Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2001 The BOARDGAMER

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Dedicated To The Competitive Play of / Victory Games and the Board & Card Games of the World Boardgame Championships

Featuring: Successors, Blackbeard, , Solitaire Games, Chess Clocks In VITP, World Boardgaming Championships, Buckeye Game Fest and AREA Ratings 2 The Boardgamer Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2001 Current Specific Game AREA Ratings To have a game AREA rated, report the game result to: Glenn Petroski; 6829 23rd Avenue; Kenosha, WI 53143-1233; [email protected] Atlantic Storm 135 Active Players Sep. 15, 2000 157 Active Players Sep. 30, 2000 247 Active Players Aug. 1, 2000

1. Robert Hamel 5509 1. Michael Kaye 6745 1. Ewan McNay 5710 2. Robert Eastman 5295 2. John Pack 6469 2. Harald Henning 5543 3. Ben Knight 5241 3. Alan Applebaum 6330 3. William Crenshaw 5483 4. Brian Hedrick 5217 4. Daniel Henry 6320 4. Nicholas Anner 5440 5. H Scott Buckwalter 5177 5. David Targonski 6315 5. Thomas Taaffe 5386 6. Roy Gibson 5169 6. Casey Adams 6168 6. George Sauer III 5360 7. E Henry Richardson III 5161 7. Andy Gardner 6102 7. Marvin Birnbaum 5351 8. Joshua Gifford 5157 8. Thomas Gregorio 6097 8. James Pei 5340 9. Martin Sample 5140 9. Ray Freeman 5952 9. Mark Giddings 5326 10. Joel Tamburo 5135 10. Alfred Wong 5882 10. James Jordan 5322 11. Aaron Fuegi 5100 11. Joseph Dragan 5866 11. Robert Kircher 5299 12. Ike Porter 5100 12. Bradley Solberg 5774 12. Olin Hentz 5296 13. Brian Salvatore 5100 13. Joel Klein 5719 13. Douglas Mercer 5270 14. Jeffre Spaner 5100 14. Ed Menzel 5675 14. Joe Gunderson 5262 15. Peter Staab 5100 15. Stephen Packwood 5660 15. Eric Eshleman 5259 16. Keith Layton 5080 16. Glenn Petroski 5638 16. Steven Simmons 5251 17. Daniel Henry 5076 17. Max Zavanelli 5629 17. Stephen Koehler 5251 18. John Ellsworth 5075 18. James Eliason 5602 18. Carl Damcke 5230 19. Kevin Walsh 5075 19. Joseph Powell 5583 19. Kevin Sudy 5195 20. Scott Bowling 5075 20. Phillip Rennert 5557 20. Jeff Mullet 5181 21. Kevin Brownell 5074 21. Nicholas Markevich 5551 21. Kurt Miller 5174 22. Steve Arcodoacono 5074 22. Vince Meconi 5539 22. Ken Rothstein 5174 23. Brian Carr 5074 23. Philip Van Wiltenberg 5525 23. Steven Katz 5161 24. Robert Kircher 5074 24. Jon Kammerer 5477 24. Betsy Bury 5140 25. Gregory Schmittgens 5067 25. Eric EIOsta 5380 25. Robert Keogh 5140 26. Michael Arnold 5058 26. Karsten Englemann 5360 26. Daniel Henry 5131 27. Jason Levine 5056 27. Michael Knautz 5356 27. Philip Mason 5114 28. David Brooks 5055 28. Glenn McMaster 5350 28. Steve Hubert 5109 29. Stephen Shedden 5055 29. Evan Davis 5304 29. Randy Schilb 5109 30. Stuart Smart 5054 30. George Young 5301 30. Chris Byrd 5106 31. John Keating II 5052 31. Bruno Wolff III 5300 31. Noah Healy 5103 32. Robert Winslow 5051 32. Gary MoodySample file 5276 32. Kevin LeRow 5100 33. Reiko McQuiston 5050 33. John Ellsworth 5269 33. Stuart Schoenberger 5100 34. Andy Gardner 5047 34. Jack Gin 5263 34. Jean Louis DeLattre 5091 35. Stanley Buck 5042 35. Thomas Baruth 5257 35. Clifford Hansen 5084 36. Matthew Hamel 5034 36. John Bullis II 5234 36. Pete Rauch 5080 37. Victor Hutcherson 5031 37. Robert Drozd 5219 37. Michael Ehlers 5080 38. Keith Hunsinger 5030 38. Sharee Pack 5205 38. Kenneth Gutermuth II 5079 39. Robert Hamel 5202 39. Anders Egneus 5077 War Of 1812 40. Patrick Richardson 5197 40. Jeffrey Paull 5077 41. Charles Rod 5189 41. James Stanard 5077 43 Active Players Sep. 12, 2000 42. James Kramer II 5187 42. Mark Turner 5077 1. Charles Hickok 5409 43. Charles Drozd 5181 43. Charles Hickok 5076 2. John Metzger 5391 44. John Sharp 5170 44. John Keating II 5071 3. Robert Mull 5391 45. Michael Ussery 5165 45. Edward Wrobel 5068 4. George Young 5295 46. Clifford Smith 5160 46. Caleb Cousins 5060 5. Michael Sims 5200 47. Jung Yueh 5153 47. Darryl Lundy 5060 6. Phillip Barcafer 5185 48. John Strand 5152 48. Kenneth Good 5053 7. Ric Manns 5180 49. Wayne Melnick 5145 49. Mark Boone 5051 8. Karsten Engelmann 5100 50. Gary Dickson 5126 50. Ben Knight 5051 9. Stuart Hendrickson 5100 51. Tom Henige 5123 51. Eric Wrobel 5050 10. Mark Miklos 5100 52. Ed Sivils 5108 52. Steve Cuccaro 5040 11. Christopher Storzillo 5100 53. David Rod 5106 53. David Platnick 5037 12. Raymond Hall 5010 54. Daniel Barker 5100 54. James Rochford 5036 13. James Kramer II 5005 55. Paul Klimstra 5090 55. Scott Marcotte 5032 56. Kevin Shewfelt 5089 56. Sean Cousins 5031 57. John Sharp III 5083 57. Joseph Jaskiewicz 5023 Cover Image 58. Bill Deaton 5080 58. Bill Dyer 5020 Cover art from Successors which is 59. Michael Pustilnik 5069 59. Adam Gray 5020 copyrighted property of Avalon Hill / 60. Tim VanDongen 5063 60. Derek Landel 5017 . Used with permission. 