Publisher/Date:
The Tactical Wargamer (2009 - present)
Product Type:
Non-ASL Magazine with ASL Scenarios, Periodical
Country of Origin:
Canada
Contents:
Occasional ASL or ASLSK scenario
The Tactical Wargamer’s Journal is an irregular (averaging around one issue per year or so) wargaming magazine available from a print-on-demand service in both electronic and print form, although the print form is prohibitively expensive. The massive magazine is published by Canadian Michael Dorosh, known primarily as a player of computer wargames. The first issue came out in 2009.
It features articles such as a 20-page analysis of the boxes and containers that wargames have come in. Most articles seem to be written by Dorosh (with additional articles possibly written by him under pseudonyms). There really isn’t anything on gameplay for any tactical wargames, perhaps because the publisher is not known to do much playing of non-computer games.
Two of its issues to date have featured scenarios.
The reprinted, expanded version of Issue #1 released in 2014 contained one ASL scenario cribbed from a computer game scenario. It also contained a five-million-page (give or take) set of designer’s notes for the single scenario.
TWJ1 Kruglowka Railway. Soviet Union 1941 (Soviets vs. Germans).
Issue #3 contained an ASL Starter Kit scenario:
TWJ2 Sweeping the Doorstep. France 1944 (Canadians vs. Germans).
Both scenarios are designed by Michael Dorosh, who is not known to have played more than a few games of ASL.
Given the cost and the content, this publication is one that ASLers can safely pass by.
Unfortunately, the comments above are inaccurate. I won’t speculate as to why, but will offer some clarity on a few points:
>>>The massive magazine is published by Canadian Michael Dorosh, known primarily as a player of computer wargames.
What Mark means to say is, “known to Mark primarily…”
>>> Most articles seem to be written by Dorosh (with additional articles possibly written by him under pseudonyms).
The other authors would be astonished to learn they are fictional; those that choose to interact on the internet can be found on various gaming forums. Their identities are not secret. Mark and I do not, apparently, travel in the same circles, but that is not a surprise as my circles run wider than ASL.
>>There really isn’t anything on gameplay for any tactical wargames, perhaps because the publisher is not known to do much playing of non-computer games.
It appears Mark hasn’t spent a lot of time in reading the content, but admittedly there is indeed a deep focus on game design and analysis.
>>>The reprinted, expanded version of Issue #1 released in 2014 contained one ASL scenario cribbed from a computer game scenario. It also contained a five-million-page (give or take) set of designer’s notes for the single scenario.
TWJ1, which is an ASL scenario, and TWJ2, an ASLSK scenario, are both completely *original* ASL scenarios with extensive designer and playtest notes.
>>>Given the cost and the content, this publication is one that ASLers can safely pass by.
Electronic copies of all three issues are fixed at $10, which is very good for a high-quality, 200pp journal with footnoted articles, index, and professional approach to the subject.
It’s a shame that Mark wasn’t able to provide better images, for example, of the cover, but I will note that at no point in time has the webmaster been in touch with me to discuss his review, seek clarification, or discuss the product.