HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With a new year here already, there's plenty here in the latest issue to keep you entertained and occupied as we enter a brand new decade.
    I also need to remind the large number of subscribers whose run has just ended that it's time to re-subscribe!
    Here's what you can expect in this fun-packed issue:

• With one of her husband Jonathan's photos featured on the front cover, Diane Sutherland gives us "A brush with Mr Kipling". More than simply a guide to bad poetry, this is an in-depth look at ingenious ways to turn interesting comestible packaging into fortifications suitable for your colonial adventures. You'll never look at a dolmades tin or ice cream tub in the same way again.
• Mike Siggins has plenty of praise to give Keith Warren and his Real Time Wargames campaign rules in "Forward observer", moving on to discuss Pete Waterman (yes, really!), the Treemendus way of miniature arboriculture, enforced frugality in the hobby, competing direct-application pigments, and the new Wundermaterial, Reddiprene 38.
• Gary Mitchell takes a breather from his new post over at Miniature Wargames to bring us "Gaming the balance, a fascinating alternative WWII scenario that pitches the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard against invading reptilians, based on the Harry Turtledove World War novels. More than a little tongue-in-cheek, this gives scope for you to prove that "they don't like it up 'em!" as you digest your mince pies.
• Wargamer and historian Chris Scott continues his thought-provoking series, "Talking wargaming", with "Invincible squares?", in which he draws to our attention the historically inconvenient fact that a good number of squares proved not to be impregnable at all.
• The Table Top Teaser this time is a real belter. Get ready to make some maps for "An affair of outposts — an introduction to map moving" in which two advance guards do their best to find and defeat the enemy and then hold their ground. A proper challenge to your wargaming skills, and the biggest Teaser map I've had to create yet!
• "If it ain't broke..." is new writer Robin Miles' paean to the Wargames Research Group's 5th Edition rules. More than just a journey into nostalgia, Robin plays through a Macedonians versus Seleucids scenario to help explain why he feels that this venerable ruleset still has much to offer.
• My own pen gets an increasingly rare outing to recount "A visit to Osprey Publishing". Earlier this year, I accepted an invitation from Osprey marketeer Joe McCullough to meet the team behind this well-known publishing brand, ask lots of impertinent questions and explore the treasure trove of goodies held in their vaults. And, as a bonus, I got to play a Wild West game after lunch!
• Another newcomer sees their name in lights this issue, with a wonderful piece dealing not only with the Salonika campaign of 1915-17, but also with how he managed to research the part that his own ancestor played in that conflict where he lost his life. "Trapped in the birdcage" by Barry Lee is not only informative. but also inspiring, with photos of some of his beautifully-painted WWI miniatures.
• Recce is truly crammed, and I still couldn't fit everything in! Books, games, miniatures, rules, glues — the list goes on and on. I've also instituted the new format with photographs provided of the miniatures reviewed that are actual size wherever possible.
• Then of course we have the calendar of events supplied by Tricks of the Newark Irregulars, an update for our Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal, which includes some exciting news, a competition this month is to win a 36-man Seven years War battalion of the nation of your choice kindly donated by Minden Miniatures and, to round things off, messages from your favourite advertisers.
    Have fun reading, and season's greetings to you all!

Issue 20 has been added to the shop. Don't forget that we still have most of the back issues available.

EVEN MORE NEW DIGITAL DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE
I have now added ANOTHER five digital versions of back issues (numbers 11-15) to the shop making fifteen in all, plus the 'freebies'. As before, these are available as PDF downloads in a .zip 'wrapper' — just use your normal Mac or PC software to unpack them after downloading. Costing just 50% of the original cover price, they are a bargain way of trying the magazine and of course, as I am discovering, there are an increasing number of people who prefer digital publications, especially people who travel a great deal and take their digital library with them, and some readers who live in far-flung corners of the world where postage is both expensive and unreliable.
    In due course, I shall add further digital issues and also 'bundles' of PDFs to reduce the number of individual downloads required: at present, owing to the limitations of the current website, each issue needs to be downloaded separately as they cannot be added to the PayPal cart.

COMBAT STRESS
You can now help us to make a real difference by donating to The Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal. Please give whatever you can afford: every penny counts and is hugely appreciated. More details will be published in issue 14 as you can see above!
    Battlegames is carrying the regular Combat Stress advertisement without charge, as a small contribution towards the work that this UK charity is doing for our Service men and women who have experienced unimaginable horrors and stresses on the front line in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and elsewhere.
    If you are, or know of, an ex-Service man or woman who is suffering from the effects of combat stress, or would just like more information, then you can visit the Combat Stress website at www.combatstress.org.uk or email contactus@combatstress.org.uk or call 01372 841680.

Roll 'em high!

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