GENERAL PAGE 2 THEGENERAL I 1 Analon HiU Philosophy Part 55 I

The Game Players Magazine UPCOMING GAMES I The Avalon Hill GENERAL 1% if6dicated ta the preen Early indications are that 1976 has brought invasions of Russia from four different perids lion of authoritatiue articles on the strategy, tactics, a an acceleration to the already hectic newgame are recreated.Thefour different invaders are the variation of Avalon Hill games of sitategv. Histerkl artrc pace. We now have more titles under active Mongols, Charles the XII, Napoleon and Hitler's are Included only inmuch a9 they provide useful ba @round information on current Avelon Hill t~tles. T development than at any other time during our Operation Barbarossa. Turns are weekly with no GENERAL is PuMished by thn Avalon HIH Corr@arry 501 history. To help out with our increasedworkload version lasting more than 6 months. Originally , for the cultural edlfimtion wi the seriouagamaficionado - the hopes of Improving the game ownw'sproficieplcy o+ pla we've added another full time developer in the planned for releaseat ORIGINS 11,4 ROADS has and oroviding services not otherwiw nvailablm to the Avalo form of A. Richard Harnblen, an inveterate run into problems in development and probably HIII gams bufl. wargame designer and player of long standing. will not be available before fall. Publication 3s bi-monthly with mailingsmadsclose to SQUAD LEADER is a game we're pretty the end of February, Aprrl. June, August. Octohr, and Among other things, Richard brings us an Ducember All Bdltorial and general maif should besent to immense amount of expertise on the American excited about. John Hill is the designer and one , the Avafon Will Game Company, 4517 Harford Rd.. Civil War and a reputation as a top flight game with an excellent track record. His games under . ' Baltimore. MD 21 214 One yearsubscr~ptionsare$7.50. player. You've already sampled his literary skills other labels have been uniformly well received Trial subscriptions of 4 Issues for 55 00 are available. A 1 two year subscription is only SlZ.M1. Send checks or in Vol. 12, No. 6 of the GENERAL and we expect and we took forward to the compilation of his money orders only. Not responsible forcash lmt in transit. you'll be even more pleased with his prowess at talents with AH physical quality and develop-

All subgcrlptions sent ria bulk permit. Airmail and Ist game design and development. ment. SQUAD LEADER is set in WWll with each j class delivery must be prearranged with thesubscription Hamblen may well design AH'S first attempt counter representing a single officer, nco or depanment at additional cost. Address changes musr be subm~itedto the subscciptlon department 6 week in at one of the "giant" or "monster" gameswhich squad. Borrowing heavily from both miniatures danceto guarantee delivery No paad aduertlsing of any have proven so popular recently. Although and PANZERBLITZ, it promises to be an extreme- type IS accepted. However, news of importance to the untitled at present, the game will be a strategic ly colorful game. The beauty of this one lies in wargaming community is printed free 01 charge and is the extremely simple mechanics. Release solicited. portrayal of the entire American Civil War game Artbles from subscrlberr are consldernd for publlcati utilizing eight 22" x 28" mapboards. The game is not expected before nea spring. the diwrelion 01 our editorial staff. Articles shoul will have approximately 2,000 unit counters but WAR AT SEA is the AH version of Jedko's typewritten, double-speced, and ernlxace the Wnetc of will feature low piece density. Political and game of the same name which has been Endish uw.There Is no Ilrnir to word length. Aacorn ing exampl- and diagrams should be neatly done on black logistic considerations will limit the action to receiving fine reviews in hobby magazines of red ink. Phmographr should haw caprlon and credil bursts of furious intensity rather than prolonged late. Jedko is our exclusive Australian distribu- wrlnnn on back. Rej~tadarticles will be returned when attrition. The game will subdivide into six tor which explains in pan why this is the second pmible. In any and all caseb. Avalon Hill ac responsibility for unsolicired material. Authors of separate games, each recreating a separate Jedko game to be published by Avalon Hill. John articles which recsb favorawe rrrcponss from the theatre or campaign. Although we have not Edwards, the designer of WAR A7 SEA, has *Ill h rernunsreted with fre~merchandise of their completed our pricing studies yet the game will proven himself an excellent designer of fun EDITOR: Donald J. Greenwwa probably command a price in rhe neighborhood games as purchasers of RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN - GRAPHICS: Jim Hamilton. Ran.dall Reed. Scon Moores. Rodger MacGowan Cover By Jlrn Hamilton of $50. The separate boxed sub-game versions will attest. His emphasis on playability and game EDITORIAL STAFF: A. Anglolillo. H.Ant0n.R. Beyrna. 0. will be available at regular prices. Completion is playing as a fun activity rather than a mathemat- Burdick, 6. Cornito, J. Connolh/, Jr. Davis. 0.DeWitt. R. scheduled for the summer of 1977. ical exercise stands him in good stead in our - Easton, G. Gygax, R. Harnblen, R. Harmon. T. Wazlett, T. The GETWSBURG redesign by Mick U hl will eyes. WAR ATSEA is an extremely simple game - Hilton, R Livermore. L. Mdnsny. M. McGulre. D. Miller. dealing with the WWll European naval war in T. Olewn, G.Phillies, C. Plnshv, R. Flock. J. Pournelle. 0. stress accuracy and realism in the mapboard Rhrts. J Robinson. M. Saha. B. Sinrgaglio. J. Thomas. and counters and will be a complete divorce almost abstract form. The game assumes that M. Uhl, L. Zocchi. from the simplistic GETTYSBURG of the 60's. the Axis becomes bolder with their surface fleet CARTOONISTS: T. Smilev, S.Hsrchak This version will be brigade level with serni- and make a more vigorous attempt to deny To fxilitate correwondeme. we su@p%tthaf 811 enwlope hidden movement in that only the unit's identity control of the seas to the Allies. Ships such as to Avalon Will be markmd in the lowm Iuft.hand cwner a will be visible to the opponent. Strengths will be the German carrier GrafZeppelin and the Italian fllllow5: A.R.E.A. Technician, Ron La Porte hidden beneath the counter. Even more radical battleship Rome which were never finished in Purchases of the GENERAL: Subscription Depr. - Gertrud will be the disappearance of hexes from the reality see action in the game. Both sides try to Zmrnbro mapboard. Movement will be from point topoint win the eight turn game by accumulating more Purchaass of Gam, play-by-mail kits, and game part$: Or& or via special road movement rates. The artistic control points than their opponent. The Allied Oept. - Christy Saw treatment of the board and counters will be a fleet is much larger but the Axis counters with Qusstlons Concerning Play Research & Design bvartrnan Note: all questions should be rhmughlv dia first in the industry. The whole thing will be U-Boats, land based air, and an ability to questionr will be anwered that are not acco innovative in a big way and designed by concentrate in one area while the Allies must rtamped, wtf-addrnsced envelm. Only quest someone who lives and breathes. Civil War. attempt to guard everything. Playing time is one ruln clarifktions (not historical or design ansuwred. GETTYSBURG may be ready by fall, depending hour. Be forewarned, if you are a realism Arttcles for Publication, Letters to the tort on current inventory status. devotee who despises simple games lhen WAR Brochurer, and Readers Ruaponse Pgp submissions: Edi~orla ARAB ISRAELI WAR is yet another addition AT SEA is not for you. If, on the other hand, you Depr. - OonaM Grmwood. to the PANZERBLITZ family of tacticaI games, enjoy a game you can play with your wife, kid Photograph Credm: Photo Film. halon, California brother, or girl friend-you'llfind WARATSEAa Tvpesettlng: Colonial Composition and marks our first attempt at a post Wll Printing: Monarch Office ServiM. In?. subject. Designed by Seth Carus and jointly real bargain at $5.00. The game will be available EXCLUSIVE AGENTS: ENGLAND: Michael Hodg developed by Randall Reed and Richard Ham- at ORIGINS II and by mail thereafter. High Rd.. N. F~nchley, London. AUSTRALIAN blen, AIW will, in a sense, be another PANZER Games. t 11 Beatrice St., Cheltsnham 31 92 Vi STARSHIP TROOPERS is finally rounding SCANDINAVIAN P.O.Box329.13103 Necka3. Swede LEADER with modifications and improvements GERMANY- Plan Cornmerz. Planungs-undHandsi which will show in detail the evolution of into form. Robert Heinlein, who was recently GmbH, 8 Munchen 2, Schillerstrasse 40 weaponry from 1956 up to the present. Twenty voted the first "Grand Master" of science fiction, IFYOU PLAN ON MOVlRlG . . you are certainly tree scenarios are currently being playtested includ- has given the game his endorsement and do so wjthout asking our perrn~ssion.We do ask that y written a prefacefor Randall Reed's treatmentof your ing several macro games. Use of sophisficated notify our Mrs Zombro ASAP Please state o his most popular book. Any description of the address, your new address, and-in 25 words or 1-5 weapons systems, split-move and fire, and sound. logical reason why you are moving. greater reliance onairpower will giveAIWavery conflict between Skinnies and Arachnids here distinct flavor of irs own. We would like to offer would be a gross injustice to Mr. Heinlein's AIW at ORIGINS II but that may prove wishful literary talents. We suggest that if you haven't AVA LOAT HILL thinking. It should be ready by this fall however. already read the book of the same name, that FOUR ROADS TO MOSCOW was somewhat you get a copy. STARSHIP TROOPERS will make erroneously reported on in various gossip its debut at ORIGINS II and be available by mail columns of other magazines. Designed by shortly thereafter. Joseph Angiolillo, 4 ROADS wili utilize a large 44" x 22" mapboard on which division-level Continued on page 24, column THE GENERAL PAGE 3

CALIBRATED LUF TWAFFE by Rhen D. Harmon

"Luftwaffe Organized" (Vol. 10, No. 4) dis- With the P-40, the Airacobra made up most of The El7 project came about as the result of cussed the strategic aspects of the LUFTWAFFE the USAAF resistance to Japan in the early months controversy over the role and direction of the Air game, e.g., the topography of the board, deploy- of the war. It became quickly apparent that the Zero Corps. The military was slow to accept bombers as ment, etc. This article will examine the tactical, had rendered the heavier P-39 instantaneously anything other than an auxiliary; the Boeing Model historical, and auxiliary aspects of LUFTWAFFE obsolete. After taking heavy losses in the first 299 prototype (there was no XB-17) was designed in a detailed and compartmentalized form, from the months of the war the P-39 was gradually mainly for extended coastal defense. It was the first story behind each aircraft to their game perfor- withdrawn as a tactical fighter. four-engine bomber to be considered by the U.S. mance at the moment of attack. Its powerful armament and remarkably durable Army, and the first all-metal four-engine bomber This article willexamine the background of each construction-which had made it an unsuccessful anywhere; its sheer size alone caused controversy. of the aircraft appearing in LW. The performance fighter-now made the P-39 an outstanding The 1935 crash of 299 seemed to prove the statistics, of course. can be found in the LW rules. ground-attack plane. In the South Pacific, in Worth accusations of oversize and led to the adoption of However, there is a story behind each aircraft-and Africa, and especially in Russia, the P-39 performed the Douglas &I8 Digby in its place. Sheer more than a cursory note is necessary to do them outstanding service. Its most distinguished record persistence by Boeing and the Air Corps kept a few justice. Understanding of the aircraft in the game was with the Soviet Air Force, which received 5-1 7s around until 1940, when world developments can only follow the telling of their story. almost 5000 P-39s. and an additional 2.400 P-63 brought a rash of orders. Kingcobras; a direct development of the P-39. The P-39 appears in the L W game nearing the 1941 saw the lighter B-17B. C, and D models end of its service as a fighter, serving a role it was give way toa majorredesign-the RITE. Originally increasingly unable to fill against more agile Axis the bomber had a narrow tailfinand only a few fixed opposition. The L W model is the P-39Q, most of gun positions. The B17E featured the familiar which served on the Eastern Front. curving tail, and introduced hydraulic dorsal and belly turrets, and also a tail-gun position; also included were self-sealing tanks and armor. The Bell P-39 Airacobra redesign had come as a result of limited (and One of the first of the USAAFs World War Il- unfortunate) 6-17C duty with the RAF, and the E generation fighters, the P-39 was, in its day, quite an 17E was entering service just in time for war. innovative aircraft, lntroduced into active service in After initial service in the Pacific. the El7 was 1940, the P-39-in a day when .30-calikr machine- relegated almost exclusively to Europe, where it guns were standard pursuit armament-featured a became the crux and the focus for the daytime 37mm cannon in the propeller hub, in addition to bomkr offensive. Without it, USAAF daylight four MGs. To make room for the weapon, the Bell Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress precision bombing may not have come off. Its Aircraft Corp. adopted the radical expedient of Because of the supreme importanae of military stability, its armament, its range, and its unparal- moving the engine behind ;he cockpit, connected to aviation, many aircraft win a measure of fame. A leled durability all contributed to get its mission the prop by a 10-foot shaft. The P-39 was few-such as the Sopwith Camel, the Zero, the F- accomplished. The B-24, and other bombers, may additionally unique in that it was the first major 86, the F-4 Phantom, and the M IG-21-can lay have had more range or bombload-but the 817 fighter to feature "tricycle" landing-gear. i.e., witha claim to greatness. The 8-17 Flying Fortress is no alone had the ability to endure some of the worst center wheel in the nose rather'than in the tail. less than legend. flak and fighter opposition of the war. PAGE 4 THE GENERAL I The wartime B-17 models included the E, F, and Japanese advances in New Guinea and the Solo- piled up an excellent record. It was the First USAAF G series, the last of which included a chin turret- mons. fighter of the war to destroy an Axis aircraft (an Axis fighter pilots had discovered early'that the nose The P-40 appears in L Wlike the P-39, in one of Fw200). It was the first Allied fighter to match the position was the most weakly defended. A B17H its lesser roles, as an adjunct to the Combined Zero, by countering maneuverability with speed, appeared in limited numbers as an air-sea rescue Bomber Offensive. Also serving with Soviet, Free armament, and durability; the P-38 took the brunt plane. French. Canadian. and South African forces, the P- of day-to-day operations against Japan, and Although V-E day marked the effectiveend of B- 40 was to total some 14,000 aircraft. accounted For more downed Japanese aircraft than 17 service, the knowledge that had been gained from any other Allied fighter. this pioneering design-from Model 299 through In Europe, the P-38 saw important service as an the battle-tested R17G-was to live on in a newer escort for the USAAF's bombers. The P-38's range development: the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. made it the first Allied daytime fighter to penetrate deep into Europe. and it provided effective cover for the bombers even after the P-47 and P-5 I replaaed it as a tactical fighter. Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc The P-38 also saw important duties as a fighter- The A-20, first of the USAAFs twin-engine bomber, particularly in North Africa;as the F-4and attack bombers, proved adaptable to a variety of F-5 it was well emoloved as ~hotorecon. roles, and served throughout World War 11. First produced in 1939,it was immediately ordered by the Consolidated B-24 Liberator French, and later by the British. By Pearl Harbor Developed for a 1939 U.S. Army requirement the A-20 had seen wide service with the Third For a long-range bomber, the B2d featured a Republic, Free France, and Vichy, as well as with narrow, low-drag wing and a deep fuselage. The the RAF, which designated the bomber as "Bos- result was an aircraft that could fly Further and hit ton". harder than the Flying Fortress-or any other It was also the RAF that would become the first aircraft prior to the R-29. Delivered to the USAAF to employ the A-20 as a fighter, first as a fighter- and RAF Coastal Command for the first time in bomber and shortly thereafter as a night fighter. The July 1941, it went on to serve in many capacities, on RAF had been able to adapt the A-20 to help fill all fronts-the North Atlantic, Europe, Africa, their need for fighter aircraft, as the USAAF was to China, the Pacific, Alaska. In Europe it served as a do after Pearl Harbor. Besides extensive service in partner to the B-17, taking a dominant role in the Pacific, Africa. and Europe as a tactical and southern Europe. including the famous 1943 strike maritime bomber, the A-20 also saw service as the on the Ploesti oil fields. The B-24's range made it P-70, America's first effective night-fighter. and --I- equally effective for operations throughout the filled this need until the Northrop P-61 Black Martin B-26 Marauder Pacific and China. Widow was ready for service. The very capabilities that made the B-26 an Perhaps its most crucial role was as a patrol- Of the 7,000-odd A-206, the , Soviet Union excellent medium bomber also contributed to an bomber in the North Atlantic. Operated by RAF received 3,100 under Lend-Lease, employing it as a ugly reputation as a pilot-killer. A demanding Coastal Command and by the US Navy, the ground-attack aircraft. This, combined with the aircraft to fly. it could, when handled right, live up Liberator extended Allied presence over most of the numbers of P-39s and P-63s sent to Russia, only to its name, and did. begin to underline the size and importance of the air Atlantic; Liberators destroyed many, many U-boats There was no prototype. The Marauder was 11-2 far from land-and drove the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 war in Russia (no less than 35,000 llyushin ordered right off the blue-prints in 1940, and was in Condor from the skies. Sturmoviks were produced) and of the Allied service by 1941. It served well on all fronts, and Named as "Liberator" by the British, the B24 aircraft sent there to help. particularly well in Europe, where it was primarily went through many modifications through tht. war The A-20's dependability and excellent handling C employed. The B-26 was particularly successful in years. The B-24D. (which introduced the nose qualities made it an excellent craft for the air forces tactical operations with the US 9th Air Force. turret), and J models provided the bulk of the that used it; its adaptability makes its career as Primary versions of the 3-26 were in the Band C Liberator force. As the F-7, it served as a photo illustrious as its German counterpart. the Ju88. series. The B-26F introduaed a larger wing, at the recon plane; as the LB30 and C-87 cargo planes; urging of the Truman Committee; the B-26G was and as a Navy patrol bomber, the PWY. the final version produced.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk The USAAFs standard fighter at the time of Pearl Harbor, the P40 was a development of North ~meriianB-25 Mitchell Curtiss' P-36 Mohawk and Hawk 75 fighters. Like the Martin B-26, the B-25 design was of Although it had little more than durability to offer such excellence that it was ordered off the drawing during the first, dark months of the war, it had one board, entering service in 1940. The B-25 went on to distinction: it was there, and it served. become the most outstanding American medium Armed with4-6.50aIiber machine-guns, the P- bomber of the war. 40C, D, and E Tomahawk and Kittyhawk fighters Employed on many fronts, including Europe. formed the basis of Allied opposition to the Axis in Africa. and China, the &25 saw heavy use in the 1941 and 1942. serving in the South Pacific, in Pacific. It served with great distinction with the US China, and in North Africa. Initial combat service 5th Air Force in the South Pacific, flying in man> of the P-40 was with Allied forces. P-40s would win Lockheed P-38 Lightning low-level strikes on Japanese airfieldsand shipping. fame in China as part of the "Flying Tiger" unit Lockheed Corporation designers have had a The B-25. daringly launched from the USS Hornel. serving with the Nationalist Chinese; P4Os also long record of unusual and effective designs-the P- carried out the first strike on the Japanese would see good service with the RAF. Although 80 Shooting Star, P-2 Neptune, P-3 Orion, F-104 homeland. Although of small military importance. unsuitable for operations in Europe, the Pa Starfighter, and Y F-I 2A/ SR-71 have all featured the 1942 strike gave a psychological boost to the proved valuable in Africa as a major part of the unorthodox lines and excellent service. So it was Allied cause at a crucial time. Desen Air Force serving in Egypt. with the P-38. The B-25's experiences in low-level attacks Pas also formed the first major USAAF Entering production in 1941 with both the encouraged many modifications. Many models resistance to Japan. Although heavy and less agile USAAF and RAF (which named the fighter featured a solid nose; the last of them; the B-25H, than the Zero, its durability, diving speed, and "Lightning"), the P-38 was the best of America's in- carried no less than 14.50-cal machine-guns. . .and armament at least offered the Japanese some service fighters at the start of war, and was still in a 75mm cannon. This was followed by the B-2SJ, opposition. Such that it was, it helped check effective service at the end. In between, the P-38 had which reintroduced a bombardier in a transparent THE GENERAL nose position. reinstating the 8-25 as a bona-fide bomber in American service, it saw only limited The P-47D. which appears in L W,was the first medium bomber. The B-25J was the most-produced service in the last months of WWII. Technically. oC to feature a "bubble" canopy. similar to the P-51. model of the Mitchell; many E25Js served in course. it was the best attack bomber of the war. 'The P-47D and N models were the most-produced Europe in the late years of the war. In fact, the B-25 Redesignated as the 8-26 after the passing of the oi the 15.000 'I'hunderbolts; the latter N model. went on to serve with the USAF until 1960. Martin Martruder, the Invader did yeoman duty as a featuring longer range, served primarily in the tactical bomber in the Korean War. lnservice with Pacific. the USAF for over two decades, the B-26 was modified as the B-26K Counter Invader. and saw NOTE: for a Full order of battle of all USAAF service through much of the Vietnam War. groups in the ETO (not included in the LW Campaign Briefing Manual). see the GENERAL May '71 issue: Vol. 8, No. I.

