This issue will be quite late as I have had some serious health issues recently, notably esophageal cancer. The prognosis is not bad…I am ten years younger than the average guy who gets this so should have that much better a chance at beating it. I have opted to go the chemotherapy and radiation routine rather than the radical surgery that would have laid me up for four months! Still, it is not easy and I seem to have developed all of the side effects! At any rate, Susie and I are facing this together and expect to beat it.

I have recently purchased an army of Foundry FPW Prussians…my 'Winter Project' to complement my FPW French army. I'm really enjoying this period again. Back in 1963, I ordered two armies of FPW figures from Aloys Ochel in Germany. These were 'flats'…figures that had to be looked at from the side (from the front it was looking at a dime). The neighbor kids and I had a fun summer in my garage that year playing out numerous battles on a 4' x 8' piece of plywood marked out with chalk and paper-mache hills. This period has always been of interest, not only for the colorful uniforms, but the new weaponry.

Needless to say, I plan on putting on a big scale 28mm battle at Historicon this summer using these armies. I've been working again on the Victorian Warfare rules…updating the firing tables to reflect the new percentages as we have done with AW and MW. These rules are really a lot of fun and we usually resolve a 200 figure per side battle in 2 1/2 to 3 hours, if not sooner.

I have also revamped Ancient Warfare recently, including all of the updates from the past two years, including Roman Order and changing the look a bit as well. Jeff is currently working on a revised Renaissance Warfare, while Bruce and Perry are playtesting Lace Warfare. All of these rules are being discussed on our new rules group (see above).

Have a Happy Holiday Season and may you all get that lead I know you want…Susie…I could a few more regiments of French FPW foot, some Krupp artillery, another Mitrailleuse, some German Uhlans…ah, the list goes on and on! Anyway, keep in touch in the New Year and let me know how your gaming is going.