Savage and Soldier: Apr/June 91, $18 for 4 issues, Milton Soong, 2946 'llauricia Ave, Santa Clara, Ca 95051 - This issue has a major work on the well known Zulu War of 1879, providing not only good concise histories of the actions at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift, but good educational background on the political events leading up to the war and the military organization, equipment, and tactics of both sides. There's also a good Indian Mutiny small skirmish game report on one family's defense against rebel bands, and there's short articles on early French Indo-china and US action in the turn of the 19th Century Phillipines.
Miniature Wargames: #97, 98, and 99 - subscriptions from Wargames Inc, Box 278, Route 40 East, Triadelphia, West Virginia 26059 - Lately, Miniwargs has gone to a format that includes something from all popular periods with each issue, covering Napoleonics, American Civil War, the English Civil War, WW II and modern warfare. These three issues are no exception. WW II is covered in a continuing series called the Road to Crete, Napoleonics is frequently discussed with pride of place going to the 1806 Battle of Auerstadt in #99, and the ECW is done particularly well with a report on the action at Naseby in #98. Best article by far from all three issues is Jim Webster's Bloody Beaufort, telling of a modern Isreali raid on a PLO-held ancient crusader castle in southern Lebanon. Is that a great gaming scenario idea, or what? If you left Miniwargs when Duncan did, it's time to look past the pictures and give the articles a try. Oh, did I mention the Napoleonics naval action on the Nile in #99? How about wargaming with Commanche Indians? What about Ian Weekley's medieval cog ships
Volunteers: #13, May 91 - Bob Meadrow, Volunteers, 1322 Highland Drive, Rolla, Mo 65401 - The magazine of Civil War boardgaming has a new editor. I like his writing style and Volunteers' new format, which is very easy to read and follow. Each issue features a considerable amount of reviews on boardgames.
Practical Wargamer: May/June 91 - Computer gaming, solitare action, and traditional Kriegsspiel are some of the issues covered in the latest PW. Don Featherstone has a continuing article on wargaming the late medieval actions, in this case, Formigny 1450. The Seven Years War has two articles, one in Europe, and the other focuses across the Atlantic called Forest Warfare, on the high points of the French and Indian conflicts.
Wargames Illustrated: Emperor's Headquarters or the Connoisseur Group of Riverwood, Illinois - #42, 43, 44, 45, 46 - WI has been spending a lot of time on the Spanish Civil War, plus a continuing series on the Great Paraguayan War which is very detailed, and there's a lot of works on the Orient. There's a good piece on the Taipang Rebellion in mid-19th Century China, another on the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, and finally, there's an excellent modern action report on Mao Tse Tung's civil war in pre-WW II China. Set during the famous long march, it's exciting, heroic reading in #43. More great entertainment is found in the Defense of Fort Souville, a superb report on WW I action during the Battle of Verdun in #45. Standard-setting photography, top-o-the-line articles by talented contributors, and timely advertising from the most popular firms in the business - that's WI.
Courier: Box 1863, Williamsville, NY 14231-1863, subscriptions are $17 for six issues a year - The magazine specialing in advertising Civil War articles and amateur research contacts keeps on publishing everything you need to know if you're looking to buy ACW-related products or find out something about a certain unit, person, or battle. The regular "Long Ago" article is about the farthest rebel penetration into Pennsylvania, the patrols of General Albert Jenkins. Also of good use is a listing of national re-enactments taking place in the Summer and Fall.
Zouave: Spring 91, LHP Inc, 4601 James Drive, Metairie, La 70003 - Zouave has reduced the amount of pages, but it prints the happy news it will continue to publish on a regular basis. Still a deal at $14 for four issues, Spr1nq 91 continued - is a Fire and Fury issue with a detailed review on those rules, and with a scenario on gaming Shiloh by the author, Rich Hasenhauser. There's another Shiloh scenario for Johnny Reb rules, and those considerate Zouave people have provided a pageful on Confederate flags in 15mm the reader can photocopy and cut out for gaming use.
Historical Wargamer: June 91 - six issues for $25 - 1863 S. Limestone, Lexington, Ky 40503 - The color photo wargaming magazine for the US has Mexican-American War action in California, following the exploits of colorful figures like Stephen Kearney and Kit Carson. The article provides some good ideas for small unit actions or a different type of campaign, with limited resources for both sides. Jim Purky tells of a 20mm Napoleonics gaming action using RSM figures and Rusty's Rules, and he also reviews Elite Miniatures' new 25mm early Napoleonics Austrian line. MWAN's Chuck Vadun writes on the benefits of the 6mm gaming scale, and ancients action is covered with Tactica playing tips for the Greek and Persian Wars. Historical Wargamer gets better all the time. Give it a try.
