The K o m m a n d eu r

Volume 39 Number 5 A Publication of AHIKS October 2004

From the President

his will inform you that we have a new that sold 250 copies) which has been transformed Treasurer, Brian Stretcher. I had a into Major-General (now a military-based dice and long talk with Stuart and he has de- card game) published professionally. We've been cided to let go the reins of the fiscal playing it at our family game nights here at home. bTeast. Stu art has recently had to change employ- It's a great multi-player party game. Unfortunately ment circumstances, and it sounds like the beast my wife and middle son keep whomping me. How was getting a bit onerous. After speaking with humiliatin'! Brian also, I am confident the purse strings will I recently finished my Holy Grail—a classic be passed on to caring hands. Stuart is leaving for boardgame that could easily be packaged with chess, a well-deserved vacation (to Gettysburg for a checkers, and backgammon. You may think classic couple weeks of gaming and history, the lucky boardgames are easy, but brother, have I got news dog!), and the transition will be complete by the for you! BOB was peanuts to design next to this lit- time you read this. I trust you will all give Brian tle hummer! I've been searching for this little pot o' the support he needs to fulfill this most important gold since 1969 when I designed my first game of assignments and welcome him to the ranks of (which, incidentally, I played with the middle son Those Who Trod the Halls of Power. Almost on a family picnic during the summer and whomped sounds impressive, doesn't it? him!). This one was sweet. I woke up in the middle So, what have you been doing? And how of the night, drew the board, and wrote the rudi- come you aren't sending in a little update for ments of the rules. I spent a month refining it, and it Omar to print and share with the rest of us? has never disappointed since. This is the one I could Guess I can't complain unless I lead the way… retire on, but I gotta get it published somehow first. After 24 years the second edition of Starship *sigh* Troopers is back in business (you can check our Played most recently: Major-General, Settlers website on Consimworld). I spent three very long & Knights, Settlers Of Zarahemla, New England, months talking to 16 people before I finally got Orbis, Hyborian Risk (it needs a few rule changes; through to the man at Sony/Tri-Star who is in if you're interested, write me), Risk, Five Crowns, charge of all licensing for SST. He was the 17th Mtg, Titan, and Phase 10. Lots of family stuff. guy. He said no. So, it was back to the drawing Next up? On The Bounce! (with the middle son— board. One side-benefit in talking to 17 different lots of playtesting), Kremlin, and...getting my mag- people about licensing is the discovery of about netic BOB set-up for pbm. I owe a fellow in Eng- how much different the derivative must be from land a match. ;-) the original to be considered something brand What's the point of all this? I shared with you. new. We are brand new. We are now on the Now it's your turn to share with us. Tell us what bounce! We also have a publisher who should be you've been up to. What you've been playing. What announcing this new acquisition by the end of your plans are. How gaming has impacted your life. October, so stay tuned. As you can see, it is a thread that runs through mine On my other burner, The Upper Hand is on constantly hold again while I finish off OTB! But—on the side—I am in secret negotiations to get my dice AHIKS marches on. Pass it on. and card game (originally known as Pantheons when it was self-published as a Runequest thing El Prez, Chester 2 The Kommandeur

for the other half of the battle will be Game News from Alan Poulter ([email protected]) released in issue #64. www.vaevictis.com/ This article is a compilation of infor- (version 4.4), the previous release in Note that Vae Victis magazine and mation gleaned chiefly from Consim- the series. The game has six scenarios games are in French, but rules trans- world (www.consimworld.com) and covering the main actions of the bat- lations are made available via: http:// Web-Grognards tle, including two (Herr’s Ridge and grognard.com/vaevict.html (www.grognard.com). The material th Little Round Top) which use only was correct at time of writing: 27 one map. The others use all three Against the Odds issue #9 contains September 2004. maps. The Sword of Rome is the the game Suleiman the Magnificent, Alan Poulter latest in the series of card-driven a Richard Berg design on the Battle board games, all loosely based on of Mohacs on August 29, 1526, be- NEW BOARD Mark Herman’s classic We the Peo- tween the Ottoman Empire and the ple. Designed by Wray Ferrell, cards army of the Kingdom of Hungary. Cool Stuff Unlimited (for events, army activation, and sup- www.atomagazine.com/ Cool Stuff Unlimited is a new port) and a point-to-point map enable company whose business is to up- up to four players to recreate the NEW DTP WARGAMES grade and republish minor classic struggles among the Romans, Greeks, games from the past. An initial print Etruscans, Samnites, and Gauls to New from BSO, Richard Berg’s run of 100 copies of John Hill’s Ver- dominate Italy in the 4th and 3rd cen- DTP label are two games. Louisiana dun quickly sold out, so another 100 turies BC. www.gmtgames.com/ Tigers is the first game in a new se- have been printed. These reprints will ries, the Civil War Tactical System not include a coversheet or be indi- MMP (CWTS), on company-level Ameri- vidually numbered, but the map has Not to be left behind, MMP have can Civil War combat, with a scale of three town names corrected, along also released a massive new game. 25 yards per hex. Focusing on a few with one correction made to the CRT. Three Battles of Manassas (Gamers/ regiments, it covers the opening skir- For more information e-mail: MMP) is the latest in the Civil War mishes of the 1st Battle of Manassas. [email protected] Brigade Series (CWBS). Covered The heart of the game is in com- are the battles of Bull Run, the first manding companies, issuing orders Decision Games (July 1861) and the second (August actively (not reactively), and deter- New from Decision Games is The 1862) and a hypothetical third battle mining what your units actually do Western Front: 1914-1918, the lat- that could have happened during the when given orders. Further games in est in the Der Weltkrieg series. It campaign in the East conducted by the CWTS series will be published by contains six scenarios depicting cam- Lee and Meade late in 1863. The MMP. Highlander covers two battles paigns in France and Belgium during game uses version 3.0 of the CWBS in the Jacobite Rebellion (Culloden World War I and a grand scenario rules. There are seventeen scenarios and Prestonpans) with simple rules covering all four years of war. It can in all—six, seven, and four respec- descended from past battle games be linked to the other games in the tively for the three battles. Almost all from BSO. For details e-mail Richard series, which cover other fronts. use two or three maps. at [email protected]. www.decisiongames.com/ www.multimanpublishing.com The last game from the Microgame Fantasy Flight Games Pacific Rim Publishing Design Group is Byzantium Reborn FFG have produced an expansion New is Korea 2005, available as a designed by newcomer R. Ben Madi- to The Game of Kings, called A stand-alone game or an expansion set son. The game covers the Greek and Clash of Kings. It contains a new for owners of Korea '95. The expan- Turkish War, 1920-1922, and is southern map which has a new sion adds six new scenarios, counters, based on Brian Train's popular Ar- House, plus new types of order mark- rules, charts, and more. riba Espana game system. ers and more detailed rules. www.justplain.com www.microgamedesigngroup.ca/ www.fantasyflightgames.com/ NEW MAGAZINE WARGAMES New from Red Sash Games is a GMT revised edition of Charlie’s Year (on GMT have released two new Strategy & Tactics issue #223 con- the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland). games. Three Days of Gettysburg is tains 1918: Imperial Germany's Ian Weir, the designer, explains: the 3rd edition of the first game in the Last Chance. This Joseph Miranda Great Battles of the American Civil design is a game on Germany's last The 2nd edition of Charlie's Year War (GBACW) series. The rules and great offensive on the Western Front. is an entirely separate game with components include errata counters www.decisiongames.com/ counters and map sheets of its own. I and rules corrections for previous wanted a series of games using the editions. The GBACW series rules Vae Victis issue #58 contains the same basic rule system, but the origi- booklet is version 4.5, which indi- game, Austerlitz 1805, covering the nal rules evolved because the Jaco- cates an update since Gringo! southern half of the battle. The game bite Rebellion was not a good subject

