Saturday 3 November 2012

Wargames Illustrated.

Every month I make the ritual trip to W.H.Smiths to buy my Wargames Illustrated.
October has been no exception,as I lashed out and bought the November issue.
Like the saddo I am, I always make a point of not reading it until I am tucked up in bed. Often John is not allowed to show me any pictures from the newly bought magazine,or talk about any of the articles.
 At the same time, I had been able to hunt down a further three Wargamers Newsletters,in an attempt to finish my collection [some hope]
 The illustrated, took a very short time to read, although I do have some Flames of War stuff, its not really something I get excited about.
 So after reading through the stuff about bases and terrain, I had finished the magazine.
There is never any letters,views,opinions or articles that just might spark up a debate.
Is that what wargamers want? Somehow I would like to think that isnt the case.
 I then read the three Wargamers Newsletters, 188, 189 and 201.
 You could always rely on Donald Featherstone in his editorial to give an honest opinion on some topic loosely linked to war gaming. God knows what would happen now, if he was still writing an editorial.
Probably he would have ended up in court,and tagged a bigot or a racist.
These seem to be the most popular names that can be credited to anyone not on message. But I digress.
What I actually wanted to record is the fact that the Newletters were full of reading,relevant even today. There was fine articles by the late Paddy Griffith, an interesting synopsis by Donald Feathersone about the last 200 Newletters and how it came about, and some interesting letters,with differing points of view.
 All in all a damn good read, and no eye candy or professionally created terrain anywhere to see.
I must be getting old,or just a bit sour. I know I am definately not on message in the brave sanitised world that is the current wargaming scene.

15 comments:

  1. No, no. I don't think you are old or sour. I agree that there is a relative shortage of well-written and presented, thoughtful, and sometimes controversial material out there in the current hobby literature, monthly or otherwise. To be fair, it is out there, but it seems overshadowed by, as you say, the eye candy and professionally created terrain that seem to dominate many wargaming publications. We should start of campaign against the useless and superfluous eye-candy in support of advertising/marketing products in the hobby press.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of the things that I used to love about MWAN (Midwest Wargamers Association Newsletter) was that it was full of letters and articles by dozens of contributors plus a few sets of rules.

    Reading each issue was like a wonderful trip to the best wargaming club in the world.

    Thanks for your post; it reminds me that I've got a collection of over a hundred issues of MWAN that I can go back and read during these months of chemotherapy.


    -- Jeff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evening Jeff,
      Thats a bit worrying,as I am re reading all of my MWAN'S at the moment.God that was a good magazine.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete
  3. Wargames Newsletter was OK to start, but gradually I got fed up of the reworking of old material, inclusion of publicity photos and is failure to realise that the world had moved on. And yes, I was an avid reader of all his original material and he probably is the reason why I am a wargamer. For me Lone Warrior was the real successor of Wargamers Newsletter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evening,
      I have been lucky enough this week,to locate and buy the first six issues of Lone warrior.
      The enthusiasm was high then.
      Thanks for your comment Robbie.

      Delete
  4. I still like Practical Wargamer, the one collection you haven't managed to buy off me. WSS is quite a good read but in general its like everything else in life - flashy, instant gratification.
    (OMG turning into a grumpy old man) I've even found myself buying some Les Higgins 20mm- the circle is almost complete!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evening Graham,
      Its one of the magazines I subscribed to, and I noticed that there was a few articles with your stuff in it.
      I dont think wanting to still feel a part of a hobby we have been members of for so long is feeling grumpy, more its the feeling that newer members are some how being spoon fed s##t but calling it something else.
      See you at Middlesbrough.
      Ps Bring some more stuff to sell.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete
  5. Man cannot live by candy floss alone - couldn't agree more w.r.t the Newsletter.... also agree with Graham C re Practical Wargamer which, for me, was the logical successor..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Steve,
      I just feel there a general feeling of unease,as if some how we are being directed into something we dont really feel part of.
      Dont get me wrong,I think we have been very lucky with the fabulous figure ranges,but somehow, I feel that we are being subconsciously told that THIS is the way to do things and everyone else is wrong.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete
  6. Robbie- my views on WI as it currently stands are well known. I've been recently more impressed by WSS- even to spending advertising cash there. My favouite amongst the current crop by far is MW. As for the older mags I'm not sure- I liked PW. I've still never actually held a real copy of WN in my hand but as has been said the world has moved on and some wargamers havn't. MWAN i found hugly variable for ther interesting to the mind numbinggly tedious- sometimes in the same issue.
    I guess that on the whole I'm not that much of a fan of "Wargames lit" (like chick lit only with little men!!!)and have binned more mags than I keep.
    # Books now are of course a different matter...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See Andy,
      You were doing really well until you said,binned wargames magazines! Good God man,you should be known as Andy the Hun!!

      Thanks Robbie

      Delete
    2. Still got some it's just the most recent I tend to binas once you have read them thats it

      Delete
  7. Hi Robbie

    I have about 30 issues of MWAN - happy to lend you them to you if want.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evening Mark,
      Never mind lend me them, you might have some I dont have. There always a deal to be done.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

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