Having trouble viewing the flipbook magazine? View and download it instead! A smorgasbord of delights! Why would you pick a theme for the magazine when you can include 15 different articles drawn from the whole of human history and across the whole broad wargaming spectrum? Well, because it gives direction to the magazine, focus for our contributors, and a point of reference to our readers … Tish, pish and nonsense, a magazine without a theme is pure, unadulterated and without distraction, especially when it is not cheapened by attaching a tawdry free gift! Despite the pros and cons of the above points the practicality of the issue is that themes are tough to bring together and free gifts are an added luxury which during lockdown, sometimes have to give way. Whilst this month’s theme was due to be ‘Vive La France’ - a focus on the French at War - getting out to photograph “that fantastic collection of World War One French” proved to be impossible when the lockdown message is “Stay at home. Stay Local”. But anyway you know all that, I’ve whined about such things before, so let’s get on with the show and into this month’s smorgasbord, which will take you from Ancient campaigning to a Billion Suns, via medieval heraldry, Native Americans in wooden armour, fancy uniforms at First Bull Run, and lots more beside. Happy reading and rolling! Dan Falconbridge Editor and Owner P.S. On the freebie front, fear not; this month’s stopgap is exactly that - a gap between two stops - free rules up next month! QUICK FIRE! Readers’ short, sharp wargames projects, from rebasing to online gaming, and lots more in between. OBSERVATION POST New product releases in the hobby come under our microscope. FULL PAPER JACKET Our monthly look at intriguing books. “MORE FRIGHTFUL THAN THE MOST HELLISH DEVILS” James Morris is keen to tell us about his intriguing wargames project which brings Russian fur traders, their native Alaskan allies and ‘The People of the Tides’ to life. DESIGNER’S NOTES: A BILLION SUNS A Billion Suns is a game of interstellar fleet combat from the team behind Gaslands. Designer Mike Hutchinson walks us through some of the interesting design elements of the game and tells us how he arrived at them. NEW FRANCE UNDER SIEGE Nick Buxey digs into his collection to create ‘Scenes from La Petite Guerre’ showing New France’s troubles in the North Americas against the Iroquois, who fiercely defended their lands. USMC VIETNAM PAINTING GUIDE (HUE 1968) Want to paint great looking Vietnam era US Marines? Keith Ainslie details his approach on a couple of Empress Miniatures USMC. HELD TO RANSOM: THE PIRATE RAID ON GUAYAQUIL, 1709 Neil Smith
