Classic Wargamer’s Journal: First Impressions

Well I placed my order on 21 July (UK time) and the hard copy edition was here in the antipodes on the 27 July (NZ time) – so that’s about a 5 day turn around – well done Phil and the Royal & NZ Posts! The CWJ Pilot is a stapled, 34 page (+covers) A4 format publication including a centre leaf with 6 glossy full colour photos, and large easy to read type. The tone is light hearted but very much in the tradition of those great wargaming publications of old, such as Charles Grant’s “The War Game” – in fact Phil Olley’s reference to the significance of this publication for him had me feeling very nostalgic – as it has always been ‘the’ Classic Wargaming Book for me (alas War Games Digest that CWJ is styled on is just a bit too early a publication for this not so young lad)!

The Journal contains 10 articles of varying length (from 1-6 pages each), including an editorial, and ‘last post’. All the articles are smashing good read in my opinion, capturing exactly that feel Phil has set to achieve. Some will use the term old school wargaming but I don’t know if that’s right – ‘classic’ is a far better term and this Journal appears to be more about fostering that classic gaming community spirit and content (of the 1960’s & early 70’s publications), rather than specifically pushing any particular style of wargaming or rule set.

The pilot issue contains a very interesting ‘classic’ article about personality on the battlefield (“The Character of Commanders” by Jeff Hudelson in Canada), which immediately brought images of Charles Grant, Don Featherston, Brig. Peter Young, and co to mind (due to the ideas, not the actual type of commander’s character)! There’s also a comprehensive guide to how to organise (and physch yourself up) to paint those massive ‘classic wargaming’ units of old, as seen with Grant, Young, and Peter Gilder (by Stokes Schwartz in the USA) – I was particularly amused reading this article about how the units seemed to grow as the article went on, from 48 figures at the start, to 48-60 figures at the bottom of the first page, to eventually 48-60+ figures by halfway through the second page of the article! I was expecting the units to reach 96 figures by the fourth page’s end of the article! Nevertheless a very well thought out and informative article… I was especially interested in the “Desert Island” bio-view of Bill Protz (in the USA), a fascinating read, and great to find out about the man behind “General Pettygree”!

The CWJ Pilot Issue also contains no less than 4 scenarios or game suggestions, and on the whole a refreshing read and eminently affordable (just £3 for the PDF version). I’ll be signing up for the first years subscription (4 issues), in hardcopy, as soon as Phil has the option on PayPal!