The Kommandeur 3 to measure "standard" 18th warfare The Killing Ground (NES) has a tion provided at the CSW Forum as against. The game we are working on new (1.5) rules version at: we continue to welcome new sub- now – Cockpit of Europe – deals www.carpatina.com/nes/KG_Rules% scribers. This also helps ensure our with the War of the Austrian Succes- 20v1.5%20Ed.pdf partners that all individual game sion in Flanders 1744-1748 and is a topics and support areas can be model of mid-18th century warfare. Decision Games have released a freely accessed by all, 24/7, to com- The subject also involves the highest slew of variant rules for recent games plement their own dedicated market- concentrations of forces in that war; in Strategy & Tactics, see: http:// ing and support programs. We are so if the system works here, it should grognard.com/20040926.html convinced that by providing free, work with all the games (we hope). unlimited readership access, we not The theme of CoE also complements The forthcoming Seven Days of only remain THE PREFERRED DES- the Jacobite Rebellion theme in 1809 from OSG has rules at: TINATION for consim gaming for all Charlie's Year, and we plan to have www.napoleongames.com/ gaming enthusiasts and partners a linking scenario for the two games. Rules/7D09%20Rules_3.27.pdf alike, but it also helps position us to However, a rewrite of the latter …while rules for Sedan in the next attract new subscribers. game— CY2— is needed in order to issue (#224) of S&T are at: For all who have subscribed al- properly match the systems. http://grognard.com/info1/sedan.rtf ready, we thank you for the tremen- Some people who already have a dous outpouring of support. We have copy of the original CY may not want There is a truly excellent website moved to free, unlimited read-only to fork out for an entirely new game (in Polish) for GMT’s Paths of mode for all to help support your on the same subject (these people are Glory: www.paths-of-glory.com/ evangelizing efforts in support of obviously not Gamers-OCS fans). CSW, which is something you've told For them, I'll be cobbling together an INDUSTRY NEWS us you want us to consider. If you upgrade kit out of pasteboard and subscribed under the pretext of wish- tinsel. The kit won't include the new Consimworld ing to have unlimited read-access counters. If a person wants the new I previously reported that Consim- only, and unlimited posting privileges counters, they might as well buy the world, the discussion board for the is not something you desire, CSW will whole game, since the counters are a board wargaming hobby, was moving refund your subscription in full. Fur- major portion of the cost. The kit will to a charged-for subscription model, thermore, we have slightly reduced have a simple reference chart for with some free access to company our annual subscription fee to $1.50 converting some of the unit ratings to support/discussion forums. There was per month starting September 1 (or the new system (basically just con- considerable angst expressed online $18 for an annual subscription). verting a morale number into a mo- that this would kill Consimworld Please contact us directly at rale letter). (CSW) and prove a setback for the [email protected] if you wish hobby. These fears proved unfounded to request a refund. Also new is The Highland Quo- as over a 1,000 people signed up! In a Your subscription fee not only rum, covering the Earl of Mar's Re- press release, John Kranz, who runs helps ensure our continued success, bellion in 1715. It is an official mod- Consimworld, said: but it provides you with unlimited ule for Charlie's Year, i.e., you must posting privileges across the entire have Charlie’s Year to be able to As a result of the overwhelming forum, along with special subscriber- play it. www.redsashgames.com CSW Forum subscription activity direct discounts and promotions that which is already proving to be a we will offer you throughout the year, great success in building a new and helping you recoup your annual sub- NEW WEB RESOURCES sustainable business model, we are scription fee over time. Those opting incorporating the following enhance- not to subscribe will enjoy limited There are some map errata for the ments to the subscription plan made posting privileges in the Game Com- Battle of Prestonpans in BSO’s possible thanks to our more than pany Support, Magazine Publisher Highlander at: 1,000 new CSW Forum subscribers. Support, Game Club, and Game Con- http://grognard.com/errata1/ In celebration of this milestone vention areas as previously an- preston.txt achievement and incredible outpour- nounced, while also being able to …and errata for DG’s new edition of ing of community support, the CSW access the entire forum. Empires of the Middle Ages at: Forum will be providing free and Thanks to our 1,000+ subscribers, http://grognard.com/errata1/ unlimited read access across the en- ConsimWorld is strongly positioned eotma2.rtf tire forum for all, covering literally to continue to serve as a beacon for hundreds of topics. In effect, guest all who enjoy historical conflict simu- There are errata for the MDG edi- access will remain in place. This ac- lation gaming. We are monitoring tion of Clash of Empires at: tion is being taken based on the high our forum software difficulties to www.microgamedesigngroup.ca/ number of subscriptions already re- better serve all our valued members errata/CoEerrata.html ceive and to help new visitors experi- and will provide updates when we are ence first-hand the wealth of informa- able.

