WARGAMES INC. CORVUS BELLI MINIATURES

15mm Figures

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Each bag has either 8 infantry. 6 infantry command, 6 cavalry. 3 Cl.vaIry command, I chariot, or 8 animals. Most shields are sepante from the figures. but included with the pack. The figures come with. nmdom assortment of figures in each pack.

NEW ESSEX 15mm

$3.69 a pack

IWARGAM£S. BOX 278. ROUTE 40 EAST TRIADELPHIA. WV 28059-0278 (304) 547.0000 http:Jtwww.apear1ortfle.com email: wargamea08tratulWave.net

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THE BEST RULES I THE BEST REFERENCES I FOR THE BEST GAMES. ART9 Great War Spearhead· WWI $24.99 ARTIO Spearhead WWII $24.99 ARTII Spearhead Eastern Front Scenarios $19.99 ARTI2 Spearhead Desert Scenarios $19.99 ART 13 Spearhead American Scenarios $19.99 ARTI4 Modern Spearhead $24.99 ARTIS Crossfire· Low Level WWII $19.99 ARTI6 Crossfire Scenarios· Hit the Dirt $19.99

Iron ~(tSS(lS

WARGAMES INC. Quick Rea.ction Force w. w. II 15n:un Figure List:ing

The perfect miniatures for your W. W. IT Games. American - 20 armored vehicles, 7 guns, 10 soft skins, 8 infantry packs Soviet Union - 25 annored vehicles, 7 guns, 8 soft skins, 9 infantry packs German - 45 armored vehicles, 14 guns, 13 soft skins, 23 infantry packs British - 35 armored vehicles , 11 guns, 12 soft skins, 8 infantry packs Japanese - 6 armored vehicles, 1 soft skin , 6 infantry packs French - 6 armored vehicles, 3 guns, 4 soft skins Polish - 4 armored vehicles, 2 guns. 2 soft skins, 12 infantry packs Australians - 2 infantry packs Aircraft - 16 different planes

COMING SOON -ffiJNGARIAN ARMOR AND INFANTRY!!

1\'f$&mK~&jji~~. BOX 278, ROUTE 40 EAST TRIADELPHIA, WV 26059-0278 (304) 547-0000 hHp:llwww.speartorlfle.com email: wargames@stratuswave.net

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EDITIONS BROKAW provides 15mm figures and related publications for the wars of Marlborough, Charles XII , and Frederick the Great. Shown above, Battle of Ramilles at RECON 02

From June to October

8 South Somerset Ave Crisfield, MD 21817 condrayp@dmv.com

Pat Condray From October to May 2225 S. Gulfwater Pt. Crystal River, FL 34429 pcondray@xtalwind.net

For EB and HPC listings send SASE or IRe to the addresses above .

Historical Products Company HISTORICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY provides one stop shopping for the most recent Spanish Civil War (1936-39) from rules to figures. Shown below: Guadalahara Game at Origins '02

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A/OIlI1fl1;IIS oJtfl f! Muoll 13

Argelllorallll11 41

• e OUrler

ARTICLES 90 YEARS AND COUNTING BOB BEA7TIE towards ce lebrating of the found ing of our hobby. . ..... 5

TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON HOWARD WHITEHOUSE with a campaign game in Africa ..... .. ... .... . .. .. 13

WARGAME DESIGN SERIES Ned ZlIparko with Mutual Effect [n Napoleonic Fire Cornbat... .... ... .............. 21

PLATOON FIRE IN THE WAR OFTHE SPANISH SUCCESSION IA N CROXALLreviews research on the subjecl... ... .. . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .... .. .. .... . 29

IFYOU GO DOWN TOTHE WOODS TODAY JOHN AVERY a scenario and battle report for Argentoratum, AD357 .... .41

THE ROYAL SWEDISH NAVY'S HIGH SEAS FLEET BARRY FOX with the Order of Battle for 1789 ..... ... .... .... . .. .... .. ... ... . .... .55

DEPARTMENTS

THE REVIEWING STAND ... .. ... ... ... ..... .... .... ... ... ... .. .. .... .. ... .. .. .. .. .... ... ... . 31 Figures, Books,Rules and Accessories wi th GREG RICE

THE COURIER DISPATCH News of the hobby ....... ........... .......... .. .. .. ..4S

SAPPER'S REPORT Barbed Wi re by MIKE REESE... .. ......... ...... .......... .53

THE BEST OF THE OLD COURIER ......... ....... ....... ..... ..... ... ..... .... ..... ... 57

DISPATCHES FROM THE FIELD:letters to (or at) the editor. ........ ... . 60

VOLLEY FIRE Your opinions of The Courier. .. ... .. ... .. ... .... .... ... .. .. ... .. .. .. . 60

