"New ACW Ezine" Topic

Dear fellow gamers,

In August 2013, Scott Mingus Sr, historian, author, gamer and president of the Johnny Reb Gaming Society will cease publication of the organization's magazine, Charge!

Although this is sad news, I have been in discussion with Mr. Mingus about continuing to support the hobby by introducing a new magazine to pass through the ranks of Charge! continuing the attack. I expect such a maneuver to leave the new unit shaken but it should rally quickly.

I can not at this time achieve the level of professionalism that Mr. Mingus has brought to his magazine, but I believe I can aspire to produce a publication that will inform and entertain gamers who enjoy the ACW.

The new publication will be called "ACW Gamer" and will be an electronic magazine designed to be download on computers and mobile devices. This will be a green method of publishing and more within my capabilities to produce. I am currently in the process of researching how to publish this Ezine. At this time the frequency of the Ezine has not been determine but I am committed to a one year run to evaluate the appeal of this endeavor.

The objective of the magazine is to produce a publication that will inspire and inform miniature gamers and deal with a wide spectrum of gaming and historical subjects (although I want focus on applying these to ACW gaming). Non-miniature games articles will be considered when they 'blur' the lines such as Hasbro's Battle Cry.

I will begin accepting articles and photographs immediately in order to start preparing issue 1 which will be released in September 2013. Deadline for this issue will 30 May 2013. Please submit your article electronically to info@acwgamer.com.

I am looking for After Action Reports of your games, reviews of new gaming products to include rules, miniatures and terrain, terrain making and painting articles and historical articles on uniforms, units and battles. I am especially interested in scenarios for any rule system, including 'what if' or fictional scenarios.

I do ask that if you produce a historical article, that you include a discussion on how to use the information in gaming. For example, if you produce an article about fratricide in the ACW, include some discussion of how to simulate these incidents on the tabletop.

Additionally, in each magazine I plan on closing by honoring the ancestor of a gamer who served in the ACW. Service is not limited to service in battle as long as the gentlemen or lady served their country , North or South during the conflict, so send me your bio's and pics!

Any article submitted must not have been previously publish and must give credits to photographers and document any references used.

I look forward to bringing this project to life and hopefully providing ACW Gamers with an enjoyable and informational resource that will enrich their tabletop battles.

Scott Mingus' Charge! is one of my favourite subscriptions and I am sorry that it is coming to an end. But, I understand and respect the economics of the decision.

Ghost6, why don't you tell us something about yourself? Your proposal sounds feasible – your writing is certainly competent and interesting – and so you must have a background or experience which recommends you.

Why, thank you, Gaius. I am just a humble wargamer with 25 years of miniature gaming under my belt and several years of chit and hex gaming before that. ACW has been a favorite period of study since I was a boy and is still my favorite period for wargaming. In college I was able to enjoy Civil War re-enacting and participate in several of the 125th anniversary battles. I was an extra in the movies Glory, A Perfect Tribute and the film shown at the Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama. Like most gamers I have read a multitude of books and articles on the subject, participated in Civil War round tables and I have visited over twenty Civil War battlefields and four forts that played significant roles in the conflict. I lack Mr. Mingus' academic creditials (who I also have had the honor of pushing lead with) but I have done some minor writings on the subject over the years, although nothing has been published. I have also play tested scenarios for Fire and Fury with Rich Hasenauer, play tested Ganesha Games' 61 – 65, and was an assistant proof reader on one of Mr. Mingus' scenario books. I enjoy painting my own ACW figures in 28mm and mostly play Brother Versus Brother and Fire and Fury. My primary goal is to produce a magazine that all ACW Gamers can enjoy.

Maybe I missed the info on how we would subscribe to this new item, would you mind letting us know?

I think this is a really good idea and I would like to make sure I don't miss when you start up.

Thanks.

Matthew

Any ideas on pricing and issue size? Or is it still early days for the project? Good luck!

-Stephen

@45th, I am still working on the method of publishing although a major part of the plan involves Wargame Vault. Stay tuned.

@Gators, yes, still early days…but I want to keep the price as low as practical.

Thanks for all the well wishes!

Will keep an eye out when you get in full gear. Charge is one of my favorite magazines.

VR
James Mattes

I would be very interested…living here in Australia means Ezines are much better because i can get them instantly!

Thanks for all the kind words about Charge. I fully endorse Stephen's efforts to get this new ezine launched.

And, the Johnny Reb Gaming Society is not going away. I will continue to publish scenarios, scenario books, and other Civil War material on the Wargame Vault.

Closing Charge was not an economic decision (we pretty much broke even on it). With my wife babysitting our two youngest twin grandsons and with my hectic work schedule and all the Civil War books I am now writing and getting published on a national level, my time is spent more valuably by writing for Savas Beatie and other major ACW publishers, and with all the associated book signings and PowerPoint presentations.

Subtract those two issues and we would still be publishing Charge indefinitely.

Good luck in the future to Ghost as I hope he is successful in his plans for the Ezine as I enjoyed reading Charge, and to Scott in your future endeavors.

Any chance Charge will come back in the future Scott? I'm really going to miss it! I look forward to your new scenario books however. Also do you think you can get those two Gettysberg and the one Antietam scenario books on Wargamers Vault?

Just an update. The first issue of ACW Gamer will include an exclusive skirmish scenario by a veteran scenario designer, an interview with a prominent figure sculptor, a painting article and a unit history of a famed Union regiment. The publication date is still set for this fall and I continue to work through the technology of bringing this project to life (Brave New World and all that).

I have also commissioned an exclusive figure for contributors to the Ezine; the subject and sculptor of which I am keeping close to the vest to be a surprise ; )

Hello Ghost6:
Could you email me at: jrwarlock @ gmail.com, I'd like to contribute an article but wanted to ask you some questions first.

Thank you
Jorge

We are having a sale on annual subscription until 25 Dec 2013.

Also, all new subscribers in December will be entered into a drawing for a digital download of Potomac Publication's "Infantry Flags, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, Gettysburg 1863" from Wargame Vault.

Thanks all,

ACWGamer.com

I bought and downloaded the first issue. I really enjoyed it! I believe I will go for a year's subscription!

Wow, Darkoath…..your comments are the best Christmas gift ever!

Done! You are most welcome! Your emag is definately filling a void left by Charge! going away!

Thanks Darkoath. Scott Mingus (formerly of Charge! and ACW author) has been mentoring me on this endeavor.

Looks great!