Supermarine Spitfire In service throughout World War 11, the Spitfire design proved of such excellence that it remained a hrst-rank fighter through 1945, while such long- standing fighters as the Me109and Zero reached the limits of their design and began to fade. Mk. 1 Spitfires ensured England's survival in 1940; a Mk.XIV Spitfire became the first to knock down an North American P-$1 Mustang Me262 in combat. The Spitfire, which went through Dornier Do217 Originally built to British specifications, the P- 24 models and six years of war, put together a record Developed From the famous Do17 "Flying 51 became the best USAAF fighter of the war. that makes it one of the greatest fighters in history. Pencil," the Do21 7 appeared as a reconnaissance Although bettered by a few fighter designs. the P-5 I Patterned after a series of prizewinning racing and torpedo-bomber in 1941. Eventually replacing can rank as the most outstanding.fighterof WWlI- planes, the Spitfire was first flown in 1936, and was the Do17. the 217 served as a bomber in various if for no other reason than the fact that we could not in service with the RAF as early as 1938. The Mk. 1 roles for the remainder of the war. hnvt defeated Germany without it. served at the Battle of Britain and was superseded in The Do217 saw widespread service, in modified Designed after t he start of war to an RAForder, 1941 by the Mk. V,whichwasoutclassed by the new form. as a night fighter. With a solid nosera similar the P-51 differed from then current US purshit Fw190 and in turn replaced by the Mk.IX, which development was made in the 8-25). the Do217 was planes in that it was to have an in-line engine and became the most widely used of the Spitfire series. equipped for this role with radar and no less than eigh~MGs. Originally equipped with an Allison Although its role in the Combined Bomber four 2Omm and four 7.9mm guns, with an additional engine. the first RAF P-5 Is were given Rolls-Royce Offensive was hobbled by short range. the Spitfire 13mm for rearward defense. With similarly-adapted Merlin engines; subsequently all American P-5Is served with distinction with British forces over JutrXs. the Do217 saw good service defending were to carry the British-designed enginc. Britain and France throughout the war. German cities from RAF firebombings. Quickly adopted by the USAF, the P-51 began The Spitfire was also built for the Fleet Air Arm service with the US 8th Air Force in 1943. Its range as the Seafire, a carrier-borne version that served and highaltitude abilities gave the Allies effective from May 1945 through the Korean conflict. The fighter range over Germany lor the first time-not Spitfire seen in L W are Mk. Vs, supplied under only as an escort but as a daylight tactical fighter. reverse Lend-Lease. The P-51 would eventually account for over 8,000 Axis aircraft in the ETO. and would provide most of the opposition for German interceptors. Focke-Wulf Fw190 The P-5 I also saw extensive escort service in the The first major German fighter since the MeI09. Pacific in the late months of the war. mainly with the Fw190 became the primary interceptor oppos- 20th Air Force 6-29s. The range problems encoun- ing the Combined Bomber Offensive, as well as tered on these missions caused the USAAF to create superseding, but not replacing. the Me109 as the the most unusual version of the Mustang: two P-5 I Luitwaffe tactical Iighter. Although it had difficult- l"useltiges joined by a common wing and stabilizer. ies at higher altitudes, the Fwl90A and D with two pilots and doubled range. The result was interceptors were the equal of any Allied fighter. the P-82 Twln Musttlng. Although few appeared The Lultwaffe's first radial-engined monoplane before VJ-Day. the F-82 becamea standard postwar fighter, the Fw190 retained excellent maneuverabil- USAF escort fighter. and accounted for the first ity and speed. and was respected by its opponents. Communist aircraft shot down in the Korean War. The F-51 was also on hand to serve in Korea, and saw extensive ground-attack duty with the USAF and South Korean units. Surplus P-51s (redesignated F-51 after creation of the US Air Force) went on to Iong service with NATO, SEATO. and Latin American countries. Focke-Wulf Tal52 The F-51 Mustang is in service with the USAF Perhaps the best conventional fighter of the war, oen today. Reinstated in 1967. the newest F-51s Republic P-47 Thunderbolt the Ta152 appeared almost too late to see effective have been assern bled from P-5 1 components and Originally designed as a lightweight fighter, the scrvice. Designed by Focke-Wulf designer Kurt updilled with the latest systems. They serve In Air P-47 became the heaviest single-engine. propeller- Tank (hence the "Ta" designation), the Ta152C- Commando squadrons. mainly for counterinsur- driven fighter ever built. Developed from the the only operational model -started production at gent uses. Seversky P-35 and Republic P-43, the Thunderbolt Sorau. Few were made before the Red Army took became the workhorse fighter in the European the plant. Theatre of Operations, serving as fighter, escort The Ta 152C featured anengine of 2 10&2300 hp. lighter. fighter-bomber. and was armed with a 30mm cannon in the propeller hub. supplemented by four MG151 cannon. 'The durability of the "Jug" rivals that of the B- 17. P-47s have gone on record as returning minus half a wing. with half the engine cylinders shot out. Douglas A-26 Invader with so many holes that it often looked likeacheese- Although it went from design to production grater. rather than an aircraft. But P-47s did return: during World War 11, this excellent bomkr, in a its durabilily stood it in good stead in ground Heinkel He162 Satamander/People0s Fighter sense, is not a World War 11 aircraft. Although it attacks. and even more so against less-durable The Volksjager was one oft he most remarkable was the last piston-driven, multi-engined attack German fighters. examples of the radical direction taken by German PAGE 6 THE GENERAL

interceptor design. Built to a government specifica- some respects. Because of its small numbers, The Me 109E was briefly replaced by the F series. tion of September 1944, the fighter was in theair no converted nightfighters like the Jug8 and Mel 10 which sought to improve the plane's handling less than 10 weeks. Made primarily of plywood and continued to form the bulk of German night characteristics by removing the wing guns. The other nonstrategic material, the He 162 was designed defenses. Me l09F had a short and controversial career: never to make up for the bombing of the conventional fully accepted by Luftwaffe pilots, despite the fact German aircraft industry, and eventually was to that it could out-maneuver the Soitfire V. the serve as the basis for an airgoing Volkssturm. Mel09F was replaced in 1942 by the rAost irnpo;tant Armed with two 20mm or 30mm cannon, the and most widely used series of all-the MelO9C He 162A went into service with JG84 in the spring of ("Gustav"). Like previous models, the G series 1945. Few were completed before VE-Day; fewer retained a 20mm cannon in the propeller hub (later Messerschmitt BfllO still ever saw combat. Besides design problems changed to a 30mm MK 108 starting with the Although somewhat underrated throughout its Me109G-6) and two MGs in the nose. Unlike the mused by the hasty appearance of the Salamander. career. the Me1 10 gave excellent and versatile the plane had proven to be extremely difficult to fly. I09E. the two wing-mounted 20mm guns were service throughout the war. and proved to be a mounted under the wings, rather in them. The valuable workhorse. Developed just after the Mel09G saw action on all fronts and was increas- Me 109. the Me l I0 entered service too late for the ingly called on to perform high-altitude missions war in Spain. and First saw action in Poland as an against the USAAF-as good as the Fw 190 was at attack homber. low and medium altitudes. it was proving inade- Designed as a long-range escort fighter. the quate at higher levels. A few MeI09H and K series Me l I0 was found wanting in this role in its First lighters were completed to fill the gap before the actions against enemy fighters. The clumsy aircraft appearance of the Ta152, but by then the war was was continually outclassed in clashes with British ending. As events proved. the Me109 had lasted so fighters and Swiss Me 109s in the summer of 1940; long that it, the Fw190, and the Ta152 were slated the situation got so bad that MelIOs required for replacement by the Me262. escorts of their own. The aircraft would probably Mel09s were not limited to Luftwaffe service. have been replaced by the Me2 10, had not the latter nor does VE-Day mark the end of their story. Large proved to he a major boondoggle. numbers of Mel09E and G series fighters had been 1942 saw the effective re-introduction of the exported to Spain, Yugoslavia (where they served Mel I0 as a fighter-bomkr (Mel lOF) and night- against German Mel09s), Hungary, Rumania, Fighter (Me I IOG), roles in which it was to serve with Junkers Ju88 Bulgaria. Finland. and Switzerland. the latter using excellence for the remainder of the war. The Ju88 was the most adaptable of any combat its Mel09s on straying German Mel09s, among aircraft of the war; it served throughout the ETO in others: the Swiss Me109 inventory consisted of both virtually any role required of combat aircraft. imported and confiscated Me 109s. Spain and Originally designed as a medium bomber. the Czechoslovakia both produced Mel09s after the Jug8 appeared in I937. It served in Poland, France, war: the Czech version. the Avia S-99 and S-199. Britain, and Russia throughout the first years of the was the standard Czech fighter until the issue of war in tactical and strategic roles, eventually MIG-15 fighters in the early '50s. Some S-199 found superseding the HeIlI and Do17 in these roles. their way into the Israeli Air Force, serving in the Ju8Ss engaged Allkd shipping from Norway and I948 War for Independence. Italy, climaxed by General von Richthofen's strike The Spanish version, which began manufacture on the Allied supply port at Bari in December 1943, during the war years, was the Hispano HA-I 109 and sinking 17 merchant vessels (one of which turned HA-I I 12. the latter a fighter-bomber version out to be full of mustard gas, which caused over a powered with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Produc- thousand casualties) and causing a disaster rivaling tion ended in the late'50s; active service of the HA- Pearl Harbor; the British 8th Army and US 12th Air ~essGchrnittBfl09 I1 12 continued into the late 1960s. Force were neutralized for much of the winter. The Me109 (the official "Bf' designation refers Versions of the Jug8 bomber were also supplied tu the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke. where it was to Italy and Finland; the 3u88 went through many originally produced) was one of thegreatest combat modifications and continued into the Jul88 and aircraft in history. It served throughout the war -in Ju388 series. fact, its active service spanned three decades-and Built also as a nightfighter and destroyer, Ju88C was the most numerous fighter of the war: some and later modifications began service with NJGI in 32.000 were built. It dominated the skies of Europe, Messerschmitt Me163 Comet 1940. Some 6.000 Ju88 fighters were built to oppose almost entirely on its own, for several years; even At the dawn of the jet age, fighter development Allied day and night bombers. carrying Liechten- toward the end it offered opposition to Allied took a radical new direction in the mid-1940s with stein radar systems and an assortment of up to six power. the appearance of the rocket fighter. During the 20mm cannon, additional 13mm and 7.9mm MGs. First flown in 1935, and entering active service early and mid40s. the Soviet Union built the and assorted rockets. The Ju88 was instrumental in two years later, the Me109 was Germany's first Bereznyak-fsaev B1-I, the United States brought the night actions against the RAF; between monoplane fighter. Indeed, until the advent of the out the Northrop XP-79, Germany-in addition to 1 nightfighters and German electronic advances the Fw 190, it was the only German single-seat fighter. the Komet-built the Bachem Ba349 Viper, and RAF Bomber Command wns newly driven from the gradually replacing th'e He5 I. First combat was in Britain followed in 1949 with the Hawker P. 1072. 1 sky in 1944. the Spanish Civil War, where Me 1096s served with All these aircraft were rocket-powered prototypes for an innovative wave of fighters. All were passed the Condor Legion; initially it was matched by , Polikarpov 1-15 and 1-1 6 series fighters flown by by: war production priorities. and the turbojet had ' Republican pilots. But the older Poiikarpovfighters overcome them. all except the Me 163: the world's were at the peak of their development: the only operational rocket fighter. appearance of the Mel09C established final The by-product of German advances in aircraft Nationalist air supremacy in that war. Combat design and rocketry. the Me163 was developed experiences led to the development of the Mel09E through a series of powerless prototypes, while the Heinkel He219 Owl ("Emir). which were predominant in the first year rocket engines were still being readied. The Me163A Originally proposed in 1940, official disinterest of World War 11. (later used as a trainer) showed superb gliding delayed the first flight of the He219. Germany's first The Me109 led the Luftwaffe to spectacul characteristics-important in a fighter able to genuine night-fighter. until late 1942. Due to victories over the air forces of Europe. and was t e maintain only 8 minutes of powered flight. After a bureaucratic interference with the entire German key to the entire German offensive effort, w 1~ch series of problems with the rocket engines, the twin-engine Fighter program, less than 300 He2195 could not have succeeded without air sup&@rity. Me1 63 went into service with JG400 in the summer were made. fortunately for the Allied cause. There is even some conjecture that the Me 10*?3, of 1944. as a point-interceptor. Despite the volatile Radar-equipped, faster than 400 mph, and desplte its limited range, might have won the Baple nature of the aircraft-which made take-offs and armed with six 30mm and two 20mm guns. the of Britain had they been directed more intelligefitly. landings hamrdous-and the fact ttiat the extreme He219 turned out to be the best night-fighter of the Certainly the Me109 was a match for any Ailied speed ol the Me 163 made accurate attacks difficult, war. surpassing even the P-hl and Mosquito in Fighter then in service. the Me 163 proved pretty much unstoppable. THE GENERAL PAGE 7