4 The Kommandeur

Microgame Design Group to close and show up at the odd convention! I If anyone truly wants to subscribe in November hope to see you there. to a publication such as this, please The Microgame Design Group respond to the following e-mail ad- (MDG) is a Canadian DTP publish- Rejuvenation for The Boardgamer? dress, which I’ve set up in order to ing operation run by Kerry Anderson. The Boardgamer, a magazine manage this effort: Under its label were published a dedicated to covering old [email protected] number of notable games, some since games, looks as if it will close, since taken up by other publishers. Kerry its editor, Bruce Monnin, is taking and MMP no longer has the spare time to run over as editor of Operations, MMP’s Hasbro, Inc. has agreed to extend MDG: magazine supporting their games. its exclusive licensing agreement for Tom Cundiff is looking for support to former Avalon Hill titles After the release of Byzantium start a successor to The Boardgamer: with Multi-Man Publishing (MMP). Reborn, the Microgame Design The agreement to sell games in the Group will begin closing down. I, I’ve been asked a few times to Advanced and the Kerry Anderson, co-founder of the consider founding and publishing a Area Movement series will run for MDG and the fellow responsible for new magazine to replace the faithful another five years. MMP plans to production and sales, will be taking old Boardgamer magazine. In this revive two more Avalon Hill games: educational leave to pursue a Ph.D. effort I’ve discussed on a couple of Panzerblitz and Up Front. For more in meteorology. As studies will re- wargame websites the methodology information, contact Keith Dalton at quire most of my attention, I will not of publication and costs involved. The [email protected]. have the time to run the MDG. The goal of the magazine is to produce target date will be November, when I articles on unsupported wargames 2004 International Gamers Award will shut down the web-site. and long out-of-print wargames. for Best General Strategy Game The decision to take educational Articles on games such as 1830 or I would not normally cover these leave was made last Christmas. Since will also be awards, but this year a wargame won then I have started discontinuing ti- welcome, even articles on sports in the two-player category. To quote tles as I run out of inventory games such as the old Football Strat- the press release: (MacArthur's War, Mediterranean egy will also be just fine. The publi- Memoir ’44 earned the award in Fury, A Mere Matter of Marching, cation is not limited to only Avalon the 2-player category. Using the sys- Smokejumpers, Trampling out the Hill games. Articles on games from tem pioneered by designer Richard Vintage, and Vimy Ridge to name a other companies such as West End Borg in the 1999 release Battle Cry, few). Note that you can still get these Games, Clash of Arms, etc. are more Memoir ’44 recreates over a dozen games from several fine distributors. than welcome, in fact the goal is to battles connected with the D-Day Also, I have given the designers a produce articles on games that peo- invasions of World War II. Released chance to find new homes for their ple play and like that are older. by Days of Wonder, the game is filled various titles (such as Brian Train's My goal is to produce a publica- with over one hundred detailed deal with Fiery Dragon). tion every 3 months, and if it war- miniatures, and the board itself can It has been eight years since rants every other month (one can be tailored to recreate the famous Brian Train, John Kula and I co- hope anyway). battlefields surrounding the Nor- founded the MDG (then called the It has been suggested that the mandy landings. Easy-to-learn rules Microgame Co-op). In 1996 we be- magazine begin as an e-mail publica- and fast-playing action are coupled gan publishing with Land of the tion. That is to say begin with the with critical choices and numerous Free, MacArthur's War and Smoke- least costly method first with an even- strategies, all resulting in a game jumpers. The goal of the MDG has tual goal of reaching enough sub- that will be played and enjoyed over been to promote aspiring designers scribers that the publication can pro- and over again. and I believe we have achieved that ceed to print media. This helps inter- While Memoir’44 is not a detailed goal. Brian Train, Paul Rohrbaugh, national subscribers as they don’t simulation, its win shows that Hjalmar Gerber and others are now have to pay the exorbitant costs of wargames, if well-designed as games, recognized designers, Peter Schutze international postage. And, as some- can reach a wide audience. is running his own DTP company, one else pointed out, the lack of pa- www.internationalgamersawards.net and Scott Holmgren is beginning to per is eco-friendly. It will be set up ÆÆ do artwork for game companies. so that subscribers will be able to Personally, it has been a wonder- print off the entire issue, or specific ful experience. I have had a chance to articles as they desire or need. talk and meet with many people. The Subscription costs have not been contacts and working relationships worked out as yet. Nor has remu- have also been great. Don't worry neration for contributors. I'll have to though, I won't be disappearing from do that soon. But, let's first determine the hobby itself. I will continue to the number of people who wish to participate actively on ConsimWorld subscribe.

The Kommandeur 5

M atch C oordinating from R oger Eastep It’s been about a year now since ([email protected]), postal the Match Coordinator responsibility I’ve been managing match requests mail, or phone (301-208-9354). The transferred to me, that program was for AHIKS, and some of you may information I need is indicated on the no longer available to AHIKS. Fortu- have been wondering exactly what Match Request Form, available in nately, a friend and fellow AHIKS I’ve been doing, and how. Our previ- every K or on the AHIKS website member, Dan Gallagher, has exper- ous Match Coordinator, Les Deck, under New Members Guide. tise in computer programming and was handling several other tasks, If I get a request for a match to be was able to create a program for me such as maintaining the official mem- added to the open list, I enter it in my in FoxPro, which he has named the bership roster. Those other responsi- master list immediately. However, ICRKMAKER. Because I wanted to bilities were disseminated to other I’ll usually wait until weekends to experiment with the format, I asked officers (for example, the roster is send any updated lists to Tom Thorn- Dan to just create a number- now handled by Bill Watkins, sen, our Website Manager, so that I generating program for me that AHIKS Secretary). So my job has can batch the requests as much as would allow me to enter the member been limited to just coordinating possible to minimize the time Tom numbers, indicate how many sides on match requests, which has made has to spend. If I get a request for a the die (or dice), and how many dice things a bit easier for me. match that’s on the open list, I’ll to roll for each number. The program Les sent me all of his files, which check to see if the request is compati- automatically assigns a match num- included prior match requests, ICRKs ble (for example, both players want ber and produces a list of 300 num- generated from the program he used, to play by e-mail), and then I’ll con- bers in 30 columns and 10 rows. The OOBs for several games, combat tact the member listed to find out if numbers are completely random. The sheets, and a few other odds and he is still interested in the match. I output can be via the screen, an AS- ends. I’ve got most of those things prefer to contact members by e-mail, CII file, or an Excel file. The pro- organized (which is my euphemism mainly because it’s the most conven- gram saves the results so that I can for having them in a bunch of small ient and efficient for me. If I don’t reproduce any set of ICRK numbers piles instead of one big one), and I’ve hear back from the member in a few that I’ve generated for a match. established my own system of sorts days, I’ll try calling him. I create each new Match Assign- on how I handle the match requests If the member tentatively agrees ment/ICRK by starting with a recent and match assignments. to the match, I’ll put the two mem- one that I’ve sent out (I could use a I’d like to describe those proce- bers in contact with each other and blank form, but it takes longer). I add dures for two reasons. First, if you ask them to let me know when the information for the specific match know how the process works, it they’ve worked out the details and that I’m setting up—member names, should make it easier for you and me are ready for the match assignment. I game, match number, ICRK number, to make match assignments; you’ll also ask them to let me know if they etc. Then I plug in the numbers from know what I’ll need and what you’ll will need International Combat Reso- a spreadsheet version of the ICRK have to do to get a match started. lution Keys (ICRKs—pronounced that I’ve generated from the ICRK- Secondly, I hope you will have sug- “irks”) for resolving die rolls, Orders MAKER. After I’ve printed and gestions for me on how things could of Battle (OOBs), and/or Combat checked the Match Assignment/ work more conveniently for you. At Sheets (CSs). If I hear from them, I ICRKs, I mail them to the members. I the end of this article I’ve got some generate a Match Assignment (MA) try to follow up with an e-mail to let specific questions, and a few do’s and form and send it via postal mail (I them know that they are on the way. don’ts, related to various aspects of may send it via e-mail—it’s in a MS what I do in managing the matches; Word document—if the members OOBs and Combat Sheets I’d very much like to have your feed- want it that way, but I’ll still also I have pre-printed OOBs available back on these. send copies via regular mail). If the for several games (a list is printed on members want to use ICRKs, they page 7). If you’re playing by postal Match Assignment Requests will be included as part of the MA mail and would like copies of the As I’m sure you’re aware, each forms. Even if you’re not going to use OOBs, be sure to let me know when issue of The Kommandeur lists open ICRKs, or OOBs or CSs, you should you request the match. If you need match requests. The AHIKS website get a Match Assignment form from OOBs, I’ll generally assume that (see page 11) also has the match re- me for each match because the form you’ll also want blank Combat Sheets quests list. Those lists come from is useful for reporting results of the (for recording battles and battle re- me. The web list is updated anywhere match to the MSO-Ratings Officer sults), and I’ll include them in the from every two to four weeks, so it (Andy Johnson). mailing. Because the OOBs and CSs tends to be more up-to-date than the double the postage, I don’t automati- list in The K. If you see a match that How I Generate ICRKs cally assume you’ll want these. My you’d be interested in, or if you’d like Les used a computer program to default is to just send ICRKs to put in a request, all you need to do generate the Match Assignment/ (although I’ll usually try to check i s c o n t a c t m e b y e - m a i l ICRK sheets for each match. Once with the members on what all is

