Part of the real appeal of magazines is the cross section of ideas that you can find in any given issue.

For example, I have been musing about campaigns--time dictates that single-event games ("one-offs" is a slang that seems appropriate here) are what we play most often, but a good campaign with diligent umpire AND players can bring home some of the more strategic aspects of simulating warfare plus make individual tabletop battles more meaningful in a grander sceheme.

As a veteran umpire of a 2nd Punic War campaign, not to mention a sci-fi campaign, I can see the aspects of such things as event tables, Non-Player Countries, and bookkeeping come into play--and how other folks have surmounted (or not) such difficulties. Little by little, you pick up the tips and tricks needed to make the next campaign perfect (I am still trying to get up enough courage to run another campaign!).

Not to single out any one magazine, but Lone Warrior has been printing a lot of campaign-related articles lately: # 116 has four solid ones (some are multipart started in 114 and 115) that dealt with maps, armies, and such. Yes, it probably be a while before I umpire again (I'm currently playing in an 1809 Napoleonic Italian campaign as Archduke John, which started midway through the historical campaign. Nothing like starting with an army scattered, the French hot on your heels, and a message from Brother Chuckie noting Vienna's been taken...), but each bit of information tickles my imagination.

Part of the fun and challenge of campaign gaming is the "fog of war," which is always an admirable goal considering the number of times we've all stood shoulder-to-shoulder AROUND a table looking at all the miniatures standing shoulder-to-shoulder ON the table. Then along comes an article in Practical Wargamer (Sept/Oct) about running a game where the players are on one side (which our group has talked about from time to time, but never actually done), AND they play against the terrain, not enemy troops (but you don't tell them that). I enjoy battlefield walkings (when I have the opportunity on vacation and such) and have done many years of paintball, and terrain certainly casts a big question mark over the best laid plans. It's an interesting concept for the tabletop, especially for a "one-ofi?' change of pace. I recall an old issue of MWAN had a similar article where it was all the players against the umpire (shades of role-playing, eh? Hey! It was just an observation! No need to light the torches and sharpen the farm implements!).

Thus, magazines bring us ideas--some in great big chunks inside individual articles, others in picking and choosing a detail here and there from among the entire issue. How we use them, given our limitations of time and space, is what makes the application of military history study to the tabletop so interesting and exciting.

If you need to reach me: 161 Lambertville-HQ Rd., Stockton, NJ 08559, ph: 609-397-4265, fax: 609-397-9433, e-mail: lockwood@magweb.com, Web site: http://www.magweb.com

Age of Napoleon -- #21; 40pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, VVR A, IR A; On Military Matters, 55 Taylor fern, Hopewell, NJ 08525; $36 per year, bimonthly. Now with eight pages of color (lot of color reenactment photos), this covers The Battle of Loana (1795), an examination of casualties from firing, a look at mirroring cavalry tactics on the tabletop, a letter from 1794 outlining the "Glorious First of June" naval action aboard the HMS Queen, profile of the 93rd Sutherland Highland Regiment of Foot re-enactment unit, Waterloo battlefield touring information, the French Invasion of Portugal (part 2 of 3, includes photos of the Torres Vedroas as it appears today), several pages of uniform information for a variety of units, letters, reviews, and a visit to the HMS Trincomalee (frigate).

American History--Oct. 96; 84 pas; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B. IR D; PO Box 42023S, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235; $21 per year, bimonthly). A Cowles publication (they of Military History et al), it is light, breezy, and tackles many a topic, but only a column in the back of this issue specifically military-related: a discussion of period photo of Tombstone, AZ, that is the only known (badly yellowed) photo of the OK Corral shootout site (actually, a 1 5-foot wide alley a half block from the OK Corral). The column notes that the loss of the original house and later reconstruction widens the "battleground" to 53 feet. Other stories are bias of a female lighthouse keeper in mid 1880s, an American West mountain man, and Elias Howe (Singer sewing machines), profile of TV documentary, Ken Burns' The West, plus a look at the GI Bill. Coming attractions tells of WWI images in December issue.