The Me 163B -the only operational version of Hardly a success-and "most successful of an average attack: as part of a 28-factor (14-gruppen) the fighter -was a very small plane: it had a industry plagued with a TFX mentality isn't saying attack, that one factor gets .583! wingspan of 30 feet and a length of only 18 ft. The much. But "German genius'? By the time the Me262 (2) A fighter that is in large numbers is more Comet could reach its ceiling of 39.500 ft. in only 3'/? went into production, the USSR had tested a rmket effective than some of the freaks in the game. Check minutes. The Me163 was to be replaced with the fighter: Britain had flown the Gloster E.28139 the mean! factor (mean effectiveness per factor-the Me263--a development of the Komet with more Pioneer prototype in May of 1941, and had the average of the r-ecorded results in each column on range and retracible, rather than detachable, Gloster Meteor jet fighter in production by July the P-FET) results on Chart 1. The Ju88 and 'Tal52 landing gear: however, the war ended before it could 1944. The United States produced rhmujet fighters use the same results column, but have different go into full prduction. that year-the Bell P-59 Airacornet and the overall ratings. Because of the rules of attack-"best Another development of the Me163 was the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The Meteor saw against the best" and so forth-the Ta 152 attacks by Mitsubishi J8M I Shusui (Sword Wind), patterned action in the last year of the war, most of it itself because of its higher E rating. But a number of after the Komet and built with German-supplied defending England from V-Is. Ju88s in the same attack is apt to get better results inlbrmation. The Shusui was developed by the (see (1) above). Of course, against bombers. the Japanese Navy as a last-ditch defense against the Ta152 and Ju88 ad together. onslaught of the 20th Air Force; the prototype flew (3) E rating and attack effectiveness are two in July or 1945 but did not enter productionuntil the different things. The Me410, few of them as there day oC the surrender, I5 August 1945. are. far exceed anything in the USAAF in deadli- ness. Dewoitine De520 Comparison of fighters in the LW game must The best of the Armee de 1'Air Fighters at the consider not only their E rating, but, cc-incidentally start of the Battle of France, the Dewoitine 520 with that, their average per-factor effectiveness --or might have had a decisive impact on the war had it A rating-as shown in the meanlfactor results on Messenchmitt Me410 Hornet been produced in large numkrs. However, produc- the P-FET. Range, a third consideration, can be The Nazi system is occasionally (and mistaken- tion had been delayed by French government- considered as an entity, as the game presents it as an ly) portrayed as the model of efficiency. It certainly imposed modifications, and deliveries began in the abstract. What has been discussed in this presenta- wasn't apparent in the Third Reich's aviation spring of 1940. The Morane-Saulnier and BIoch tion underlieseverything written in the more general industry. Plagued by mistaken doctrine (see fighters proved inadequate against the Me 109E-3, tactical commentaries below. "Luftwaffe Analysis." Vol. 10, No. 2). bureaucratic which would have found a match in the Dewoitine (NOTE: the A factors of aircraft sharing the meddling (not the least of which was the near- 520. same ACT column and E rating- the B-I 7 and B- suppression of the He219 and Me262). and Production oi the fighter continued until 1942 24,the Me163and He162, and He219andDo217- punctuated by such disasters as the He177 and under the Vichy government. The German occupa- are similar because, when together. they can attack Me210--unrivalled by even the U.S. defense tion forces, invading Vichy that November. confis- as one group. whereas the P-40 and P-5 I, or Ta152 industry's best efforts --the German aerospace cated the 700 or so D-S20s, giving many to Bulgaria, and Jug8 must attack by E rating, under the rules.) industry was shackled from beginning to end. Rumania, and Italy. and using others to train pilots The German government. having committed lor JG 103 and JG 105. itself to large orders of the Me210. found itself in a After the invasion of France, 30 D-520s were bind with the plane going from prototype stage recaptured by Allied forces. These fighters subse- ANALYSIS AND TACTICAL (1939) intoservice(l941) with noimprovement. The quently saw good service in the forces of Free EMPLOYMENT plane had rotten handling characteristics. and a bad France. in the closing months of the war. tendency to crash. After extensive re-design the AIRCRAFT COMMENTARIES aircraft reappeared as the Me4 10 Hornivse (Hor- Here follows a type-by-type discussion of the 1 net), and about a thousand OF these were produced ANALYSIS AND TACTICAL properties and uses of the aircraft that appear in until 1944. Although the aircraA had heavy EMPLOYMENT LW. armament and tolerable performance, its record was marginal at best. NUMEROLOGY AND A RATINGS Fw190 E rtg 413s A rtg .510 Fuel 413 What follows is the result of an indepth This aircraft, by virtue of its numbers and analysis. Problem: in order to accurately assess the relativeeffectiveness, is the backboneof theGerman relative worth of each aircraft, we must assess all of defenses. It has enough range to operate in most its characteristics as they appear in the game. E areas of Germany and Austria. enough E rating to ratings alone won't do it-the He 162 and Me262 lake on USAAF fighters, and enough hitting power have the same E rating, but 1 doubt if anyone can to make it count. Messerschmitt Me262 Swallow assert that the Salamander is better than the much It is suggested that the aircraft be employed as It was the first jet fighter in history, and easily more effective Me262. one large force, to augment effectiveness. based in the best fighter of World War 11. The few that did It is a question, then. not only of the E ratings -- the Schweinfurt-Karlsruhe sector. If the US goes for see combat made the last months of the war most which represent the aircraft's effectiveness as a northern or central Germany, it can move north anxious for the 8th Air Force. Yet, the role of the fighter (mainly its agility)-but also of its hitting quickly and intercept over Hesse-Kassel or in front Me262 was in the realm of might-have-been, a power. as represented in the confusion of the Aerial of Hannover. If the main American effort comes shadow of what could have been. Combat Table. from the south. the 190s based in southern The first Me262 prototype flew in April of 1941. 1 direct your attention to Chart I -the Per- Germany, can cover the back door of the Reich. Government apathy and inadequate engines kept Factor Effectiveness Table (P-FET). The P-FET. Wherever it is employed, it must be at the the aircraft in the prototype stage for two years. the result of computer analysis of the L WACT, lists lbrefront of the interception. Twin-engine Fighters Finally demonstrated for Hitler in November oi the average effectiveness of earh,farrrorin attacks of can't cope with US fighter opposition; the Me 109s 1943, the Fuhrer stunned everyone present by From 1-34 factors: the chart is laid out In compara- short range chains it to areas with lots of airfields. I ordering its production--as a huinher When the tive form, e.g., an attack of 5 P47s. given average What's more, the Germans can't afford to suffer 1944 production of the Me262A-1 fighter was results, will destroy the same number of enemy heavy 190 losses; if it hits the US fighters it must hit I discovered by Hitler, he ordered the conversion of factors (per P-47 factor) as with 5 Fw190 or 15 with every 190 available, and other fighters if those made into the Me262A-2Sturmvogel(Storm- Me1 I0 factors. available, to forestall counterattack. The German , bird). Despite the new Jur~kers Jumo 004B In basic terms. the P-FET lists the average kills must also consider the 190. because of itsendurance, turbojets, the bomber configuration slowed the gained by une,foctur.as a part of a larger attack. If its best weapon against bomber forces. To sum up: aircraft to within the reach of Allied conventional we were to, say. just analyze the average results of the German must use judgement-and fighters: in this role the Me262 was not only misused each attack. it would prove nothing. One look at the decisiveness-in employing the Focke-WuIf; more but redundant. as the Arado Ar234 Blitzjet bomber ACT should indicate to you what the over-all results importantly, its power requires that it be kept busy. had already gone into production. Eventually Hitler will be-more units make a bigger bang and that's was to give the Me262 fighter prioriiy in that. Me262 E rtg 6 A rtg ,538 Fuel 2 production-but by then it was toolate. Fewerthan But when we analyze the killing power of each This fighter. by virtue of its E and A ratings, is 200 of the 1.000+ production Me262s saw combat. factor. 3 important facts emerge: the best the Germans have. But it isn't a cure-all for The L W rules' Profiles and Data section alleges (I) With few exceptions, the q[fer.~ive~essof the German's defensive ills; it has inherent weak- that the Me262 was "the most successful example earhjoc.tor inrreases with the size of rhe aztar?k.One nesses and must cooperate with conventional or'-mark t his-"German genius." Nonsense! Me262 by itself kills only ,167 USAAF factors inan fighters if it is to survive. PAGE 8

CHART 1. PER-FACTOR EFFECTIVENESS TABLE {Figures indicate average No. of enemy factors destroyed by each factor of attacking force)

El 7 P40 Spit 163 88 219 P39 826 P38 824 P51 P47 190 262 109 162 110 152 410 217 520 1 - - - - - 1- .'I67 - - - - ,333 .I67 - 1 2 ,083 - .I67 - .I67 .25 2 ,25 -416 .25 -083 75 .I 67 .5 .416 - 3 - A -

3U 31 32 - - 33 - - - - - 33 - - ,470 - - - - - 33 34 - - - - - 34 - - .461 ------34 d.083 ,083 .247 .229 .I95 -25 -510 ,538 .432 .249 .417 .341 .598 ,451 ,143 e ,362 ,492 .I 67 P39 826 P38 817 P40 Spit 190 262 109 163 110 88 410 219 520 824 P51 P47 162 152 21 7

The advantage of the Me262-E rating and central Germany. Also, the threat of US strafing Me163 E rtg G A rtg .249 Fuel 0 hitting power--are obvious. But its drawbacks are keeps the-I09 pretty well out of any airfield within 7 The disadvantages of the Me163 are comparable not always recognized. The aircraft's poor endur- hexes of the R line -including every airfield in to the Me262-it's chained to its own base. it can't ance and its beingtethered to designatedjet airfields Holland and the Ruhr. This usually puts the Me109 stay up and fight anything outside its Chex range, put it at a disadvantage. USfighter groups canenter Front-line effort in the Wilhelmshaven-Hamm- and what's more. it can be bypassed if it's not in the its area. if close to the front, wait for it to land, and Gotha-Hannover region, and back from there. middle of a major bomber route,e.g., if it's based in then strafe if when it no longer has an E rating to Because of the lessons of the P-FET, and the use southern Poland. Combined with rotten hitting ' protect it. Me262's. unless in large (non-historical) of the everybodydroptanks-at-once rule in less- power. this aircraft has few advantages. numbers, can't really retaliate as overwhelmingly. sophisticated circles. the Me109 pretty well must About the only real advantage it has is that it can The 262 is all at its best as a bomber interceptor. strike in one big attack. lt is strongly urged that hit and hit and hit anyone flying through its i, , lt can score impressive results without suffering tanks bc kept on as long as possible, to give the immediate area, mainly slow bomber forces. Based return fire. and its E rating can help cover the whole German forces one or two extra turns of attack. in the middle of a cluster oitargets. it can eventually attacking force from fighter retaliation. It is at its intlict a lot of casualties, especially because it is best in rear areas, based away from US fighters and The staging rules do allow the German to clump immune to bomber fire. able to serve as a backup for the conventional his forces together. However, it is strongly urged It is strongly urged that the Komet be used to fighters. The Me262 should be based in the that the German player do not use this rule: cover a major target complex, remote from the R Br~inswick-Leiprig-Berlinarea, as most bornher I) Kule 4 makes any tactical operations in a line. Brandenburg and Juterbog. on the approaches missions will come in this direction anyway. staging area difficuit. Staging can be tricky at best, to the Berlin area. are ideal Komet bases. particularly in the closing months of the war. and disastrous if US Fighters arc coming. 2) Staged airfields just bega bombing or strafing attack. All it would require would be one oversight. and the Luftwaffe would take it in the chops. He162 E rtg 6 A rtg ,249 Fuel I Me109 E rtg 3!2s A rtg :432 Fuel 41 2 3) I?'$ rwl uecewnr!. There are so many airfields A combination of short range, comparable A The most numerous of the German fighters, it in north-central Grrlnany that large numbers of rating, and similar characteristics make the Sala: takes second in importance to the less-plentiful lighters can be posted 2 factors per base nnd still be mander quite similar to the Komet. Other than its E Fw 190 because of the 109's sllort rang. Between its able to hit nearby bombers with most orallgroi~ps rating and the fact that it doesn't land on the same large numbers and need For frequent refueling, the in the area. Fighters can attack on the turn they take turn it takes off, the He162 can be thought of as a 109 has to have large numbers of airfields present; olf, which makes bomber groups fair game Tor Kornet with a 9-hex radius of action. with all the this limits its operational area to northern and anybody in a 6-hex radius. attendant problems. \ THE GENERAL RAGE 9

Like the Me262, though, the He 162 can cuver other interceptors in its area with its E rating. Care ANALYSIS AND TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT must be taken. however. to keep it out ofreach of BOMBER TACTICS Allied Fighters. We all know the basic strategy of USAAF The left wing of the 524 attack is quite illegal. Melt0 E rtg 2 A rtg ,417 Fuel 9;4 bomber employment, as suggested to us by history, Pardubice is 7 turns away from Italy, so that's OK, The ratings of the 110show its main uses: it can and that is, of course, clumping the bombers into but the group reaching Prague is a turn late. But: be effectively used against bombers. and is equally enormous formations and making the Hun pay other than the actual strike on Prague, it's a good- pour against Allied fighters. The chief plus of the dearly for attempts on them. What may not k as and legal attack. If the Luftwaffe is caught unaware Mel lO is range -it can operate in areas with rew well understood is the measures and countermea- the whole German southern flank could be burnt airfields. So. it can be consigned to such regions as sures of organized bomber warfare on the LW out in one quarter. Austria and the Baltic with good reason --unless board. One note on target priorities, beyond what 1 there's a major sweep the main opposition will be 'The P-FET demonstrated the lesson of num- wrote in "Luftwaffe Organized" in the Dec. '73 issue bornhers. And, as long as the I 10s keep their tanks, bers; the greater the number of bombers, the more of the GENERAL: The targets marked out on the they can stay with thtenemy formations-and attack interceptors they'll knock down, collectively and map in the Hannover-Leipzig area not only continually. individually. This limits bomber groups to 3-5 constitute the bulk of your targetsas the US player, groups: B-17s, B-245, B-26s. and a 'group or two but are the center of the Geiman defense. Burn it out Ju88 Ertg0;-Is Artg.341 Fuel10:8 operating on other fronts. in early or mid-194(if you can bring it off), and you This aircraft can be posted in the south with the The best practice. by consensus, is to keep the will not only have crippled the German aircraft and I I0 and 410 righters, but can be sent to the Baltic bombers together as long as possible. then release oil industries, but you'll have torn out the heart of and Eastern Front without much trouble, as the E individual groups as the targets draw near -the the German defense. The German player will be rating and A rating are poor by German standards. optimum being releasing all bombers within a turn forced to defend the outer targets that much more- It should not be used, say, in the West. where large of their targets. The map shows several attacks, and at a disadvantage. escorts (E rating) and fighter sweeps are to be the problems involved. (See Chart 2.) Escorting is a major part of bomber expected. as the 88 is in little position to hit back. The sample attacks in north Germany, involving operations-whether or not to, and ifso, how much 12 B-24 groups and 5 B-17s on a sneak raid and oi what units. Escort servestwo basic purposes; Ta152 E rtg 5 A rtg .I67 Fuel 3 (appearing 5 turns after the B-24s)- illustrate this it gives the bomber force an E factor of sorts, as the Its large E rating and great speed make this strategy. The final B-24 target, Ruhland. is 8 turns Germans have to hit at the escort first; and, the aircraft similar to the jets, in that it is useful mainly from the R line by straight-line distance; since the escort force absorbs what otherwise would be for its E rating as topcover. It is too few in number route chosen takes exactly 8 turns it is legal. The bomber casualties. to count for much else. It should be employed bomber group releases groups on turns 4,5,6, and 7 somewhere in Germany, exactly where doesn't (unloading one on Hannover on turn 4, then We already discussed escort problems from the matter all that much. s~atteringgroups outward and furward, at the fighters' view. Escorts for a bomber are not points marked by arrows). In effect. the formation necessarily a good thing, as their effectiveness in the Me410 E rtg 2 A rtg ,598 Fuel 1 l becomes an omnibus of destruction. dropping face of large groups of German fighters are limited By L W standards. the 410 is the deadliest individual groups off along the way. at best-and, may even strip cooperating fighter aircraft in the game. Everything said about the 1 10 The three southern attacks shown are all forces of a countermeasure. Close-escort is not the goes. doubly so. for the 410. Although atrocious improper. The rules clearly indicate that detours only way to get the bombers through, as the against Allied fighters, and shouldn't be risked that must not add to the time-in-air between R line and Germans learned, too late at the Battle of Britain. way, the 410 is hell on wheels in a bomber target. The B17 group headed for Stuttgart goes so Aggressive P-47 and P-5I sweeps can do thejobjust lormation, and its range allows it to "escort" far east of Munich that the group going there will as well. I bomber formations quite a ways. have been 5 turns out from Italy instead of 4. The & Often neglected are escorts for the medium and The 410 should be sent to Austria. It really won't 26 attack on lngolstadt and Regensburg is illegal - light bombers. Lone A-20s and B-25s might not add much to north German defenses and might get the Regensburg plant is 4 turns from Italy, but so is need escorts, if they aren't going anywhere impon- in the way of 109s: the main thing is. if it isn't I ngolstadt; the group headed there would have had ant, but the US player should consider assigning P- guarding the south. what else willdo thejobaswdl? lo go via Salzburg. Further, the attack on the Linz- 38 or P-40 escorts, or the sole P-39, to the B-26s, Considering the few airfields. no other aircraft can. Steyr area is legal, but just barely: Steyr is 3 turns which are somewhat numerous and can make the away, so the group assigned there has to break difference if they get through. Usually they don't Do217/He219 E rtg 2 A rtg .45 1 Fuel 14-7 rormation that turn nearzeltweg, whereas the Linz even against indifferent German opposition. But an These two aircraft are also at their best in remote group can stay with the main group another full escort group or two could mean'as much as 5 extra areas. The single Do217 can cover the Russian and turn, and then turn sharply right-Linz is 4 turns targets to the USAAF-or force the Germans to use eastern Baltic sectors quite well; with the later away either way. disproportionate forces to stop it from occurring. He2 19s it can help cover- the Baltic. Russian, and southern fronts. 'The He2 19, with an endurance of 7, should go where there are at least a few airfields. e.g.. Austria.

De520 Ertg2 Ang.143 Fuel8!5 What is said about this aircraft goes for all school units. Although it would be a waste to withhold them in the face of the need for all available forces, the German player must consider the rules: if the school units are to be convertedinto jet units on a 1-1 basis, they must have not taken casualties. (However, there is a loophole -the rules specify two unirs for one jet unit. Two I-factor units urill do nicely, helping to recoup some of the loss). If employed. the school units should be limited to thc Baltic and the East, to limit the chance of losses. Even if they huve taken losses. they should still he kept back there -rebuilding school units is a waate oi scarce replacement factors that can better he used to rebuild Fwl90s.