6 The Kommandeur

needed first). Some caveats on the What to Do When the Match is send it to you to enable you to verify OOBs: I’m not sure what game edi- Completed that he got the numbers right. tion or scenario some of them are When the match is completed (or Whether you want to send partially related to, and I’m not certain that all terminated), the Match Assignment used columns each turn is up to what of them are complete. Most of these form should be completed and mailed you and your opponent agree on. were created years ago. to the MSO-Ratings officer, Andy Personally, I haven’t used an Johnson. Don’t send anything back to ICRK for years since all of my games What to Do When You Get the me because I would just have to for- recently have been FTF or PBEM Match Assignment/ICRKs ward it on to Andy. (for which I have been using an on- If you haven’t already done so, line random die roll generator). How- contact your opponent and work out Using the ICRKs ever, even when I was using ICRKs, the agreements for your match. The The main reasons I wanted to my opponent and I would nearly al- things that need to be considered and change the Match Assignment/ICRK ways agree to wait until the end of agreed upon on are described in detail were to make it more user friendly the match and then send our whole in the New Members Guide on the and also a bit spiffier looking. The ICRK to each other. That was a bit website. Also check the ICRKs to previous version was functional, at riskier, assuming we actually did make sure they are correct and are least to a point. Personally, I got a bit check the numbers to make sure we what you need for the match. If there confused sometimes with the num- got them correct (I never did). If a are any problems, just contact me and bers because the columns indicating mistake was spotted, it would be I’ll fix things pronto. the row numbers were only separated pretty tough to make an adjustment in How do you use the ICRKs? Again, from the die roll by a hyphen; that the game after the match was over. the New Members Guide provides proximity would lead to an occa- But it was less tedious than having to details on this, and you should read sional transposition of the numbers, cut and mail columns. It also allowed through that section and agree with at least by me. (Granted, my oppo- us to jump all over the place on the your opponent on how you will be nents cringe when they get my ICRK; there was no need to continue using the ICRKs. moves. For them it’s sort of like one down the same column during a turn. of those puzzles where you know I really don’t know how most of the there are umpteen things wrong with members use the ICRKs, but I’ve sort PBEM a picture and you have to find them of assumed that usually they use them As you may have noticed from all—even aside from mixing up die the way I did. the Match Request List, most mem- rolls.) But I suspect that the format bers are now requesting play-by-e- may have been a bit cumbersome for Question 1 How does the new Match mail matches. No surprise there be- others, too. There were also some Assignment/ICRK look to you, both cause of the convenience. And, often, other fairly minor formatting things with regard to readability and func- even for some PBM games the mem- in the ICRK that I thought could be tionality? Any suggestions on making bers will use some method other than improved on. So, I redesigned the the ICRKs better in either aspect? ICRKs (usually on-line services— Match Assignment/ICRK and over Even if you haven’t yet used the new two good ones are www.irony.com the last several months, it’s continued ICRK, what do you think? And are and www.pbm.com/dice) for generat- to evolve, mostly to make it easier for you still using the column cutting ing die rolls. In these cases, I still me to create new ones. A copy of the rules, or do you wait until the end of send out the Match Assignment, sans current version is shown on page 13. the match to send the ICRKs? the ICRK portion. I also now have, (Not shown is page 2 of the ICRK, thanks to Andy Watts of the Euro- which is simply a blank ICRK that The “Random” ICRK numbers pean Region, a set of electronic you can use to fill in the numbers that As mentioned above, the numbers (Excel spreadsheets) OOBs available are on your opponent’s ICRK as they I generate with the ICRKMAKER are (a list is printed on page 9) that could become known to you. This makes it truly random. It’s just as if you had actually be used for PBM as well as easier for you to verify the numbers rolled the die 300 times and recorded PBEM since they are formatted for later.) the numbers. Because of the laws of printing. In the New Members Guide, the statistics (OK, I’m not a statistician, rules for ICRKs state that, during but since there are laws in everything your turn, you should utilize the num- else, I assume there are in statistics, Need Additional Stuff ? bers in a column in sequence, top to too), you’re not likely to see an ex- If during the match you run out of bottom, until all numbers in the col- actly even distribution of numbers (in ICRK numbers or anything else that umn are exhausted. You can then the d-6 ICRK, you will not find 50 I’ve sent you, just contact me and I’ll switch to another column. In your ones, 50 twos, 50 threes, etc.) in any send out whatever you need immedi- next turn, you can jump to a different of the ICRKs. This means that some- ately. (If you run out of luck, how- column if you wish even if you have times you are going to have more ever, sorry, I can’t help you there. not completed a previous column. “1s” than your opponent or more Heaven knows I don’t have any to When a column is completed, your “6s,” or whatever die-roll result. Ad- spare.) opponent is supposed to cut it out and ditionally, the totals of all the num-

