A while ago, I recalled having read an article by Clive Lane in an old wargame magazine, which dealt with the subject of figure gaming using hexes, a novel subject at the time (late eighties). I wanted to dip back into those articles again and so after a little internet research I found two candidates on e-Bay and ordered them.

The magazine in question was of course the rather marvellous ‘Practical Wargamer’, which had editor Stuart Asquith at the helm and was published by Argus Specialist Publications.

We should remind ourselves that in 89 / 90 we were essentially in the pre-internet world as far as the average household and the wargamer were concerned. This fact alone made this magazine a hugely important part of the fabric of the wargaming community.

Anyway, my two magazine issues ( Winter 1989 and September - October 1990) arrived, each with an article on hexes by Clive Lane - all good! 

I have just come across the magazines again today as I sort through boxes of treasure and they are being enjoyed as old friends!

The mags come in at 58 - 60 pages. They are largely presented in black and white text and line drawings, with some pages offering colour photographs and illustrations. 

There isn’t a WWW web link or an e-mail address or FaceBook page reference anywhere in sight. Instead, the adverts carry real estate addresses, telephone numbers and that typical request that the reader ‘sends 75 pence in stamps for a catalogue’ or a ‘Self Stamped Address Envelope for more information’ - which almost feels quite charming or quaint now.

Looking at an inflation calculator, £1 Sterling in 1989 would be valued at around £3.23 in todays money, so the front cover price of a magazine (£1.95) would equate to £6.45 today, so not a big difference on the face of it, but in those days, the average family generally had much less disposable income in their pockets (though that situation is on the rise) once priorities like food, gas, electric and rent / mortgages were paid for, so really by comparison, I imagine the mags were really more expensive …… though of course you didn’t have the ‘necessity’ of a mobile phone, an extra holiday and a car or two to worry about :-).

Browsing both copies I noted that;

The Beatties advert (a good, nay, iconic, UK model shop) had 59 branches.

Minifigs 15mm packs were 80 pence.

The entrance fee to Colours 90 (Wargame show) was £2.

W.E.Hersant Ltd were the big name book sellers for wargamers, rather like Caliver Books are today.

Alec Tiranti Ltd was selling all things to do with hand casting and centricasting.

Hovels buildings had a new Spanish range with a 25mm ‘three storey house and balcony in resin for £5.40 with 15% postage cost.

Don Featherstone has an article looking at the Egyptian army of 1882.

The marvellous Bob Marrion’s original artwork of soldiers in watercolour are given space amongst the few pages of full colour.

Southsea Models, Mili-Art, Britannia Miniatures, Mac’s Models, Skytrex, Hales Models Stonecast, Wargames Foundry, Spirit Games, Chelifer Books, The Drum and Minifigs are amongst the regular advertiser names that dominated ‘our yesterday’.

Overall, I always had an impression that this magazine was written for wargamers by wargamers and I note that sentiment is reinforced by a reader’s letter to the editor in one of the mags, as he complains about the mix of articles being too weighted to certain periods and the editor replies that he can only work with the material that is submitted to the magazine, so it sounds like at that time, we were still some way off from in house writers taking up that slack of insufficient submission from the readership.

The articles are underpinned by a strong sense / presence of history and sections explaining the important stuff of tactics and detailed construction of formations and their roles. There are several references to written orders and the business of wargaming feels like it is being expressed as a serious activity, with a level of exactitude that I sometimes wonder whether that flowed from the pens of those who had actual military experience and wanted things portrayed 'right'. It certainly comes from a time when more gamers were engaged with what was considered the importance of research and so this was all welcomed information.

Even in those days, I was interested in writing and boardgame design, but there was a seeming constraint that the world of publishing was coloured by those with an academic background, who through qualification had the ‘authority to write’ and the gateway to getting published was absolutely controlled by editors and publishing houses and you just had to rub along with that, a little in the shadows.

Fast forward to today and the power of print is at the fingertips of anyone and everyone. Self expression via the internet (this page for example), whether in written form or video, has brought a significant confidence and capability to pretty much anyone to project themselves into a public space - though of course that has not always been for the good. As the saying goes, the best thing about the internet is that everyone has a voice, the worst thing about the internet is that everyone has a voice. 

