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Magazines / Wargaming
- Review |
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| Ragnarok (issue 47) |
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| By: SFSFW |
| Info: The bi-monthly journal of the Society of Fantasy and Science
Fiction Wargaming |
| Format: A5, soft bound |
| Contents: 56 pages. Black and white. Minimal Advertising. |
| Price: See Text |
| Review sample provided by SFSFW |
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Displaying Reviews: 1 - 1
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Average Reviewer Rating:
 
Number of Reviews:
1
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An Excellent Imaginative Read
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Reviewer
Rating:
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Reviewed by Antar (info@totalmodel.com) October 11, 2005
Ragnarok is the magazine of the Society of Fantasy and Science Fiction Wargamers. Each issue can be purchased individually for about £3.75. Alternatively, you can join the SFSFW and you'll receive 6 copies for free!
The magazine is approximately A5 format with a full colour glossy cover. Inside there are almost 60 pages printed in black and white but with plenty of photographs and illustrations. Of those pages I counted only 3 that were concerned with advertising. Considering that most magazines these days are liberally littered with ads for just about everything, I thought this was a real boon.
Issue 47 contains about 5 articles dedicated to game rule expansion and exploration. There's also a couple of scenarios thrown in for good measure. Each article is very detailed - most spanning several pages - and you get the impression that the authors have been encouraged to really blow their trumpets. I found the articles extremely imaginative. They appeared to focus more on ideas than, say, military doctrine and history - which is what you'll often find in wargaming publications. Such material, though valid, can often seem a little dusty after a while and Ragnarok's light touch was most refreshing.
The feature article in issue 47 demonstrated how the popular Future Wars rules (by Chris Peers) can be adapted for use with Dr Who miniatures. After a brief recap of the basic rule system the author (Philip Sidebotham) really went to town. Over the course of 16 pages he delivered a feast of information, including weapon charts and a delightful bestiary of all your favourite Whovian characters - Daleks, Cybermen, Sea Devils, et al - complete with game stats. I have never played Future Wars and I have never seen a Dr Who miniature but such was the quality of the material in this article that it truly captured my imagination.
Elsewhere I found articles about chemical warfare and how such weapons can be introduced into the Panzerfauste game world. There was also an interesting look at how you can run Star Wars games using old toys and models from yesteryear together with the Dirtside game rules. By the time I'd reached the scenario about the hot air balloon raid on Edward (Black Beard) Teach's pirate ships my eyes were positively spinning!
The back of the booklet contains a collection of reviews showcasing some of the most recent releases in the industry. Models and figures from the likes of Ainsty, Black Hat, Ground Zero Games and GW all make an appearance together with a short but "to the point" critique.
In the past, whilst browsing the aisles at WH Smiths, I've often been tempted to pick up a copy of the latest glossy wargaming magazine. Although the presentation of such publications is excellent, I find some of the articles can be a little overburdened by the weight of historical gravitas. In contrast, Ragnarok's lighter and more conceptual approach is far more imaginative and engaging. Unlike most historical wargaming magazines - which I'm always happy to flick through - I found I could read Ragnarok almost cover to cover!
The only thing I think I can find against Ragnarok (based purely on the evidence of issue 47) is that it may be a little too light for some fans of the genre. There are corners of the fantasy industry which are dark, brooding and - in a few cases - positively sinister. You won't find any of that here. Ragnarok is neat, tidy, almost inconspicuous - but it makes for a great read and will certainly help stoke the fires of your imagination.
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19
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