouse! Do you realize how many articles Howard's authored in this month's reviews? Where does he find such time to write? Obviously a government employee, As for the rest of the magazine, I really appreciate the quality set-up in many RP-boardgaming - fantasy magazines, especially the artwork. This particular issue's cover painting of futuristic fighters next to a Bradley APC is great. I wish our end of the hobby could compare. WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED - Nov 88 - For me, the great photos that accompany both articles and product reviews, as well as the large amounts of advertising, make this magazine. In articles the editor now shows a leaning to print only those with rules attached. This month we have The Battle for Magnenta, 1859 Italy, The Siege of Winchester, 1141, a continuing article by Keith Benson on the French and Indian War, a good article or, the Alamo by American Greg Novak, and a good piece on mine warfare. PAPER MAYHEM - Nov/Dec 88, $3.25 per issue - 1518 Adams St, Ottawa, 111 61350 - The first reVlew o; this "informative play-by-mall magazine" shows the usual offerings of sword 6 sorcery fantasy and science fiction, but some games sound Interesting, like Caribbean Privateers, and Hyborian War, a scenario for Conan's world. I don't know much about PBM, but at Origins many a sales booth advertised such games, and they seemed to be doing a brisk business. Apparently once you've chosen your scenario, computer generated situations are Sent to you, you react, send it back with a fee for being able to do so, and wait for the results and next situation. THE COURIER - Vol. 8, #3- Continuing the French & Indian War theme, the Battle for Washington's Fort Necessity is discussed and MWANer and personal pal Tod Kershaer has a piece on rules modifications and scenario designs for the F & I War. Goof job, Tod! Mr. Natziger has an article on using Napoleonic artillery, army lists for modern warfare is provided, and a list of reference is provided on the Boxer Rebellion. More plus the monthly reviewing stand, hobby news, and letters. MINIATURE WARGAMES - #67, Dec. 88 - I:think this magazine improves with each issue. The photos improve, advertising is picking up, and the quality of articles are probably the best overall for this month's glossies. There's a short piece on a fight between two longbow armies in 1403, a discussion of the Battle for the Marne in 1914, and an entertaining piece in,the Napoleonic period about one Frenchman's def,eose of his home against a Prussian cavalry unit. A very informative piece about heraldry was also included, with basic heraldry rules and advice on making medieval banners and shields. MILITARY HISTORY Everybody should try this magazine once. I've heard the magazine described as superficial, but this dull Michigan farmboy sure don't see it. Always its entertaining, and often information is found directly related to our hobby. This month a great work is available on Alexander the Creat's victory over an Indian army (not Souix or Apache, rather the sub-continent), there's a report on the battle of Naseby in tie English Civil War, an interview with a Spanish Civil War veteran, an article or, the life of Oliver Perry and his battle on Lakd Erie, and last but not least, the battle for Leipzig Back to MWAN # 38 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1989 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com