P-51 E rtg 4 A rtg ,362 Fuel 143 5 P-47 Eng3 Artg.492 Fuel IOj3 These aircraft are often assigned mistakenly to escort duty. One or two on escort to provide a covering E rating is OK, but assigning many orall of PAGE 10 THE GENERAL them is a supreme waste. These fighters, by virtue of THE PROBLEM OF BALANCE their speed, numbers. and effectiveness, should actively hunt the enemy. Each German factor they In both the Advanced and Tournament versions (2) History buffs. misanthropic wargamcrs,and shoot down is one less that can take out the of the game, the USAAF is faced with stringent CI'As can elect to implementtheFullresult.down to bombers-and each bomber unit is one more city victory conditions. In the Advanud Game, the the last thous;~ndfh.]-hey c:in either: taken out. Further, chasing the Luftwaffe out of USAAF must take out every target on the map-all A. Kemovc tiie un~tas abovt, but keep a their airfields, or launching pre-emptive strikes at 79 of them-in the face of increasingly strong running total of the losses for each type, and alter aircraft based 7 hexes or less from the R line, will German fighter opposition. The Tournament the replacement accordingly, building up new units disorganize them. and delay their attack on the Came, the less involved version of the campaign- out of fragments of the old ones. bombers. type part of L W only requires the destruction of 43 B. Retain the unit as long as it has .00'1 or The Thunderbolt is good for most tactical German aircraft plants-with diminished US for- more, keeping records on each group's losses; when purposes. It's the deadliest USAAF aircraft, and its ces. units enter combat, round the unit's (actor off and speed and E rating is enough for most German In either game, the US is hard-put to achieve his keep it on the ACT within manageability. fighters. Its drawback is range-if it expects to fight objective, despite his numericaI and replacement C. Retain the unit to the last ,001. and with full E rating it must keep within basic range of strengths. Further, no allowances are made under recompute its attack value accordingly-and the R line-21 hexes or less. standard rules for' German fuel problems or exactly--to the last .001. An attack of more than Its partner, the P-51, can reach much further advancing Russian forces, the latter leading one to two units will require the use of a Hewlett-Packard into the German heartland. Although not as hard- the nasty conclusion that the USAAF player's HP-35 and the Caltech Department of Mathemat- hitting. large numbers can make up for it. It is objectives is not to help the Western Alliance win ics. strongly suggested that no less than 8 groups of P- the war, but to smash targets before the Sovs can get That is what we get into with average results in 51s try going it alone. The initial 4 aren't all that to them-in effect, a gigantic Demolition Derby. In the abstract. I offer( I)aboveasaplausible rneansof strong. fact, historically-minded players may note that they averaging results: (2) is not too strongly recom- Remember one thing-these aircraft call be are, in the last two or three quarters of the game, mended for everyday wargaming. replaced easier than their German counterparts. bombing targets in Soviet hands, historically. Now and then the problem of E ratings willarise. Technically, the game is balanced. Very, very A fighter with an inferior E rating subtracts that delicately balanced. But, since the obligation of rating from a superior defending fighter (E ratings attack is on the US, bad luck or a single bad quarter not considered when the attacker is equal to or Spitfire Ertg3 Ang.15 Fuel612 will do him in. Considering the amount of effort superior to the defending fighter's E rating). That Because of its range problems, the Spitfire is required for a full Tournament or Advanced Game, amount is subtracted from the die roll. This can really not suited for escort duties-but it can be quite tragic.Beingbeatenby a good opponent is one sometimes involve even more luck on the die-rolling employed with some reason, as its E rating offers thing, losing to the game quite another. (example: 20 factors of P-47s attack 2 factors of some uses: besides. its speed and range makes its The OptionalCames section proposes a number Ta152. Subtract the P47s factor of 3 from the employment with its partner P-47s difficult. Still. of variants to balance things out. Basically, this TaI52s 5, and you subtract 2 from the die roll. lfthe this fighter has enough going for it that it can be means that the US attempts to pull chits marked US player rolls a one or two, that's all she wrote- used either way: also. one group really won't have with some industry. Once the targets of that the Ta152 gets away scot-free. too much importance in a mass of fighters. If its E industry are all taken out, the Luftwaffe is This can be implemented-and fairly-onto the rating mitigates an attack on a bomber force, then grounded, whether the industry is oil, armaments. Standard Results Table. If you run into asituation it's ken of some use. ball bearings, or wing nuts. lgnoring the generalized where you have an inferior fighter attacking effects. it must be said that the game's standard something with a larger E factor, and you want to P-40 Eng2 Artg.195 Fuel 1015 target system-eliminate the target with all its have average results, use the following formula: P-39 E rtg 0 A rtg ,083 Fuel 614 industries at once-is as close as anyone could P-38 E rtg 2 A rtg ,247 Fuel 1416 come. The Combined Bomber Offensive, besides its All three of these fighters are useful for little problems with the new science of target intelligence other than escort duties. The P-40 and P-39 (what effect does the target have on the German e = defender's E rating - attacksr's E rating certainly can't match German fighters, and the P-38 industry?), had to follow the whims of the Allied A = average results. according to SRT, for that might have use as a tactical fighter only against high command. The result was a lot of side-trips For attack German twin-engine aircraft. Even then, the secondary or political purposes, e.g.. the attacks on Germans have the advantages in range (locality sub pens. V-weapons, terror missions, etc. Besides, This will give you true average results after the E included) and numbers. Better that the P-38 losses even when key industries were badly-hit, the rating differential has been extracted from the 6 be taken instead of bombers, hence the need to keep Germans often came up with something to replace possibilities, as expressed in the SRT. It's not as them on escort. About the P-40 and P-39. the less it, from ersatz chocolate and soap, to erstaz fuel difficult as it looks. said the better. (synthetic oil), and even ersatz planes (the Salaman- Another means of balance can be found by using der). the Russian Gambit. This assumes that the USAAF Thus, the problem of balance: how do we player is merely out to win the war, and not merely B-17, 8-24, B-26 balance the game without unhinging it. rendering it to score off the Kremlin or the Armed Services A-20,A-26, B-25 altogether unplayable, or putting in a historical Committee. The Russian gambit is as follows: These aircraft are something of an anomaly. atrocity! Remove the following cities from the target list, Limited mostly to the Advanced Game, they have For example: a lot of the woes of the game stem crediting them to the USAAF player: no firepower, so there is no need for them to move in From the Aerial Combat Table. Just look at it! On end of Oct '44 quarter: Warsaw. formation. Excluded by the rules from other some of the larger (and more crucial) battles. the end of Jan '45 quarter: Marienburg, Pozan, bomber formations, they are pretty well on their ACT has results rangingfrom 4 to 20 or 25. 'That's as Liegnitz, Breslau, Diosgyor. own. much as 75-100% above and below the average. end of Apr '45 quarter: Anklam, Peenemunde, Their main effectiveness in the game is in the Considering that 20-odd factors on the attack Ownienburg, Berlin. Erkner, Ruhland. Sorau, absence of opposition. For peripheral raids- represents a large part of that quarter's forces at any Pardubice, Bratislava, Budapest, Brandenburg. Hungary, Austria, isolated targets away from main given time, the results of a few bad die rolls can be fighter bases: Germans may not use bases east of bomber routes. targets close to the current R line- fatal. Maybe the wing commander got up on the line Bergen-Peenemunde, Sorau, Diosgyor in 1945 these are their main targets. wrong side of the kd that morning-that's great quarters. Germans may not use fighter bases on or history but lousy game-playing west of line running through Friedrichshaven, The faster bombers-the A-type bombers-also Computer analysis again provides the answer. Stuttgatt. Aschaffenburg, Osnabruck. Wanger- have uses in pre+mptive strikes on airfields. This is Chart 3-the Standard Results Chart-shows the rooge in 1945 quarters. of only limited use-the German is apt to shoot average results for any given attack on the ACT, This is, of course, assuming historical results on them down first if he feels in the mood, and even if rounded to the nearest ,001. This can very easily be ground. which was not too affected by bombings of the bombers do take out an airfield the German will implemented into the game, in two forms: war industries, but was quite aflected by the absenae seldom be fooled twice. There's only one airfield on or German airpower, called home to defend Gtr- the map that is, even without aircraft, worth (I) T~USPwhu till u,unf a smuuthfi, playable many. bombing-Zeltweg, Austria-the rest are too gatme, wi!h no recur(/-keeping, ran do loo. Merelr. The Advanced Game allows the Germans to get numerous, and the USAAF needs to take out every ruurld ofl the results sho~vn,routiding unjthing away with murder, allowing him Me262s as early as target he mn, with the victory conditions being so helua ,499 ~/orr.nro !he nearesr .fac!ur (1.0). und Jan '44. Besides the problems in developing the tight. rounding avthing at or above ,500 up. turbojet .-and rocket engines-the Me262 in THE GENERAL PAGE I1 particular caul-d not be developed early because of conscience-but nothing else. Besides, if the two Axis powers struck out with this very much in Hitler's interference. As a result. it and the Me163 German wants Salamanders he'll get what he mind-Japan ~outhwards to the Indies, Hitler should not appear in anything other than what is deserves. eastward toward Rumania and the Caucasus. and shown on the Order of Battle. southeast then, toward Egypt and Iraq, aiming at ENERGY RULES the Persian Gulf, among other things. Thegame can be balanced toward the German- Since the October War of 1973, we have been The two Axis powers suffered particularly when somewhat, and then I wonder- by allowing him to painfully learning the effects of petroleum shortages their oil supplies were cut-Japan ran short when build the He 162 in 1944. Considering the problems on a peacetime economy. Thirty years ago, the tndies oil was interrupted by the loss of the of the Salamander, allowing the German to form a Germany and Japan learned what it could do to a Philippines: Germany felt the pinch when the Luft-Volkgsturrn of Salamanders when he should concerted war effort. , Rumanian oil fields were hombed and the Caucasus have a proper air force can be dubious for the Much of World War I1 was fought over raw slipped out of reach. Germany was partially able to German cause. kt's just say that a US player can materials and energy sources, particularly in offer Salamanders to his opponent in good southern Europe, Russia, and the East Indies. The Continued on page 30, column 3

CHART 3. STANDARD RESULTS CHART - LW AERIAL COMBAT TABLE

A20 B17 P40 SPTFR AVG Me1 63 Ju88 He219 A26 P39 B26 P38 624 P51 P47 RESLT Fw190 Me262 Me109 He162 Me110 Ta152 Me410 Do217 De520 625 2 .I87 1 2 1 232 .333 2 1 3- I

CITY A.A. .I67 BASE A.A. ,333

16.5 30 I

- <------_- PAGE 12 THEGENERAL

BORN RIDGE German: Richard Plock American: Robert Livermore Commentary: Randall C. Reed

Tkh is one of rhc more inreresting and bloody force are outflanked IS inadequate according to that served the purpose of delay for one turn. situatiom in the set. Competent play on theparl of criterion. The placement of the pieces to the notth and the Alliedplayer will force rhe German to destroy For this reason weak screening forces have been west of St. Athan permits both delay and with- something better than haF of the Allied units, placed in the forward "holes" on the eastern ridge drawal. Many of these pieces can get back to the probably rwo rkirds or more. In general, the (hexes CH3-C02). This small force proves to be western edge of the board and engage in the final Germon player can count on achieving two of his rather effective in delaying the German advance fights. The infantry piece has been placed on the victory requirements (counting Wiln and St. A than through the ridge by three to four turns. Mobile slope to delay and encumber the Germanadvance; if as separare objecrives), while the rhird one is a and, thus easily withdrawn, forces have been used to it can survive the first fire, then it hurts the German toss-up. St. Athan is vulnerable, and should fall delay advance from the northeast woods hexes (the advance. easily; rha two dficult items are Wiln and exiting B column of hexes). Thus inone case a small foreis Three of the most important placements in this the board. Wiin is well situated for strong point expended to purchase considerable delay time and situation are of the block and the two 105's. Where defense. while the bulk of the ten units exiting the in the other a mobile and easily withdrawn fom is to place the block was always a troublesome board will have to be infantry on foot. Ii would used to accomplish the same purpose. question. I tried different places during previous appear that the strength of the German is sufficient On the other side of the board to the south I have games with Dr. Plock and others. The problem with ro make this easier than ir is, bur the terrain causes placed a gun in a forest hex (hex CAAI). This is all the earlier placements was that the blmk was tw great d~flcultyin properly coordinating the infuntry necessary, since trucks have no combat factors and easily outflanked or bypassed too early. The blockis and armored uni~s.There are only a few suirabk hence cannot spot. This means thatthe truckcannot a significant, although passive, force in this game, poinrs of aitack, which tends to create traffic jams. prevent a German player from setting up in the and hence according to our criterion, if it is not Randall Reed, who develop~dtkegome,handles forest hex due cast and adjaoent to his. If the "engaged" during the last turns of the game, its rhe neutral commenrary which isprinrcd in iraiics. German sets up there, then the truck can be spotted placement is poor. and shot out (with reasonable luck for the German) on the first turn. If the German has infantry in that The block has been placed in one of the three AMERICAN SETUP: hex he could CAT on turn one the light screening hexes through which the German forces can exit The situation card specifies that the German force occupying the forest hexes to the south and vehicles corning from the east and going west. That wins only by fulfilling three conditions-take the east of St. Athan. Thus he gains a full turn and all the choice should be ow of these hexes should be towns of St. Athan and Wiln and exit ten combat this because a piece that could not spot was put in clear from the option I havedecided on-to prevent units off the west edge of the board; the American the wrong place. have made a point of this, since theexit ot'ten combat units from the westedge ofthe player wins by frustrating one or more of these many old PANZERBLITZ hands could very easily board. A block in one of these three hexes German goals. Experience has shown that the miss it; trucks can and do spot in PB. Remember compels the German to stop in front of it and then American can count on frustrating only one of these goals, and further that the best bet is to try and prevent the German player from exiting the ten combat units. My assessment here is based on six or seven practice plays. My setup is thus rnadewith the intention of preventing the exit of ten German combat units. Clearly, this has to k a delay-withdrawal type defense, since the American forces are much too weak and have too large an area to defend, and finally, are too immobile to be able to concentrate their forces at one point. The German player would simply mass his force somewhere else and punch right through the weak point. The American force could not respond and would be required to sit and watch the Germans go west. The main concentra- tion of force should, however, be in the center between the two rivers and on the back ridges, slopes and forest hexes; this location accomplishes the important task of havingall theexit hexes in this most western part covered with combat units which reinforce each other. Bitter experience has shown that any attempt to defend the forward ridge with a large force (from CH3 to CO2) only results in large portions of that force being outflanked and by-passed. These pieces are in effect lost, since the losses on either side have ,no effect on victory conditions. This indicates a criterion for a reasonable defense: the vast majority of the American pieces should either bedestroyed or TURN 1: The German mortars at ip of will 8 engaged with the Germans by the last turn of the GERMAN odds indicative how American lonuw DBBIO climinatc tk American infantry unil on Fare in turns to come. The firing mortar is game. If large numbers of combat units are not the slopt at CU3 with direct firt at 2-1 odds. Yhe automatically climinatcd in a 41 CAT at thc destroyed, dispersed, or otherwise engaged with the German advances boldly, daring thc Amcricao to hands ol two German SMG units. The German enemy, then the defensive setup very likely needs to Opponunity Rre and thus commit himself to a stack at LB.. wnststs 01 three Tigem mrrying as be changed. Clearly any defensewhich has the likely stad. He is dippointed when the bait isn't taken. many rifle units: %"=three wagons conveying The American fires only with the monar at CAAI three rifltunits: "d'=two unload4 SMC sdons result that significant segments of the American at I loaded wagon. Tbe resulting dispersal at 3-1 plum two Panthers. I THE GENERAL PAGE 13