Canadian Wargamers Journal: Canadian Wargamers Group, 207 Bernard Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T3K 2B6 - $12.50 for 4 issues - World War One seems to be a popular period this issue, with reviews provided on two different rules sets. One is Over the Top, by Greg Novak, which shows the usual amount of research Mr. Novak puts into all his efforts, and there's the Great War, authored by Terry Sirk and Fred Haub. A historical report on the Candian action at Vimy Ridge in 1917 compliments the rules' sets. There's also a review of the WRG quick-play rules, DBA, with playing hints discussed at length, and there's the usual wide assortment of boardgaming reviews. Notable this time is Rise and Fall (Roman Empire) and Air Bridge to Victory, about the WW II Battle of Arnhem.
Historic Weapons and Relics: 2650 Palmyra Road, Palmyra, Tn 37142, $10 for 12 issues - Not really a gaming magazine, but it is a fun diversion. The editor always tells of his latest digging experiences in his constant search for battlefield artifacts (it's kind of surprising how many places there are left to search in the US). This issue he's lost on the Civil War battlefield of Valverde in New Mexico. He gets lost in the high scrub, and only succeeds in finding lots of rattlesnakes! There's also info and hints on how to avoid buying fake relics, and there's a interesting memoir of battle action at Cedar Creek. If you're looking to buy US war or Western Indian relics, this is the place to start looking.
Rant: Sam Mustafa, 8352 Loveridge Ct., Richmond, Va. 23294 - subs are $12 a year - July/August 91 - Editor Sam and Company are working hard to make the club newsletter a bonafide magazine and the effort shows. Rant now has a wide variety of articles and regular columns. This isssue has still another intro article on Matrix gaming by Chris Engle, plus there's a quick review of Fire and Fuiy and another opinion is offered on the Avalon Hill miniature rules set, Napoleon's Battles. There's also an interview with the top brass of AH during Origins 91, and editor Mustafa scoops everyone with the first report on Historicon 91. There's regular columns on the club's race circuit league and Chris Tyrell's advice column, Ask the Dice Gods.
Volunteer: #8, Spring 91 $14 for 4 issues - Paul Wilkinson, 6 Norton Ave, Canvey Island, Essex - Volunteer is a fun magazine. Besides the usual articles much of each issue has "news in brief" items of a military nature that are often informative, entertaining, and sometimes humorous, all of which help make an enjoyable read. Major articles this issue are the Battle for Crete, a very informative piece on typical characteristics of Vietnam action, and a Danes versus Saxons combat at Benfleet in the UK around 893 AD. Good Stuff.
El Dorado: March/April 91 T.D. Hooker, 27 Hallgate, Cottingham, North Humberside, HU16 4DN. England - $25 for 6 issues - El Dorado is much easier to read these days, now that its in booklet form a la MWAN. This issue has the second Part of the Texas Army of the Revolution by MWANer Greg Novak, a reprint from an earlier MWAN. There's also the usual assortment of uniform plates.
First Empire: #1, June/ July 91, First Empire, Crannmore Drive, Highley, Bridgenorth, Shropshire WV16 6DS, six issues for 12.95 pounds - This new magazine is devoted to Napoleonics gaming. Already I like the enthusiasm found within the articles. While not as scholarly as Empires, Eagles, and Lions. my personal opinion is that it's a more entertaining, interesting read so I'll probably get a lot more out of First Empire. As someone with an awakening interest in Napoleonics, with little knowledge of the era, this is important to me. The first issue has battle action from both Wartenburg in 1813 and Putulsk in 1806, ideas on improving battlefield terrain, and a good report on a refight of Wagram taking place at the famous Wargames Holiday Center, which puts the reader right next to the author the entire weekend. Bob Black also has a good article on the Ottoman Empire at the time of Napoleon. This one looks promising.
Saga : June 91, $20 per year, Saga Publishing, 890 Janes Rd., Rochester, NY 14812 - This ancients oriented magazine edited by Terry Gore spends a lot of time on the popular WRG rules, and much of this issue is devoted to discussion on technical points of the rules, as well as amendments and a summary sheet by author Phil Barker, who helped officiate the Nationals held at Historicon this July. Another article is a not so favorable review of Scott Bowden's new rules, Ancient Empires, and there's a medieval battle report. I always like these reports because they help me understand WRG rules a little better.
