Wargames Illustrated
{{Short description|Game magazine}}
{{italic title}}
Wargames Illustrated is a magazine dedicated to miniature wargaming which is focused on historical tabletop wargames. The monthly magazine has both paper and digital editions and maintains editorial, design and administrative staff in Nottingham, England.{{cite web |title=About us / what we do |url=https://www.wargamesillustrated.net/info/ |website=Wargames Illustrated |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Wargames Illustrated Magazine |url=https://arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk/shop/wargames-illustrated-magazine-427-july-2023-w-free-cruel-seas-sprue/ |website=Arcane Scenery and Models |access-date=22 July 2023}}
The magazine reviews new products, provides advice on painting miniatures, produces campaign settings, and researches historical battles. It is in a large part based on submission of content from wargaming enthusiasts around the world. {{cite web |title=Hard Talk? Interview with Dan Faulconbridge UK Editor of Wargames Illustrated |url=http://leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.com/2013/08/hard-talk-interview-with-dan.html |website=The League of Augsburg |access-date=5 Aug 2013}}
Wargames Illustrated was conceived and originally owned and edited by Duncan Macfarlane (ex-Games Workshop manager). In January 2009 Macfarlane sold the magazine to Battlefront Miniatures of New Zealand. Battlefront employed Dan Faulconbridge as the UK Editor and Dave Taylor as the US Editor. In May 2015 Battlefront Miniatures sold Wargames Illustrated Limited to UK Editor Dan Faulconbridge, who since then has been the sole owner and editor.{{cite web |title=The world's premier tabletop gaming magazine |url=http://theminiaturespage.com/mags/?id=997611 |website=TMP |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Duncan Macfarlane |url=https://thepartizanshow.blogspot.com/2021/06/duncan-macfarlane-1948-2021.html |website=The Partizan Show Blog |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=22 July 2023}}
Wargame Rulesets
In addition to the magazine itself, the publisher also produces and publishes game rules, including notably Never Mind the Billhooks. The author of the rules, Andy Callan, observed over the years that most tabletop wargames take several hours or days to play, and are not well suited to small skirmishes such as the Battle of Nibley Green.{{cite web |title=Game Designer Andy Callan Introduces Himself And The Rules: Never Mind The Billhooks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Bhkl-cLmQ |website=YouTube | date=5 October 2020 |publisher=Wargames Illustrated |access-date=22 July 2023}} Whilst less historically significant, he discovered that these smaller battles actually make for better gameplay. In response he produced a ruleset aimed at medieval battles of around 100 combatants per side, allowing games closer in duration to a traditional boardgame. Wargames Illustrated obtained the rights to publish the rules.{{cite web |last1=Calhan |first1=Andy |title=Points and Initial Set up: Never Mind The Billhooks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyoFp94rmw |website=YouTube |date=5 October 2020 |publisher=Wargames Illustrated |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=15 Questions with Andy Callan |url=https://littlewarsfm.podbean.com/e/15-questions-with-andy-callan/ |website=Little Wars Fm |publisher=Podbean |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Daytona |first1=Jackie |title=Goonhammer Historicals interviews Andy Callan of Never Mind The Billhooks |url=https://www.goonhammer.com/goonhammer-historicals-interviews-andy-callan-of-never-mind-the-billhooks/ |website=Goonhammer |date=23 March 2023 |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Never Mind The Billhooks |url=https://www.wargamer.com/never-mind-the-billhooks |website=Wargamer |date=19 October 2020 |access-date=22 July 2023}}
The ruleset has been well received by the gaming community, which, due to the interesting turns of events that typically take place during a game, often produces battle reports.{{cite web |title=Death Valley battle report |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpZ9J0OymGQ |website=Youtube | date=19 May 2022 |publisher=Wargames Guru |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Never Mind the Billhooks Rules (Gallia) - Battle Report - Part 1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o8Abc7DNdg |website=YouTube | date=21 January 2023 |publisher=Medieval Wargamer |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=A Never Mind the Billhooks Battle Report |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oZAgHx2Lr4 |website=YouTube | date=20 February 2021 |publisher=Cry Havoc War Gaming |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Battle of Ambler Moor: A Never Mind the Billhooks Deluxe Report |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xcvR_jJmS0 |website=YouTube | date=19 January 2023 |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=Battle report, Never mind the Billhooks |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/wargaming/comments/11qop93/battle_report_never_mind_the_billhooks/ |website=reddit |date=13 March 2023 |publisher=F1nchy1878 |access-date=22 July 2023}}{{cite web |last1=WOOD |first1=Steve |title=Never mind the Bill Hooks – New Battle Report |url=https://arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk/never-mind-the-bill-hooks-new-battle-report/ |website=Arcane Scenery & Models |date=24 January 2020 |access-date=22 July 2023}}
References
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External links
- {{official|http://www.wargamesillustrated.net/}}
{{WargameMag}}
Category:Magazines established in 1987