Cover:Britains fi gures and fi ring nava l guns arraycdin a typ ical H.G. Wells gamc similar 10 what started us all o iT s01lle 90 years ago. Fr01llthe collection of Bob Beatt ie. Photo by Tim Howlcy

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The Courier '()Hm tlILRI( 4'5 fORhllOST III\lm RI: (,41/1\(, IfH.i-t7/\E

MAN,\GING EDITOR: Rkhard L, Sryant

8USI,"oiESS MAN'\GER : ll~ Cronin

ART DIRECTOR : Josc:ph Miceli

AOV[ RTlS Il\G MANAG ER. RIchard bros:t

CONTRI8UTING .: mTORS Jim AmoId: K~ Bunger. Roben ikal1",: Jim B,rds<:yc:

Sobn Boehm: Barry Fox: T~ Gon:: J~y H:>dlcy: Hoben HJmptT. Soot! Holik<. Paul Koch; Bob Morsllall: Hi'll« Milligan, Grt'g Rire:

Bill RUlh«rord. SIC"f Win,"

STAFF CA RTOO," ISl" Jose Ni<'Tll

Sl',\Ff l'IiOTOG I~AI' Jt [RS Bill Keyser I f'al Condrny

TilE COURIER DISlw rCII : Grell Rice

ST,\Fr IL.I. USTRATORS Alan Areh.lmb3uh. Patrick ClUSiaU. Al Kar;lS;l.

Gn:g Rice. Jox ~buho: ... s. Terry ~bnlon. M,k ... Tyson.

PIUl\,.';\,G: Commcn::ial Pnnlln, Sm'IC'!:$

TilE COURIER PUBLISHI NG CO.'! ' P,\ XY. ISC. Rldl.~d L. Bryant Prcslm"l11

OIRt:CTORS RIchard L. Bryant. L<.'Q Cronin. Joseph M"cl,

TI , t: COURlt:R(ISSN 1062-837 1) is (lllbllShctl41l<U1clly (appros· Im:II~ly DI.'I;c-mi>t.-r. March. Junc. Sc[llcmOcrf ~t w. B",J!I~W:lIC-r MA 0237'1.

SUBSCRIPTtO~S USA 51910lIl: YC:lr).5J.1(2 Years) SJS(3 Y~~rs);s. "\IHUC.\ .

Sur(xc Rate S2I1jU.S Funds • IMOI (or 4 issl.l(S; E:';GLV"I) & tURO".:: Wntc to: Pani7.:tn PIns.. 26 ChlTsca Gro'c.lclgh-oo.s..-:.. ~~. En~l~nd. SS9 I NQ. C'\ ,""A[)A: Wme \0 LIOn Ramp3nl lmport>. 529 COOC(5SKWl St. Ibmilton. Ont .. l8SllR jl·ROO-1)92· 7(079) lion· ramp3nl" IlIImyn.' .......... \ USTR.\LI.\ . ,.:" l£AI.A '\1>: Wm~ to Tho: 11n Sold,,,,". "'y .. ltd .. -Uj YOit St. Sydney NSW 2000 A\l~U;lh3 mall" lInSllId" .... com.

IMCK tSSUES Cum:'Ill lssuc(un,ill!<.".,t i>SUl." is OIlt) ,s 56.S{! USA: Il~lISSU":li ~n:

5K(JO~~. USA; ('U!lJd:t & S. Arne,", .. add 52 ca .. Fon:lllnAIrm.,il add')-/ ca. BaI'k l'Sues ore u\'ailablc for 6 m"nlh. ~n"r pubhcati"" IM,ly. MOlllc., In US fwlds dr~\\"n on US Mnls or InICm"""nal "'l>.tJI Mooc\" Oroler

"0 ~spon)lbilil r I • • ~~um"d (01' st. telll"nl) or rOle. ,;r opInion mad" b., ,h ~ l utho's.

