I received my latest issue of Tornado Alert, # 21. Reading the letter section, I was surprised to find Steve Miller upset by the review of Full Thrust and Dirtside II in issue 20. I assumed that enough people asked about those rule systems that TA decided to review it.

I felt the review was the result of interest caused by both Full Thrust and Dirtside II being played at TwisterCon IV. I pushed for Dirtside to be run at the convention and also ran the event.

My reason was based on events taking place in today's army. Currently the army is studying hovercraft (not to mention using them heavily in USMC- MAU battalions to land troops Check out newsreel footage of the landig in Somalia, - sorry for the intrusion, - the editor) the theory of GEV, energy-based weapons (the British developed a laser rifle in the 50's). Our army is currently looking at an armored infantryman wearing powered armor and using a .50 caliber sidearm.

The army looks to the future. Studying the past does not prepare one for the future in all events. The atomic sub changed many of our tactics in the last half of the 20th century. The weapon systems we now use were thought of in the late 50's and early 60's. I saw drawings at Infantry Hall (Fort Benning, GA) of the M1, Bradley, and other current vehicles in 1970.

The concepts was to look to the future. A British general wrote a book in the late fifty's called Future Wars. He had flying platforms, laser weapons, and rocket troops (they were sent by rocket insertion to a secure area in the battlefield).

An update of his book had a chapter added to show what had developed. The light observation helicopter was the flying platform. We don't have rocket troops, but we fly troops into secure areas in aircraft all around the world. Since we're in outer space, how about star wars? British Research and Development designers drew up a kevlar battle suit that inspired the Imperial Stormtrooper look.

If Mr. Miller had seen the Dirtside II event, I could have answered his concerns. He did not see (apparently not attending). Mr. Miller should take time to review the rules for Full Thrust and Dirtside. He will find them to be extensive and detailed.

In closing, I can say this, I had a young man in my shop who played fantasy and science fiction games buy his first Napoleonic Starter Pack. A fourth Prussian Corps is in the making for him now. He did this because he watched several games played at the Game Shack (Fantasy and Sci-Fi gamers do not need us to blow their horn, but why keep them from hearing ours? It doesn't hurt when they see us playing historicals, when they came to play fantasy and SF - the editor) found them fascinating and decided to pursue an historical venue. Others are now building ancient armies. So people do get into both historical and non-historical gaming. Historical gaming is still my favorite pursuit, but I enjoy speculating on what the future will hold.

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