Due out this week, it's a bumper issue this month, because it's that time of year — yes, issue 384 contains the official show guide for Salute 2015, which this year will have the theme of Agincourt, celebrating the 600th anniversary of the battle. Here's what you can expect:
- Briefing
- "A funny thing happened to me on the way to the show," says the Editor in his Briefing, as he considers the joys of Hammerhead and the forthcoming delights of Salute, the 'daddy' of them all.
- World Wide Wargaming
- In his World Wide Wargaming column, the Editor takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the stresses of marketing new products in the digital age, breathes the air of publicity on two deserving blogs, and rounds off with some tips for making your own blog more discoverable.
- Forward Observer
- Neil Shuck uses his Forward Observer spot to test Simon Miller's new Ancients ruleset, To the Strongest, and consider the merits of Peter Pig's PBI, before passing his eyes over PSC's The Great War Kickstarter, remembering how his enthusiasm for WWI was kindled by the TooFatLardies Through the Mud and the Blood. Then he plunges into questions of terrain for WWII gaming and, in particular, his recreation of the Pont de la Croix scenario from Operation Warboard, pondering how much he should make, and how much he should buy. Decisions, decisions…
- Whistle while you wattle
- Diane Sutherland uses her Wargames Widow column to show us how to Whistle while you wattle. She's been kept in the dark for ages by husband Jon, who now surprises her with a Dark Ages task. So, it's time to put down your whittling and pick up your wattling, with plenty of paint but no daub.
- Fantasy Facts
- Fantasy Facts columnist John Treadaway (who features later in this issue, too) looks at the latest offerings proffered in the build-up to Salute, where manufacturers will be releasing a welter of new and shiny goods to tempt us. Here, he is deluged with stuff from CP Models, drowned with offerings from Brigade, smothered with shinies from EM-4, harassed by sculpts from Artizan and finally cowed by miniatures from Crooked Dice. Poor man!
- The march on Madrid
- Andrew Rolph returns with the opening installment of The march on Madrid, this installment being an overview of the remarkable advance of the Army of Africa on the tormented Spanish capital in 1936. This sets up Andrew's brilliant ideas for a campaign system, to be delivered next month. Many thanks too to Minairons Miniatures, who supplied some lavish photographs.
- Salute 2015
- Then comes the huge Salute 2015 show guide.
- Following the Welcome from South London Warlords' President/Chairman Phil Portway, Alan Perry describes the process of creating this year's giveaway miniature in Sculpting the longbowman; David Barnes examines The longbow, a stick that changed the course of history; Alan Patrick pays tribute to The bowmen of England, the product of a nation organized for war; and the Salute 2014 painting competition pages are stuffed with sumptuous photographs of all last year's first- and second-placed miniature masterpieces.
- Halfway through, we present the listings of all the games that will be presented at Salute 2015 on 25th April at ExCel, a useful floorplan with additional information about this year's queueing system, and a list of all the traders.
- Moving on, John Treadaway presents Stingray, describing the planned participation game in which anything can happen in the next half hour; Stephen Dunn gives a comprehensive account of all the Warlord memorabilia produced by the Warlords for the show over the years; and then Ian Spence, Des Darkin and Martin Gane preview their demonstration game, The Battle of Araure, Simon Bolivar's 1813 victory in South America.
- There are also, of course, lots of messages from enthusiastic traders hoping that you will visit their stands at the show!
- Send three and fourpence
- Back in the 'normal' magazine, Conrad Kinch uses his Send three and fourpence column to extol the virtues of picking one size of miniature and sticking to it.
- Gravelines
- In the fifth part of Gravelines, his series on siege operations, the Editor begins with assessing the challenge facing the attacker and then, having laid down the first parallel, the preparations necessary to begin the dangerous job of sapping forward towards the walls.
- Quick play the WRG way
- Rules writer Dan Mersey returns with Quick play the WRG way, in which he scouts out the latest versions of the popular DBA and HOTT rules, assessing the changes and explaining the basics. Be warned: Dan has managed to conjure up a giant killer hedgehog. It's not a pretty sight.
- Hex Encounter
- Boardgame enthusiast Brad Harmer uses his Hex Encounter column to assess the opportunities still to be grasped in the world of licensing box office hits to become boardgames with appeal for the masses, and lists his top four favorites.
- Recce
- Despite the squeeze on space, we've managed to cram in a Recce section too, with reviews of the Sands of Sudan rules by Carlo Pagano, the excellent Seven Days of Westerplatte boardgame, Irregular Wars: Conflict at the World's End rules for all you budding Conquistadores, and a special review of Tumbling Dice's "Discount Battle Pack" of tiny fleets and rules for Russo-Japanese naval conflict at Tsushima 1905.
- Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal
- And, of course, we have an update from our Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal and a competition, this month for not one, not two, but three marvellous 'Rapid Ruins' kits from Valiant.
That should keep you going. See you at Salute – and if you're attending the show, there's no need to rip the middle out of your magazine, as the show guide will also be available at the door of the show.
