Wednesday 26 June 2013

Thump! v's Bing!

Its battle of the magazines time again as both my Wargames Illustrated and Miniature Wargames subscriptions arrive within days of each other. In the case of the former it came through the letter box and landed with a hefty "Thump" on the carpet, while the other announced itself available to read on my Tablet with a gentle "Bing!". Anyone that has been reading BLMA for some time will know I enjoy both these publications for different reasons. Between these two and Wargames Soldiers and Strategy I get all the gaming news and updates I need as well as plenty of ideas and inspiration for a myriad of battles and campaigns that I'll probably never get round to playing. So what differentiates these two magazines from each other this month, aside from the sound they make when they arrive? 

It has to be said that this months Wargames Illustrated really is a vehicle for Battlefronts latest release,  the Rising Sun Handbook. Having said that I really enjoyed it because its a theatre of WWII that doesn't seem to get much attention. This handbook introduces the Japanese to FOW but focuses on the pre war conflicts between Soviet Russia and Imperial Japan. Later releases will focus on Japan's involvement in the Pacific and Southeast Asia and I suspect this will prove a very popular Theatre for FOW players who have been asking for this for years.

As usual the Theme is carried throughout the magazine with several related articles including two articles that appealed to the Treadhead in me. The first article looks at the development of Japanese tanks between 1919 and 1939 and the other reviews the Red Army tank force, which in 1939 was arguably the most powerful in the world materially, if not in leadership and employment.

Aside from the Themed articles there are also several others that look beyond Battlefront's games (one thing that clearly differentiates this magazine from GW's White Dwarf which it is constantly and unfairly being compared to). San Tarzgarotto is about a fictional Carlist Wars battle created by Chris Thompson. By Fire and Sword looks at a new pike & shot-era game set in and around the Polish Commonwealth in the late 17th Century. The Battle of Snowshoes looks at the research and construction of a French and Indian Wars Battle set in 1758. Elope to Archangel reviews the British involvement in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks. And there is a stunning photo essay about recreating Rorke's Drift 1879 by Pat Smith, a follow on from his iSandlwana article last month.

Miniature Wargames is a completely different kind of beast to Wargames Illustrated and panders to a different set of needs and desires. While I would describe WI as wargaming porn, Miniature Wargames is definitely the thinking persons wargaming magazine. I can honestly say, without a hint of irony, that I buy Miniature Wargames for the articles. I devour the regular columns by the likes of Neil Shuck and Mike Siggins and now MW had added the great John Treadaway to its stable of regular contributors.

Henry Hyde begins the magazine with his usual editorial and its clear his move from a 50 page bi-monthly publication to an 80 page monthly magazine has been quite a shock to the system and a very steep learning curve for him. But as a reader I have to say  I think he's doing a grand job and if he's encountered any difficulty with the move, it doesn't show in the quality of the magazine he is captaining.

This months issue includes several articles that have caught my attention and were very enjoyable to read. John Treadaway's inaugural piece in particular was great to see as it is a welcome return of his old column Fantasy Facts from the days of Battle for Wargames. This month he's looking at a range of Sci Fi APC's that bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain James Cameron film back in the 80's. Next No Messiens About caught my attention because it features a rather nice first world war British tank (a Mk IV I think) and a German A7V. The pictures accompanying the article are excellent and are reminiscent of the game the Rejects put on at Broadside last year. Conrad Kinch's column Send three and Fourpence offers some advise for those considering blogging about their activities.

One of the things I like about Miniature Wargames is that it is very much Game focused. That's not to say that the history and setting isn't given some attention but in every article the game is central. One of my favourite articles from this months issue Whispering Death is all about the game as it is an entirely self contained fast-play set of rules for recreating a convoy bombing mission. I'm not sure I'd have the patience to draw my own hex mat like he has but the miniatures and the rules are very intriguing.

There's plenty more inside the covers of both magazines but if you want to find out more you'll just have to go out and buy them! I'm know there are plenty of detractors - for both magazines - but despite their vast and obvious differences in style and content I have enjoyed them very much this month.

13 comments:

  1. MWBG edges it for me over WI, but my gaming focus is different to yours. WSS sits nicely alongside them both.

    btw, have you had the latest issue (67) of WSS yet? Mine hasn't arived but their site says it was out at the beginning of the month.

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    1. No I've not had mine yet either. I hope it arrives soon because I've finished the other two!

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    2. My electronic copy arrived on Tuesday fwtw.

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    3. We always put the contents of the latest issue on the website and in the newsletter as soon as it goes to the printer. For some reason, a lot of readers thought it was actually out at that time. As a bi-monthly, WSS always appears at the end of every even month, as it did this time. And if you haven't received yours yet, it's on its way, and apologies for any confusion we may have caused.

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  2. Each to their own, but I'm just glad to have so many mags to choose from.

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  3. This month it will be WSS as it's focusing on Samurai but as I've said before it's a compulsion rather than desire with WI but MW I don't think is any better and rarely buy it.

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  4. My personal theory as to why Far East theatre is less played by wargamers is that if we are going to do WW2 we are going to want tanks. Tanks are the defining element for most land battles among wargamers for this period and the Far east terrain is mostly not ideal tank country. Well that's my theory and until someone comes up with a better one I'll be sticking to it.

    As for magazines, I don't generally buy any of them. For the price of a magazine I can usually pick up a second hand Osprey (or quite often a new one from a discount seller). And for me it's better value for money! I'm a grumpy old sod!

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    1. Grumpy is good. I have to say that because I'me getting like that as I get older.

      I think the war in the pacific has been much anticipated by FOW players, possibly because the game is so huge in the USA (I'm guessing, but it seems reasonable). For us Brits its always seemed as if our part in the Far East conflict was a sideshow. I hasten to add that of course it wasn't a sideshow, but its often presented as less important which I think is a mistake.

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  5. I liked the look of last months WI but I am afraid I want something none of the three mags seem to offer so only buy them every now and then.

    Oh Lee I also need your address as I have something for you ;-)

    Ian

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    1. Ooooo...I'm intrigued! Ok, I've just emailed you my address. Did I enter a competition without realising it? It wouldn't be the first time I'd forgotten I'd entered a draw (they do seem rather popular at the moment).

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  6. Looking foward to that issue of WI. Great to see the FOW system expand into new territory.
    Cheers and thanks for summary reviews and opinion. Keep it up.

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  7. Nice to read an impartial review of both magazines. As a old subscriber to Battlegames I'm naturally dawn more to MW but enjoy the different approach of WSS.

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