No 1'I."'puru;ibihl), is ti>umc-.J for unsohe,".'" manuscript>.. but all SUhml»IOIIS a", "ckomc. no query ..... "'.:.»;ll)'. All rn;oiJ.-d suoomsions ihould COlllam I sel(·:IIldI'l."SSCd STA~II'ED cn,d.1po: lal\'" '"11OUW! to l'I.'Ium the SUhmIS>lOll. s...'C lh1: AlfTIIOR'S GUI[)(Ul\I;S aL oor Web SlIe hnp; ""." Lha:oun<'Otl:1g:l7II1C • .,Onl

This \1;tg;l71"" and Ill",-r publk:tt1OllS of 'fIt,o" Councr l'uhh,bing ("omp.:an~ 31'\: sold ",111 tho: undt.-rstanding that e'.-ry n::.>OI'I:lhlc at •• -mJ1l is m.odc tn Ikhn-r tt......, ,;afd} Lhrough ,Jo., malls. Tho: ("ouri\.-r l'ubhlohing Comp;ln), IS 001 n:>fIOOsiblc For u .. ~ns lost In Lhc n",,15. Ih,.,Ix..'llC1'11S will t>.: [lrm illi:d at locir u:;wl 00l>I.

1i\"TF.R;,\"[T hll[l11\\'" ~\ ·.Lhc"coo"<"m1a!l"~ III\.'. ""n

.:_'IAII. MGlut .......... " AOl.('O\1

AOORESS C IIANGES 60 d:.o)'J notitt of address th;tn~", is l'I.'<juil\"'. Tho: U S PIlIL on .... "C

OOES NOT FQRIVARDTliIRDCU.SS \tAIL You \\ill he chaq,'Cd f ... 1'I.-pbn-m.."1IL ISSUI.'Ii m~ w., to ,,"umcly not"", of:lddn.'SS dlangt'. If ISWI' IS Mum..-.J yoo ,,·tll be eharj,>cd our 00Sj (or 1'I.1utmn\1 it.o Lho: C"Offi.'Cl

"""". ALL I)()\IE.""IC DEALER INQUIRIES. III)VERTlStJ\'G COfY. ""I) I"QUIRIES. SUBSC'RII'TlONS (C~CI.'J1l1lS n""1IuOIII."<I :tho-.:I AN D ARTICLES to THE COURIER. ro Ilo., 11m. j)rocl1011. folA 02].03. or (.m:ul:l> ~brnc.

NO. ':10; Entire Contcnb !OO3 h, Th~ Cou"ifr l'uhlis/ti,,:.: Cnlttl'~" .'·' hl C.

THE VANGUARD PROMULGATING THE HOBBY

Back in 198 1 when several of us met in "Wal ly's Basement"' because of tile perception that the Historical Miniature Wargaming hobby was dying, we fonned HMOS to promulgalc and build the hobby. The initial resul1 was that we provided support to existing I;onventions: Origins and others. Because these

conventions. at that time, didn't want to be bothcred with us, we began our own conventions. Historicon. Cold

Wars and now Fall in! But we ncver lost sight of the fact that our main purpose was to grow and pm-­mulgale the hobby. The reasons are selfish - a larg­er hobby means more manufaclUrers providing more and better gaming materials at, what we would hope,better prices.

The results o f Ihe most reccnt Fall In! indi­cales Ihat 1-I MGS has lost its way in that mission.

The the idea was that we can advertise in the gen­eral media and have high profile fantasy or Science

Fiction gmnes at Fall In! that we would draw tn.1ny Fantasy and SF gamel'S, Ilotto mention general hobbyists

10 the convention -thcn to the hobby. The result was. perhaps an extra 200 visitors at a cast to HMOS o f a $10.000 lost for the convention! Somc repons have the loss as high as S I7.000.

[, personally, have no problem with spending $[0,000 or $17,000 (well the later may be a bit much) on promulgating the hobby every year BUT lets do it righl!

The money should be used 10 put on High Profi le HI STOR ICA L games at Origins. Oen Con. and the major Sl;ience Fiction and Fantasy Conventions around thc country. THAT is where wc wou ld have a capti ve audicnce of gamers. many miniature gamcl'S and at Bo.1rdgame conventions (there are still some), many hiSlorical gamers. Now I don't mean to pay for painted annies and temtin, but we can support the Game Masters who have a history of a gOrgL"OlIS and fun pn.'SCntation of Historical Miniature games by providing for con expens­es. [t seems to mc that $ 10,000 can cover several games at a number of cons -;\IId the potcntial gaming audience wi ll be infinilcly great than advertising in local ncwsp.1pers!

VOLLEY FIRE TIlis is our first issue without the Dummy Cover that contained the Volley

Fire rcsponse card. [ had hoped that most of you would reply via our websitc (www.thccouriennagazine.com) or would make the extra effort of sending a post card or ICller with your responses on it. The actual result is Ihat the response h.1ve dropped by almost half! A 2 to 2 112% response is enough to get a fec i for how you,lhc reader. leels about each issuc, the subject mailer. presentation. etc .. If the 1'l."'S1)QIlSC doesn' l pick up 0 11 this issue. Volley Fire will no longer be worth while and wi ll be dropped. Then again this response may be a vote on Vollcy Fire llsel!" and it should be dropped.

