By Ron Winkler

As the Covid 19 quarantine continues, I decided it was time for another solo game using the rules. Continuing with the War of 1812, I selected the Battle of Chippawa as a game scenario. Again, I used my 15mm figures and Osprey’s excellent Niagara 1814 book as a reference for forces and battlefield maps.

Based on information in the book I rated regular units on both sides equal in quality in terms of Special qualities having First Fire, Elite 4+, and Reliable ratings. However, two of the regular US units 25^th Infantry and a single Company of the 21^st Infantry as small and tiny respectively because of their size which of course affected their Stamina rating. The other regulars on both sides were standard in size.  US and British artillery had equal qualities as did the Light Dragoons on both sides.  Both cavalry units were tiny in size.

The dedicated podcast is back for Ep.6. This episodes special guest is Joe from and they talk about Blood and Plunder and Oak and Iron.

By Tom Burgess

I am very excited about the impending release of the new World War III Team Yankee American book. That may surprise many who know me as I have only ever played Soviet and East Block type forces in Team Yankee so far. But the reality is that US forces were my first purchase for Team Yankee and I have quite a collection of US units still boxed and waiting to be built.

I only shifted to Soviets to help the force balance in my local gaming area. By now my Soviets are quite complete and its time for me to go full throttle into Americans for Team Yankee with this new book.

The World War III Team Yankee American book is a significant expansion from the preceding Stripes US Forces in World War III book. All the formations and support that were available to the US player in Stripes are also in the new book. In addition to these, the new book has added the M1A1 Armored Combat Team, M2 Bradley Combat Team, M3 Bradley Cavalry Troop, Combined Army (Heavy) Company, Combined Arms (Light) Company, and the Light Attack Company.

The 28mm size, if you ask me, is the perfect balance between playability and modeling/painting. You can buy and assemble pretty good armies for any ruleset from ancient warfare to sci-fi skirmishing without investing too much money or time to paint them, with striking results. So, even if I prefer 15mm when it comes to competitive games and recreating full-scale battles, I often spend some time to paint and play 28mm miniatures.

However, on gaming tables, I equally often see very good painted miniatures with anonymous green bases. I think bases are so significant for the final look of an army (by the way, here are for Team Yankee, and ). 

By Mitch Reed

We may hate to admit it but gaming is a social hobby, we may build and paint our models in isolation, but the reason why we do this is to meet up with fellow gamers and play the games we love. In the last few months, a pandemic has taken away our social outlet with conventions being canceled and gaming stores closed to gaming. Even as we slowly recover and open up our nations many gamers may be rightfully apprehensive to return to the table. So, we may be faced with a long period where we are deprived of the social aspect of our hobby.

Today I sit down with Justin from the podcast. We talk about the pandemic and its effect on gaming and a historical-Fantasy gaming challenge!

By Tom Gall

PSC’s new line of 10mm figures for Battlegroup: NorthAG is beginning the reach the hands of those who ordered. We’ve looked at in the past so let’s take some time to look at some of the hardware PSC makes for the game and paint it up.

, contains 10 T-64, gobs of infantry (>100), 10 BTR-60s, and 2 BDRM-2s. Everything comes on a sprue, so you’ll need to snip them off, and file a little excess as normal.

At 10mm scale, the first thing I noticed was the material, which isn’t hard plastic, but not exactly a soft plastic either. PSC calls it ultracast. It’s quite pliable, surprisingly so, bending a comparable metal or plastic gun barrel, you’d be looking at some amount of damage. This material impressively takes it no problem.

By Chris Jackson

The new US book has been sent to the gaming stores and I was able to look at a copy, so after a long, anxious wait we can finally play with the American Army we have seen in news reports and grown to know and love.

Tanks that can swat anything in front of them like flies with near impunity, armored transport that can kill tanks and armored vehicles with the same ease they move across the battlefield.

Aircraft that kill from beyond the reach of most air defense systems, and other technology that allows the Americans to come and to dominate the battlefield like no one else can.

The downside to all of this high tech and nigh-invulnerable equipment is that it comes at a steep price. Even with the elevated points of the 2020 tournament season, a single platoon of M1A1 HC tanks could make up 60% of your points.

Believe it or not, it’s the first time since I was 16 I haven’t been playing 3D (tabletop miniatures) wargames for 12 weeks. I can’t remember a period so long in which I totally suspended my gaming activity. Even when I got married, or moved from one job to another, or had my newborns, I always managed to sneak in some wargame nights with friends. Probably, a good psychologist could have a say on this, but I am also pretty sure most of you will agree with me.

Even if I am an avid PC gamer (and I also work for a videogame publisher, Slitherine, totally focused on strategy games), I always wanted to play the “physical” game. Collecting the miniatures, painting an army, deploying on the table with a friend and some good beer is something socially unique. For this reason, I never played before the Pandemia. Boys, I did a mistake.

Battle Vault Episode 6!  The guys talk about Flames of War and Team Yankee with an interview with Keith Gilmore!