possibly two full turns. Moreover, the block counts rhrrr 'cotnpanies' ro have a 50% dispersal chance in In the south, the rlela!.uhili!l. uj the C-A-J/ Wiln toward stacking limitations. Thus if there are a CA Totiark against astack q/ Gernlan in/antr.v. In road aris will./urtu rhe G'ernlan drive ro approach armoured wrecks on the block, then the German rhe run3ned area of'?he 'gap: rhis could be as goad over I he n?esrer!r hillraps overlooking Wiln. This player can place only one vehicle and passenger on as a rurn's de/a,v. This infuntry plucen~ent will requires and juufi/ies the platen>ent uf the heavy that hex. Thus a hex from which the German could deternlirle the OUICOIH~of rhe gum@. arrit/ers at C-L-8. The posirion of' rhe A T guns in theory have passed eight combat units becomes 2. Delay unirs: Ii doesn't tnake sense to place rhese seerlrs 10 be u bit ,flake!. Why nor keep them one through which he could pass only two at a time uniis where they run be CA Tdon thefirst turn. fie hunched up near rhe hridge JLr a doubled armck and at a reduced rate. MG unir and rhe 81n1m ntorrar are b~ingsarrficed srrengih shot ar {he artnur coming over rhe bridge? Of the three hexes, I chose the single one to the ,/ur ver,v iitrle rerurn on their investment. (f' he Use mobile units ro screen rhe woods sourhwes~of north along the V column of hexes. There are two desired to spot u reriain h~xon rhefirsr turn, I ihilnk Wiln. The real batile in ihis serior will hefrom C-K- other places from which the German player anexit he should have used his ar~loredcars. In rhe long 7 IVPSI ward. Two '~~otrtpanies'oj'infanrry. minimum. with vehicles to the south and blocking one of them run, the? are the least irllpurtatit units lhot he hos. shuulri be err~pluj,edhere ru prorecr rhe guns and alone accomplishes little; moreover, this territory is ivirh rhe MG unirs a distanr second. Eerwe~nrhe prevetzr Ger~naninfantrj from crossing the river. harder for the German to pass through since there IM'U,they c'ould ge~~erairsix lose-uble delaj unirs Thr Autile will h~ cur-und-dried; eirher ]he Ameri- are slopes screening it. A heavy combined arms which could be,/i!red into rhe surne sr.reening/dela,v cans &/end arld h1oc.k ;he bridge wiih German defense by the American might prove hard to break, arrangement he currenr!~has. ~irrerksand half rhe amlor, or zhey ngon'r. and would certainly require some time to break 3. Blnirn Murturs: Wha~a ubas/r! Using the rhree RCIIIP~II~PYtwo sign~/iratl! points about siream through. It istime we are trying to get, anyway. This tliurrars as delay utrirs gives me chills. If threebltmr?~ he-res: defense is easily co-ordinated with the delaying 1110r1arshmere posirioned on hex C-S-7, rhev could a) Thrv ran onti. he ENTERED on a 50% action around Wiln. Moreover, this defense leaves direr.t,/Yre down the St. Athan- Nece road and could pruhahiliw die roil. open the option of defending Wiln, if the improb- uballop the Gerr?lanmorraraz DBB-IU 014-I!Given hj Unit.$ in srreatm r.anno1 arrark in any manner able occurs and that defense has better prospgts rhe nurllber of rrucks and ha!frracks rhai would be and lhrre/ure rannui EXIT if there are et?crn.v unirs than the attempt to frustrate the Cerrnan goal of tnoving down the road, !hose nine attack strength in {he adj~~enthe.u. exiting the ten combat units. In other words, it poinis could be mighi-v hurdi~lro the Germans Given the dearth oJGer1~anIFarriileryand4H'- leaves options open. (besides providing an evenrual I5-poinr delay stack tjpe weapuns, rhis nwans rhar srream hexes are Possibly it is even harder to finda place or places ij coupled with a single infantry platoon). for the 105's which permit the maximum usage of rasier t u defend than thqv seem. Obviously then. the 4. IMmrlr Howitzers: Ah, here's a fruslraring these pieces than it was to find such a placement for .fight in the sourh will ~lsube derermined by situurion. Wirh such a long range, [hey are severely the block. First these pieces are, for all intents and ii!funtr!,. 'li,niied in their indirertJire radius uf action. Where purposes, permanently placed, since it takes at least he has ~hetnlocated is about as good as can be dune three turns to reposition them. This is far too many INITIAL GERMAN COMMENTS: under the cir~'umsrances.7he only uiher possibility turns to loseinaten turngame. On the other hand, if is hex C- L-10, which has the advantage of being on His setup is obviously designed to block the last these are guns used in direct fire where they can be rhe slope/wouds hex and being screened from all of the requirements-that I exit ten combat units. spotted, they will probably be lost on the subsequent fire ex~.eptjrutnthe town oj. Wiln iwlj: No nralter He does, however, have the option of shifting to try enemy firing turn, after being spotted. This means where zhey are locared, rrhrir lack of useful to hold Wiln. Personally, 1 would have put more that the 105's are best used in indirect fire: thereare, , etnpluvmenr realiv hurl^ the Amwican position infantry in the Wiln area. A forward line is, however, problems with employing the guns however, untenable since I can crack through fairly exclusively for indirect fire. The minimum distance early. The block on GV-I0 is about as awkward a required for indirect fire is, in this case, nine hexes. location for me as there is on the board; I almost Thus, as the enemy approaches, certain of his pieces AMERlCAN STRATEGY: certainly will not have time to remove it, and it cannot be fired upon by the 105's. Moreover I question rhe purpose of some of ihe delay unirs virtually guarantees that few, if any, mobile units practically any position in which these guns can be within the jabric of the American strategy. In the will get off the board. He is, as anticipated, placed will eventually be spotted. Thus, I have north, the question oJ'delay does nor cenreraround conceding St. Athan without a struggle; 1 am not decided to put these guns in a place where they can Sr. Arhan. Iz is critical ro rhe norrkern 'backdoor'. sure, in fact, that he is not leaving too much in that fire both directly and indirectly. 1 Wagun-loaded injanrr.v. b,v moving around rke vicinity. It is probably unrealistic to expect to get more north-norrhwesi edge of ihe mapbuard can reach My strategy involves two main thrusts. The than five firings out of these guns, if that. The the norihern river line in six turns, in which case armored force in Merden will clear out the units by placement permits two to three turns of indirect fire, they run eosiI.t8exit ufl after rrossing the river. A the south edge and move to assault Wiln. The and a turn of direct fire. This placement also permits single rruck unir ar C-GG-5 (or an armored cur) engineer will be used to improve the odds in the final theguns to defend the town of Wiln. This more or could force the nwguns to unload and attack wirh assault on Wiln. The Wirbelwind and PzKw-IV will less explains the major placements of the pieces. i~fanrry.rhu~ negar ing zh~'backdoor' upproach. attempt to force the ridge. This is a weak force, but This situation is fairly well balanced, if both In response to the hal/Lrruck loadrd infanir-v no matter how much 1 use it takesfour or five moves players are experienced. I think that the situation churning ,from Nece, the task is to make them to reach Wiln thic wav. and by then the force in the slightly favors the Germans-55% chance of a dis~~oun~EARL Y and osjur EAST as possible. A south will be there. In fact, an argument can be Gennan win. rhree turn de1a.v in the C-S-41C- Y-4 area means that made that I should not even try to force the ridge at they will be unable to get ojfof'rheboard in rime. all. The Panthers and King Tigers in the center will AMERlCAN SET-UP: De1a.r in ih@'gnp'areu is the most productive type of join with the main infantry force to hit the center. It This is a strange set-up ro say rhe least. I will be unir sacrgice. Which brings up an interesting is this infantry that I must rely upon to exit the curious ro see how he inrends to depioy this 'defense- hypothesis conrrrning placement 01 the block. I board, hence 1 must gtit into action quickly. With in-depih' arrangement givm his overall inferioriry agree wilh rhe American's anahis of !he likely the bulk of my transport in the south, I must set up in combat srrengrk. Does he really need all ofthat lothations.But an interesring possibility OCCU~Sif we to load it on turn #I, and to unload a portion of it in infaPl1r.v in rhe 'rear areas'? A few obsmvatiom: wanr ro help the Gertnans unload us far our as reasonable assault positions on turn #2. Finally, in I. 1nfantr.v-In an effor? ro avoid being 'out- possible. Whar about hex C-U-6? If we sacrijire the north the guns will first go after the blockingunit flank~&,ir appears as if the American ploycp. refuses three ar~noreduniis ar C- V-6 (nut a bad iasr-smnd on C-U-3, while the infantry clears St. Athan. Later ro ronlmir hiinseIfto as@rpoint A N Y WHERE, thus position in any case) we have re.qfrir.tedshe German these guns can help the central assault, while I may a~suring fhar he will have no counter-attack rnuve~~~entwell-EAST oJ the board edge. If be able to slip a few units off the board by crossing sireng~hANY WHERE! This r.ould be mitigated to suppqrred by rhe bulk ofihc inJanfry on the reverse the stream at C-X-IO. some extent if he u.ould emp10.v his eighr rrunsport slopes~(o~/ensivefire hulved) and the morrars, we The game will probably have two distinct vehicles loaded wirh eighi infantry units as a iactical have n,/op.rLesuoicicnt tu tnake the Germans unload phases. The first one of about four or five moves in- rrserve posit ionedso~newhmenear Wiln. This could easr of rhe gap and slog ir our with rhe iplfanrry-a volves getting my pieces into positions usable for have the dual eert oy increasing his hitiing power type qf batrk least aflected b,v i he German armor. In combat, the balance is a pure slugfest while I try and decrea~ingthe German plajer5 ceriainty of rhis siruarion, a dispersal uguinst German units on to push everything west. where ]he tnain points of resisrancr will be those I wo he.~is berter rhan eliminazion: If stacked established. Eighteen infhnrr.~,unirs can be divided ru rapormityand dispersed nu Gerrlzan units cun GERMAN SET-UP: inlo ,jive (3-4 unit) company-sized groups-I wo nluve through or Cd Tfiutn thosehexes. Andiftwo R rtually, this is a very clever arrangement. He loaded in reserve in Wiln and rhree positioned wrecks appear on rhe block hex, the German is manages ro rhreazen all avenues of approach while wiihin mutual-suppori range in the most IikeIy reai(r in u :jatn'. Against u Germanpiaver experring maintaining a guod contmtration at the two main avenue uf orlack @robably the 'gap'area: C-U-4 20 ihe hluchk at C- V-10, it could be upset ring enough poinrs of arzock. The infanrry/rramporl ser-up C-X-4). This rype of cuncentra I ion would allow jusr ru tllake hinr a biz nrore rwurious. ncat(v overcomes a probiem purposely built into the I PAGE 14 THE GENERA1 situation. The mobile unil i3 in the south and the nonmotorized infantry is in ihenorth. Unforiunate- !r, the mozorizarion is best used along ~h@nonhern roads which makes for a built-in traffic jam sizuarion. His organization very neatly sidesteps the whole problem. I do think rhar he has exposed his mortars and FLAK at D-BB-10. 7hey are easily sporiedlsighted from the hills for ihe powerful American artillery. Also, the little kampfgruppe ar D-L-I0 might be a bit light in infuntry for its intended iask. Orher rkan those nit-picks. a competent set-up.

GERMAN STRATEGY: His assessrnenr i~clear and cogent in allpodnts. I do think, however. that despi~ehis misgivings. he is correct in attempting to force the Americanplayer io d~f~ndas monypoints aspoxsible. The terrain on the 'C' board is such that itforces rhe German player to 'channel' his arrarks nr many criiicalpoirrts. Ifthe American player has freedom ~Jconcensrarion,ha can do real damage in narrow-front arrnck situa- lions.

German Turn 1: In the north, 1 do not mind if he takes out a wagon with the mortar; I am in too much ofa hurry to worry about losing units. Hecaneven overrun the stack on C-EE-I with an armored car, but this would cost him the car-a good trade for me at this time. In the center, the units on C-S-2 make the AMERICAN TURN 1: The American rdusea firt and withdram entire forest renion R4,R-5, S-5, T-5 hazardous for him bezause ofthe CAT threat with the engineer. In 1 took opportunity fire with the mortar located I, [he ranks roll around the slope to C-1-3, and the the south, 1 have unloaded on C-A-2 in order to in the forest positions to the east of St. Athan, since German it~lunrrv arrarks C-J-3 at I-2(-1) CAT any unit blocking the bridge C-3. I would not the mortar isdoomed next turn anyway. Exposing it (P/disp.=SO%). expect him to try to hold here or even pick off a to counterfire next turn was no longer a risk, since passenger; any units he loses here will be unavailable 4. Whar is the M4 75 doing in hex C-@8?? Of the gun already was spotted. In general it is a poor / all to help defend Wiln. Notice that in the ridge assault is useful. idea to engage in 'rip-off attacks, if a piece that possible pusitions, ihis among rhe leasr (C-J-I), rule #XV-B-7 implies (or states) that he did could block some space next turn will be lost on that Berrer used intimidaring rhe German southern not have a chance for opportunity fire until after I ~hrust. turn and hence not able to block and delay. This is unloaded. Hence he had noeasy shot at a passenger. the reason I have not attacked him anywhere else. 5. And speaking qf inritnidation, why not place the I had a very lucky break with my fire, but could ~M'O His unloading of infantry, some of which are MI0 TD'9 in C-F-5 insread ofC-G-4? Thai way. hardly set up in such a way as to enable maximum rhc German units skikjytitzg I he sou~herhedge of rhe engineers, gives the German a very powerful exploitation of such a result. board .#ace TWlCE rhe "A"-type atiark sirenglh position from which he can CAT five hexes. One of my trucks is the only piece which he can destroy with points (half funge). 6. 1 personal(r n-ould have taken the overrun with TURN ONE-GERMAN: a CAT next turn and it holds a place he needs at the ihe M8 arnrored car against hex C- EE-I . With a 1. ,Wasting the American Slmm morwrs shows irs beginning of next turn-not at its and. 5m probabiliij of killing rwo wagons and rwo elferr imrnediarely as rhe wagons roll away Otherwise the withdrawal is proceeding as infanrrj' unirs, plus a guaranteed dispersal at the unmolesied in thenorth. Ijail to see how hex C-AA- expected. t~~inin~um,plus an almosr rmeriainchance of gerring I was worth rhe sarr~~ceof the mortar. rhe urmored car away smr-jree, plus the opporiuni- 2. Wirh a lirtle more macho. {he German player r,r of bagging ano! her nwgun and infan try unit in tht could have trapped the two armored units at C-S-3 next turn, the airuc,k is screaming gift! by arrenlpring to move behind rhem inro hexes C-T- a TURN ONE-AMERICAN: 7. Lark qf'uJ/ensive-mindehess!! Why hoiher wirh 4 and C-S-4. Opportunity fire might have cost a C-V-5 NOW Panrher bur bagging rwo American armoredunirs is I. Again, three 8Imm mortars ui hex C-T-8 could hex now. u>hen is !he best time to Aloh well worrh ihe price-road or no road! haw had a 4-1 shot on the German 120mm mortar anmaythe German uniis in D-BB-IO?.?And why nor 3. In rhe south, conservaiive German play loses the and rhe 37mm could have been pa~ied in rh~ Iargei rhe 81mm morrar ar C- Y-9 ai ihe dispersed opporruniij ro rrap rhe M3 ar C-C-I by moving a ,lollou~ingrufn. This would drastically reduce the wagon? He should be chip-chip-chipping awav! Panther or Tiger to C-BI thus leaving the M3 Grrman IFcapabiliry and reduce the cW-~yp~direl? 8. Note rhar this is the lierrnan player's mosr spotred. A Panther could have pushed all the way ro ,/ire cupabilit~in the 'gap' area bv 21 points. Pity, vulnerable posirion. He has already cornmiired hi> C-Bd, rh~rebyforcing the M3 in C-A-6 to abandon pizj. . . ornrured units north and south in an unsupporta his posirion rhere one rurn earlier. 2. Grouping the injbntry andlor mo~tniing in fashion. I/ n80uld nor have been diffiruli ,for tht trucks would -have avoided rn0n.v unpleasani little Anleriran #/aver zo have dis~uiseda contenrrariot siruarions as what will ochcur in hex C-Q-4. The 41 armor ;ha; ubouldhave pkchednearis all rnobilt American Turn 1: A~~eriruniqfantry unit is complerel~out ofposiiion 'A'-t~peunirs in rhe irntnediare area. A quirk roun, Too bad the infantry didn't survive, it would and about to ger CA Td. It n-ouldhave heen beircr shows that I40 'A'-(we arrark sirengthpoiniscouk have delayed the German advance somewhat. 1have posirioned in hex C-S-3; at leas! jrom that hex it have hi! ihe Panthers, Tigers and haIjkrarks decided to retreat thetrucksto St. Athanas planned c.ould have blocked rhe road for a turn. A useless Coupled wiih auf~h~useful I-3 CA 75 (P/elim=339 in the delaying action. All my moves are made with u'uste . . . against dispersed unirsj. ihe Gertnan pla,ver cou0 delay in mind. Most of the moves are obvious in that 3. Hex C-J-2: again, more yrittering: Why nor huw had a real rruflic jam-uj' wrecks! If thc light. The most important decision I have to make plore the [email protected] unir tin hex C-J-3 ai ihe start? Gernlun uftnur and ~ruhpurtcan be banged-u; this turn is where to schedule the indirect fire. His Thai would at least ,vieid IS defense strengrh poinrs NOW all ~haris lefr ro fighr is infantr.~.Even a! rht forces must enter hex CV5 in order to advance: the on C-f-2giving rhe German a direrrfire attack q f l- cosr qf wading-qo A L L uufrhe American armor, thi: position is well spotted by my foms and will /(+I] and a Id(-])CA Tatrack. Thisposi~ionrould n-orks out io be a u,onhwhile sacrifice. Tht probably remain so the next turn. He simply must rake some rime ru reduce (6% probubilii!~ of Allrericean player is uhviuus!~ rltuchh too 'del0.v occupy this hex with undispersed units in order to eIitli,ninarionjand even givc rhedefendersa chance to ronsriou~' ar the cost u]'overlooking ~oodoflensivt spot and then to bring down his fire power, and he pull back ru Wiln when th~deia,v becomes un- r>pportunities.A Gerrnan dispersal is ufzen mort musr have the position. necessarq.. As ir is, rke M G unit at C-J-?gels hit ai 4- valuahle than o single Arlirricati deIa,v unir.

PAGE 16 THE GENERAL

,forced the Amerirmanpla-ver to commir a tnuhile unit ro rover rhe St. Athan- Wiln road. 3. Nolire how rhe American CA Tpossibiiities get even bleaker as each /urn passes? The rime to damwe the German is BEFORE he ranfully deploy his infamy!

TURN THREE-AMERICAN: I. Why,fireindirectiy or C- W-5? Ifihose units had been dispersed in C-U-5 or C-V-5, ii mighr have sign~irantljadded to he German rruflic control woe$. 2. 7he folly q/' the scattered American inf0ntr.y deplo~~menris becoming even more obvious. ln~teadof fbrming-up in conrenrrared groups that require the German player ro also concentraie to ejjectively CAT arrack, the American plaver is simply throwing them in his path. EXA MPLE: fl GERMAN TURN 3: The MG unit at J3 ii units with a halftrack and Tiger. Thc comntra- the ,/bur infanrry units around C-97 had been eliminated in a 4-1 attack by tkWirbltwind. Mk tion at "m" consists of two loaded halltracks, a slacked IN C-97,the best ihr Gmmans could have IV. and 20mm. The 1-1 CAT on the same hex halftrack and an unmounted rifle unit. The comcs up tmpty-handd. A 2-1 CAT on the St American is making lht latal misrake of meeting done n80uldbe a I-!(-I). As it is now, the Germam' Athan-Wiln road climinatcs thc rifle unit at 95, enemy concentrations cverywhcrc with thc small- ger a .?-I and two 3-I's on threr American infantry "C" now represents unmounted rifle and enpn~r est pospible pi~emealdefensive commitment. i units. Anorker American Eroup in C- T-7 would 1 have nnnde it very toughgo& fir rhe Germans. The Americans would GAIN an extra turn in rhe delay by simply plai.ing heavier strength in the deloy hexes. ;he American loses, h~ Io.fe~big, but the losses work out lo be no heavier in the long run ~han the y~irlering'zacrics herein employed. And ir also preserves ;he American counrer~ttack potential which can reallv upsel !he German timetable.

3. The German Op Fire was a BIG mistake! Unfurtunatc(r ,for the Ameriran, he failed to capitalize on it. HOW The American player has a chance to bag the Pzkw-IV at C-K-3 and the Wirblewind at C-J-I.Since those two units Op Fired, the Ame~iranpiaver rotrld move zhe MI 0, an M3, and rhe injbnrry unii io C-J-4and move an M4/75 and anuther armored car into hex C-J-3 tonraininp" rhe MG unir. This would aIIow the armor rwo 4-1 attacks on thepanzers with th@onlv AMERICAN TURN 3: The American with- 3 attack. The Gcnnan Wirblcwind. Mmm,and German response being a 1-31- 1) CA T againsr one drawal conlinueb in full flight. Their Opportunity Mk. IVOpportutlity Fire and dodi6ptme lhc MG of the srarks. This would effectively eliminate an.v Firc on W5withthcb 105'sprov~svcryincffc~ivc, unit at J3 at cl oddgbefore it canjoin intheCAT Eventhc4-1 onthc truckyieldsonlyadia~rsalas against the Mk IV. Thus dtprivcd of lht MG German threat in thissec'tor andallow ihr American do two of the other three 2-1's- with one rifle unit suppon thc rifIt unit's CAT bccom~an 1-4 and player ro pull our rhe excess blocking units. escapingaltogether. The SIrnmatZ9 failstodraw yitlds no rcsult. Thc 1-3 CAT by thrtc riflt units Defniteb, zhe American player Iark.~aggressivt- blood against the adjacent German rifle unit ina I- on the German engineers at Sb ahfalls. ness!

To belair, I understand the purpose behind the iypr of delay tactirl that the American player is atiempiing ro use. They are legitimate iartirs. Whar I disagree wirh is the DEGREE io which rhey are being etnpivyed. What is advocated is a CUM- BINED type of defense in which units are SELECT1 VEL Y expended for delay wirk the bulk of the remaining units concenrrared for siubborn defen~e and aggressive counicrattack. Small atturks that succeed con have a large eflecr on the carefuliy orrhesrrared German advance.

