I have received numerous queries relating to the magazine in recent days and since many of these issues relate to matters over which I have no control, such as the digital edition and the new 16pp fantasy & sci-fi section announced in an ad in Tabletop Gaming today, it seems best to let you know about developments as they relate to me.
Issue 402 will be my final issue of MWBG. The publishers want to try some new ideas to take the magazine forward, as is of course their right, so I have decided that it would be best if someone with a fresh perspective shouldered that responsibility, and my resignation, which was accepted last week, takes effect once this issue goes to press.
Warners are in the process of appointing my successor who will take over from issue 403. No appointment has yet been made as far as I am aware, but of course I am sure that whoever takes over will do a great job.
I shall be saying my formal farewells in my final Briefing of issue 402 which goes to press at the end of next week, and of course you'll also read my final Forward Observer, World Wide Wargaming and the last instalment of the Wars of the Faltenian Succession. Lots to do!
Therefore, I would be grateful if you would allow me to complete my task as best I can over the next ten days or so, in order that this issue is up to the same standard as all the previous ones. Whilst I shall do my best to keep track of online comments, I must concentrate on doing a professional job right to the end, and the fact is that there will be many questions to which I simply cannot provide answers, and it is the team at Warners to whom queries should be addressed (contact details are all on page 3 of the magazine). I shall therefore refrain from commenting until my task is complete.
In addition, it must ask you to stop sending me submissions – until a successor is appointed, I can only pass them on to Warners for the next Editor to assess. Moreover, those of you who have already sent me submissions must let me know whether, for any reason, you do not wish your article(s) to be passed on to Warners. I shall assume that, unless I hear from you, you are happy for your article(s) to remain in the content armoury for the magazine going forward and the new editor will be in touch in due course.
It has been a pleasure and an honour to have steered the merger of Battlegames with Miniature Wargames, and I cannot express how grateful I am for all the support I have recieved over my ten years in wargame magazine production from all of you, but it is time for me to leave my baby behind and move on to pastures new, and of course you all know where to find me online.
I am sure that the team at Warners will keep you apprised of future developments and I wish them, and the magazine, every success for the future.
15 thoughts on “Resignation From MWBG”
31/08/2016 at 16:58
Crikey…
31/08/2016 at 17:11
I don’t want this to be true.
31/08/2016 at 17:13
Change is often worrying and losing a regular income is worrying at best, however maybe we will see more from Gladius Publications?
You can borrow my yacht if you need to sell yours for any reason Henry.
🙂
31/08/2016 at 17:31
I have the impression from this announcement that there’s been some chatter about MWBG recently, which I must have missed. Are there any recent forum threads (here or elsewhere), blog posts or anything like that which might shed more light on the matter? I’m mainly interested in knowing about these “new ideas to take the magazine forward”. Does this include some sort of heavier focus on non-historical gaming, as is my impression? On a related note, is the magazine going to be more “hardsell” from now on? (Not that there’s any concrete hint that it’s going to be – I’m just speculating.)
It’s sad to see a longtime editor leave due to creative differences with the owners, but I’m hopeful that MWBG becoming “different” doesn’t mean it’s becoming “worse”.
31/08/2016 at 17:46
You will be missed on MWBG but I am certain your next project will be great.
31/08/2016 at 20:36
Im not really familiar with the magazine and the backstory. Can anyone fill me in?
31/08/2016 at 21:22
Very best wishes for the future Henry. Your talents (not least press ups!) will see you soaring to new heights soon I am sure.
Guy
31/08/2016 at 21:38
Well, that’s my subscription cancelled, then. 🙁
31/08/2016 at 22:02
Thanks for all you hard work
31/08/2016 at 23:04
Thanks for your efforts over the years, made the mag a very useful resource for my return into the hobby.Look forward to see your future output. Not so sure about the future for MWG. Hopefully good,but I’ll certainly not tie myself into any further subscription to an unknown entity. Not alone in that judging by some of the contents here
01/09/2016 at 19:14
Really sorry to hear this. I hope these new ideas don’t ruin the magazine.
03/09/2016 at 09:38
Congratulate yourself on a first-class performance while editing MWBG and take that same professionalism into your future “pastures new”.
03/09/2016 at 20:27
Sorry to see you go and good luck with whatever you do next.
03/09/2016 at 22:31
I’m quite sad to hear this. I think Henry did an excellent job of turning the magazine around. I’m sure he will excel in his pastures new. I’m a little concerned about the prospect of more SF/Fantasy. I have nothing against it but it will take the content away from my core interests and I’ll be unlikely to renew my sub. But only time will tell. In the meantime I look forward to Henry’s next projects!
04/09/2016 at 17:45
Very sorry to read this, but not surprised. There were many at the time who expected the merger to really be an extended removal of a rival. However I’m sure Henry will be back with something that looks a lot like Battlegames in the not too distant future 🙂