Battlefields -- Vol 1#5; 48pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terr., Hopewell, NJ 08525; $36 per year, bimonthly. The magazine of sceneries has improved over the issues (especially in stabilizing the chaotic layout of the first issue). It's good, colorful, covers a lot of different periods, and mixes quick history with wargaming the particular battle. Number 5 takes us to Cape Noli naval battle (1799), part 2 of Dien Bien Phu (1953/54: wargaming only, the history is in #4), Cannae (216BC: part 2 of DBA Punic Wars and supplementary rules), plus some reviews, and philosophy. All good stuff. However, one rather brilliant idea stands out: ACW gaming--bivouac a division for the night, then up in the a.m. for battle. Sounds tame? I admit, I had to read the article three times before the dim bulb in my head lit up, as I did not understand the mechanisms or why to bother with the whole scenario in the first place. But once understood, click, this can be used for a lot more than ACW.

The Canadian Wargamers Journal -- #45; 74 pages; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B. IR A; Box 1725, Station M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2L7 Canada; $19 per year (overseas, $23 in US funds), quartery. Primarily boardgame related articles, scenarios, errata, and reviews, this house organ for a variety of companies also delves into miniatures with an adaptation of The King's War to miniature play, including a DBA list for Parliament and Covenanter forces. I liked the Eurotront article, too, and, dare I say, the Battlemasters article (no, I don't own the game, I just thought it was a good analytical article about the game system--something rules writers might want to keep in mind).

The Civil War Courier -- Vol 12 #8 and #9; 68pgs.; 11x17"; PQ C, WR C, IR C; 2503 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216; $20 (US), $24 (Canada), $30 (Overseas) per year; 10 times a year. I bumped up the inspiration rating after finding 17 book reviews, a video review, a column on anecdotes, and a show calendar--far more than I remember seeing in this newspaper that primarily prints classified ads for all products, reenactor groups, and other things American Civil War in issue 8. Send for a free sample copy to see what l mean.

First Empire -- #31; 36pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terr.,Hopewell, NJ 08525; $36 per year, bimonthly. A superb--and rather amusing--profile of Tom Plunkett (95th Rifles), who seems to be one tough soldier with a weakness for drink. Other articles cover the Battles of Raab (1809) and Seringapatarn (1799); profile Captain Jean Lucas (of the Redoubtable--a French ship at Trafalger) and Prince Eugene de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy; examine uniform details of the French Young Guard Squadrons 1813-1814, headgear (bicornes, shakos, bearskins, and goatskins), and Hesse-Darmstadt Garde du Corps); Part 2 about British naval museums/societies; a wide variety of news; a half-dozen indepth book reviews; a play-by-mail gaming refight of the Waterloo campaign; and more. A spirited letters section with interesting bits of info about a wide array of topics.

The Heliograph #97 2 Nov 96; 40pgs., 8.5x11"; PQ B. WR B. IR B; Richard Brooks, PO Box 716, Swansea, SC 29160; $12 per 6 issues ($15 Canada, 15 pounds for Europe). For this issue, The Heliograph went to 8.5x l1 " size instead of its usual 5. 5x8.5 " digest size. Why? Editor Brooks explains it was a printing snafu, and rather than delay everything while he and the printer sorted it out, he had the issue photocopied. To compound matters, it is labeled Issue 97, but there was no 96--another printing faux pas. Nevertheless, the issue maintains its pace of publication with a considerable amount of product reviews and news, especially with books, reprints, reports, and miniature figures. In addition, it delves into the campaigning aspects of simulating period warfare with evaluations and tables on movement, stragglers, and recruitment of native allies and auxilliaries. Also is an interesting review of Report on the Russian Army and its Campaign in Turkey, a book review of US Army Lt. F.V. Greene's eyewitness account of the 1877-1878 campaign, and a letter about French colonial resources that's not to be missed if that's your interest.

History Today -- Aug 1996; 64 pas.; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B. IR C; 20 Old Compton St., London W1V SPA; in the US: Anglo-American Publishing, PO Box 388, New Bloomfield, PA 17068; $29.95 per year, monthly. British glossy magazine covering world history is slick, and has some interesting articles, if not specifically miilitary related--but you can still pick up a pointer or two. Prison pets of the French Revolution, Art and Diplomacy in Ottoman Turkey, and the Tower of London's Royal Menagerie were peripherally interesting. The Battle of the River Platte is the real gem, comparing the film version with the actual battle. A goodly supply of history-related book reviews, some interesting photos of architecture around the world (for terrain making buffs, of course), and various news items round out the issue.