German Turn 4: I had poor combat results this turn, but have been lucky overall. 1 have scheduled indirect fire for C-S-7 for next turn on the assumption he will reoccupy that hex after 1 CAT his infantry. 1 want to use IF since it is not halved bv elevation difference. Phase two ofthe game is now starting. He no longer on has freeindirect Fire; he is spotted if he tries. In fact, I GERMAN TURN 4: Thc Gcrman advance is a Firta a loaded halftrack in U7 with no effect. virtual flood engulfing and orcrwhtlming lhe think it was a mistake ii he scheduled any for this dcicnac. Thc German lMmm mortar lndimt The rear ol the Gcmn combal consists of turn. I have his M 10 trapped at hex C-G-7.His unit Rrea on 53. climinating the twk at 4-1 but CATS &as the German infantry doses lor lht kill. cannot escape to help support Wiln; he should have inixuing u~tha t-l onthc MG unilanda 1-2onthe The truck at H5 isamomaticallyeljminatedst 4-1; ritle unit. 'The 37mmand IWO rint units diloctfirc the MGand riflc s~tiongatJ3arediipersedapin used an armored car or halftrack there. I think I on thc American rille unit at S7dispersingit at 1-1 at 1-2 odds; the8lmm rnortaral Z9 is ~srauttdat have him now; 1 know 1 am ahead of schedule and odds enabling ihc 31CAT by lwo rib plaloons 1-1 with noflect, the rifleunit at T7 isdiswiscdat have a definite edge. 1 am pushing hard and ignoring and anengineer toeliminaleit casily.Thcrifleunit 2-1: and lhe rifle smion at R7 succombs to a 3-1 losses to keep him off balance. I expect to achieve at V7 is untouched by two 1-1 attacks, one by an CAT Icd by German engineers. "Cmarks Iht adjacent Panthtr and taltr by thrce CATingrifle postion 01 two King Tiger&and two d~srnounicd my victory conditions on turn 9. although bad luck unit&. The American mortar a1 V7 Opponunity r~flcunits. ,: Oh-Wah-Ree.. .world's newest

3580 years and many nations, brought up to date for modern tastes. In the game players make captures by "sowing" peb- bles into the pits, In some versions player with the most pebbles at game's end wins. In other versions player with the most pits wins. Adults play thoughtfully, stra- tegically; children play it as a swift game of capture. Playing time varies; average , is 20 minutes.

OH-WAH-REL k far firem twa te fpur play-, adults and children. Boohkslf cam contains hld- away bwrtl, p&bIa, pit mstrkm, and instruction fddgr.

another version, a player may only capturn if Setup: Plrayms divide the drde of 12 pits the Iat pbble he BOWfalls in an empty pit in equally. An equd number af pebbles are pld his territory, Player sowing this pebble capture8 in each pit Camaunt votriea with verPSion being it plus the contenb of the pit amom from it. In played). Since thewill be moved amund, they Grand OH-WAH-REE, playem capture pib as only lmpmapiig '')relong'* to the player in well aa pebbks. The stmtw of OH-WAH-REE wham pik they are assum. its to mw from the moat strategically located pit. Ta Play: Each player in turn LWOO~Sall the Scoring: At the game's end each player scow pebbles out of any one of his pits and soars the number of pebblea (or pi&) he bets capturd. them cfoekwise by dropping them one at s High scam wim. tim inb adjmnt pits. The OH-WAH-REE instmetions cover maw Capture anova vwwith the version being of the pit-and-pebble games played throughout I played. In 8bndad OH-WAH-REE, a player the ages in Africa and Asia, and indude versions may apture gebblesi when his Iaat pebble is whose atmtegies am wily mastered and thme sawn in an oppunent'~pit which caatdns, two whose stmtegieer are very complex. Complete M three pebblm (ofb the pebble is mwn). En mmple games are included with h&ptt&um.

PRICE: $10 plus usual pwapem- Maryland hid+nts atid 4% State SakTar b strategic game 03 maneuver PLOY fs tOrs stimulating new space-age strategy game. The &jwt? To capture the opponent's Comrnrndar or all of hit Lances, hubsand Shields. Sinw piece$ mawe mly along patho in line wltk the indicators radiating from Weir centsrr, ttre strategy lies in knowing when to move: md when to rstab a piem ta change dirwtw. Average playing time: JO min-

PLOY is for two or four plryanr, adults and chitdisr, 0sabAnH case eoRtalnn falar sm d rpwisl playing pi$ceo, iuturWlc playing bawd and tumplOfm instructien8,

Ob- at tb Game: Each player sWlfuijy maneuvers kL phying pkw atorrg the patho of the playing bawd in an effort to mptw either his opponent's 4hmmmder or alX of bb Lmm, PraW rrnd shield& To Play: Two playem, ubiing coral and green To cap-, n piece mwt mwt onb r earn playing pieces, set up the bud as &om: oecupM by ran oppomnt's ph;captrued piece i8 wmoW from the bard. First; playes to capture his opponermt*~Co#upander or rfl of hin LmeeS, Frob nad Shbldai *! Rhea four pky, are taken in doekwh mhtioa. 3f a player" Cu~omxlaenderh mpt;wed, he hOUt 0f a?g-6 dl& hi8 FB-~ are used by the capturing plaper as hb own om eruhaqu,m&tumt~ Y dl bb has,Proh and are qtd,player's C9mmmde1 is mmaved from the board raad he is out; of fit3 game. Last remaining player wins Rayem move une piwe per e-~ldd~either ~npartnemhippky,game en& when one part- a dimittion or mation move. A di~etiolemow ndipaptumi &s oppaneub' Commandem mmhtai of rotating (turning) it piece so that or dl of their hca,Probes and - its indicators point in different directions. A or om spponeaf's Cammrander and dl of bk motion mow conskb of moving a piece over partner's him,Probes md Shields. PRICE. $1O pfue usuaf patago charges Mwyland Ilmdents add 4% State Sales Tax Feudal. .the game of szege and conquest FEUDAL, the exciting mwlicval war gam, combines militsty stntrgy with drm- tihe mom as he omiw af hrrs feudal Kings battle to the &a#. Each anny ir s1wst1y daploysd, making every garno different and chsllenging. The mu@ ind momtainous brrain can rid or hampar attempts b, thwart the enemy or lay slqp ta tlMir castle. Averape playing tlm: 1 hour,

. FEUDAL ir fw huo to it#--# (r*a mw adult.. Booluhrn am ~ontainsplaying bud. dMdr fl~i~ph--mk t.1-P pi~iacrr,clubs. bl*, rquim. wg-• - #ad plbmm-ad I--*

ObJectoftaHsI'*rmc: Ed !ayerattern ta When piece63 are pitkned, Divider Screen to a methe 4p aent'er 8W18 or day\ h b removed and play hgine. my Jty-King, E'nee and Duke-while &m~caJlypro&&ag hb own Cdleand To fip: Durin his turn, each player may mave any or aS of hia men; at Ldone royalty* man mu% be moved in each turn, Each (for two playem): Each player eom- piem has ib own &tinctbe move and ir . Coin is toesed-player d1uwd only one move per turn, Piecesmay move first; player 1mng waveonly aver unoccupied ~psaceean board.

tam positions bard, chwin mytwo ad- Wrben moving to' day' an ensmy, attskker jwnt quartem tm hiss king8 orn. Divider muat move onto enm -upid space; Screen ig placed 82:rm center af hard SO d-ain enemy L remaved Irom hard. playem may secretly deploy fpdtioxn) their playing pi-, Game en& when 'When positioning or mavin^ pieces, the following rules mwt be remembered: No ain antrance through, and stop on, the man may be poesitianed an, maire ootu UP &reen. From Green he may enter Castle on acrossl a mountain (&id grmn space), rtext move-and win the game, Mounted men mynot be pusition& on, mave ~ntaor acrw rough 'terrain (Ipst- ff wKe thrn two My, teams are chosen. ternd spaem), Castle piece may be pd- Each tmcbm one King, Prince, Duke timed anywhere in kingdom but, once pod- and Cmtle and each team member corn- t5ond, ma not be moved. The an1 en- rnstads an army, (If an odd number play, trance to dastte is through Castle &wn one player mwt command two armies aa (unwalld pm-t of Cade p~ece)~ both forces must be equd at gmePa&I%.) C(PNT2BT NO. 72

Opponent Wanted

fhirrgs Ira nu! w thw ~sm.Yh shtprre-twl, &a mrtion a symmstrlml--brrt tha Fr-h IMw wen p-1 It mki take as w sQhi turm to r~ducslltb &Hiah tQ hurprW#~as.kt th mm tw twm are ?ha witlsaf -ite dmm the ptm Wmg. firinp. arrd mawmenl EW the mxt two turn a& we will mums W'* raumd OM ttla raoa. The Briiiih nhi Ira Wgun ttrr Erench a 74ceun stridUM tin+-bath rrroInpwfrmoh*p.as~~onths"#~looniChriod SmS*tiew Chart". Beth ah~ski# W tMr Initial Wi. The ahimtww mt yet fir& in tWmithgivartm.Gwusttw F-h piayer'r bd~wmnd aargst Iw chis turn, tha Frlrnch mi- -nt adfirs for th* mxt Rtw turnm. At that WRt it stmild be matbmatpealy ~rkainW the BriiuPk are &m&-ausn -mi ng ahbest &fish pky snd W -st pauible FrentkdiaroHBl The Frmh shrp may be w~urrwdw b I- with whawwu warn at the hgimling. UW ell ths Wnmd gam ruks emtCtnbI hits.

.ha- . THE GENE3RAL PAGE 21

can still swing the game. It looks easy now, but phase two is very slow. I feel it has been a mistake to insist on keeping his units in thegully this way; he is obsessed with the fact that in one game he failed on three successive attempts to enter a stream hex.

TURN FOUR-GERMAN: I. The IF should have been plotted,for a rarget in rhe Bop' area; his main point of atrack. A dispesal ' certaini,~mokes his upcoming CAT aitack more puwciful. Priorifpwbe, everything in rke south is scrondary io his main drive 08the board in rke tvnrev. Thereyore, if he pins down four American units in C-J-3, he accumplishes as much as $he de~troyed!hem. There is no need ro waste IF on

2. The Germon player exploits rhe hole in ihe American line at C- U-7. I can't undersrand why #she hole u.as ldi there! Ifit wasfor an A Tfire trap wing his armor, ar least he could have locared the target ' AMERICAN TURN4 Thc American withdraws lived however as the two riflt unitsfail to phasethe hex in a locaiiun ]hat wouldn't halve his available as kst he can but he is hindcrcd by dispergalsat J3 H9 Tiger in a 1-3 CAT. The lmdcd Gcrman half- fire. To~uliyun-necessary. and T7 and a German advancc which haoalredy track at V8 ib sandwiched by a 1-1 CAT which 3. Thi. posirion also illusrrazes !kt opriom avni!- bypassed pwkets of American rtsistanw. The disperses it again but thib is little consolation lor 57mm AT gun disperses the Tqer at H9 sctting il what the American attackcn art about to receive able jbr the inevitable American 'armor sacrifice'. If up for a planned CAT. The Tigers at G9 and G I0 in rttum. 'The trapped MI0 at G7 fails to even he umantsto pIaw rwo Americ~nwrecks on the Opportunity Firt at thc advancing Americnn rifle dispersc thc adjacent Tiger mt 2-1. The Amdnis block, a halfrrack or armored car wuuld do as well. I uniu at 1-1 wth nodtct. Thcgood luck in short- about to re~eivegricvous lrture fire. believe [hat sathrlfiting his armor on the first or serond turn wuuld have paidmore dividend in rhe

4. The aimles~placement qf'iheAmerican armor is again pointed our in the entrapment of the MI0 at hex C-G-7. The American armor should Br CONCENTRATED io have any value in eizher an arlive or passive rok.

' TURN FOUR-AMERICAN: I. A,jicr n-asiing his infantry in the gully for three lurns, I ran'! see the sense in moving it out oj' rhe gully nowb, especially suuthward! The German orrnor shouid overrun them easi1.v. The-v could be used mow efleciivek BEHllVD rhe river to itrtpede rhc advanre of the German infantry. 2. For all his planning,'the American playcr does nor reallj have hisyorres where he wanrs them-at the points of' rhe two German advances. For instance, the atnrionin the north LT a sideshow plot ' wurth rhe five American uniis tied down there.

GERMAN TURN 3: The German advance is trapped MI0 at G7 is disptrd at 4-1 by the German Turn 5: going so wcll that mosl rearward units are adjacent Panther and Flnishcd off by a 1-1 CAT. Guessed wrong with my indirect fire, but being mounting up or getting rcady to do so. The Thc American strikes hck fccbly with accumulation at C reprtsents a halftrackandtwo Opportunity Firt from his 57mm.s at H9- able to move my units towards the board edge is the trucks-all loaded with infantly. The bypassed disperging the King Twer at 1-1 but migbing the most important item now. He should have tried to AmtricanrifkunitatT7is hit s~multancouslywith halflrsck which continues on and dispcrscs tht deny me hex C-Z-10 this turn; now the crossing of a 1-1 mortar attack and an ovemhclrning C1 exposed riflc unit at 18 in a 1-2 Overmn. The CAT. Thc morlur a1 V7 ib eliminated in a &l 57mm at H8 is dispersed in a 3-1 CAT by a SMG several units becomes a distinct possibility. The loss attack by anadjacent King Tiger and rifle unit. Its unit; tht halftrack at I5 iselirninatedina4l CAT: of the tank on C-G-7 is a serious blow to his chances, comp~nionriile unit is dispcrscd at 2-1 by nparby as is the nilc unit blofking the road at P7. The he does not have armor to spare. His position is AFVs which automat~cn!ly dooms it to the truckat 19 is dispersed in a 3-1 CAT but thestack follow-up 2-1 CAT. The tough MG unit at J3 at Y9 is unharmed by a 1-2 CAT. The rifle unit at disintegrating sooner than usual; terrain and time dclics the odds again but is diaptrsod in a 4-1 K4 is not affacted by a 1-1 CAT. The US force is iproblems are my major concern now. Even without stuck by the Wirblewind. Mk IV, and 2Dmm. The vanishing in the S~Ed conccnlrald fire. his units there, it is, as expected, too late to beable to remove the block now. Thus the only route available American Turn 5: happens, and the tank isdestroyed by counter fire, it lor exiting any significant number of mobile units is Here I must decide whether I want to try and will provide a wreck for the bImk. This is the reason the bridge at C-K-8. 1 am loading up my guns as a hold the townor withdraw and continue the delay. I fired from that position. The final fights are matter of principle; they are really not going to be The delaying action is not going all that well, and in beginning-ioo soon-and the Allied position able to accomplish much. lhot light the town's defense might have better looks even bleaker than the day the action really prospectsthan the delaying action. I, however, have occurred. TURN FIVE-GERMAN: rejected defending Wiln, since 1 really don't think I. Aguin, very ronservat ive German play. I Ar half- that I can huld tt~cluwr~ fut five turns against the TURN FIVE-AMERICAN: {rack overruns the in/anrr,r in C-1-8 insread of a German assaults. He can bring up too mucharmour I. Block or no block, wrecks or no wrecks, iz is heay armor unir. !f' the infuntr~~unir had beeh and infantryfor this to be possible. Moreover, much enrire(s evident thut rhe German pia,ver will be able blown anJay,ar rhe cost of one or two Tigers, Wiln of his infantry around Wiln is out ofthe action, if1 to exif itn unirs oflrhe west edge in the 'gap' area. ~'outdhavP been invested or taken in thenext rurn. do not fight for Wiln. There is clearly no way he can The .'Jiirferingbof Anterirean in$antr,r has It-$ ihe Ir rnighr have drawn some Op Fire frum the even begin to load and attempt to run with the tnosr critical srttor denuded of defensive units. The Atnerirans which would have bagged some qf'thai infantry. Of course, part of the reason that the A!nerirmunarmor, in I~Punlikely event it survives the A~nericanarnruu. Withsuch a~~erpoweringstreng~h. German has YO much force here is to guarantee the z~pr.urning 'Battk, uj' Wiln', cannot effectively ?he Gern7unplujrr should he,ji~rt.itg/he American's taking of the town. iniervene againsr [he exiting German infantry. hand un all,frc~nra. At this point. it is reasonable to start using my 2. Given ~Ileposition of his l O5mm howitzers, his 2. The iqfrr/r/r~~unirs ur L'-P6 should have been tank fire power. 1 am firingfromthe block atapiece Wiln brid~edcfenxe i4 adequate. One wonders whar rlru \,d10 C-Q-7. These units just losf a turn. which can carry passengers off.When the inevitable the efferr wouM have been kud he creared three PAGE 22 THE GENERAL

runcerr/ru/ed Atl~eric~an~er-up rodd have stilf e.rer,uzed-as a LAST RESORT-the type qf r/eIawru.s ah,suluie!r inhibited hv ihe German bridge, but 1 want to avoid having wrecks there. I must bemade 20 work for his victor.^: throwing unirs plqrer II-~JIIIu/retl~pring an ojfensivc poszure or plan to CATfrom that hex, and have to avoid traffic in his path won't suflire. e.~ploi/i~~~I~~I'IUUS Gennan rllisrakes. This witer, jams again. Strange as it sounds when I have a The American player lost in thefirst rwo !urn$ uj who rrr1111i1sto u definite oflettse urieninrion in his position like this, my victory is not vet a sure thing. rhe game. His loss was nor due t u necessarily faulry UL~~~I~utrlc plus, can unlv 1.0nr1ude zhor {he execu rion, bur to fbuliy conrepzualizui ion of his Arl~eriratlplqver wmmha!/Lbeaten before ihe game American Turn 6: task and the merhods a1 hisdisposal tofacilirare rhis hegan. Coinperen! execution t.ould nor overcome a Things look very bad, indeed; his luck has been rusk. He ubas TOO defensive. His opening set up conser~wrire, rirni

