"Wargames Illustrated in the U.S." Topic

Is anyone experiencing their FLGS not being able to get WI in via their distributor?

How about those with direct subscriptions? Have you been getting your copies?

I've been going through my shop, Viking Hobbies in Sacramento, CA, for about 20 years and now the owner says she can't get any through any of her distributors – something about it being too expensive for them to ship to the U.S.

If so, it's too bad.

I'm not sure if I want to go the electronic version path.

Mine have be b delayed and one never showed up. All in all not bad considering all the postal issues worldwide.

I recently bought an Australian model railroading magazine in Roseville, Ca., without carefully checking the price (a bunch of other items in the mix) – turns out it was about $17.00 USD US! A lot of that was the cost of getting the magazine to here from the 'antipodes'.

Been a customer at Viking since 1986 – but harder and harder to find things to buy since so few historical related items make it into the stores anymore. Pretty much just buying an occasional Osprey. Postage costs may cause those to rise soon?

As to WI? Gave up on that magazine at issue 180. Tried buying one now and then along the way but just not worth it anymore. Yeah, I know, pretty pictures – almost exclusively of 28 mm and pretty much every article is just a product advertisement in disguise. WSS not quite so bad but I've finally given up on it, too. Too many theme issues that are of zero interest so why bother?

" Too many theme issues that are of zero interest so why bother?"

Hm…good points.
I'm wondering though; what is it that you want out of a magazine dedicated to our hobby then?

I've given up on getting my gaming mags from US stores. I order them from North Star about every other month and I often have them two months before I see them on the shelves here.

Murphy, BB will have to speak for himself, but I understand his problem. What I look for is (are?)

Rules too short to be commercially viable.
Scenarios
Painting guides--as opposed to uniform guides
Terrain-making advice
Mini-campaigns
Product reviews
Convention reviews

That's apart from anything which ties into a specific period or set of rules I'm interested in, of course.

But a scenario which is unintelligible without a particular set of rules is unlikely to be of use to me. And an article on, say "Using The Phantom and the Jungle Patrol in Sharp Practice" isn't of use to anyone who isn't both a fan of The Phantom and a user of those particular rules. There's a lot of both of those going on. As for pictures, I can get as many pictures of nice-looking wargame tables as I want for free on the Internet. What I need are pictures which lend clarity to the article--maps, tables showing the battle under discussion, or tables showing the type of troops being discussed. What was good practice 30 years ago is less helpful today.

Wayne,

I subscribe to both "Medieval Wargaming" and "Wargames, Soldiers, and Strategy" (WSS) from Karwansaray Publlishers in the Netherlands. they initially had mailing delays at the beginning of the pandemic but have solved them by a remailer here in the US. I get my issues within a couple of weeks of completion of printing.

I really enjoy WSS magazine. As Robert stated, it has almost everything he wants. Although some of their themes aren't really of interest, I do like to read them because they expand my knowledge of military history.

But to each, his own.

Jim

I have had the same experience as Titchmonster: all delayed, one missing. Checking the WI site recently I found that magazine subscriptions were no longer available for the US, only electronic subscriptions.

I have been a combined digital and hard copy subscriber of WI for a few years now. Missed one issue. They have a new distributor who is much better. WSS I do as a digital subscription.

I've been subscribing to WI and WSS for years, no problems.

I think I'm going to have to consider my funds and probably go with a WS&S sub, and then give the electronic subscription to WI a try.

I hope that they don't require an Apple product, though.

I use a kindle and my Windows PC. No issue there.

Thanks

John

Hi all I dropped my subscrption to WI after many years since I missed 4 out of the last 6 numbers since Jauary 2021 including Issue Nr. 400 that meanwhile was sold out. Pretty much disappointing also because they told they'd send two of the missing issues that were never receuved as well. They reported a non performing PO provider which the allegedly changed…
It seems they are having problems with neewsstand dealers here in EU/Italy as well as I have seen only a three issues on sale since JAnuary

I think all magazines can have ups and downs – i prefer WI generally over WSS but thats me. Both with their themes tend to have editions that interest me not much. WSS has diorama articles that in the main are of marginal interest. I used to like uniform articles in the days of the old Miniature Wargames and also older still Military Modelling