Darryl Sheldon of REGAL MINIATURES told me that he has purchased the line of HOWARD HUES paints. This is a real plus for the hobby; I don't have to tell anyone about the quality and extensiveness of this fine paint line. You'll find an ad within this issue for them. Good luck, Darryl!
I'd like to ask if anyone is aware of a source for 20mm WWII decals and American landing craft. An MWANer is looking for them.
THE GAUNTLET, a UK historical wargaming publication is now available through Craig Martelle. Mark Hannam of the UK started THE GAUNTLET just a little over two years ago and he is now in his 9th issue. Number nine is a MWAN-sized journal of 70 pages and Craig reports it was "greatly influenced by MWAN". I've got a number of early issues and have enjoyed it very much. I would like to congratulate both Mark and Craig for their efforts in turning out a quality product. I am very impressed by what Craig did in putting together the "American" version. Color cover and a visual and reading treat within. Highly recommended. Drop Craig a letter with an SASE as to cost for subscription. Good work, Mark and Craig; I admire your work!
Along the same lines, Robert Hagerty, 229 N. 2nd Street, Apt C, Elkhart, IN 46516-3024 sent along a copy of "LE ROI SOLEIL GAZETTEER", a one page (two-sided) update on his 25mm Marlburian line (IMPERIALIST) along with a full page painting guide on Prussian Infantry (1700-15). Bob has been involved in the Midwest gaming scene for perhaps 25 years (or more) and used to run a very good historical convention in South Bend for many years. Bob has had a love affair with this interesting period for years and has gone so far as to have a line of figures in 25mm produced for it and deserves our support if you are into this period. About a year or so ago, I sent my only copy of GDW'S THE SOLDIER'S COMPANION to someone who wanted to take a look at it. I've forgotten who I sent it to but would appreciate it if you would return it. Thank you.
Within the Letters section in this issue there is an interesting letter from Kevin Killian dealing with the what attracts us to a certain period. Kevin suggests that a rules set is frequently instrumental in doing so and I have to agree with him for the most part. My only hesitation would be that I think we are heavily influenced by the release of a new quality figure line. Both figures and a rules set can move me, however, I must admit that there have not been many rules sets, over the years, which have "moved" me as much as the actual figures themselves. I would list FIRE & FURY, WARFARE IN THE AGE OF REASON, THE SWORD AND THE FLAME, THEY DIED FOR GLORY, 1644, and PLAYABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAMES as six sets which have motivated me to purchase figures. With FIRE & FURY, the variants published over the years can even get me excited about a period. I am surprised that Rich Hasenhauer hasn't published a variant for Napoleonics or the Franco-Prussian War. It seems to me that it makes good "market" sense for a figure manufacturer to release a set of rules to accompany a new figure line. Now I know that merely releasing a new figure line can be difficult enough without going through the trouble of developing and publishing a rules set as well. They take enough of a financial risk just by releasing the figures! There haven't been many manufacturers who have selected this approach.
People either make figures OR rules sets available for the most part. I wonder if a "half-way" approach for a figure manufacturer in this regard would be to "adopt" an unpublished rules set and "assist" in its publication along with their release? I'm certain that so much depends upon the quality, level of command, physical attractiveness, and mechanics of the rules. There are so many variables, I believe, within rules sets which function to attract us to purchase AND use them. I would be quite confident in stating that we purchase perhaps ten times as many rules sets as we actually get around to using for a period we are interested in. The vast majority of us really enjoy reading rules sets and looking for game "mechanics" to steal for our home grown rules.
Another "variable" which has influenced me to enter a period is that of wargames "accessories" such as buildings. I have a set of the HOVELS 15mm Russian Village and I keep looking for a period in which I can use them. I've thought of 20mm Russian Civil War and 15mm WWII Eastern Front but haven't made a decision as of yet. I also have a VILLAGE GREEN 15mm Peninsular War building complex which is so attractive that I find myself continuing to think about the 15mm Peninsular War! The SCENIC EFFECTS 20mm WWII Russian Tractor Factory and/or Tawara Island can do the same thing for me! I also have several 15mm gunboats for the Sudan as well as some lovely Sudan villages and forts that Howard Whitehouse painted and terrained for me so I know that it is only a matter of time before I get into the the Sudan period in 15mm scale!
I recently picked up about eight books on the English Civil War and have been enjoying them greatly. After several years of reading about this fascinating period, I am finally getting to the point where personalities and English towns are making sense to me as to who they are and where they are located. There are few periods, in my opinion, which lend themselves to "small" collections of 25mm wargaming figures as the English Civil War. So many of the actions involved less than several thousand figures per side and there were a great many small skirmishes. If one had a total of six 25mm "foot" regiments and a like number of "horse" regiments, you could have a great time. This appeals to me personally, though I have far too many 15mm units although I have decided to branch off into the Thirty Years War, a reasonable sidestep to take with an ECW collection. Speaking of the TYW, has anyone run across any good books on the subject? I've had a hard time locating any and would appreciate any advice on the subject.
I am still in need of articles for MWAN and would appreciate any submissions including reviews of historical wargaming products, letters, or anything else you feel would be appropriate.
I am attempting to utilize the "white" space at the bottom of MWAN's pages and beginning with this issue, am using the following margins: both sides have one inch margin while the top and bottom have one-half inch margins. I'm anxious to see this issue in print as I am hopeful that this will eliminate the problem of too much "white" space on the bottom of the pages. Also, I decided to stay with 12 point print. Please use these guidelines as much as you can. I would appreciate both a "hard" copy and disk if it is possible. Thank you very much!
I'd like to say thank you to everyone for your continued support of MWAN via resubscriptions and continuation of your ads as well as to the hobby shops who carry issues. I always appreciate the letters/notes MWANers send along with their resubscriptions at this time of year. I'm sorry that I can't answer every one of them, but thank you very much for your kind words about MWAN. I never think to mention this within MWAN, but if you order items from companies who advertise in MWAN, please mention that you see their ad in MWAN. I'd greatly appreciate this!
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© Copyright 1998 Hal Thinglum
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