I wish to thank you for the cards and Christmas wishes which I received this last year. Along with the support which continues to come in re: SPEARPOINT, and the response to my wargames scenario booklet, 1993 looks to be quite exciting so far as ancients/medieval gaming go.

As many of you know, the last printing of the WRG 7th edition rules are now available (WRG 7.5, for the purist). Phil Barker has made a decision to turn in the direction of DBA/DBM for the future which leaves us in a very interesting situation. Do we continue playing WRG 7th, switch to DBH (as Phil expects to happen), or look for a new rules system? The Italian Nationals this year used TACTICA for their championship games. They were happy enough with the results that they will again use them next year as well. I've heard rumors of one U.S. tourney which will use DBH. All of this might lead to a dispersal of NASAMW's national tournament structure--maybe not a bad thing--or maybe even a total reassessment of what we are looking for in a new rules system.

I can only speak for myself here, but my desired set of rules must provide

1) a mentally stimulating and challenging game of wits,

2) historically accurate results (i.e. historical battle results car. be replicated to a large extent),

3) playability with little or no umpiring,

4) an adaptability to a tournament motif as well as historical refights, campaign simulations or big battle multi-player get-togethers.

A tall order? Maybe, but WRG 7th went a long way toward satisfying these requirements. Perhaps it will soon be time for something new, or maybe we can continue to use WRG 7th but in a new form. Any thoughts?

I'd like to welcome our new Biblical/Classical Associate Editor, Wayne Melnick to the SAGA staff. I've known Wayne for a few years now, and his inciteful comments and letters have always been well received. His first two articles appear in this issue.

I've been painting up 15mm and 25mm Siculo-Normans in anticipation of SIHCON and HISTORICON. Since SIMCON is strictly a 15mm affair, the troops will receive their baptism of fire there, but will make the trip to PA as 25's. I always end up doing my armies in both scales; so far I have Later Romans, Pre-Feudal Scots, Normans, Siculo-Normans, Anglo-Danish, Vikings, Anglo-Norman, Norse-Irish, 'generic' archers and LMI while some lowland spearmen make up the rear ranks of Anglo-Danish and Anglo-Norman fyrd units. My latest endeavor are the Welsh. I have included a new period specific list in this issue which I feel makes this hardy warrior society (whose ancestors were the original Britons) a wargame contender. Since I am of partial Welsh ancestry, I hope to see these troops make an impression on the wargames table ... as they did historically on the battlefield.