Wargaming is a big hobby with many diverse factions and perspectives: striking a balance that pleases everyone can be truly challenging! We like to think what sets Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy apart from other historical wargaming magazines is its focus on having fun, no matter what kind of wargamer you are or what your background is. WS&S is a light-hearted publication, that pays particular attention to games themselves and how to play them: it doesn’t get bogged down in lengthy historical expositions or recycle content you can read yourself in any history book. While popular periods like WWII, the Napoleonic era, and the ancient world get frequent coverage, we also try to feature the unexpected, with articles on spies, monsters and gangsters to name but a few.
Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy
Editorial
MINIATURE REVIEWS • A look at some of the newest miniatures, terrain pieces, and more from across the wargaming world.
VARNISHING THE ELEPHANT • Bit of all sorts to report this month in, what will turn out to be, my first ‘This Gaming Life’ of the new year. 2025 marks the fifteenth year in which I’ve been writing this column, and I do have to wonder whether there is anything left to write about! During that time, I’ve covered game mechanics in some detail, and offered plenty of uncalled-for advice on matters concerned with the collecting and painting of wargames armies. Over that decade-and-a-half there has been plenty to say about this glorious hobby of pushing toy soldiers about a tabletop whilst drinking beer and talking drivel, even if, on the whole, the vast majority of what I’ve written has been sensibly ignored by the wargaming community at large. Which is probably for the best.
WO SIND DIE ANDEREN? • “Where are the others?” asked the amazed German officer who had accepted the surrender of the Belgian Chasseurs at Bodange. He could not believe that this small unit of two platoons had managed to stall the 1st Panzer Division for over eight hours. Against the odds, the men of the 5th Company, 1st Battalion Chasseurs Ardennais had held.
THE SUTTON HOO KINGMAKER • The battle of the River Idle is one of the many recorded seventh century conflicts between Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in Britain. What used to be referred to as ’the Heptarchy’ - imagined as a kind of knock-out tournament between seven kingdoms - is now a more nuanced discussion involving the waxing and waning fortunes of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, of which Northumbria and East Anglia were both prominent and frequent rivals.
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE STRIKES BACK • The Crimean War is oft seen through the lens of Western eyes as a conflict between the Russian Empire and those of France and Great Britain, ignoring the main belligerent of Russia: the Ottoman Empire. For example, the bravery of the Turkish gunners who manned the forts at Balaclava is often forgotten. In reality, the Turks fought well, despite being outnumbered.
CORSICAN AMBITION • Few men can claim to have had an entire era of history named after them. Napoleon was undoubtedly the pivotal figure in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century in Europe, but after the defeat of the First Coalition, how did he rise to Consul and then to Emperor? And how can wargamers factor in his presence on a wargames table?
NAPOLEON’S MIDDLE EASTERN ADVENTURE • Following Napoleon’s brilliant Italian campaign of 1796-1797 we next see him sent to Egypt where he was to face ongoing conflict with Mameluke and Ottoman forces. This glamorous and colourful campaign sees his hard-bitten veterans take on an enemy by using unorthodox tactics in the desert and wilderness of Egypt and Syria.
THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1800 • The Italian Campaign of 1800 was a defining moment in the Napoleonic Wars. This military operation culminated in one of Napoleon’s most audacious military manoeuvres and...