The Kommandeur 7 bers on the ICRKs can (and usually Do’s and Don’ts Available OOBs – Hardcopy (* in- do) vary from the perfect 1050 (300 These are just a few that I want to dicates the OOB was created by a times the average on a die roll of 3.5). highlight. Most of these and others member and may have a different This means that some ICRKs are are in the “A Message from the Match format than the AHIKS produced going to tend to have more low num- Coordinator” section of the New OOBs) bers than high, and some are going to Members Guide. be the opposite. Whether you use a 1776 (AH)* lot of numbers or a few, the differ- Do 2nd Fleet (VG)* ence could have an impact on your Provide me with all of the infor- 3rd Fleet (VG)* match. mation on the Match Request Form, 5th Fleet (VG)* including your e-mail address and 7th Fleet (VG)* Question 2 Is this true (dare I say telephone number. Especially let me Afrika Korps (AH) “natural”) randomness OK with you, know if you want to play a game only Air Assault on Crete (AH) or would you rather see a control by mail or only by e-mail. And if by Antietam/Cemetery Ridge (SPI) built into the ICRKMAKER where it e-mail, would you be able to play Anzio (AH) would generate an equal number of using ADC2 or Cyberboard? Battle of the Bulge (AH) (1965) each possible die result? The ran- Tell me the company that pub- Battle of the Bulge (AH) (1981) domness, then, would be where the lished the game you want to play and Blitzkrieg (AH) numbers are located in the ICRK. If I which version you have. Bloody Keren (?) * do ask my staff (the aforementioned Let me know if you want your Bull Run (AH) Dan Gallagher) to reprogram the match request removed from the Chickamauga/Shiloh (SPI) ICRKMAKER, it could probably be Match Request list. Cobra (?)* modified to generate the numbers Tell me if the match I’ve set up D-Day (AH) either way. Would you want to have for you has been cancelled, and why. Decision at Kasserine (?)* that preference? Contact me if you have any ques- Fortress Europa (AH) tions about the match. Gettysburg (1988) (AH) Guns of August (AH) Contacting members Do not House Divided (GDW)* I’ve indicated that my preference Don’t send any match results to Longest Day (Scenario 1) (AH)* in contacting members is by e-mail. It me. They need to go to the Ratings Luftwaffe (AH)* prevents telephone tag and you get- Officer. Midway (AH)* ting calls at times that may be incon- Don’t send me changes in your Napoleon’s Last Battles (SPI) venient. On the other hand, it’s sort personal information (telephone num- New France 1760 (?)* of impersonal. Also, it may delay ber, address, etc.) unless you’re also PanzerArmee Afrika (SPI/AH) getting a match started if you don’t requesting a match or additional stuff. PanzerBlitz (AH)* check your e-mails every day. Bill Watkins should get any updates Panzergruppe Guderian (SPI/AH) directly from you, and he’ll forward Panzer Leader (AH)* Question 3 Do you have a preference that information. Red Army (GDW)* on how you want to be contacted? Don’t assume I haven’t managed Russian Campaign (AH) Would you prefer contact by tele- to lose your match request if you Russian Front (AH)* phone to expedite the match? If so, don’t see it posted within a couple of Sixth Fleet (VG)* would you mind if I tried to sell you weeks after sending it to me, or if I (AH) something while I had you on the haven’t contacted you about it in that Submarine (AH) (I have a copy of line? (Just kidding on the last one.) time. I spend a lot of time each day the PBM system devised by Albert looking for my glasses, wallet, and/or Thomas—see his article in K 38/6 on Match Request lists car keys, and a few minutes more how to reproduce this) I’ve added a bit more information looking for your match request won’t Third Reich (AH)* to the Match Request list that gets be a bother. Don’t hesitate to contact Thunder at Cassino (AH)* posted on the web. For space reasons, me if there seems to be an inordinate Turning Point Stalingrad (AH)* some of that doesn’t get included in delay. (AH) The K. I’ve enjoyed handling the match War in Europe (SPI) assignments over the last several (AH)* Question 4 Is there anything else that months, and I hope that the process Waterloo (AH) you think would be useful to include has been working for you, but I really When Tigers Fight (Command)* in either version of the list? want to improve on it wherever possi- World in Flames (4th Edition) ble. Let me hear from you! (ADG)* Question 5 Is there anything else in ÆÆ the process or in match coordinating that you think could be improved or that you’d like to see changed?

8 The Kommandeur

Start with the fact that the mis- Of course, since the raids were Book R eview sions were not planned by the people being planned in Omaha, lessons of in the field. They were planned by one raid couldn’t be incorporated into The 11 Days Of Christmas SAC HQ in Omaha. Opinions of the the planning for following raids, even by Marshall L. Michel III field commanders were not welcome. if anyone was listening to the crews. Encounter Books To top it off, HQ made it clear no The campaign started off well. © 2002 325 pages deviations would be allowed from the The North Vietnamese were scared $16.95 trade paperback flight plans, on pain of courts-martial. stiff of the big craft. None had ever Reviewed by Bill Watkins Those flight plans were a recipe been lost in combat. Worse, many of for trouble. They called for the air- their SAM units were in the southern I consider “The 11 Days of craft to fly in tight formations at the part of the country. Plus, many of the Christmas” one of the most important same altitude, direction, and timing officers and crews were off on Christ- books on the war in Vietnam, and it’s day after day. What the heck, experi- mas leave. The worst obstacle for the a heck of a good read. It covers the ence in the Easter Offensive in the North was that Nixon and Kissinger Linebacker II and the 1972 B-52 South and in the Panhandle had had been scoring brilliant diplomatic raids on Hanoi and Haiphong. shown the North Vietnamese SAMs successes, weakening Chinese and The general view of the B-52 couldn’t hit a B-52. Russian support. The most important raids on Hanoi and Haiphong in late The worst feature was that the result was that the Russians refused 1972 is that they succeeded in bring- crews were required to perform a to give the Viets the newer SAM 3 ing the North Vietnamese to the bank away maneuver after dropping missiles. The North was stuck with peace table seriously and got our their bombs. This dated back to when older, far less efficient SAM 2s. POWs back. We lost a few B-52s, but the Enola Gay dropped the first A- Thanks to the stupidity of the the raids were the kind of hammer bomb. It served no purpose when American plan, the SAM units were blow we were always looking to de- dropping conventional bombs. What able to get their act together. The liver. That view allowed us to con- it did, and this was frighteningly seri- North Viets had real problems. It clude the war on a high note. ous, was that it blocked the aircraft’s took quite a while to reload their Michel tells a different story. It is ECM equipment. It was the same as launchers. The American plan helped his view—and mine—that the raids turning the jammers off. Enemy radar by separating elements of the attack were very close to being a disaster. could pick the planes up. in time. It took forever to unpack and That view pretty well cost Michel his Oddly, we had the radar the North fuel missiles. This was done at cen- Air Force career. This isn’t a little Vietnamese were using. No one ever tral depots. Of course, the American book by an obscure historian; Michel thought to test it against the bank- plans did not call for bombing of the was a fighter-bomber pilot with over away maneuver! depots. 300 missions in Vietnam. Oh yeah, evasive maneuvers were Equally important, the use of tac- When Michel started writing not allowed. tical air to support the attacks was about the 1972 B-52 raids, it became This was especially serious con- planned in a manner that can only be clear he wasn’t following the com- sidering the types of B-52s assigned. described as utterly incompetent. Tac pany line. The Air Force brass pulled The older B-52D, rebuilt for conven- air dropped chaff but did it in a pat- every rabbit out of the hat they could tional war, carried a heavy load of tern that guaranteed high winds to stop him. They authorized an bombs and had pretty up-to-date jam- would blow it away. Worse, tac air “official” version to shoot him down. ming equipment. But Nixon’s desire was not allowed to attack SAM sites That version was released to the pub- for a maximum attack meant the as- in a way that would result in much lic. All the major media, with their signment of the B-52G. These were success. utter lack of knowledge of things nuclear-capable craft that could carry Dumb, dumb, dumb. military, bought the official version. only one-quarter the conventional To top it off, the SAM crews fig- Only Soldier Of Fortune magazine load of the D model. Worse, half of ured a way around the chaff and jam- stood with Michel and stayed with them had older, inefficient ECM ming. They could fire manually, then him. equipment. The author titles one of switch to auto tracking when the Personally, I’ve used these raids his chapters “The Slaughter of the plane’s radar return became clear. It in management classes for many Gs” with good reason. worked. Plus, it kept their site radar years as an example of the failure of Even more fun, the planners as- off except for very short periods. top-down planning. But, until reading signed the Gs to missions that re- That meant the SAM hunters couldn’t this full version, I had no clue how quired the heavier bomb loads of the find them. close these raids came to being listed Ds, while Ds were assigned to mis- Losses skyrocketed. The entire among everyone’s list of Ten Great- sions better handled by the Gs. chain of command was stunned, right est Military Fiascoes, right between Some of the targets were really up to and including the President. Custer’s ride to the Little Big Horn stupid. In the first two nights, 2,900 It took a near mutiny by one field and Hitler announcing that all Ger- bombs were aimed at Radio Hanoi. commander and real anger by Nixon many had to do was kick in the front The station was off the air for nine to get the tactics changed. All of a door! minutes. sudden, the SAM crews were faced