AREA TOP TEN

Rank Name flat in^ 1. Tom Oleson DEH2035 2. John Garrett DEI 1455 3. Joseph Halko EA- 1455 4. Brian Lawrence DB-1435 5. Michael O'Donnall CA-1410 6. Gary Dayton EDA1280 7. Roland Vollbehr CA-1255 8. Peter Christian 08-1 165 9. Wayne Helie CA-1145 to. Tom McGrath EGKI 025

The above players represent the ten highest, provisional (II+ rated games) rated members of the 2,000+ member player pool. GERMAN TURN 6: The American 57mm guns The M8 and rifle sction on Vl0 try to stem at 57 and H8 art tlirninatwl in 4-1 rrttacks by lhe tide withopportunity Fire on V8 and managc Future hstings will give priority to individuals Gtrman tanks allowing advance into those hexes todisucrsc a loadd truck but it isa v~t~fuluesturt. with a large rating base. An individual who during thc movcmcnt phast. Thc third 57mm at The kttle has become so lopsldeb that-furlher plays only one or two opponents will eventuaf- Mb is also eliminated at 4-1. The Shermanat VIO resismnce is hopeless. German CATs dikwrse the ly be dropped from the listing as will those who is disperned at-4-1 by a King Tiger as is the wer Amcricanforas on J5 (2-1). Y9(I-1)and 29(3-I). pmistenr MG unit at J3 by iib usual tormentors. 'B" rcprcstnts a loadd truck and halftrack do not remain relatively active once on thelist. Thcriflcunilat llOisdispcr~dina31Ovcrrun by while "c" harbors a loaded truck, a Panther, halC a Tiger and then eliminated In a 1-1 CAT. track and a rik unit. d I THE GENERAL PAGE 23

Occupation as The Key to V lctory HowToWinIn1776 by Keith Gross

Victory in any war depends on maximizing In February, you should: New York at this time, except possibly with your own advantages while minimizing those of 1. Move the Tories in South Carolina into the Tories your opponent, and this is true in wargames as fort at Ninety-Six to defend it. BY July, the Americans will have six to eight weiL In the Campaign Game of 1776, the 2. Keep going through the Adirondacks, and strength points in the Deep South, while you Americans and the British each have their own build anothm bateau in Quebec. have 16 BR on fleet A, seven BR on fleet B, elght strengths and weaknesses If you are playing the 3. Use the three TM in the Sooth Central area BR and two TM in Virginia, and seven TM at British, you have mntrol of the seas, at least until to impede the movement of the rebels there. Try Ninety-Six; also, you can take your August French hitexvention, and can rapidly transport to keep him from occupying the two clear terrain reinforcements at Charleston, giving you 24 more your armies great distances. Also, during hte hexes in front of Charlottesville. factus if you need them. Therefore, you mn 1776 and 1777, you have a geat strength advan- 4. a. If Alexandria is unoccupied, land the msily take over the Deep South in the summer tage as well. On the other hand, the Continental three BR from BF A there, march two BR up to quarter. Move the Virginia army muth into North Army has a large replacement capability and will HH-24,and attempt a forced march to GG23,so Carolina, while unloading the fleets at Charleston build up as the game progresses unless you act that you an reach Charbttesville through the and various points along the rivers, surrounding quickly. Besides, the militias which make up mountains next turn. or attacking the Amerilran forces. The fnst much of the fighting strength in the game are b. If Alexandria is occupied, unload BF A objective is to destroy American forces in the usually on the side of your opponent - if you are at HH-26 instead. arm; then in September occupy the citie~ in an area without cantrolling it. The trick, then, 5. Land the bulk of the troops from TF A at is to jnvade one area of the rnapboard at s time, DD-28, while putting a factor or two across the The American player has three basic options conquering it as quickly as possible so that strong river at EE28 if possible. open to him while you are invading the south. rebel militia are active for as short a time as The invasion of the South Central aTea should One of these is to keep the main army in New possible. be mncluded in March: England or the Middle States and build up A major problem is the selection of the initial 1. Occupy the five strategic towns with strength while waiting for you to come north. If invasion area. Each of the four areas has some- one BR in each. Lf necessary, try several forced he does this, he will have 48 factors of Conti- thing going for it. New England has a small area marches over the mountains to reach Charlottee nental regulars by the fall of 1776. However, and is an important source of CA replacements, ville. much of this will disappear mound Christmas- but it is too heavily defended at the beginning of 2 Atfack RM units, and block their escape time. You should land a large army at one of the the game. The Middle States have loyalist militia, routes, with the supply wagon, eight BR, and the strategic towns in his area in December, so that but are difficult to hold bemuse of the vastness thee TM. Keep these near Chadottesville if you he will lose 50% ath her than 25% of his army. He of the area, the rough terrain, and the scarcity of can't occupy it, so that you can destroy the will have only one month in which to attack this ports. American replacements when they come in there. force and will probably not destroy more than a However, the two, Southern areas, especially 3. If they are not needed, load two or three few factors before you break off battle. In early the South Central, are much more promising, factors back onto the fleets and move back out 1777, you an come down from Canada and up especially during the first few quarter% The to sea (GG35). from the South to seize key cities in the Middle winter movement restrictions do not apply in the 4. Move the B fleets and their passengers, States and New England. Southern colonies, but the oornbat restrictions do your March reinforcements, to Sea hehex Second, you opponent can invade Canada in - unsupplied attacks are not allowed. Since the M-23. force. Be will probably capture Montreal and St. Americans have no supplies in the South Central Johns, but he will not be able to take Quebec if area initially, you are invulnerable to attack Asguming you have captured Charlottesvde, you defend its fort with your entire twenty there, and all you have to do to wnquer it is to you have several advantages during Spring inter- fadors. He will have to fall back before winter move into the five cities there. Charlottesvik is phase. neAmericans get minimum rebel militia sets in or else lose 75% of his forms to it, the only one that is difficult to reach. in alI four areas, while you get maximum Tories allowing you to retake Montreal and St. Johns. Thus, the South Central a~eacan be taken in three. In addition, the Americans get three Third, he can march his main army south to during the first quarter of the game, with the supply units rather than four. Take your new liberate Virginia. However, it takes 36 movement Deep South falling soon afterwards. By the time Tories at Ninety-Six, Philadelphia, and Hartford, points to get from Boston to Alexandria by the these operations are complete, you will be up to if possible. most direct land route (44 accounting for winter full strength, and will have only one front. The You should wait until the summer to actually movement restrictions for February and Ma~ch). South will be secure, barring a major blunder, invade the Deep South, as you are not strong Even unopposed, Washington's army can't aoss until French intervention, if the game lasts that enough to do so now. Therefore, spring opera- the Potomac until July, assuming it spends bng. tions should be oriented towards preparing for January recapturing Boston. The T0rie.s should This plan assumes regular Campaign Game this invasion. There are four main objectives for be able' to delay him until September or October rules are being used, with all optionals except for this quarter: by occupying river crossings and parses through Inverted ~overnent;Minor changes can be made 1. Soften up the Deep South by using the the hills. You anbring your August and October if Variable Transport Capacity isn't being used. men TM in Ninety-Six and the seven BR on reinforcements in at Alexandria, which will stop In the first turn, evacuate the main British Fbet B to destroy the two CA, two supply units, the Amwim advance. When the Deep South army from Boston. Convert the magazine to a and one artillmy unit there. In June, move the invasion is completed, your armies there can mpply wagon, destroy the artillery {sine it takes BR back out ib sea, and move the Tories and one wme north, driving the Americans back into the JP too much room on the transports), and load supply wagon back to Ninety-Six. You can leave Pennsylvania wilderness. up three BR on the battle fleet (BF A) and 13 Charleston's fort vacant, since it mn be easily In general, you should regroup your forms in BR and the supply on the transport fleet (TF A). ~ecapturedwith great losses to the Americans. the fa,1776 quarter, transporting them north by Move both fleets southward along the mast as far 2. Mop up the American forces in the South sea. Also, try to maximize Americm winter 1s possible, to QQ-38 and GG-36,leaving two BR Central area. Obviously, this will be much harder reductions. ind the one Tory to the wolves. if you didn't capture Charlottesville last quarter. Making wen general, plans of what to do after In January, fejnt an attack on Charleston by Don't use up your supply unit unless absolutely this is impossible because of the many variables moving the Tories from Augusta, Salisbury, and necessary. involved. The war is by no means over, since the Vorfolk in that general direction, taking care not 3. Pick up the June reinforcements in Phila- main American army is probably still intact and to move the Norfolk force too far south. Stzck delphia. Land fleet A and two or three BR there, the northern states are still uncontrolled. How- the Portsmouth Tories with those from Norfolk. assisted by the four new Tories for the Middle ever, if all has gone well, you now have the This feint could conceivably prompt your oppc- States. After getting the new troops, leave. Send advantages of controlling two entire areas as well nent to pull rebels south from Virginia, keeping 16 BR and the supply unit south by sea, and as Canada and of having taken few losses, so the them from blocking you later. march the rest overland to Head of Elk, where remainder of the game should be all downhill. In Canada, build a bateau in Quebec and start they can stop minor Yankee raids. In most games, occupation of enemy territory the To~iesin Oswego north to help oounterattack 4. Use the May reinforcements to drive the follows the destruction of his forces, but in 1776 in the spring. Americ-ans from Canada. Don't, however, go into the situation is reversed; if large arms an be PAGE 24 THE GENERAL

occupied, then the enemy army will automati- cally diminish. The key to victory as the British in 1776 is to make maximum use of the Tory DESIGN ANALYSIS militia, not activating the rebel militia, and using British seapower to transport British land forces PxKw Vim to undefendd areas. If you can occupy large I amounts of territory while minimizing losses, an - GUN 88mm.156 EffRng 3000m early victory will result. 63 AMMO 92 PEN 4.9" 2 MG 34 I *** uGPrer 14 A.H. Philosophy. . . Continued from Page 2 ALEXANDER: KUDOS AND CLARIFICATIONS BISMARCKmay or may nor be the title of ths By Richard Hamblen naval game currently under development by Jack Greens. Actually two games in one, It just goes to show that you shouldn't jump to (Question "Q in the "Questions and Answers" BISMARCK will provide both an extremely conclusions. When I first heard about A LEXAN- section of the 2nd edition rules thus has a different playable, albeit much more sophisticated, basic DER a while back, my first reaction was active answer-). game 2 la the old BISMARCK plus an extremely disinterest; historical accounts of the period were "Q. May a non-attacked missile unit fire in the detailed TOBRUK-type treatment of naval com- obscure and boring, and the Greeks always were defensive phase at a unit at 1 hex range'! bat between German and English capital ships. portrayed as invincible. A few months ago 1 played Yes." As such, the game will include both a strategic my first game, and my conversion was absolute. 1 2. What are the "adverse combat results'? search board and tactical battle board.The Basic now claim that ALEXANDER is a game-player's AE, SAE, X, M, AR. ABI, AB2, etc. Game iscurrently undergoing playtests on four classic-the first one in years. Consequently, when I 3. Are horse archers cavalry for the purposes of continents. The advanced version and therefore recently became the newest addition to Avalon charging? the completed game is not expected prior to the Hill's staff 1 was immediately given suzerainty over Yes. but they must end their move with a normal fall. ALEXANDER, much to my delight. attack in order to qualify for any charge bonus. ALESlA is developing very nicely and will be It just goes to show that you shouldn't jump to They get neither the extra movement point nor the ready for release at ORIGINS II with mail order conclusions. doubled combat lactor if they missile attack. safes starting shortly thereafter. One of the few ALEXANDER is an excellenr game-player's 4. May an attacker call off anattack if his battle problems we've had with the game has been its game. Its strong points are its fast action, its odds drop a level (i.e., from 3-1 to 2-1) due to losses name. Aside from a few ancients buffs and long subtlety, the decisiveness of accomplishing certain to enemy defensive fire or the addition of defensive time wargamers, Alesia holds no instant recog- actions and the way that the ''feel" of the battle is support to the defending unit? nition value. Therefore, we are going to change recreated. As is the case with all new games, it is not No. Once the attacker has specified the attacking the name to CAESAR with a subtitle encom- certain how balanced it is with best play, but so far it and defending units he may not cancel the attack passing Alesia. looks like the Greeks have a slightly uphill battle. even if defensive support increases the defenders CAESAR will utilize a new size mapboard That is only with best play, however. Even the andlor defensive fire decreases the attackers. An (28x 33") and over rEOO counters. Don Green- subtlest errors in deployment open the way for attack, once announced, must go through. wood, in collaboration with the Qame'sdesigner disaster at the hands of a skillful opponent. Note, however, that the attacker does not have Dr. Robert Bradley, has added several improve- All of these points tend to make ALEXANDER to announce most of his attacks until afterrdefensive ments to the classic game system including an exoellent game for serious competition. ALEX- fire has been completed. leader units, multi-player rules, improved off- ANDER'S weakest point is in its rules, however(the The play prwedure is: a) the attacker moves all board movement and missile fire. The situation colors used on the mapboard are no winners, of his units; b) the defender announces all defensive is unique and without parallel in the history of either), and clearly defined rules are ESSENTlAL fire; c) the attacker announces all attacks against warfare as the Romans attempt to hold a to a competition game. The game system as a whole missile units (thereby diverting those units' fire); d) fortified posjtion from attack from both within is laid out cleanly, but there are conflicts and defensive missile fire is resolved; e) the attacker and without. CAESAR will be one of the few ambiguities in a few important rules-particularly announces all attacks; fj the defender announces all conventional wargames that plays every bit as the rules dealing with missile fire. defensive support; g) odds are calculated and the well (in fact, better) with 3 or 4 players as it does Consequently, in the interests of tighteningdown battles resolved. with 2. Playing time is running from 4-8 hours the rules the following rules interpretations are In the case of automatic victory, the attacker depending on the numberof players and relative offered as asupplement to the Second Edition of the announces his attack during movement and the success of the Gallic relieving force. CAESAR rules. These interpretations are important-they defender immediately gets to add any defensive will sell for $10.00 clarify the ambiguities and remove the conflicts, support. The battle is resolved immediately only if it Hopes for a Pacific version of THIRD REICH and there are even some rule changes to remove remains an automatic victory. Otherwise, treat it as rest squarely on the shoulders of Lawrence Oaws in the game. an announced attack and resolve it with the other Pinsky. The problem in this one is to come up Using these changes, ALEXANDER is a game attacks after combat. with a simple game system which does not nrell-suited for serious competition. Using the Horse Archer rule, a split-move attack water down the flavor of the subject matter. A LEXANDEA has been added to the "old is announoed during movement. The defender may Larry reports making good progress along these classics" that are to be played in the AH 500 immediately announce defensive fire (but NOT lines and expects to include counters for every tournament at ORIGlNS 11. The above interpreta- defensive support), and combat is immediately capital ship which saw action in the Pacific tions are the official interpretations for A LEXAN- resolved. theatre. Completion is not expected before mid- DER: be warned. These internretations will be supplied at the tournament as well. , '77. In attacks that are 100% missile fire attacks, I ALEXANDER is being includedin the tourna- 5. We have still other games in the works in can the defender add defensive support? varying stages of development, but will leave at behest of the AH 500 tournament NO! If an attack is composed entirely of missile discussion af them to a later time when we can director, who is me. I told you that my conversion was absolute. fire. the defender may NOT add defensive support be specific and more generous with our details. to the defender. This is of particular importance in split-move attacks and missile-versus-missile duels. A. Missile Units 3M GAMES 6. What type of unit does this symbol ( D ) I. Exactly when are missile units immune to represent? These are the javelin units. They are NOT We receive many inquiries about the 3M adverse combat results? mercenaries. games since our acquisition of that line several When the unit is conducting "missile fire." A 7. Two "B" units back to back in the same hex months ago. Avalon Hillcurrently carries25 3M missile unit involved in combat is alwajs assumed to form a sort of hedgehog. How may missile units fire products and are shipping these prcducts on an be "missile firing" UNLESS: a) the missile unit is at such a hedgehog'? equal basis with AH merchandise. We are being attacked normally; or b) the missile unit is Two "Bunits back to back in the same hex use currentty selling existing 3M inventory under attacking in its turn and is announced to be making their frontal attack factors aeain8t- all attacks. the 3M label. This does not mean that we are a normal attack on an adjacent enemy. Missile units may fire at either unit, butthat unit will Note that a missile unit CAN "missile fire" at a defend with its frontal factor even if the attack comes Continued on page 28, column 3 range of one hex. from the rear. THJ3 GENERAL PAGE 25 In order to implement this, first select a sire for B. ~utomrtticVictory- after combat-parallel facing does not have to be observed. your "Phalanx" units. They should correspond in 1. During movement can a unit occupy the same 2. Must a "B" class unit have parallel facing scale to your increased hexsize, of course. "B" class hex with an AV'd enemy unit? Can it attack from with an AV'd enemy unit in the same hex? units should be exactly !4 the size of "A"c1ass units, here? No. AV'd units affect only the hex capacity. with the same width of front but %r the depth. Note Yes, if this dws not violate stacking. Yes. 3. How may units advancing after combat that this makes a long, thin counter instead of the 2. Using the Skirmisher Rule, may skirmishers change their facing? small, square "B" counters in ALEXANDER. lass through a fully occupied hex that contains an Normally. In the Basic Game an advancing unit Each type of unit should be divided into two iV'd enemy unit? may change its facing by any amount. In the stands, one on the right and one on the left. These No. The occupants must all be friendly units. stands do not have to be equal in size, but they "B" Advanaed Game, an advancing unit may change its 3. Must a class unit occupying a hex with an facing by 60 degrees for every new hex entered. In should be close enough so that the complete unit iY'd enemy unit have parallel facing with that unit? cases of advances of more than one hex, the looks obviously different from the half unit. You No. You may ignore the facing of an AV'd unit. additional movement may be used for turning might want the stands slightly different sizes to instead. accommodate the positioning of figures on them. C. Combat- 1. When the combat results are EDE-DR. do It is important to note that the Second Edition of adjacent units still rout if the SDE eliminates the the ALEXANDER rules are changed by the above (inverted) counter that was being attacked? interpretations. Yes. Each combat result takes place independ- Section 4 of the Special Units rules is cancelled ntly of any others. (see interpretation C.3 above). This was changed to 2. A retreated unit has to4'face thevacated hex." allow commanders better defense against missile s this the first hex vacated or the last vacated? attacks; otherwise it is just too easy to bushwhack Alexander with the Persian archers. rcprtsents a figure= 1 combat factor The retreated unit must face the hex it occupied repmts a pikehwiog figure = 2 combat fanon luring combat-i.e.. the first hex it had to vacate. The answer to question "Q" at the end of the X 3. Can a commander attack only once per turn? booklet is changed to a simple"yesWin order to keep Or does he help all adjacent attacks and defenses? the missile rules self-consistent. See interpretation No and no. A. t above. A commander helps in any battle involving a Other than that the rules stand, as interpreted unit that starts the combat phase in the same hex above. Actually, most of the points cleared up are trivial when it comes to the actual play of the game. with the commander. Ifthe commander is with two ILLUSTRATION: "A" unit, "B" unit The bulk of the action in the game is direct and lnits at the start of enemy combat, he helps both Placing figures: the stand on the left of each unit straightforward. It is only the unusual cases and the nits in defense; if the commander is with two units will represent the half-strength unit, and the stand fine points that have to be resolved for the rules at the start of friendly combat, he helps both on the right is the stand that will be removed when sharks, so that the game will provide fair competi- attacks. the unit is half-eliminated. Each figure on the unit tion. EXCEPTION: A commander NEVER affects a will represent one combat factor. Place frontal The mapboard: Remember that any hex purely "missile fire" attack. A commander DOES combat factors along the front edge of the counter, containingany green at all isclear terrain, and that it affect morale and die rolls when he is DEFENDING rear combat factors along the rear edge, and flank is possible to move from clear terrain hex to clear against a purely "missile fire" attack. combat factors ina row in the middle of thecounter. NOTICE THATTHIS REPLACES SECTION terrain hex at a cost of only one movement point, On each left stand place the proper number of even if the intervening hexside is entirely brown. "4" OFTHE SPECIAL UN1TS RULES ON PAGE figures to represent the half-unit strengths; on the 7 OF THE RU LEBOOK! Section 4 of the Special In particular: right-side counter piace enough additional fgures Units rules is null and void. T22 and V24 are clear terraln to bring the total strength up to the unit's full V11, T23, and B28 are rough terrain strength. T25, U25, 833, B34, C34 and D33 are rough D. Movement- Special figures for combat units: it would be niae terrain. to differentiate between the types of counters as 1. During movement, do "B" class units have a It ia possible to move from Vl8 to V19 at the much as possible. Certainly cavalry units should position in the hex? clear terrain rate. It is also possible to move from contain cavalry figures. In addition, if you can find This example illustrates the problem: S22 to T22 and then to U22 at the clear terrain rate. the appropriate figures archer units could contain figures of archers, javelinunitsjavelin throwers, etc. Miniaturizing ALEXANDER: The Phalanx counters should contain figures First, the simple parts. Choose a convenient carrying the distinctive long pike or sarissa. large hexsize and reproduce the map in this larger A little economy: the Phalanx units have a lot of scale. Do not feel obliged to reproduce the game*s combat factors and so require a lot of figures that color scheme, however. For added varsimilitude, take up a lot of space. In order to form units more use cardboard, styrofoam or clay to create thick efficiently 1 suggest that you treat pike-bearing Unit 3 moves away. May unit 1 move into unit "rough terrain" hexes and place these on the rough figures as representing a combat strength of two 2's position in the hex, or must unit 2 move out of terrain hexes. Slope terrain can be represented by factors. Even the biggest Phalanxescan beefficient- the way first? hexes that have not been thickened so much, or ly formed using a mixture of pike-bearers and "B' units do not have a position within a hex hexes with thickened terrain that slants, or slopes regular figures. during movement. A "B" unit may be shifted can be indicated by color. If you can find them you can also place an forward or back as desired duringmovement as long So much for the mapboard; now for the units. It appropriate standard bearer figure on theleft stand. as it stays in the hex (and preserves its facing, in the is assumed that you can find the proper miniature Other figures: obviously, the commanders can Advanced Game). A unit has not started its move figures and paint them to satisfy your own aesthetic be represented by individual figures on their own until it has started to expend movement points. demands. small stands. You can have fun finding appropriate At the end of movement units do have a position The thing that makes it possible-and elegant- figures; decorate them with a little style. inside the hex. to convertALEXANDER to miniatures is the fact Don't forget that you'll need a baggage wagon EXCEPTlON: Melee'd "B" units may not move, that there is no real stacking of units in ALEXAN- counter, also. If you can't find any wagon figures shift facing, nor move within a hex. DER. It is possible for a unit to have an "inverted (which are hard to find, especially in some scales) 2. Using the Cavalry Maneuver rule, does the I strength," however, and since it would be silly to then you mn build your own from scratch using MP cost purchase unlimited facing changes in one invert a miniatures counter (the visual impact of a cardboard or other materials (a process known as hex or in all hexes moved through that turn? Greek Phalanx is unfortunate when the unit is "scratch-building'?. The cavalry must spend 1 MP in each hex in standing on its head) it is necessary to design the Baggage camps are a little trickier. If you canget which it makes unlimited facing changes. combat units so as to allow step reduction. some wagon figures, you might not want to mount The best procedure is to have two counters them on stands at all. Just place a few in the E. Facing- (called "stands" in miniatures parlance) of figures to appropriate hexes at the start of the game. This has a I. When during a turn must units in the same represent each unit-the stands move and fight number of advantages: they are not fastened to the hex have parallel facing? together when the unit is at full strength, but after a mapboard so the mapboard can be stored more At the end of movement and at the end of "5 DEWone stand is removed and the remaining combat. During movement-and during movement stand represents the unit. Continued on page 30, column 3 PAGE 26 THEGENERAL