J\1WAN CHANGES HANDS [ have hnd word Irom Hal TIlinglulll thtlt he is retiring trom the editorship

of MWAN! I have know Hal tor SOmC 22 yenrs. You could never lind a niccr guy in the hobby or oul. I and the llltlny fans of MWAN will miss him. Hnl has threatenL-d to do this several times as thc task Ims come close to being over­whelming (and i know how that I;an be .... ). Now Hal isn't going complelcly away and will continue to wri te a col umn for MWAN. but no mailer what the new owner will do with it Hal's page by page loving louch wi ll be sorely missed. Good Luck Htll1 More infonnalion can be found in the Courier Dis­patch.

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~t---- TH E C O U RIER

90 YEARS AND COUNTING Counting Down to the Centennial of Wargaming

A personal observation on the history of wargaming

by Bob Beatt ie

Most people who are in the life of historical mi niatures gami ng know that Lillie Jt-(trS by H. G. Wells was the lirst published wargame rules book to give details of

how to play games with toy soldiers. This game was first in print in some short magazine an icles

that were consolidated and printed in book fonn in 19 1). Thus 2003 is the 90th anniversary or lha! event. It would seem that the game is older than the publishing date, however. Wells wri tes of a friend "dead now these six years" who worked with Wells to gel together "two forces of toy soldiers, set out a lumpis h Encyclopaedic (sic) land upon the carpet and began to play." The encyclopedic land refers to using thc books for terrain. Thus Wclls first began to play this gamc six ycars prior to publishing so thc gencsis o f the game is more like 1907. Terence Wisc writes in /nrl'odllCfioll ro Saf/le Gaming that it was more like the time of the Boer War that Well's guest Jerome K. Jerome "spot. ted some of the chi ldren's toys on an adjacent table. Jerome lined up the soldiers and opened fire with a toy gun." More of this gun later. In either case, there was, then, it seems, a long play test period before going 10 print.

Most books on wargames give a history of the activity but include discussions o f what I wou ld ca ll pro fe ssional games, usu­ally called Kriegspiel and used by the military for training and planning. Others discuss games supposed ly played by Napoleon's son or other royalty with specially made fi gures. There were some earl ier writi ngs on what our hobby is based on, what I would call recreational wargaming. One detailed account can be found in Srel'ellsoll aI Play by Lloyd Osboume, in St:ribners Maga=ine, 1898. This piece tells of Robert LOllis Srel'ellsoll's wargames. There are many rule ideas here that are s till in use but there is not sunicient infonnation to actually replay games. War Games for Boy SCOI/ts by SergI. A. J. Holladay, late C I. V., was published around 1910, anyway prior

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to the printed LillIe Wors. but it lacks the detail s of Wells and the status to keep it on the shelvcs for future gamcrs to find. Moreover, there is no indication that it was developed prior to the game in Litlle Wars. Both of these earlier publications can be found on The Courier's Time Linc of the Hobby: 'llupJ/wwv.,-per. sonal.umich.cdu/-beattic/timeline2.hbnl"

Wells' rules had an American printing near the time of the original UK version, and again in the 1930's. Recent reprints were in 1970 and 1977. Don Featherstone offered a photocopy for sale in the 1960's. By the way. this was an important book for Don as he mentions in a reccnt anicle in MWAN taking a copy of Lirtle Wars wi th him 011 activc duty in the nonh African descn in World War 2.

Lirtle Wars has a ll the credentia ls fo r setting the date to mark the fou nd ing of the miniatures gaming hobby. We could add his­torical in that the soldicrs in the game represented historical troops. the actua l troops of the day. The photographs in the book. showing the Battle of Hook's Fann , seem to be of troops that look much like Boers on one side and a regular British anny on the other. I'd be happy to discuss with readcrs other dates to mark our founding but I think most will vote fo r Lirtle W(l",~,

There is not much his tory of war gaming between 19 13 and thc carly 1950's. Perhaps the horror of Great War put 11 damper on the playing of Lillle IVaI'S. Wells, again showing that skill of fores hadowing future events. wri tes at the end of the book, "you only have to play Lirtle Wars three or four times to realize just what a blundering th ing Great War must be." Funher on he wri tes. "Not only are the masses of men and material and suner­ing and inconvenience too monstrously big fo r reason. but -the available heads we have for it are 100 small." Is Ih is not an apt description fo r the battles in France that began just a year later?

So perhaps the Great War wi ped out not only many potcntial players of but al so the wi ll to play Littlc Wars. There was onc

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