By contrast todays magazines, which of course have become just one part of what we now know as social media, seem to have a looser approach, with abstraction given due space and even the prospect of fun enters the language. Though editors must increasingly have a frantic job each month, just ensuring that they have enough content to fill the pages and maintaining sustainable circulation numbers. 

‘In house’ writing for magazines has reduced the voice of gamer diversity and I feel a slight hoorah! coming on for those early magazines and their editors who, given the times, gave space to the ordinary wargamer to share their own aspect of the hobby with the rest of us, after all that is how you get an article from the pen of say wargamer Clive Lane, playing on my mind over 35 years after it was written.

On a final note, one of my magazines has a strong smell of damp that is unpleasant and spoils it as an experience of ownership. Please don’t store documents and boardgames in attics and garages etc. Bring them indoors, yes I know space is a premium, but one might simply have to make room by getting rid of something less important, like the bed, dining table or T.V. and even all of the kids toys.    Good Luck :-) 

I recently bought a couple of boxes of plastic early medieval Irish warriors to make up some Kern bases for the Wars of the Roses. One box from Gripping Beast and the other from Wargames Atlantic.

Being early medieval, selections need to be chosen from the frames to give me a possible late medieval look, but that’s okay, it just reduces the amount of things I can use on the sprue, such as the large shield and helmeted heads etc..

The Wargames Atlantic box comes with models of Irish Wolfhounds, large dogs that were used by the soldiers. I’m not sure whether they were still a thing 400 years later for Wars of the Roses, but I thought I might do a vignette, just to include add a bit of visual fun.

And here it is, two dogs and their handler. I split some string to get out a thinner thread to use as the rope. It had PVA worked into it to lose any hairiness.

The Kerns in the Test & Resolve rules are categorised as missile troops. They suffer from lack of protection in the Wars of the Roses setting and so I might actually attach this base to a unit, to give it a one-off +1 DRM in any combat that the unit gets involved with, just to add a bit of colour. Anyway, a bit of visual fun and a good way to use the dog models on the sprue.

I might use them again when making a command sprue, but the commander would need to be in an animated pose for the running dogs to make sense, unless they are simply shown as running past him as a pack.  

You may recall that a few months ago I built some 10mm Napoleonic bases with a view to fast painting in a smaller scale, to get a small game to the dining table for when my back / leg pain is having a flare-up.

Well, now I have tried putting a few of the Epic figures (Warlord Games) down onto bases for some fast painting, to compare and also to re-assess the best way to present infantry.

Anyway, if this sort of thing interests you, there are some observations and photographs over on the Battlefields & Warriors Blog.

LINK

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2026/08/starting-new-pocket-army-for-dodgy-backs.html

Nineteen Days in Autumn, authored by Erin Goeres and published by Penguin Viking, has just appeared in hardback (258. Pages) at my high street bookstore (Waterstones UK).

The front cover says ‘offering a new history of 1066’ ….. I won’t know until I’ve read it, but it seems these days that many historical books, as a matter of course promise a revelation and for the most part, you are just getting a re-telling of a story …. After a very fast glance through it, I am not seeing anything particularly revisionist, but this is such a good story, that stands on its own two feet anyway, that I don’t mind either way.

I have only browsed the content superficially, but there is certainly a writing style here that both informs and entertains. Emma Southon (author of A History of the Roamn Empire in 21 Women), puts her finger on it when she describes it as ‘visceral’, which I think she does by giving voice to several of the participants.

The author spends a little time discussing exactly where the Hastings battlefield was, but she doesn’t hang her hat on anywhere in particular. I quite like that her view seems comfortable in cutting past that to the simple fact that it was on a hill with protected flanks due to ravine and woodland etc. As Jim Bradbury says in his Hastings book (Sutton Publishing 1998)  - ‘on the crest of a hill, which ever hill’.

[note - I would add that the Norman left flank should be in the proximity of a small hillock, as when the Bretons broke, they routed to a small hillock, which helps make the traditional site a good fit].

