Miniatures. Boardgames. Cards. Computers. Re-enacting. It seems an ever-increasing array of product categories beckons us into historical gaming, and I'd like to believe that's a good development. The greater the number of different products, the more likely people can find a niche to enjoy history.

To use a pair of quotes:

"The disadvantage of men not knowing the past is that they do not know the present. History is a hill or high point of vantage, from which alone men see the town in which they live or the age in which they are living.
--G. K. Chesterton (1933)

and:

"Our minds need relaxation and give way, unless we mix with work a little play."
--Moliere (1661)

And yet, how much of these product categories hold crossover appeal? Are miniature gamers more or less likely to play Panzer General or Steel Panthers? Would Civil War re-enacters who were in the movie "Gettysburg" get together to refight the second day on the tabletop? Will Magic players pick up a cardboard counter, or even a card from "Dixie," "Eagles," or "The Lost Crusade?"

Personally, I rather enjoy a number of these categories. I would hate to rank them in order of preference, or be subjected to the the pseudo-philosophical question, "Which would you bring to a deserted island?" I look over the last few games I've played in the past two months, and it comes to several historical miniatures, two sci-fi miniatures, a Great Battles of Alexander varient board game, two card games (Legend of the 5 Rings--quite good), a couple computer games (Mechwarrior 2, Steel Panthers), and so on. As I look at our gaming group, most of them game across multiple categories.

Enter the magazines, newsletters, and other publications where we exchange ideas, learn more about our favorite historical periods and start to understand new ones, and find out about those new products that might tickle our fancy. And here's where we can indulge in visiting as many of the categories as we can.

Certainly, the magazines maintain a focus. MWAN, for example, centers on historical miniatures, but I enjoyed delving into Charles Sharp's WWII boardgame overview (MWAN 84), or David Bonk's computerized campaign of the AWI (MWAN 85), and a review of the card game "Eagles" (MWAN 82). Likewise, Practical Wargamer v10#7 (Jan-Feb 1997) enclosed a paper map (counters printed on a page within the magazine) to refight Hastings 1066 using a hybrid between board games (map and counters) and miniatures (no hexes on the map). First Empire #32 offered a wargamer's view of participating in a Napoleonic re-enactment--and how you will never look at a tabletop or a miniatures rule set quite the same way. Napoleon magazine cleverly intertwines a uniform painting guide with the OOB info.

All of these cross-category flourishes add to the value of the magazine, and ultimately, add to the ideas roaming around our head just waiting to be released. You don't want to be overwhelmed--part of a publication's appeal is that it maintain a focus--but an article out of the ordinary is just the thing to spice up an issue.

Even if you never actually do anything with the information, for example, I never bought a deck of Eagle cards, never played a "Matrix" game, and never hoisted a rifle in a re-enactment, I've enjoyed reading about them. And you never know what will strike your fancy. For example, this convention season I'm going to take a close look at the d20- and card-based command and control system of Piquet. It piqued my interest when I read about it in a couple MWANs. Imagination is a wonderful thing to provoke...

And with that, let's provoke your imagination with these magazines.

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

The Art of War Annual -- #25; 28pgs.; 8.5x11"; PQ B, WR B, IR B/D; Clash of Arms, The Byrne Bldg. #205, Lincoln & Morgan Sts., Phoenixville, PA 19460; $10 per 4 issues, ($2.50 cover price) quarterly

The current issue includes part two of an American Civil War campaign in 1862 Tennessee, a campaign game extenion for Achtung Spitfire (including Luftwaffe and RAF organization), a naval scenario for the Graf Spee and the 1939 Battle of River Plate, part 4 of Napoleon's 1807 campaign against the Tsar narrative, extensive errata for the board wargame 1807, news about upcoming game releases and projects, a preview of a corps-level WWII east front board wargame, rules modifications for WWI Tank warfare board wargame called Landships offering 12-point facing on the hexrows, Napoleonic cavalry doctrine and tactics, and rules modifications to WWII Clash of Armor miniatures rules.

Chainmail -- #42; 26pgs.; 5.5x8.5"; PQ B, WR B, IR D/B; Renaissance Ink, 335 Torrance Ave., Vestal, NY 13850; $14 per year, bimonthly.

Mostly for role-playing, hence the D (if you don't do role-playing) or B (if you do), this "official newzine of Dragonslayers Unlimited" includes spells, word search puzzle, poetry/fiction, interview with game designers (Aldo Ghiozzi of Wingnut Games), a new character class called Shadowthief, news, and such. For you historical-minded folks, that isn't much...but, it also includes a column on medieval armor products (although past columns have been longer and more detailed), and a quirky little project for making a spinner out of cardboard, a popsicle stick, paper clip, and a bit of tape.

The Civil War Courier -- Vol 12 #10 and Vol 13 #1; 68pgs. and 60pgs.; 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.

V12n10: 25 book reviews, an article on Lincoln's Bixby letter (and more on fighting families of the US Civil War), reenacter calendar and more in a newspaper that primarily prints classified ads for all products, reenactor groups, and other things American Civil War. Free sample copy for the asking.

V13n1: 24 book reviews, profile of Allan Pinkerton, and a section on Civil War era letters, packed in this newspaper.