The Kommandeur 9 with masses of aircraft coming in at the same time from different direc- tions. Available OOBs and Combat The North Vietnamese saw disas- Sheets—Electronic (Excel com- ter looming and realized their allies patible spreadsheet files). Kansas City, Kansas weren’t going to help. Back to the October 8-10, Note that some of these are in BORDER WARS peace table. foreign languages, but the unit desig- www.hahmgs.org/ There’s a lot more to this book. nations should still be obvious. Also

The history of the politics of SAC is note that some of the OOBs are in New Orleans, LA worth the price. Did you know SAC October 9-10, multiple files (usually one file for D20CON was eating 46% of the entire defense each side) rather than in a single file www.d20con.com budget in the 1950s? I loved Curtis with multiple spreadsheets. LeMay’s response to Kennedy during Minehead, England the Cuban Missile Crisis. When Oct. 14-17, 1776 (AH) UK GENCON nd asked how many of his B-52s could 2 Fleet (VG) CS www.gencon.com/displayeurope.aspx drop conventional weapons, LeMay 3rd Fleet (VG) CS ?file=europe-UK th proudly responded, “None!” Those 5 Fleet (VG) CS th of us destined for the Army didn't 5 Fleet (VG) , Hunt Valley, MD appreciate LeMay’s attitude. October 21-23 Sixth Fleet (VG) CS WATERLOO II LeMay was impressive. I met him Sixth Fleet www.boardgamers.org th on social occasions at our college 7 Fleet (VG) CS th dean’s house (the dean’s wife was 7 Fleet (VG) Fairlee, Vermont kind enough to keep me from starv- November 5-7, Alexander the Great (AH) (3 files) CAMP CARNAGE ing). And the B-52s were impressive. Antietam (a file I got from Mike www.carnagecon.com I can remember driving away from a Riley when we played a match) raid very fast. And I can remember Anzio (AH) (2 files – Basic Game) , Rockford, IL watching a heavy safe dance around November 5-7 Caesar at Alesia (AH) ROCKCON 2004 the floor during another raid. Fun Battle of the Bulge (1981) (AH) www.rock-con.com stuff when you’re not on the receiv- Breakout Normandy (AH) CS ing end. PanzerBlitz (AH) , Timonium, MD Read this book. You’ll love it. November 11-14 Borodino (?) (2 files) ÆÆ EURO QUEST Breakout Normandy (AH) (Allied) http://euroquest.gamesclubofmd.org Battle of the Bulge (1991) (AH) Thunder at Cassino (AH) November 19-21, Ann Arbor, MI Chattanooga (SPI?) UCON Caesar’s Legions (Scenario IV) www.ucon-gaming.org/ (AH) Zama (?) December 2-5 Anaheim, CA War at Sea (AH) GENCON Wagram (SPI?) (2 files) www.gencon.com/socalhome.aspx? Victory in the Pacific (AH) file=socal Russian Campaign (AH) 2005 Turning Point Stalingrad (AH) CS (?) (2 files) January 27-30, Hunt Valley, MD Tigers are Burning WAM III Thunder at Cassino (AH) CS www.boardgamers.org (AH) CS Quatre Bras (SPI?) (2 files) (SPI/AH) Back issues March 5-6, Kenosha, WI PanzerArmee Afrika Battle of Nations (SPI) (2 files) available on CD MIDWEST OPEN 2005 Contact: Glenn E. L. Petroski Battle for Moscow (SPI?) (2 files)

(262) 654-5054 Men at Arms (?) (Scenario 15) (4 Back issues of The Kommandeur [email protected] files) edited by the current editor are avail- (SPI?) (2 files) Lutzen able on one CD in PDF format. That (AH) March 18-20, Hunt Valley, MD Panzer Leader includes Vol. 37 No. 2 through the (1988) (AH) (2 files) ENLIGHTENMENT VIII Gettysburg current issue. These are available at www.boardgamers.org Fredericksburg (SPI) (2 files) cost: $2 to US addresses, $3 to other France ’40 (AH) (4 files) addresses. Send money and requests (AH) August 2-7, Lancaster, PA Flattop to me at the address on page 11. WBC 2005 Fortress Europa (AH) Make checks out to Omar DeWitt. www.boardgamers.org

10 The Kommandeur

Open Match Requests from Rog er E astep In requesting matches, it’s helpful if you use the Match Re- Invasion America (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E quest Form available on the back of each issue of The Komman- Invasion Sicily (GMT) (0225) Segarra E deur or on the AHIKS website: Kasserine (GMT) (0225) Segarra E www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Muckden 1905 (Spence & G) (1192) Humphries E Mail the request to me at 16456 Tomahawk Drive, Gaithers- Musket & Pike (SPI) (1192) Humphries E burg, MD 20878, or e-mail the equivalent information (including your e-mail address) to me at my NEW address: Napoleonic Wars (GMT) (1564) McAllister E [email protected]. When a match is set up, only one of PanzerBlitz (AH) (0826) Ten Eyke the players should request ICRKs for all players in the game. Panzer Leader (AH) (0804) Sheppard E If you plan to change or have changed your address, phone Paths of Glory (GMT) (1564) McAllister E number, or e-mail address, please let Secretary Bill Watkins Pre-Stags (SPI) (1192) Humphries E know as soon as possible to avoid delay in the receipt of your Pre-Stags (SPI) (0817) Riley E Kommandeur, ICRKs, and other valuable AHIKS information. Red Parachutes (AP) (0012) Jolly E Please send top portion of completed ICRKS to Match Rat- Red Star/White Star (SPI) (0012) Jolly E ing Officer Andy Johnson. Richthofen’s War (AH) (1554) Trosky Russian Campaign (AH) (1497) Dickson AREA Note: this list is updated periodically between issues of (AH or L2) (1243) O’Connor ADC2 Kommandeur at www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Russian Campaign (AH) (1565) van Morle M Russian Front (AH) (0036) Yarwood M 2nd Fleet (0826) Ten Eyck Schutztruppe (Flying Buffalo) (1192) Humphries E Adv. Third Reich (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Search & Destroy (SPI) (1192) Humphries E Afrika Korps (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Siege of Port Arthur (Strife) (1192) Humphries E Alexander (AH) (1192) Humphries E Soldiers (SPI) (1192) Humphries E Antietam (SPI) (1137) Watson E Squad Leader Adv (AH) (1293) Wood E/M Anzio (AH) (0111) Oleson Squad Leader Adv (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Battle for Germany (SPI) (0826) Ten Eyck Stalingrad (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Bismark (AH) (1565) van Morle M Submarine (AH) (1468) Thomas M Bitter Woods (AH/MMP/L2) (0073) Johnson E Submarine (AH) (0012) Jolly E Bomber (Yaquinto) (1312) Wells E Tannenberg (Spence & G) (1192) Humphries E Bulge ‘65 (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Tannenberg (Clash of Giants) (1264) Unnerstall E/M Bulge ‘81 (AH) (0939) Martin E Terrible Swift Sword (SPI) (0275) Scanlon Bulge ‘91 (Smithsonian) (0804) Sheppard E USN (SPI) (0275) Scanlon Bull Run (AH) (1252) Brooker M Victory in the Pacific (AH) (1019) Llewellyn E Chantilly (Ivy St) (1262) Marcone E Von Manstein’s Backhand Blow(1564) McAllister E Chattanooga (SPI) (1137) Watson E War and Peace (AH) (1554) Trosky Civil War (VG) (1561) McCabe E Waterloo (AH) (1430) Warnick Civilization (AH) (1185) Ringhoffer M Waterloo (AH) (1565) van Morle M Diplomacy (AH) (1210) Fasio M World War III (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Diplomacy (AH) (1185) Ringhoffer M Year of the Rat (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Diplomacy (AH) (1252) Brooker M Drive on Paris (0275) Scanlon E (member requests e-mail only) M (member re- Dunkerque ‘40 (SDC) (1192) Humphries E quests mail only) E/M (either OK) E.T.O. (Neppagames) (1466) Svevsson E EastFront (Columbia) (0044) DeWitt E Members willing to volunteer as GM Flattop (AH) (1430) Warnick E Achtung! Spitfire William Lindow 0988 Flattop (AH) (1550) Duffield AF/D Mike Rowles 1446 For the People (AH) (1086) Mitchell E Diplomacy, Submarine, Gallipoli () (1192) Humphries E Stellar Conquest Robert Carstensen 1526 Gettysburg ‘88 (AH) (1527) Brooks M Flattop Paul Warnick 1430 Global War (AH) (0804) Sheppard E History of World Jeff Miller 1303 Great Campaigns of ACW (any) (1564) McAllister E Napoléon (Columbia) Omar DeWitt 0044 Grunt (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Red Parachutes, Red Sid Jolly 0012 Guadalcanal (AH) (1555) Scott E/M Star/White Star TRC Gary C. Dickson 1497