Of Harold’s defensive position, one thing that did catch my eye was ‘They may also have planted sharpened stakes or spears in the ground’, though as an observation of this occurring at Hastings, it is not referenced to a source, but it is a fascinating thought never-the-less as such defences are generally anti-cavalry devices.

I like the little moments of story telling that suddenly pop up in the text - this is Gyrth speaking with Harold, urging that he should be allowed to head the army against William. ‘But remember Normandy. You took an oath not to oppose him. You swore on the saint’s relics to support his claim. You cannot fight him without committing perjury.’ ‘You know I had no choice,’ snapped Harold. ‘He held me captive, he tricked me. What would you have done, Gyrth?’ ……

Nineteen Days in Autumn is a catchy title and it refers to the time between Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge over the Vikings and his march south to face William at Hastings - and that part of the story is accounting for around 40% of the content, but we are also given good coverage of Stamford Bridge itself and the earlier battle of Fulford, together with the earlier history that brought about these three battle of 1066.

That part of the book looks to be a well told account that is necessary to put the Viking and Norman invasions into context.

My overall early impression that this will be an enjoyable book to work through and will be a useful primer for the two 1066 based games that Legion Games will shortly release.

As an aside, sitting on the shelf next to this book in the shop was another new 1066 related book, simply called Harold (published by Yale). There will be a lot of 1066 interest this year in the UK as the Bayeaux Tapestry arrives on loan to the UK, while it’s usual home at Bayeaux gets a revamp.

The latest release in the Jours de Gloire (Days of Glory) series of Napoleonic games, arrived today from Vae Victis in France.

I only pre-ordered this 3 months ago, so that is quite a fast transformation to it actually getting into print.

This is their biggest package in the series so far with 4 counter sheets.

It covers three battles, all from 1813,  Lutzen, Bautzen and Dresden. Lutzen and Dresden are single Map games, on their reverse sides is the Bautzen 2 map game, though these single maps are only 59cm x 41.6 cm, so putting two together gives a footprint (A1 I think) that is only marginally bigger than a standard wargame map that we see in most American sourced games.

The rules and play aid are still running off the 2021 versions and both (and the play book) include French and English text.

For those who have bought these recent folio games, what you have come to expect is here, it looks exactly the same format and these big battles will fit into the series rather nicely.

Irish Kerns appear in two scenarios in the Test of Resolve scenario books, Stoke Field and Mortimers Cross, with 4 units needed at most.

For these skirmish missile types, my units will be two bases with five figures per base, so 40 figures are needed.

Preferring plastic, this leaves me with a choice of Victrix Games, Gripping Beast and Wargames Atlantic, though really all of these are intended for the early middle ages, rather than the late and so amongst the figures there are quite a few carrying a bit more armour than I would like, including helmets  and bigger shields, though both boxes do have a small shield alternative. The Gripping Beast box seems to have limited poses of bodies and heads.

I was also surprised to see that in several places, stocks were low or at zero, so I thought I had better jump now, rather than do anymore thinking.

In the end, I went for two boxes, so that I could mix things up a bit. Dark Age Irish from Gripping Beast with 25 figures and Dark Age Irish Warriors from Atlantic Wargames, which say 40 figures, but 10 of those are Irish Wolfhounds, so there are 30 workable infantry.

I don’t think the Wolfhound as a military feature was as prevalent in the late medieval, but certainly a couple dotted around on the bases will add a bit of interest. I might even do a base with a dog handler and two or three hounds just to add a bit of visual interest, depending on being able to build a figure with the right sort of posture.

The Gripping Beast seem to have spears rather than throwing javelins, so there is an obvious difference in size - I may have to operate on them or as is my wont recently …… just go with it and worry not!

Anyway, while we still have the good weather, I will get these glued up outside. 

Our face-to-face game took us to the skies for a change.

Age of Dogfights WWI by Forsage Games is a well produced and executed game of WWI aerial warfare with plenty of options and death.

We just started off with a basic scenario. A squadron of three aircraft per side enter the board and then later each side gets a reinforcement of another squadron of different planes.