61. Keith Ericksen 5035 61. Wray Ferrell 5014 The Boardgamer Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2001 3 From The Editor Welcome to the first issue of Volume 6 BPA/WBC News convention has become almost as much of the BOARDGAMER and believe it or about renewing old acquaintances from not I’m actually still doing this. What The big news here is that your beloved around the country once a year as it is was once just a wild idea now has editor has been appointed to fill an about gaming. become a 6 year long growing opening on the Board of Directors of enterprise. The subscriber base keeps the Boardgame Players Association, Coming Up growing steadily, and a few game due to being the first runner-up (or as shops and distributors continue to stock the inimitable Bruce Reiff would say, I’ve been mentioning a special Panzerblitz the magazine, so the future of the the first loser) in this year’s elections. issue of the BOARDGAMER. It looks like BOARDGAMER looks brighter than it Since you all have my address, email this issue should be ready this summer. ever has. I still don’t seem to make any address and phone number, I’m certain Now that this issue is out of the way I have money, so I guess I will have to keep I’ll soon be hearing all of your time to devote to this project. As some of my day job. After all, they always say suggestions for how to run this my acquaintances know, a good once your hobby becomes your job, it organization and convention. ceases to be a source of enjoyment. I will continue to try to keep the If you are looking for insights inside the The BOARDGAMER BOARDGAMER my hobby, and not my BPA Board of Directors, I’m afraid I job. can’t help you much just yet. I was The BOARDGAMER is published added to the Board just in time for the quarterly by Bruce Monnin. The I am interested in any feedback you latest board meeting to end. My main BOARDGAMER is intended to be a may wish to send me regarding this contribution to the cause at the compilation of quality articles on the issue. Judging from the type of articles moment is helping to have the WBC strategy, tactics, and variants for a variety I receive in the greatest quantity, this is Yearbook printed at reduced cost using of board, sports and card games. The the type of issue people want. I the printing company which produces BOARDGAMER covers all games personally prefer a much heavier dose the BOARDGAMER right here in produced by the Avalon Hill Game of strategy and series replay type metropolitan Minster, Ohio. Company/Victory Games as well as all articles, but those have been in short games contested at the World supply lately. Here is your big chance! Unfortunately, this opening came up Boardgaming Championships. If you have any of these type of articles due to the resignation of Russ Gifford floating around in your mind, now is the due to health reasons. Many of you Articles from contributors are considered time to put fingers to keyboard. As I probably know Russ and the former for publication at the discretion of the have a prejudice towards this type of Advanced AREA guy editor. Rejected articles will be returned article, you can be fairly certain it will and the WBC ASL GM. I first met whenever possible. Potential authors receive my prompt attention and be Russ at the very first Avaloncon where should be advised that all outside moved up in the publication schedule. we bothSample answered the filesame ad for submissions may not have previously After all, writers for the BOARDGAMER roommates needed and ended up been submitted to other publications are some of the most famous gamers rooming together. Russ was actually unless permission has been granted and around (well, at least two of them were running that year. I’ve The BOARDGAMER has been notified. nominated for Charles Roberts Awards always looked forward to meeting up for their work here). with Russ again at Avaloncon/WBC EDITOR: Bruce A. Monnin every year and I hope he will be able to ADDRESS: 177 South Lincoln St. attend this coming June. This Minster, OH 45865-1240 E-MAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: (419) 628-3332