The Kommandeur 11

C ENTRA L O F F IC ES SU PPO RT SERV IC E O F F IC ERS PRESIDENT: EDITO R/PU B L ISH ER: W EB SITE M A NA G ER PB EM C O O RDINA TO R: C hester H endrix O m ar DeW itt Tom Thornsen H ank B urkhalter 915 12th St 1580 B ridger Road NE 113 G lensum m er Rd 3444 Palisade C ove Dr M arysville, C A 95901-4707 Rio Rancho, NM 87144-1579 H olbrook, NY 11741-5007 Duluth G A 30096-6671 (530) 741-1177 (505) 891-8846 (631) 472-3566 (678) 417-9640 C EH [email protected] A H IK Som [email protected] [email protected] roll_tide@m indspring.com

V IC E-PRESIDENT: SEC RETA RY M U L TIPL A Y ER C O O DINA TO R C H IT H O L DING Ray Labarbera W illiam D. W atkins SERV IC E: 5522 A lvelais Dr. 918 B ogert Road Robert Johnson Robert Ryan U nion C ity, C A 94587-5580 River Edge, NJ 07661-2338 10151 SW 97 C ourt 32444 Nottingw ood St. (510) 471-1833 (201) 265-7795 O cala, F L 34481 F arm ington H ills M I K um [email protected] W [email protected] (352) 237-1270 48334 Philorej@A O L.com (248) 371-7846 M A TC H C O O RDINA TO R JU DG E: B obM Ryan@A O L.com Roger Eastep M ike W est 16456 Tom ahaw k Dr. 10 Shelburn C t. EU RO PEA N EDITO R A RC H IV IST: G aithersburg, M D 20878 Durham , NC 27712-1626 K evin C roskery W illiam A . Perry (301) 208-9354 (919) 471-6825 4 B eechey W ay 21 F itzgerald L ane C opthorne W est Sussex C olum bus, NJ, 08022 ahiks291@direcw ay.com w estm [email protected] .com U K RH 10 3L T (609) 298-9823 K C [email protected] [email protected] TREA SU RER M SO -RA TING S B rian Stretcher A ndy Johnson III U NIT C O U NTER PO O L : W EB SITE A DDRESSES 5282 Deer Path 2951 C arlsbad C ircle C lyde T. L ongest Jr. U S: w w w .angelfire.com / M ilford, O H 45150-9418 A urora, IL 60504 ny4/gm tom /A H IK S.htm (513) 576-6477 (630) 820-3991 3344 L ynnhurst B lvd doctorlaw @juno.com DA DJ3@A O L .com C hesapeake V A 23321 U K : w w w .ahiks.co.uk (757) 483-7999 REG IO NA L D IREC TO RS B K NFA N@A O L .com

C A NA DA : NO RTH C ENTRA L : Steve Llew ellyn John K reuz C hanges on this page: 37 Surrey C rescent 260 East O akview Lane F redricton, N. B . O ak C reek, W I 53154-4513 C anada E3B 4L 4 (414) 766-6747 B rian Stretcher takes over as Treasurer llew [email protected] JK reuz@Sprintm ail.com

NO RTH EA ST: PA C IF IC : Ron B rooker Paul Paw lak 25 O akdale C ircle 39 Peppercorn A ve W allingford, C T 06492- Narellan, NSW 2567, (203) 949-0170 A ustralia [email protected] pspaw [email protected] .au CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send Change of Address notices to William D. Watkins, 918 Bogert Rd., River Edge, NJ SO U TH EA ST: W EST C ENTRA L : 07661-2338. Send the change notice as soon as the new address is known. A lan M urphy Richard L . Tucker has re- 705 Seventh St S. E. signed. Volunteers are urged W ashington, DC 20037 to contact C hester. SUBMISSIONS AHIKS desires from its membership original submissions of game-related articles, (202) 543-7004 analyses of tactics and strategy, series replays, game reports, reviews of games especially A lpm [email protected] suitable for PBM, book reviews, convention reports, and stories of the military. All ______submissions should use tasteful language and refrain from non-AHIKS political EU RO PE: discussion. All submissions are subject to editing for grammar, clarity, and consistency of M urray C ow les style. Columns by the Officer Corps are news items, not articles, and will be published 6 C hafford G ardens subject to space availability. Please do not submit an article for publication which has W est H orndon, B rentw ood Seadogge@A O L .com also been submitted elsewhere. The preferred format for submitted articles, in order of Essex, C M 13 3M J, U K 01277-811540 preference, are: Microsoft’s Word, WordPerfect, Wordpad, Notepad; any ASCII type file; typed articles that must be re-typed into the editor’s computer; hand-written articles that

also must be re-typed into the editor’s computer. All submissions can be sent to the editor via either e-mail attachments or regular snail-mail. GENERAL INFORMATION Graphics can be in any standardized graphic format or in pen and ink sized to the The Kommandeur (K) is the official newsletter of AHIKS, an international width of one K column or less. The Avalon Hill Game Company and The Gamers, Inc., society of mature adults who play historical simulation games by mail. have granted formal permission to reproduce game-related graphics in articles about their AHIKS is an organization of amateurs, staffed by volunteers, and is not games. Permission must be received in writing from any other company to use their affiliated with any game company or publisher. Society dues are yearly, graphics or game-related materials in the K. prorated quarterly, with a one-time initiation fee. Additional information about current rates is available from the Secretary or the European Regional Director. Subscriptions to the Kommandeur are available to non-members at PUBLICATION DEADLINES $1.50 per issue. We do not accept advertising. We do accept “ad trades” on an Articles will be accepted at any time though submission of an article does not issue-for-issue basis with other publications and organizations. Direct inquiries guarantee its publication. News items will be accepted if received in sufficient time to to the Editor or the European Regional Director. allow production schedules to be met. Deadline for next issue: November 30, 2004.