First Empire -- #32; 36pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; On Military Matters, 55 Taylor Terr., Hopewell, NJ 08525; $36 per year, bimonthly.

The battles of Lodi (May 10, 1796) and Ligny (June 16, 1815) are discussed in detail, a look at the (1804) prescribed procedure for British charging with the bayonet, profiles of Marshal Massena and Admiral Lord Cochrane (the Sea Wolf), nifty group of information-packed letters and other news items, information on Bavarian and Wurttemberg contingents (1800), Eclaireurs of the Guard (1813), review of Battleground Waterloo computer game, and more.

The Heliograph #98 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)

This issue offers a list of 251 US Wild West movies (and commentary), addendum to Raid on Dabulamanzi's Kraal (1879 Zulu War historical scenario with OOB), lots of reviews and news items, a Gunga Din (1949 movie) photo, letters to the editor, an explanation on what happened to issue Number 96, and more.

The Journal -- #24; 74pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ B, WR B, IR A; Society of 20th Century Wargamers, 25 Buttermere, White Court, Black Notley, Essex, England CM7 8UY; $30 per 6 issues, quarterly.

I upgraded this issue's rating for Inspiration because I found good profiles of the WWII Grossdeutschland Division and the modern Fuzera Armada Republica (Cuban, about 20 divisions in total), good piece on the naval battles of the Russo-Japanese War, a good article on WWII home guard anti-tank grenades, a look at WWII tactics of New Zealand soldiers against Tiger tanks, and Australian advisers in Vietnam. There's also a reprint of a Lone Warrior solo campaign about invading Haiti 1994, lots of reviews, and other articles.

Lone Warrior -- #117 (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), $25 (Canada), quarterly.

Part IV of an excellent Horse and Musket campaign system, a Stalingrad solo scenario, part III of a colonial-era rules set (that evolved from a sci-fi rules set!), a real interesting piece on mathematical modelling (for the game designer in you), Operation Woodpecker scenario (Battle of Kawanakajima 1561, Japan), a philosophical piece on gaming with a less-than-exact match of troops, a nifty set of tables tagged to a French and Indian war scenario to determine options of NPCs, a look at WWII solo gaming, and other articles.

Napoleon -- #6; 64 pages; 8.5"x11"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; The Emperor's HQ, 5744 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634; $33 per year (US), $35 (Canada), $38 (all other countries via surface mail), bimonthly.

The glossy magazine begins with a lengthy excerpt from 1812: The Great Retreat by Paul Austin, which looks at the Berezina crossing and offers a scenario on the defense of the crossing. A survey of period illustration plates (some in color), review of La Bataille de Corunna-Espagnol Jan. 16, 1809 (Clash of Arms board game), part 5 of Napoleon's Italian campaign, the concluding part 3 of Women's fashion in the Empire (includes color illustrations), book reviews reviews, news items, a calendar, and more round out another excellent issue.

Practical Wargamer -- Jan/Feb 97; 56 pgs.; 8.5x12"; PQ A, WR A, IR A; Wise Owl Worldwide Services, 4314 W. 238th St., Torrance, CA 90505; $26 US (14.40 pounds UK, 17.90 pounds Europe) per year, bimonthly.

This issue included a map (counters printed within on a page) on Battle of Hastings 1066, Wellington's campaigns in India, ideas on using tanks in scenarios, an interesting piece on army-level wargaming, the British in Vietnam 1945-1946, sci-fi rules, lots of reviews and news, and more.

Renaissance Ink -- #8; 10pgs.; 8.5x11", PQ B, WR A, IR B; 335 Torrance Ave., Vestal, NY 13850; $15 per year, monthly, .

This is a newsletter with an eclectic mix of gaming ideas and information. An excellent article in tells us about Norman armor and tactics (based in large part on a UK-based Norman/Saxon re-enactment group) helps you understand 1066 and all that, a summertime trip to a dozen hobby stores unearths retail hobby store woes, some tips, tricks, and other techniques for terraining miniature bases to create museum-quality mini-dioramas, and news round off another issue of RI issue.

Saga -- #56; 44pgs; 5.5x8.5"; PQ B, WR B, IR A; SAGA, 890 Janes Rd., Rochester, NY 14612; $25 per year ($30 Canada, $35 elsewhere), bimonthly.

This issue brings a look at new tactical miniatures rules for simulating battles from 451-1500AD (pretty much the same as in MWAN 85), a campaign game set in 1465 area of Hungary, Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia, The Battle of Pavia (Feb 24, 1565) with order of battle, early medieval color schemes, a view of Cyprus historical sites, DBR for late renaissance, four reviews, and more.

Zouave -- Vol 10 No. 4 (Winter 1996); 28pgs.; 8.5x11"; PQ A, WR B, IR A; The Command Post, 20578 Alliance-Sebring Rd., Alliance, OH 44601; $16 per year, quarterly.

No. 4 holds a fascinating analysis on the development of the rifle and how it changed battlefield tactics, scenarios (including map and order of battle) for Drewry's Bluff (1864) and Salem Church (1863), a case study of playing wargames by mail, bios of Generals James Veatch and Daniel Reynolds, a number of reviews, and more.