INTERNET WEB PAGE: http://www.bright.net/~monninb

Copyright 2001

Copyrights

All images for Avalon Hill/Hasbro games included in this issue are copyrighted by Avalon Hill/Hasbro and are used with their permission.

All articles on these games included in this issue are not officially sanctioned by June 26th – July 1st, 2001 Avalon Hill/Hasbro. 4 The Boardgamer Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2001

Inside This Issue

To The Strongest 5 Strategy and Tactics In Successors by John Firer

The Philosophy Of The Lone Ranger 12 A Solitaire Player’s View of by Charles Duke

Blackbeard 15 A Few New Options by Alan Arvold

WBC 2000 Sampling 20 Previews of the WBC 2000 Yearbook by WBC GM’s

Buckeye GameFest 36 War At Sea Tournament (and More) by Bruce Monnin

Triple War At Sea 36 Or The Russians Are Waiting For Their Convoys by Michael Knautz

Chess Clocks and Victory In The Pacific 37 Experimenting To Reduce Slow Play by Al Wong

Successors Insert 38 In The GENERAL Volume 32, Number 3 by Alan Arvold

From The Editor (Cont.) Subscriptions percentage of the work done for the If the Panzerblitz issue works out well, Alan To The BOARDGAMER for the year happens has thoughtfullySample provided file an equally while I spend time during the holidays abundant amount of material for Panzer BOARDGAMER visiting the in-laws (I usually learn a new Leader. game while I’m there also). The BOARDGAMER is to be Back Issues published quarterly with mailings This is basically put together due to the near the beginnings of January, fact that I have about 70-80 pages of I just want to emphasize again that all back April, July and October. Individual Panzerblitz articles which were entirely issues of the BOARDGAMER are in stock. issues are $4.00 each and a one are partially penned by Alan Arvold Whenever I run out, I have more printed year (4 issue) subscription is $14.00 which would take years to cycle through (there are some advantages to dealing with ($13.00 for members of AHIKS). the regular issues of the a smaller printer). A list of all the back Though issues are currently sent by BOARDGAMER. So I will combine issues is on page 40 of this issue and First Class mail, eventually all them all in one big issue for those greater detail of these issues can be found domestic subscriptions will be sent Panzerblitz fans out there. Hopefully on the BOARDGAMER web page at: via bulk permit. this will whet your appetite for this great game just in time for Multi-Man http://www.bright.net/~monninb Canadian deliveries require an publishing to publish their new updated extra $0.50/issue. European and version of Panzerblitz. Asian deliveries are an extra $2.50/ issue. For other overseas and foreign deliveries, contact the Victory In The Pacific Midwest Open 2001 BOARDGAMER about additional

The 2001 VITP Midwest Open tournament will be held March 3 and 4, 2001. The event postage charges. is moving this year to the Executive Inn at 7220 122nd Avenue, Kenosha, WI. (Phone: The BOARDGAMER 262-857-7699). Room rates will be $55 per night if you mention the Midwest Open and 177 South Lincoln Street you preregister before February 17, 2001. Minster, OH 45865-1240 The event costs $30 if you preregister before February 17, 2001 and $40 thereafter. (419) 628-3332 Details to be had from Glenn Petroski, 6829 23rd Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53143-1233, http://www.bright.net/~monninb (262) 654-5044, [email protected].