CIVIL WAR NEWS - 4 Water St., P.O. Box C, Arlington, Ma 02174 monthly $15 yearly - We've got a new one for review and it looks like a good one. The Civil War News was forwarded to Hal by Ken Hunger. The first page of this newpaper-style format gives info on the re-enactment event at the Wilderness during Memorial Day weekend, as well as articles on Glory and Killer Angels, two new Civil War movies currently being filmed. To say this paper is informative is an understatement. The paper was full of timely topics with lots of background info. The paper seems geared to all with an interest in the Civil War, not just re-enactors or buffs. Give this one a try, it was fun and entertaining.
GENERAL - Vol 25,#2 - Much of this issue of General deals with modern scenarios. There's a piece on contemporary South Africa, an article on the TAC air, or air warfare concepts in the modern era, and quite an extensive piece on the pros and cons of play by mail. Another good article deals with modern naval warfare, called "Storm in the Pacific". Even if you do not do boardgames, the General usually has interesting technical data that can be used in rules or gaming scenarios.
MILITARY HISTORY - June 89 $3.50 per issue -- This great publication has the usual run of top-notch articles. We have works on the Battle of Crecy in the 100 Years War, action at the Some in one of WWI's most bloody, unforgivable battles, and a piece on Jeb Stuarts' role, or non-role as the case seems to be, at Gettysburg. A book review discusses a new journal on Chinese Gordon, and lastly a piece on Vlad the Impaler tells of this 15th century Romanian's military feats and political intrigues.
THE COURIER - Vol. 8,#5 $3.95 per issue The latest Courier continues the current French and Indian War theme with articles on Pontiac's Uprising, plus action at the siege of Ft. Niagra. Pontiac's Uprising includes rules for campaigning the Conspiracy. In other articles, the ancients facet of the hobby is discussed by the new ancient's editor who offers some insightful opinions regarding what he sees as the decline of popularity in his favorite period. Also covered by Mr. Art Conliffe are some new rules for ancients warfare which offer some fresh ideas for gaming.
THE COURIER - Vol 5 #3- May/June- P.O. Box 1863, Williamsville, New York 14231 - As always, this Courier provides a means for Civil War buffs to locate information as well as sell and buy relics of the period. This issue also features an article about re-enacting by a re-enactor that explains "Why they do it". It's inspiring and entertaining. This issue is also good because it gives info on many of the re-enactments to be held this summer as the celebration of the 125th ACW anniversary continues.
TRADITIONS - Nov/Dec 88 $5.75 - Rick gave me 2 copies of this famous French hobby magazine so I could sae what all the clamor was about. Now I know. The text is entirely in French, but the amount of quality color photography helps change the French pictures into a thousand English words. The magazine follows the Military Modelling format with feature articles on different units, with accompanying painting plates. These issues cover the guard mobile in 1870, the Egyptian campaign, and the Swedish army of the Great Northern War. Also covered are weapons and toy soldiers- as well as the usual tons of advertising, only these are mostly French dealers. Good stuff!
EL DORADO - May/June 89 - 6 issues for £7.50 - T.D. Hooker, 27 Hallgate, Cottingham, North Humberside, HU16 4DN -This magazine specializing in the military history of South America spends a lot of the current issue on post-Napoleonic action in South America. Included are letter extracts of Spanish soldiers 1811-18 and British mercenaries in 1818. Also included are uniform plates of 1827-30 Peru, which show a decided Napoleonic influence. Other plates show the Chilean army 1920-45 and the Panamanian army in 1988.
THE ZOUAVE - Spring 89 - 605 Sadie Ave, Metaire, LA 70003 $14 subscription - I always look forward to this magazine. Most issues have a central theme built around one particular southern civil war unit. The theme usually carries articles on the unit history, some of the unit's more famous actions, and wargaming scenarios covering these actions. The Zouave also carries a very useful continuing section on plates of southern battle flags, as well as miniatures and other product reviews. This issue features the Kentucky Orphan Brigade. If you know nothing about this unit now, by the time you are done with this issue of The Zouave, you will be informed. Lots of good, inspiring reading here.
LONE WARRIOR- March/April 89 50 King Arthur's Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 9BH - subscription 12.50 The newest issue for the Solo Wargamers Association features more on postal role-playing games, rules for adding diplomacy to ancients battles, and rules for introducing weather to your wargaming actions. Another article covers a campaign in the 100 Years War and still another gives a blow by blow of a dark ages action.
