This issue comes with a free Never Mind the Billhooks standalone ruleset: Never Mind the Matchlocks.

I’ll begin this month’s editorial with a brief FAQ: no, you don’t need Never Mind the Billhooks to play Never Mind the Matchlocks, it’s a completely self-contained ruleset. Matchlocks is ideal for bringing small armies of around 150 figures per side to bear in tabletop battles set during the English Civil War (and thereabouts).

In utilising the mechanics of Billhooks, author Andy Callan and I hope that Matchlocks will prove to be as popular as it’s medieval forefather, enticing many of you to either brush off those roundheads and cavaliers you have somewhere at the back of your cupboard, or providing an excuse to purchase a few new boxes/packs.

The launch of Never Mind the Matchlocks has somewhat stolen the limelight from this month’s Gladiator theme. In truth, it was only ever going to be a mini theme. Inspired by the new Ridley Scott blockbuster, we have contrived to feature two gladiator themed articles in this month’s magazine, daring to go even further than Mr Scott would, by pitting Queen Victoria, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and many more, against each other in one of our gladiator inspired articles – turn to page 36 to be enlightened.