Let's read ... Practical Wargamer #1 (Autumn 1987)

I am very much a wargaming magazine collector. I cannot resist buying old copies of various magazines when I see them at a Bring&Buy at wargaming shows, and it is my ambition to somehow preserve and chronicle the history of our hobby this way.

So I decided to start a new series of articles on this blog, going through some magazines of yesteryear. And what better way to start with Practical Wargamer, of which some people say it was the best magazine of the 80s and 90s.

 

The first issue of Practical Wargamer was published in late 1987. The cover says "At Last! The NEW magazine for ALL wargamers!" It probably refers to some discussions that were present in the hobby back then, but my guess it might have to do with the inclusion of fantasy and science fiction. Perhaps some older wargamers can shine a light on this. But more interesting, the launch of Practical Wargamer meant there were now 3 "glossy" magazines published in the UK: , Miniature Wargames (started in 1983), Wargames Illustrated (issue 1 dated September 1987), and Practical Wargamer. Strangely enough, Wargames Illustrated and Practical Wargamer seem to have been launched at the same time?

The table of contents seems promising, but more interesting is the editorial by Stuart Asquith. He refers to previous publications by ARGUS, one of these a booklet called Wargames! of which he says it's now a collectible item! Luckily I have a copy, so let's keep that for a next post. Stuart Asquith (1946 - 2019) is of course a well-known name in wargaming, and a good overview of his contributions to the hobby can be found on Keith's Wargaming Blog or on Henry Hyde's Battlegames.

Now, onto the articles!

The Ancient Period gives a nice overview of how to approach the period in wargaming, and has an extensive list of rules and figures, dated 1987!

Conflict in the East is an historical article, the type of article which was common in pre-internet days, and focuses on the Turks in Eastern Europe in the 16th century.

Trouble at' Mill is a nice skirmish scenario, in which raiders have to destroy a flour mill to break the siege of Marseilles in 1536. It is suggested the game is played as a roleplaying game, although with miniatures on a proper map.

Colonial Rules gives an overview of the colonial period, and cntains some interesting terrain generation mechanism, in which the native player has the advantage of placing terrain that would obscure his troops so he can close in over closed terrain.

Arbeia Reconstructed by Charlie Wesencraft (another well-known name) builds an old Roman fort, which is followed by an article by John Treadaway how one can build a medieval castle. Both interesting articles, but of course somewhat oudated w.r.t. tools and brands of materials used. 

The Franco-Prussian War gives a good overview of the period. I guess this sort of "overview" article was easy, but useful, content for a first issue of a new magazine. The American Civil War does the same.

Painting the Model Horse gives useful hints and tips on how horses can be painted. Always useful to know, and the topic is reiterated every so many years across many magazines! Enamels were still the paints of choice!

Sepoy gives an historical overview of the wars on the Indian subcontinent during the late 18th and early 19th century. The photograph below shows how "empty" some of the wargaming tables were back then. But perhaps nothing has changed?

 

Raid on Vesta is an article by Charles S. Grant, describing a mini-campaign between his well-known imaginations, the Vereinigte Freie Stadte and the Duchy of Lorraine. It is in the typical "Table Top Teaser"-style for which the Grants became well known. A photograph shows his famous Spencer Smith figures. I recognize that figure on the bridge from somewhere, but going through several of Grant's books in my collection, I haven't identified him yet. So any help would be appreciated.

War Chariots is another historical article, with an overview of the use of chariots during the ancient period.

The Battle of Bywater gives a scenario based on The Lord of the Rings, and is of course set in the Shire.

 

Computers! is by now of course completely outdated ... mentions of the famous ZX Spectrum hobbycomputer on how to use it for wargaming! 

Then we have 2 more historical articles, one focusing on the naval battle at the Falklands in 1914, and one listing TOE for British Reconaissance units during WW2.

A fun aspect of browsing through old magazines is to look at old adverts. I picked out one, for "Plastiform" figures. I never had any of these figures, but we can still see them on the Lost Minis Wiki.

Overall, a nice selection of articles. The "wargaming" articles containing scenarios are still very much usable and inspiring today. The "history" articles are of the type we don't see anymore in wargaming magazines ... all superceded by looking up that information on the internet.