This short feature by Don Featherstone, which first appeared in WARGAMER'S NEWSLETTER in September 1962, night seem to be as relevant today as it was 17 years ago -- although there is an incomparably greater choice of figures now. POSITIONS, PLEASE I read an old article the other day in which the writer said that, in his youth, he named all model soldiers at the charge as "Chargers" and considered them to be the pick of his forces. He went on to say that many times with his brother he organised glorious attacks by these troops over wide expanses of open carpet successfully culminating in the complete defeat of the enemy, who merely stood at attention or at ease! Unfortunately, his brother after going over the top on the Western Front in 1918 changed his views somewhat about the glory of the charge and, after demobilization, did not join in the floor battles with anything like his old zest! Personally, I hate any of my wargames warriors to be in any other positions than those of extreme action, such as standing firing, or on guard, or advancing with rifle at the ready. I have never had any success in battles with marching men, or men who are idly standing around holding their rifles, butt on the ground. I noticed at the Convention here that Charles Grant has all his 7 Years War figures in the marching position - in fact they are all in identical positions merely being distinguished from each other by their painting. Oddly, I found this entrancing, and considered carefully whether or not a wargamer might not be best to cast everything in the same position instead of going crazy trying to make regiments all running, or all firing, etc., etc. I also have a complex about mixed units - I hate a regiment which has some men firing, some running and some standing - for me, they never get good dice luck! It may be a queer nostalgia that makes me like action figures because I have dim but fond memories of my childhood when I was entranced by Britains charging Highlanders, Zouaves and Japanese Infantry and the Warwickshire Regiment, standing firing - remember? What is the general feeling about this business of positions? I would very much like to know the concensus of opinion as to whether the troops should look the part or not. And what of the idea of having marching troops when they are approaching the firing line, to be replaced by the same uniformed men in action positions when they actually arrive under fire? Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter #210 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1979 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com