Wargaming is a big hobby with many diverse factions and perspectives: striking a balance that pleases everyone can be truly challenging! We like to think what sets Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy apart from other historical wargaming magazines is its focus on having fun, no matter what kind of wargamer you are or what your background is. WS&S is a light-hearted publication, that pays particular attention to games themselves and how to play them: it doesn’t get bogged down in lengthy historical expositions or recycle content you can read yourself in any history book. While popular periods like WWII, the Napoleonic era, and the ancient world get frequent coverage, we also try to feature the unexpected, with articles on spies, monsters and gangsters to name but a few.
Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy
Editorial
MINIATURE REVIEWS • A look at some of the newest miniatures, terrain pieces, and more from across the wargaming world.
THIS GAMING LIFE ONCE A YEAR, EVERY YEAR • I have reached that confusing age when your own birthday starts to catch you by surprise. What’s that you say? Another one … so soon? Really? Get away! Quite frankly, I’ve never been big on such things, or at least not since I’ve been old enough to buy my own underpants. Recently, I’ve begun to think I could well do without altogether. (Birthdays, that is, not underpants. Things have not yet come down to that, you will be pleased to hear.) My wife, however, plainly has other ideas when it comes to birthdays, and having noticed me admiring some rather natty model terrain pieces on eBay she decided to order some of said items as a surprise gift.
3D PRINTS
A BITE-SIZED PLATOON-LEVEL ACTION FOR WORLD WAR II FIGHT FOR THE FARM • Sometimes even the simplest of tabletop scenarios provides all that is needed to demonstrate that in the crucible of war, tactical acumen, combative leadership, and teamwork become paramount.
JULIUS CAESAR OF ROME VS ALEXANDER OF MACEDON THE GREATEST ANCIENT GENERAL • Who would win the duel of ancient titans at the head of the best armies of their times? Caesar and his legions or Alexander’s phalanx and unstoppable cavalry? How can the strengths and weaknesses of each legendary commander be turned into a miniature game? Simon Elliott’s entertaining book Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar: Who was the Greatest Command- er in the Ancient World? gives many clues as to who he believes was the best general. Who will win? Time to roll the dice.
TABLETOP EARLY MEDIEVAL BRITISH BATTLES REVISITED THE 603 BATTLE OF DEGSASTAN • In spring 1983, a precocious and overambitious eighteen-year-old (i.e. me) discovered a new wargames magazine called Miniature Wargames. Sitting down at his dad’s Olivetti typewriter, he excitedly wrote up the scenario for Degsastan. The article seemed well received and its author went on to write a seven-part series on British early medieval battles. Forty years on, now a grizzled, semi-retired professor of early medieval history, I’m revisiting those battles in the light of developments both in historical thinking and in tabletop wargaming.
SPECIAL CHARACTERS FOR YOUR WHAT A COWBOY! GANG SIDEKICKS AND MAKEWEIGHTS • As in the movies, not every great idea always fits the final edit of a set of rules. So, in a nod to “What a Cowboy - The Director’s Cut”, here are some special characters that were left on the cutting-room floor, as well as an additional scenario. Enjoy!
THE RISE AND ULTIMATE FALL OF ENGLISH FORTUNES AFTER AGINCOURT • In 1415, on the fields of Agincourt, Henry V won a great victory and decimated both the French army and nobility. In just a few years, the English king would be recognized as the heir to the French throne and large swathes of French territory would be under his control. But then the winds of fortune changed and the English control in France would be reduced to a…