WHITE DWARF $3.50 - Dec. 88 Sent to MWAN by Kevin Fitzpatrick of Gamers, Crafts, Hobbies and Stuff is this issue of Games Workshop monthly games magazine. It closely loll-s the format of Avalon Hill's General in that the magazine is devoted to stories about the games, game scenarios, rule changes, and advertisements of GW products. The only difference really is GW obviously offers metal figures, not boardgames. Its a fun magazine and although I don't usually buy it, when I do I always enjoy it. All the rules additions and model characteristics necessary to gamers are put in entertaining 'short stories' of a bloody, swashbuckling nature ranging from basic Conan to Beyond Star Wars in style. The etories are a bit too bloody and melodramatic at times, by hey, these are amateur authors just stretching their wings getting a bit too enthusiastic in their attempts to emulate J.R.R. and Bobby Howard. Give'em a break. This particular issue stresses the very popular Warhammer 40,000 which is set in the far future with Space Marines, alien bad guys, and highly technical war gadgetry. Kevin has laced the magazine with notes commenting on the magazines' context. Obviously Kevin is less than happy with fantasy gaming, particularly the idea of futuristic wargaming, as it is on these pages his comments are found. Kevin says "Is this the way GW is leading us?" to the cover illustration of multi-storied giant death robots, and then says "Is it just me or is this awfully depressive to look at?" at pictures of the giant robot models inside. He also comments on a photo showing an obviously high quality GW hobby shop in which he worries if small dealers can compete against the franchise powers. I gather Kevin feels this sort of gaming will draw young gamers away from historical gaming, and that by catering to the market in the first place, much of the energy to create new products will inevitably sway from historicals to this.
Kevin's entitled to his opinion, and he might by right. (By the way, if I interpreted you wrong Kevin, I apologize). I don't see how any interest in miniatures at a young age can hurt. Liking of one type of toy soldier always seems to lead to another. Interests always seem to change anyway, especially amoungst the young. The point is they're playing and someday they will probably try historical miniatures because an interest in military type things is wnat drove them to space armies in the first place. I think we worry overmuch about the young entering the hobby anyway. Ours is too expensive a hobby for most adolescents to seriously entertain taking up. Time and again hobbyist biographies say "I played 54mm when I was young- discovered girls and cars - got married, had kids - needed hobby, seen soldiers in store, etc.". Ours is simply an older hobby, like guns, beer and topless bars. Thus, we must regard space gamers as investments in the future. This will require open-mindedness, compromise, and hard work on our part, and should probably only be tried on a personal level if one likes gaming with youngsters. I think we should be willing to allow these gamers at miniatures conventions. In any case, Kevin's comments are interesting and are sure to generate some opinions amongst the readership.
PW REVIEW - April 89 - Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd. Silverspring, Md. 20906 - The always entertaining PW starts with an exchange of subtle commentary between that editor and believe it or not, our esteemed editor. Comments from both are very touching and reflect the obvious aiy+ration each party has for the other. The exchanges must be read to be appreciated, suffice it here to say such communications between gamers are one of the extra benefits gained from participation in our hobby. If you wonder what I'm talking about you should be reading PW, eh? (that's pronounced "A?") All of this must have inspired Mr. Simon because PW is fatter than usual, and these extra pages have articles on a complete set of Grand Tactical Napoleonic Rules for 1/300 scale, commentary on the modern naval game Harpoon, and an article on a skirmish Roman action, covering the action and a critique on noteworthy aspects of the rules, something which seems to be a trademark for PW battle reports.
MICA NEWS - The fellows with Northern Illinois Gamers Association seem to be an enthusiastic, prolific bunch. I've got 3 issues here, March/April, April and April/May 89. NEWS is a newsletter oriented to the NIGA, and as such carries reports on club meetings and minutes. Each issue also carries a battle or action report on some club activity, and these are usually pretty good reading. My favorite was a report on a naval action during the Guadalcanal campaign in the WWII Pacific. The other articles covered the boardgame Railroads, and a fantasy piece on dwarves and the mines of Moria. I'm sorry, but I have no address regarding the NEWS.
CITADEL - Box 46187, Seattle, Wa 98146 - This newsletter covers club news in the Seattle area and this issue mostly covers product reviews, battle reports, and progress on an upcoming gaming convent'on. The newsletter is 5 pages of high-quality photo-copy in an easy to read, newspaper like format.
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© Copyright 1989 Hal Thinglum
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