The Journal -- #23; 74pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ B. WR B. IR B; Society of 20th Century Wargamers, 25 Buttermere, White Court, Black Notley, Essex, England CM7 BUY; $30 per 6 issues, quartery. A good thick mag for the 20th century. This issue has three scenarios for Vietnam (plus simple skirmish rules), lots of products reviews and news (figures, rules, books, kits, etc), an organization (for Cornrnand Decision) of the 2nd New Zealand Div. and one (for Rapid Fire) of late war Soviet infantry and Guards regiments, some WWII scenarios, letters filled with interesting bits of information, and more.

Lone Warrior -- #116 (North American edition); 40pgs.; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B. IR A; Solo Wargamers Assn., 1707 Ridge Rd., Levenworth, KS 66048; $20 per year (US), 525 (Canada), quarterly. Excellent issue for the campaign-minded with Part III of Paul Grace's rules look (colonial-era this time), a hypothetical and comprehensive anceints campaign, campaigning in a fantasy world (but applicable to medieval period), campaign mapping, Part III of horse and musket campaigning' letters, and book, computer, and other product reviews. Also a "Gobi Desert Outpost" scenario of a hypothetical 1948 clash between Soviet mechanized forces and a US-equipped Nationalist Chinese motorized force.

Lone Warrior -- #116 (UK version); 68pgs.; 5.5x8.5"; PQ C, WR B. IR A; Steve Moore, 120 Great Stone Rd., Firewood, Manchester, England, BB5 5RD; USA $35 airmail, quarterly. In addition to the above, Operation Woodpecker 1561 (feudal Japan) and Sorrell Point (horse and musket era) scenarios, chance event cards, news, and more computer game, figures, and book reviews.

The Naval Sitrep -- #8 (July 1996); 16 pages; 8.5x11"; PQ B. WR B. IR B; Viking Forge, 1727 Theresa Ln., Powhattan, VA 23139; $15 per year, quarterly. The house organ for Harpoon and Corurnand At Sea features scenarios (Derailing the [Tokyo] Express, 11 December 1942 for CaS and 1996 US vs Cuba in the air for Harpoon), PT boat specifications, errata for Superrnarina I, CaS playsheets, and various news and product reviews. If you play the two games, put this on your list others may enjoy the scenarios easily adapted for other game systems.

Perfidious Albion--May 1996, 48 pgs.;5.5x8.5"; PQ B. WR A, IR B; 75 Richmond Park Rd., East Sheen, London, SW14 8JY UK; 2.10 pounds (UK), 2.9 pounds (airmail to US); published "irregular in frequency". "The Magazine of Chaotic Historical Simulation" covers miniatures boardgames, cards, and other gaming is chock full of candid reviews of various games ("venom removed, but not the sting"): Eagles (napoleonic card game), Fontenoy 1745, The '45, The King's War, and smaller quick pans and picks. One miniatures figure review. Some book reviews. Lots of letters with lots of real candid cornrnents.

Practical Wargamer -- Sep/Oct 1996, Nov/Dec 96; 56 pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; Wise Owl Worldwide Services, 4314 W. 238th St., Tomace, CA 90S0S; $26 US (14.40 pounds UK, 17.90 pounds Europe) per year, bimonthly. The Society of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Wargarners voted PW Best Commercial Wargarnes Magazine of 1996. Sep/Oct: Lots of products and convention news, photos, and some color make this a wonderful publication by itself Add in scenarios for Lord ofthe Rings, Loigny 1870, Bosworth 1485 (nifty DBA "treachery" rules!), Anson's cavalry charge at Talevera 1809, and a pirate megagarne, and it gets better. Historical pieces show a voltiguer from the Hessen-Darrnstadt Infantry Regiment Graf und Erbprinz 1811, an interesting piece on the development of anglo-scandinavian scrarnasax (battle axe), and building a 1 6th century German inn. There is a fascinating article on hosting a wargarne where players battle the terrain--but no enemy figures. It sounds bizarre, but upon careful reading, it has a certain appeal IF the players were unsuspecting Nov/Dec: More and more products and convention news photos, etc., followed by Portuguese Army (1809-1814: including color uniform illustrations, a game (including 103 20mm x 20mm "counters" printed in the magazine) to refight Quatre Bras, a fascinating look at close air Support in WWII, Dark Age Skirmish Rules, Fantasy battle scenario, a look at "digging in" on the tabletop vs. history, and reviews and other assorted information.