X X RETURN ADDRESS:

Omar DeWitt AHIKS 1580 Bridger Rd NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144-1579 USA International Wargaming Society

39/5 F I R S T C L A S S M A I L

AD D RESS SERVICE REQ U ESTED

MATCH REQUEST FORM

Name ______Member # ______Phone # ______Date ______Address ______E-mail ______§ Change of Address Effective ______USE THESE LETTER CODES TO ASSIST MATCH COORDINATOR: [A] Desire A.R.E.A. opponent (if available) [F] Desire fast opponent (7-day reply) (if available) [G] Will Game Master this game with #_____ Players [M] Desire Multiplayer Match with # ______Players [N] Will play new member [NR] Request non-rated match only [O] Will play opponents outside USA/Canada [X] ICRKs needed (check one): §1-6 §1-10 §2-12 §Other (Specify ______) [Y] Need preprinted OOB #'s ______(Insert OOB # or game title) [Z] Need continuation ICRK for this title ______& ICRK # ______§ Send my ICRK by e-mail e-mail address ______

Game title #1. ______Letter Codes ______

Game title #2. ______Letter Codes ______

The Kommandeur 13 AHIKS Match Assignment 6/25/04

Game:PanzerBlitz Set: RE00XX

To: Roger Eastep 0291

Opponent: August Hill 1600 1341 Charles Street Baltimore, MD 20144 301-555-2648 [email protected]

Important: Agree on rules before beginning match. ICRK die roll numbers are attached. This ICRK is numbered RE00XXA. Your opponent has RE00XXB.

Match Results (Return the top part of this page to the Rating Officer when the match is completed.) Game Germans Russians Winner Draw Canceled* Date Opponent’s Average Completed Speed of Reply (Slow- Normal-Fast) 1 Roger August

2 August Roger • If game or match canceled, please indicate reason: ______COMBAT RESOLUTION KEY (ICRK) RE00XXA A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O 0 1 3 1 6 3 5 4 1 6 2 1 2 2 2 3 1 5 5 3 5 6 6 4 6 3 3 5 5 3 4 5 2 2 6 2 5 5 6 4 6 4 5 5 5 2 6 1 3 1 5 3 3 4 1 6 2 4 1 5 4 1 2 2 4 2 6 2 4 1 3 6 3 6 3 4 6 6 3 6 5 6 5 4 3 1 3 2 5 1 1 4 1 1 1 5 6 5 1 4 3 1 5 6 4 1 3 6 5 2 2 6 7 2 3 1 1 1 3 2 3 4 6 4 5 3 6 3 8 1 6 3 4 4 2 5 4 2 5 4 3 5 4 2 9 2 5 4 1 1 5 3 4 1 4 3 5 6 6 6

sum 27 45 27 35 27 39 42 38 32 33 41 41 31 36 39

P Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA BB CC DD 0 5 1 5 1 1 2 2 5 5 2 2 5 6 4 3 1 5 3 3 2 3 4 3 5 2 6 1 1 6 2 4 2 5 3 5 2 6 3 2 3 4 3 2 6 5 6 1 3 5 4 6 5 3 6 2 1 1 1 2 2 5 3 3 4 2 1 6 1 2 4 6 2 1 3 2 2 2 1 6 5 6 6 6 3 3 6 6 4 2 4 2 1 5 5 1 6 4 2 3 2 1 2 6 5 4 2 3 4 1 5 2 7 1 5 4 2 2 5 4 2 6 5 5 2 5 5 4 8 4 1 6 4 2 4 6 2 5 1 3 5 3 5 3 9 5 1 5 2 6 5 4 3 4 6 6 1 3 5 6

sum 42 27 49 24 29 41 41 32 34 33 28 29 41 41 33

14 The Kommandeur

Editorial tary-history categories for awards, but they decided to eliminate the If you read the Editorial in the last name “Charles Roberts” from the issue, you may remember that I said I awards—they renamed them the was a little confused about one of “Origins Awards.” That is the name Rodger MacGowan’s many accom- they have stayed with ever since. plishments. He has contacted me in In response to their actions, the meantime, and I would like to Rodger contacted Charles Roberts clarify things for you, as they were personally and told him the story; he clarified for me. had not been aware of the Rodger was a good friend of changes. Rodger told him he wanted John Mansfield and worked closely to “reinvent” the awards with his with him on Signal. Around the same name, have only military history and time period Signal was being pub- wargame categories, and run it inde- lished by John up in Canada, Rodger pendently. Rodger said he would was founding and designing Fire & produce the awards. Charles Roberts Movement magazine in L.A. (mid- agreed and thanked Rodger, making 1970's). John's Signal newsletter and only one request: please change the Rodger’s F&M pro magazine had a name to “Charles S. Roberts” lot in common—both were strongly Awards. Thus, Rodger founded the independent. They reviewed new n e w “ C h a r l e s S . R o b e r t s games and called them as they saw Awards.” Rodger removed his name them. from nomination and has never re- When John Mansfield started the ceived a CSR Award. He wished to original “Charles Roberts Awards,” avoid any appearance of a conflict of Rodger worked with him to spread interest. the word about the awards through The awards have had independent F&M. No magazine gave John more “Directors” over the years to handle support and help than F&M in those the counting of ballots, etc. With the days. help of Alan Emrich, Rodger runs During Origins 77 (Staten Island, and produces the awards yearly at his NY, run by SPI) Rodger got the first own expense—his contribution “to hint that something was afoot in rela- this great hobby.” This was some- tion to John's “Charles Roberts thing Rodger thought should be done, Awards.” In short, the Origins peo- and he does this with a salute to John ple were out to lift the awards away Mansfield and Charles Roberts, “two from John Mansfield—and they guys I admire.” did. Over time, into the 1980’s they took over the "Charles Roberts The deadline for the last issue of Awards" and left John out in the this year is November 30. The dues’ cold. Rodger protested, but it had no schedule for 2005 will be published impact. then. It will be the last chance to Later, in the mid-1980's, the Ori- throw your hat in the ring for any of gins people decided to not only reor- the officer posts. The next general ganize the awards and delete mili- election will be in 2008. There is no Treasurer’s Report in this issue. Brian needs some time to assimilate the material he has re- ceived. Expenses for The Kommandeur have dropped. I have been able to find a printer who charges 75¢ an issue and gives one-day service. This is about 10¢ an issue less than the previous printer. For US members, the cost per issue including postage is about $1.15. John Mansfield in 1974 Om ar DeW itt