The game has oodles of different models and it is the distinct differences between aircraft models that underpins play. My first flight had then Albatros D.V. and I was engaged against Mike's Sopwith Camel, which is what you can see in the photo. Movement is between the nodes and the aircraft stands are fixed at different heights, you just swap them out when gaining or losing altitude.

I have found that air games, rather like naval games, are designed by people who really know what they are talking about, with the danger (for me) that all of that rivet knowledge gets put into a game, becoming more complicated than my limited knowledge of those subjects needs - I would be more than happy with Hollywood style rules!

But here, the designers have managed to impart that knowledge and give the game good subject integrity, whilst still keeping a very playable and enjoyable game.

When we next revisit the game, I rather fancy one side will be trying to bomb a factory and we might even include a couple of their acetate cloud pieces.

There is also a WWII version and both games also do expansions, though from what I saw, the average land lubber would be more than happy with what the base set brings 

I have just concluded Turn 3 of the ongoing 1471 Campaign.

It delivered a battle that I must say has given me one of my best player experiences for as long as I can recall.

I have added all the details to the ongoing report on the Campaigning 1471 tab (yellow tab to the left of this screen).

The above photo shows Queen Margaret of Anjou inspecting her troops and no doubt giving encouraging words and inspiring great things from the soldiers. 

I hope you enjoy it.

The Yorkist situation had become dire (already!). Edward’s heavy defeat at Nottingham had left his army significantly weakened. His options were few. Now at York, one obvious strategy was simply to flee the country, but for the moment at least, the nobles with him swore their continued allegiance and that was enough for him to wait and see how things might develop. 

In reality their fate was bound to his. Had Edward known that Margaret was already on English soil with foreign troops, his resolve may have diminished.

Margaret’s arrival however was also a problem for Warwick. Queen Margaret of Anjou was the wife of Henry VI and a significant supporter of the Lancastrian cause, capable of leading when Henry fell into lapses of mental illness. 

If the Queen had the slightest suspicion that Warwick intended to usurp royal power by replacing Henry with the amenable Clarence, she would, without doubt use all of her power and influence to destroy Warwick, even with all the possibilities of that turning into internal rebellion within Lancastrian ranks.

No! He must keep his powder dry and at least appear to be acting fully on Henry’s behalf, so marching south to capture Henry at London was for now out of the question.

Oxford favoured going north and dealing with Edward before he could recover from the recent defeat, but Warwick wanted to wait for Margaret to join him for a combined assault on York, so that their attack would be overwhelming and decisive …… and of course Margaret would be close by.

His Machiavellian mind already saw the opportunity of both defeating Edward and taking Margaret into custody at the same time, allowing him to then deal with Henry! The external consequences on the continent could be dealt with at a later date.

Nottingham served as a strategic choke point on the York to London road. Warwick would use this as a counter argument to Oxford, advocating that in staying at Nottingham for now was actually the best way of defending London, especially with the immediate threat from Edward practically non-existent! 

[reader note - I am going to place 2 separate orders into the pot for Warwick, one to attack York now and one to wait for Margaret’s troops. Whichever order is drawn first will be acted upon, the other will be discarded. This reduces my influence over the campaign ….. I actually think he should attack now, but we shall see!].

Random Event Table - a 5 is rolled, a contingent of Flemish Handgunners join Edward’s army at York.While only a token force, Edward is so desperate for troops that they are heartedly greeted.

Drawing Orders, There are 6 orders in the pot, including the two orders for Warwick.

Order 1 - NOTTINGHAM, Warwick’s army stays in position, giving time for Queen Margaret to bring her reinforcements up from the south coast. He advises both Oxford and Clarence that it will serve Henry best if the Lancastrian army decisively defeat the Yorkist uprising with the help of Margaret's foreign troops. Warwick has allowed his political ambition to cloud his judgement on military matters. 

He has Oxford send 1 x militia south to Northampton to ensure its Lancastrian support. 

Order 2 - LONDON, Suddley continues to maintain the London Garrison, with a duty to protect Henry.

Order 3 - SOUTHAMPTON, Fauconberg sends 1 x militia to Devon. The remainder of his force combines with Queen Margaret to advance on Bristol.