PW Review -- July 96, August 96; 24pgs.; 8.5x11"; PQ C, WR A, IR B; Walter Simon, 12905 Layhill Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20906; $18 per year, monthly ($15 to renew). I almost bumped up the Print Quality rating to a B because the Review had an illustrated cover and then used a font on page 3. But then I saw the "altered" Larson cartoon, and I realized it was Fluffy the dog that had surreptitiously changed the look. If only they had altered the caption as well, perhaps to read "And down here we keep Fred...We're afraid he may have gone mad." It might have been a A rating at that... July: Anyway, it's the usual basement battles and repartee from the group as they refight Eban Emael (with scratch-built index card gliders boasting scanned images of a DFS-230--you guessed it: you toss the gliders to find out where your infantry disembark on the gaming table), designer comments on June's comments on Great Battles of WWII rules, a comparison of two rules sets (DBR vs. home-made), medieval goings on with DB*.*, Sword and Flame, and other rules musings mixed in, and a "roster pyramid" hit points system that looks kind of interesting and was worth a second read to find out it was interesting. August: A sci-fi cover (The Day the Earth Stood Still, I believe) leads into a 54rnm English Civil War game, an overview of the Historicon convention with the usual candid observations of systems and sights, "silly rules for the ACW" (well, not that silly--some interesting ideas on rally zones), Napoleonic refight using In The Grand Manner, and a couple other shorter pieces.

Seven Years War Assn Journal -- Vol 9 #2; 64pgs.; 5.5x8.5", PQ A, WR A, IR A; Jim Purky, 2521 Thayer St., Evanston, IL 60201; $25 per year ($30 outside US) Quarterly. Note that editor Jim is cutting back on the frequency of 7YWAJ rather than diminish its content--which means that the magazine will still be four issues per volume, but delivered over two years instead of one. Thus, #3 of Vol 9 is supposed to have arrived in February 1997, while #4 of Vol 9 is expected to appear in May 1997. That noted, Vol. 9 #2 contains the first Battle of Torgau (Nov. 13, 1758), an analysis of Wurzburg and Bamberg in the 7YW, more on the Louisburg Grenadiers, an excerpt from Brent Nosworthy's "With Musket Cannon and Sword" book on small arms tactics in the 18th century (quick fire, rate of fire, firing by files, etc), and lots of reviews and other news.

Soldiers of the Queen -- #86; 36 pas.; 8.5"x11"; 28 pages; PQ A, WR B. IR A; Victorian Militarg Society, 31 Downland Ct., Stonery Rd., Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 2PS, UK. ?/yr., quarterly. Covering the Victorian colonial era, the magazine includes seven book reviews, a profile of Sir William Congreve (of rocket fame), the Battle of Adwa, a piece on Maharajpore and Saran Sar, and writer response to a book review.

Soldiers Small Book -- #39; 16 pas.; 5.5x8.5", PQ B. WR C, IR B; Victorian Military Society, 8 Larivane Close, Andreas, Isle of Man IM7 4HD, UK. This is the newsletter of the Victorian Military Society, with a little of this and a little of that--all concerned with the Victorian-era colonia period. Book lists, article lists, study group activities (which seem to have their own newsletters?), events, and product news are stuffed into this. It's a bit more researchoriented than reading-oriented News item on the prices paid for campaign medals (580 pounds to 7,500 pounds) was interesting--senous collecting that.

Tornado Alert -- #23; 8.5"xll"; 28 pages; PQ B. WR B. IR A; Tornado Alley HMGS, PO Box 20863, Oklahoma City, OK 73156; $10 per year, bimonthly. If nothing else, grab this issue for the siege rules. As one who is developing medieval siege forces for a game, there are good ideas within. A good listing of ships circa 1889 in the Mediterranean from 7 countries, a set of gladatorial rules, lots of reviews, some painting tips, and more round out an issue.

Zouave -- Vol 10 No. 3 (Fall 1996); 28pgs.; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B. IR A; The Command Post 20578 Alliance-Sebring Rd., Alliance, OH 44601; $16 per year, quarterly. Another fine issue brings two Johnny Reb cavalry scenarios (Battles of Aldie June 17 1863 and Middleburg June 19, 1863), profile of the Fire Zouave (llth NY Infantry regiment), painting tips for GHQ l Omm Rebellion range, a points system for Fire&Fury, a Civil War slang dictionary, building 1/1200 scale balsa wood naval models on a budget, one of my favorite columns, the ubiquitous "Not as Famous" (biographies of one US general and one Confederate general), an index of volumnes VI through IX a random scenario generator, letters to the editor, and product reviews.