I read the magazine, so you can decide whether you want a copy or not.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This issue, it's the Franco-Prussian war and I'm quite excited. It's a conflict I've always wanted to know more about so here goes!
EDITORIAL: A return to the editor's chair for Dan Faulconbridge after some guest editors. He does a good job in summarising the Franco-Prussian war but, like all editorials in WI, it lacks the personal touch of MW(w/BG) and WSS.
WARGAMING NEWS: The usual Flames of War and Osprey new releases and news of the launch of a Mega Wargames book of big games beautifully photographed.
LAST POST FOR THE TOY SOLDIER GENERAL: WI is coming late to the Donald Featherstone eulogies and it doesn't mention anything that hasn't already been said about the man, although it does feature some nice tributes from his American colleagues.
AH, LES BRAVES GENS: The first of this month's theme, which is an overview, timeline and some maps of the war. A really good primer if you don't know the subject very well, like myself. You get a bit on uniforms, some suggestions for wargames rules and a brief discussion about the weapons, tactics and leadership. Also, some good photos as well.
DESERT DUST UP: A scenario for "Fate of a Nation". This is done in the style of WI's standard Flames of War battle reports/scenarios which reads like a sporting event: Both players say what their plans are going to be, and then dice by dice commentary about what goes on in the game. I am partial to this form of BatRep as it comes across as a real competition rather than a write up of a game between the author and his mates that you weren't invited to. As for the scenario itself, it's a pretty basic Six Day War tank battle using the Dust Up mission, which is one of my favourites. Some fantastic photos to go with it as well.
DASHED HOPES: A Franco-Prussian war scenario about the Battle of Worth. It starts with a good photo of the game terrain and set up, has a really good historical introduction which really sets the scene but you only get two paragraphs about how to refight it in the tabletop. There are no OOBs, no set up maps, no special rules and no rule recommendations either. You get lots and lots of photos of the game and from that you have to deduce how to refight it with your own forces. A missed opportunity there.
THE MAKING OF THE ALAMO: A follow up to last month's 40mm Alamo convention game report. This time, the author shows how he built the model itself and has some good tips and techniques. Wonderfully illustrated as well.
BIG BATTLE, BIG GAME: The battle of Gravelotte-St Privat in the Franco-Prussian War. Again, like the Worth battle article this has some great historical background to hook you in but once it's done that, it's pretty bare on giving you the information you need to refight it at your home or club. For example, it talks about using Black Powder rules for the game but the author and game umpire had special ammunition supply rules and event cards which are only fleetingly referred to. You do get a very nice description of how they handled the command and control across three battle boards in 2 rooms with both C in C's in different cities and only contactable via text messages, to give the game a bit of fog of war but how the game was worked out in practice, OOBs, special rules, what is on the event cards and how many are all absent. This made for a frustrating read: I was very interested in the historical write up, and it was very well written, and the neat command and control set up but the reader cannot emulate what these guys did just from this article, which is supposed to be a wargames scenario. There's no links to websites which could shed further light on the game either. There are some lovely photos but a 1 page personal report from one of the players who lists his own corps' OOB and how the game began and ended with reference to some of the other players. In the end this came across as one of those articles that spends time name checking the players but not giving enough detail about how you could run a game like it.
BACK TO THE USSR: A short preview of the reprint of Red Bear for Flames of War. Nice bit of insight into how the Russian force lists were worked out which, if you're a FoW player, will be of interest. I'll wait for the PDF.
BRITANNIA DESIGNER'S NOTES: This is for the upcoming Hail Caesar supplement covering the Roman invasion of Britain. Nice bit of insight and historical background and some nice photos but a word of warning: There are quite a few shots of British warriors stark naked with their 
s hanging out, in 28mm and reasonably anatomically correct right down to the thatch of pubes on all of them. I'm not a prude, but don't…as I did…take this issue of WI and read this article whilst in a Doctor's waiting room, a bus or a train.
FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR FIGURE ROUND UP: Fortunately the forces of Napoleon III and Bismark are all fully clothed. A comprehensive review of miniatures available for the period from 6mm right up to 28mm.
OUTFITTING ACW ARTILLERY: A continuation of this series looking at the different arms of service in the American civil war. This looks at the artillery arm on both sides with some nice bits cribbed from Osprey and a painting guide for a Union gun crew.
HISTORICON 2013 PAINTING COMPETITION: A bit of eye candy from this year's show and something there to maybe inspire you. A lot of Fantasy/Sci-Fi and WW2 on display here.
A DESIGNER'S JOURNEY-HISTORICAL ACCURACY: Regular columnist Alessio Cavatore talks about the research he did for Bolt Action and the choices a designer has to make when confronted by often conflicting data about the effectiveness of individual weapons. Apparently we wargamers who moan on internet forums about game X being inaccurate and who cite some obscure event to back up our point don't help the game designer! Good reading if you're planning on writing your own set.
SAVAGE WARS OF PEACE PART 5: In which Ubercommando groans at the use of mock Victorian formal speech in wargaming articles but gives this a free pass because I'm used to this series now. Once it dispenses with the flowery speech, this is a nice addition to the series which gives you rules on event cards that can be played in a game followed by an overview and a couple of scenarios for the Maori Wars in 1860s New Zealand. It does what a good wargames magazine scenario should do: Gives some historical background, the OOBs, suggestions for rules, special rules and everything you need to set up a game. Alas, no maps and the photos are all made to look like a Daguerreotype but the text descriptions of the terrain work well.
OVERVIEW: A bit disappointing this one. On the one hand I've learned a lot about the Franco-Prussian war, on the other there's nothing in the magazine except for the list of figure manufacturers that can help you refight any of the battles. This issue is full of history but a little light on wargaming. The usual presentation and photo quality are high but I can't help but feel this was a missed opportunity.
experiments with 3Dprinting tiles.