Order 4 - YORK, Edward decides the army will stand and fight here. His forces begin the construction of defensive positions.

Order 5 - NOTTINGHAM, Warwicks alternative orders to attack York ….. discarded! (See order 1)

Order 6 - SHREWSBURY, the Yorkist garrison of 1 x militia, leave the city gates and return to York to join the desperate Edward. Shrewsbury’s two Bailiffs pleaded with the garrison to stay, but to no avail.

Edward’s army still had a presence, but it wasn’t one that was strong or confident enough to take on offensive manoeuvres at the moment.

Had Warwick made the right decision? On balance, we might sit on the fence, combined with Margaret, their armies would almost certainly sweep the Yorkist to one side, their defeat total, but alone, Warwick could probably, but not definitely defeat Edward, though of course this single issue was not the only one playing on Warwick’s mind.

Oxford, an aggressive commander, simply saw the decision not to immediately attack as an opportunity lost, but having voiced that, he agreed to abide with Warwick’s choice.

So no action this turn, but certainly an important setting of the scene for what might follow.

Looking at the points value for influence and control over the country, as the turn ends, the Lancastrians have 8 victory points to the Yorkist 3, Warwick’s grip is tightening.

Check out the Campaigning 1471 yellow tab to the left of the screen for the full story in chronological order.

More will be added once Campaign Turn 3 has been played.

I have opened a new tab in the menu on the left called Campaigning 1471.

It will be added to over time, giving the full story as it happens in my Wars of the Roses campaign.

Having given up on Google's Blogger, no further posts about the campaign will appear on the Battlefields & Warrior Blog, but it should all be manageable here, albeit with fewer photographs.

Game turn 1 is over there now, just click on the tab.

New in today at my bookstore (Waterstones - UK). 

First Kings - Forged by Vikings in England and Norway, hardback 246 pages by R.A.J. Waddingham, published by The History Press.

I picked this up to have a look at the history 150 - 50 years before 1066, the setting of the scene if you like of power brokers and the inter-relationship between England and Norway.

I had a quick scan through in the shop and I have the impression that there is a delivery of an awful lot of useful information, without any distraction of filler content, this author knows their stuff and they want you to know that!

'No previous southern king had ruled in York. The seat of an influential archbishop and a teeming centre of trade, its mint was soon stamping out coins declaring Athelstan rex Anglorum.'

Another book to move up the reading queue!

Well …… I think I am about done with Blogger for now.

At one time, when posting on Blogger, you just pressed the 'publish' button and hey presto, the post was live and at the top of everyone's blog reader.

Over the last few months, there have been delays in blog entries moving from submitted status to posted status and the Battlefields & Warrior Blog has been impacted by this.

The longer you wait for the posting to happen, when it does appear, the further you will have fallen back down a reader list and once you go off page 1, it becomes increasingly unlikely that the post will be noticed and read.

So putting a lot of effort into a blog post isn't worthwhile at the moment.  

It has just taken Google 27 hours to publish my most recent blog post and I must have pretty much fallen off most Blog Readers by now.

This recent post in particular had a ton of work behind it and will go largely unread,  so it's just not worth doing this meatier stuff anymore on the Blogger platform.

Google Blogger has been made aware of the posting delays, but to date the problem persists. For whatever reason, Google have been very slow in responding and so the time has come for me to step back from the Blogger platform until a more reliable and timely service can be restored.  

I will continue posting snippets here to my Commanders site, which I fund and functions as intended.

Inspired by the campaign section in the Wars of the Roses, Hail Caesar Supplement by Warlord Games, I have put down a structure to run a themed campaign, giving a nod to the events of 1471.

The map includes Tewkesbury and Barnet, the locations of the two significant battles from that year, but anything is possible.

The notes include a campaign sequence of play, an Events Table, starting forces and admin notes.

I'm hoping that this initial play testing of the campaign will bring a lot of fun and good play.

For anyone interested in such things, there is a lot of information over on the Warrior & Battlefields Blog at this link;

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2026/08/practical-campaigning-1471.html