New From RENAISSANCE INK

#20697 Paper Steel: 10" x 11 1/2" $4.50

BASES #20797 Masonite Thick: $ .20 Ea. Beveled

Edges (add $ .05 each for paper steel/masonite bottom.)

#20897 Masonite Thin $.20 Ea.

Square Edges (add $ .05 for paper steel/masonite bottom.)

Due to many customer requests we have changed the bevel on the wooden bases. The bevel is now smaller giving more top space for your troops. Jay thinks it looks better too.

More With WEST END

Renaissance Ink Painting Service has, for the second time, seen the pages of the Star Wars Miniatures Battles Rule Book.

RI painted figures can be seen in the West End Games, Star Wars Imperial Entanglements.

Two New RI Microgames

RI announces the production of two microwargames in the fall of '97'. They will be the battle of Fort Ridgely in August 1862 and the Battle of Ch'Eng'P'U in 632 B.C.

Both games are designed to be fun to play and thought provoking. Each features approximately 70 counters and an 11 x 16 map.

Because of the small size of the battles, especially that of Fort Ridgely, they could easily be converted to miniature battles.

An Unfortunate End: Vindicator

The monthly Metagaming & old classic games of the 70s and 80s has stopped publication.

It was an excellent magazine which was done with great care but unfortunately, financial difficulties halted production.

The editor, Mike Friend plans to bring the magazine back when finances allow.

Until then, Fractial Spectrum has picked up where Vindicator left off. The editors have included a Vindicator article in their magazine and will continue in the future.

The Staff at RI wish Mike and rest of the Vindicator staff all the best. It was a great magazine and we look forward to seeing it again in the future.

The Death of WHITE WOLF

The Death of White Wolf at the start of the year was a shock to the gaming community. As the organization came apart, one disgruntled employee took to the E-mail ways and broadcast the inner workings of the collapse.

The "Inside Source" as the individual called her or himself reported that 16 WhiteWolf employees, who had been working for reduced pay, were laid off just before the Holidays. This while the "big 60ys" of the company continued to draw their regular salaries.

The collapse also led the news that Mark Rein Hagen is leaving the company, selling his interest back to Stewart Wieck. Mark is reported to be taking with him all the big licensing rights to the World of Darkness. He has also shifted his SF game EXlLE from WW to his Null Foundation.

The collapse of the magazine and heavy debt have left the company scrambling to bring capital into the organization. Negotiations are reported underway with Wizards of the Coast and Chessex Distributors to bring much needed money into the firm.

Hammering It Home

The premier issue of ANVIL magazine hit the streets last year. The magazine is published by Anvil Publications and is dedicated to Miniature Gaming (read that as Trolls and Dragons).

The thirty-two pages are packed with color photographs of the latest color schemes for Dragons, newestTrollish Giant and Skeletal War Wagons. Interspaced between the pictures are an unusual interview with Kev Adams, who has designed hundreds of the little buggers mentioned above, a look at war banners for the various armies, tips on building a diorama and a really neat look at several major artists painting the same figure. The difference is astounding.

Although the magazine is light on articles, there are a couple of attempts which hold promise for the future. The Sketch Gal lery: Leviathan was rather neat and should build into a neat series of sketches both word and drawing about the creatures that inhabit the Leviathan system.

Anvil is probably the Scale Modeler of fantasy miniature magazines. If your into fantasy figures then this magazine may well be in your future. Besides at a cover price of $1.95 the pictures are worth the cost. Subscription information from Anvil Publications, PO Box 105, Folsom, Pa. 1 9033.

The Little General

New to the ranks of gaming magazines is the BOARDGAMER which premiered in August 1995. The 20-page, black and white, magazine is dedicated to the competitive play of Avalon HillNictory Games Board, Sports and Card Games.

Premier issue featured seven articles which included the likes of HDe-Randomizer the Circus," '`The Winning Candidate" and "Random Play in 1830". The articles are all nicely done and concentrate on giving the players new tips, hints and suggestions for better play. The magazine also gives the AREA ratings for the gambit of rated games.

Wanna know who the top Advanced Squad Leader Player is-simply check out the AREA ratings.

So why have another magazine dedicated to AH? Editor Bruce Monnin succinctly points out that his magazine does not compete with the GENERAL but rather covers games which have been regulated to obscurity by the rapid pace of games production. In short, if you got an AH/ VG game that simply doesn't get the attention it deserves anymore than this magazine is for you.

The BOARDGAMER is published quarterly. Subscriptions are $13 and can be obtained from 117 South Lincoln St., Minister, OH 45865.

The Wizards of TSR

TSR experienced extreme monetary problems last year and fired over 20 of their most creative staffers.

Despite the Draconian measures the company simply could not stay solvent and was recently purchased by Wizards of the Coast.

The buyout, by the cash rich WotC, will insure that the D&D and AD&D will continue to be published.