Deck-Log : J.P. Kelly, USS Nashville, (LPD-13), X Division, FPO New York J9579-1715 - April and May 91, two issues - The newsletter of the Patrol Craft association is looking for a modem editor, and the cost of the magazine is now ap to 52¢ an issue. You should send money, check, or stamped envelopes for as many issues as you want. Deck-log is a little like the old Wargames Digest, in that each issue has a gaming 'problem', and the solution is provided next issue. There's always a lot of magazine, hook and product reviews related to the magazine's area of interest. May 91 is sort of a modern issue, with info on rules and models available, plus there's a report on the WW II Battle of the Aegean Sea, with Italians against the allies.
Lone Warrior: May/June 91 and July/August 91 - Chris Constable, 11 Lancaster Dr., Clayton-le-Moors, Accrington, Lacashire BB5 5RD, $26 for six issues - The solo-wargaming magazine's May issue offers another installment on the Roman campaign which is written like a story, is very entertaining, and well done. There's also the Revolutionary War Battle of Brandywine, a gaming idea for the rescue of captured troops, and a continuing report on the Legation 3eige during the Boxer rebellion. July offers solo gaming ideas on the French =oreign Legion by some guy named Thinglum, and Chris Engle discusses solo campaign ideas with the Matrix system. Finally, there's an intro article on fantasy gaming!
Nuggett: Bob Cordery, 84 Eglinton Hill, Shooters Hill, Plumstead, London SE18 3DY - #66, 67 and 68 - Like the NBA play offs, prepartaions for Cow 91 30 on, and on, and on ... Number 66 has a great letter from a Gulf veteran giving the British overview and his opinion on why things went so easily. He feels it was mostly due to the poor overall quality of the Iraqi soldier and his defenses. There's some interesting info on equipment performance, and the author stresses his concern about overconfidence in the future. Other letters continue a commentary on what direction WD should now take, with. opinions From such notables as Phil Barker.
Military History: June 91 and August 91 - $2.95 per issue at most bookstores June has the little-known Serbia vs. Austria campaign at the start of WW I, and there's an interview on a Yank in the RAFm who was shot down, captured, and held in the same POW camp where the Great Escape attempt was made. There's also a good overview of the Hicks' campaign in Sudan discussing the many internal problems faced by his forces, and the best artcle is on Massena, a Marshall of France. August has the Germans vs. the Magyars at Augshurg in 954 the French vs. the Ausrtians at Esslinq in 1809, and the Mexico City campaign Df Winfield Scott in 1846.
Heliograph: June #67 and July #68 - Andrew Preziosi, 11017 SW 125th Ave, Miami, Fla 33186 - $8.50 for 10 issues - June is a Howard Whitehouse issue, and it's darned usefulwith suggestions on better scenario designs, tips for the new umpire, ideas from past gaming experience as a gamemaster to help the game go smoother. There's a "Science vs. Pluck" target in cover artillery destruction chart for buildings and fortification, which is useful for all eras. There's also thumbnail personality sketches ofcolonial figures to use for role-playing purposes - all are believeable except the one on a Lt. Churchill of the 21st Lancers, and another on some guy named Faversham who goes around planting white feathers on old British friends while he's icognito as an Arab. July has mostly products reviews with news on items available from local and national dealers.
Breakthrough: #10, Spring/Summer 91 - 20th Century Tactical Studies Group, PO Box 945, Cape Girardeau, Mo 63702 - $15 for 4 issues - The magazine of 20th Century re-enacting has the summer agenda of events which include two VietNam scenarios, a large WW II meet in Tennessee, and several smaller WW II meets planned throughout the country. This issue reports on two past WW II meets are printed, one on a city action and the other on a forest patrol. Both were Russian vs. German scenarios. Like Civil War re-enacting, authenticity is stressed down to the haircuts worn by participants. No neo-Nazism is Tolerated by the various clubs involved. There's also a detailed historical piece on action at the Kasserine Pass, and a Vietnam vet tells of his return visit 'in country' some 20 years later. It's pretty haunting.
PW Review: May 91 and June 91 - Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd.,Silver Spring, Md 20906 - Last but not least is Wally Simon's excellent newsletter, Another vacation to England finds Mr. Simon gaming with all the hobby notables, like Ian Weekley, Robin Peck, and Don Featherstone. Always the diplomat, the battle reports reveal Wally was easy on 'em and probably allowed them to win. Noteworthy actions are a 82 hour marathon refight of Borodino using 6mm figures, and another experimental action finds the same scenario being gamed twice on different tables using different rules, at the same time. The results are then examined. There are some ACW rules by Brian DeWitt which features the innovative idea of drawing cards that determination a combination of turn choices instead of writing orders. June tells of a castle seige using WRG Beige rules and there's a good set of medieval rules for small battles. My only complaint with PW is that it's never long enough. Of all the magazines I read, PW has the most ideas on different rules systems, and commentary on how various rules work.
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