@st..&k KIN GMAKER ANALYZED by Robert D. Harmon 28% 0*% KINGMAKER, a new release by AH, promises worthwhile to discuss each noble in turn, before to be both different and popular, both as a party discussing what should be dealt to them in the way game (like Monopoly) and as a wargame for AH'S of titles and offices. A discussion follows, starting traditional following. Wargamers, however, will with the strongest nobles: find it wildly different than anything they have experienced before. For one thing, the element of EMBASSIES: This makes having the sole King chance will unhinge winning positions, or provide a something of a disadvantage, particularly if you are boost to a previously-weak faction. But there are relying on a locally-powerful office to maintain him. PERCY. Earl of Northumberland: At 100, the definite objectives, various strategies that can be This is one of the reasons why island castles like strongest of the nobles. Both of his castles being on used, and a necessity for sound diplomacy with Beaumaris, Douglas, or Carisbrookeare sometimes the Scottish border, he is difficult to get into play. other players. An analysis of the game can give worthwhile, as the King and his accompanying As he is apt to k summoned back up to the insights into this. nobles can't get misplaced while his faction fights it Marches, it is best that no locally-strong offices be The first thing that should be considered when out in England. Of course, a ship should be on hand given him, if at all possible. An exception is, of approaching the game is the Event Beck, which to take him to Parliaments in nearby ports-or to course, Warden of the Northern Marches. Marshal poses the most dangers to a player. The Event Card help him escape an enemy landing force. of England is another possibility, if only because the Key (p. 7.of the rules) givesa good basic rundown on resulting 200-strong force could survive almost what the cardsdo. What they do to.vou is something anything. else again. ktus discuss them in the order that the Event Card Key displays them: MOWBRA Y, Duke of Norfolk: Five castles PA RLIA MENT: This card makes the value of means that his faction has the most options in the Chancellor of England office self-evident. It also entering him into the game-he is within range of is a reason for players with eligible heirs-and their virtually every Royal Heir in England. However, he - enemies-to consider whether they should allow personally is also called by no less than five Raid & PLAGUE: Potentially the most devastating of another King to be crowned or not. Revolt cards. He should not be given a local office, the Event Cards. It will pretty much eliminate obviously. Marshal of England might be worth everything it touches, even in the Advanced Game. giving to him, since you can't depend on either him We can presume, of course, that it will strike only or the Marshal's office anyway. within the walls of the town or city involved, and that the player that has deliberately placed units in the square outside the protection of the walls will WRIT: A necessity for a King's or Chancellor's NEVILLE, Ear/ of vWarwick: Of the top three avoid the plague. However, it is sometimes faction to call a Parliament. They are also valuable, nobles, he has the most personal votes in Parlia- necessary to enter a town or city to use its port or under the Commission rule, for mitigating the ment. and the least number of Raid & Revolt cathedral. However, players should be aware that, ravages of the Raids & Revolts cards. Indeed, in this summons (one). His castles, Warwick in particular, in the course of the Event Deck, every town and city guise it is even more valuable. are all in strategic locations, so his entry can be on the map is Iiable to plague. Anyone getting the When setting up the game, the player is faced decisive, if timed right. Any office would suit him plague-except for nobles summoned just previous- with the major decisions of delegating titles and well. ly by an Event Card-pretty much deserves what he offices to his nobles. This is usually contingent on gets. the position and capabilities of the nobles he has been dealt. As no two games will be alike, it is

STORIWS AT SEA: Being forced ashore on a hostile coast can ruin your whole day, especially ,er of Englani when unfriendly armies or fortified ports are present. If you rely on sea movement as a part of your strategy, it may be worth your while to - remember this when moving your ships. Shortening their movement to stay near safe havens may be in 3.1 order. lrahal nf Fnol

RAIDS AND REVOLTS: These are the most dangerous of the Event Cards, if only because they are hard to avoid and so unpredictable. You do know what will eventually happen to you if you dally in a town. But there's no way of knowing if your strongest noble will suddenly get yanked away on the eve of a crucial battle, as often as not into the middle of enemy territory. About the only defense is

crarefulness in delegating. . Titles and Offices. You shouldn't. for example, delegate Chancellor of Cornwall. a locally powerful office, to Mobray, who is apt to be whisked off to crush peasant revolts in eastern or northern England, where he is likely to be eliminated either on the scene or during the long march back to Cornwail. More on this as nobles and offices are discusued. THE GENERAL PAGE 27

BEA UFOR T. Duke of Somerset: Fourth in line for the throne on the Lancastrian side, Beaufort is of no minor importance. He also has more Parliarnen-, tary votes than the remaining titled nobles. His one castle, although remote, is a highly convenient port.

,TALBOT, Earl of Shrewsbury: Like Beaufort, Talbot is summoned only once-to his own castle. Since Ludlow is on the Welsh border, a strong office based in Wales-Chamberlain of Chester or Chancellor of Lancaster-is a strong combination since it guarantees that he won't be pulled away from his area of operations.

FITZALAN, EnrI of Arunde!: Both castles-in Wales and on the south coast-make good starting- points. He is summoned by two Event Cards, as are the wrnaining titled nobles. w

POLE,Duke ofSufloIk: He starts quite close to London-he and Stafford are the closest titled nobles to Henry VI initially. But Win~~eldcan be an embarrassing place to be called back to ifastrong force is in the London area. '3 COURTENA Y, Earl of Devomhire: The only titled noble in Devon-Cornwall-since he can be summoned back there twice, the office of Chancel- BOURCHIER, AUDLEY, CLIFFORD, CROM- STEWARD OF THE ROYAL HOUSS lor of Cornwall would be a good choice for him, WELL, GREYSTOKE, HERBERT,HASTINGS, HOLD: Another of the few offices that have no particularly as any summons to that part of England HOWARD and SCROPE. Berkeley, Bourchier, problems with Raids& Revolts. Control of the town pretty much removes him from active operations, Hastings, and Howard are all within reach of of Newark yields some votes in Commonsand gives since most fighting will be between London, York London; all the rest except Herbert are within one control over part of the York-London road. and Wales. turn's march of York. Herbert, of course, starts out in southern Wales. If he starts the game there, he is in a position to mpture George of Clarence in STA FFORD, Duke of Buckingham: His two nearby Cardigan, an open town. castles make fair starting-points, depending on what Of these ten nobles, Scrope and Bourchier face - ofice he receives. Unfortunately, he faces two Raids & Revolta; Bourchier twice, Scrope once. WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS: This peasant revolts near Leeds (three in the Advanced Bourchier has a castle that is in a particularly off~ce,+es the holder two good ships, a fairly good Game). That part of England can be very unhealthy unhealthy position if the Constable of the Tower is port in the south, and a large amount of votes in unless he or his faction has the Constable of the unfriendly. If that office is unavailable it may be Commons-the most of any office, not counting the Tower, which, incidentally, is a good title for himto worthwhile not giving him any office or title. town and city vote. A few calls by the Event Deck- have. There are two additional nobles of the PLAN- but not as many as the Admiral. TAGENET family in the advanced game: the Duke ADMJRAL OF ENGLAND: This office gives That ends the listing of the nine titled nobles. of Lancaster and the Duke of York. Sincecontrol of the two best ships in the game-important for Having built-in titles helps in delegating offices, and those nobles is contingent on control of the #I eliminating sanctuaries such as Carisbrooke on the can be quite convenient. However, their very titles member of his respective family, it would lx wise Isle of Wight, or Ireland in the Advanced Game. give them various obligations under the Event not to give them any awards. Four calls by Raids & Revolts could yank both Cards, and their offices should be debgated Now that the two main chance elements of the Admiral and his ships out from under operations on carefully. The untitled nobles are discussed below: game-Event Cards and Nobles-have been di- the English coast. Fortunately, most of the areasare cussed, the problems of the Titles and Offices, and remote and the Admiral can leave on his own ships how they should be apportioned, can be discussed. and return to the scene of action. Chart I shows their numerical strengths. Their less- STANLEY: At 50 the most powerful of the apparent merits are discussed below. untitled nobles. Also inconveniently placed on the Isle of Man. Getting him into play &nbeaproblem. Warning: one Raid & Revolt card will pull him right CONSTABLE OFDOVER CASTLE: Like the other offices, it provides 50 troops under all back to Castle Douglas and start the problem all circumstances. This particular ofice also provides over again. Having a ship waiting there may be a a good idea. good port, especially asa haven in storms. However, the holder of this office is summoned there once, provides both a means of calling Parliament, and a which may or may not be a good thing, depend- lot of clout once the Parliament is gathered. Since means ing . . . Parliament is the only of handing out titles and offices in wholesale lots, and since a player with GREY, HOLLAND, ROOS: 20 troops and two the No, I heir in either family will usually hasten to castles each. The castles are in fairly good locations. crown him, then this office is vital. However, Holland is summoned by Event Cards twice to Cornwall; Roos is called off to the North once. Holland's office, if he gets one, should be TREASURER OF ENGLAND: Provides picked with care; Chancellor of Cornwall is good in control of two royal castles, one of which- his case. Grey faces no summons, but only his Beaumaris-is on the island of Anglesey off Wales southern castle is in a convenient location. and is a usable sanctuary as long as rival factions MARSHAL OFENGLAND: The strongest of There are ten remaining nobles, each with one can't get to it. No summons by the Event Deck is an all offices, in terms of permanent troops. Also the castle and 10 troops apiece: BERKELEY, added advantage. most summoned office: 10 times (It in the PAGE 28 THEGENERAL

Advanced Game). This office must be delegated ally and crush him, as the game will go on forever if politician who stays bought. It is treachery-the with care, as it is as much a liability as a source of he has any pretenders to the throne with him. final, incalculable element of an already chancy strength. One advantage: control of Harlech Castle As for the awardabIe titles in the game, not much game-that will unhinge any strategy, and ruin comes with it-providing access to the No. 2 need be said there: the advantages are self-obvious. virtuaIly any power, and pIayers of KINGMAKER Yorkist, Edward of March, providing that HarIech They provide weaker nobles with a measure of should be prepared to implement it. And on that hasn't already been stormed by someone else. strength, and eligibility for high office. Some note, we shall close. comments beyond this pertain, however. So much for the age of chivalry. Of the eight title cards, there are two 40'5, four a 30's, and two 20's (the latter of whichcome provided with one towneach. The maincriterion in selectiveiy awarding these, when there is a choice, is their WARDEN OF THE NORTHERN strength. The fact that the two weakest titles have a A.H. Philosophy . . . Continued from page 24 MARCHES: This office is powerful in a somewhat town with each of them means little unless you like necessarily discontinuing those 3M games not remote area-one that doesn't really stand up as a hiding in towns. One additional consideration: the currently on our order form. It does mean that sanctuary since it can be reached overland. Earl of Westmoreland (a40), the Earlof Kent(a30), we are temporarily out of stock on these items Summoned six times by the Event Deck, making it and both of the 20's-Duke of Exeter and Earl of and that they will remain unavailable until such almost as much a liability as Marshal of England, Essex-are subject to Raid & Revolt callup. Each is time as we can commence our own manufac- but can be depended on in theNorth, at least. called once-except for the Earl of Kent, which is ture. called up twice. These four officescan be a liability, The 3M line is an extremely diverse one something to be borne in mind when awarding the consisting of bookcase games similar to our initial deal, and especially when something has to go own, gamettes which are much smaller card to Chancery. game versions of the bookcase, and plastic A note on objectives and Optional Rules: the key puzzles or novelty items. 3M also had a line of CHANCELLOR OF CORNWALL: Another to victory is, of course, getting control of the sole sports games in fold-around plastic boxes which local office, but not summoned much. The Devon- crowned King and capturing or eliminating all also served as the playing board. These will be Cornwall area is rather remote, and mitigates the pretenders. This, and not killing off other nobles or dropped although the better items will be effectiveness of this office somewhat. Like the taking placa at random, is the primary and sole reintroduced in bookcase format. Warden of the Marches, of limited use as a means of means of winning. Factions, however weak, don't Mention of the 3M line in the GENERAL will retreat. The two towns this office providesgives it go away readily, especially when the Optional be limited to an occasional ad so that we may the most votes of any office in Commons. Parliament rules are in force. Weak factions anstill maintain the GENERAL as primarily a wargam- make trouble at Parliament, prevent the King's or ing magazine. However, the 3M line was a Chancellor's faction from porkbartelling their way highly respected source of adult games and to victory (with 3 or more players, gettinga majority those who enjoy good quaiity games for game's in either House of Parliament is almost impossible, sake shouldn't dismiss them out of hand. Among so if any titles and offices get handed out, it will be other things they make excellent gifts for the CHANCELLOR OF LAHCASTER: Another with the acquiescence of other players. Highly non-wargamers in your life. The 3M line will be local office. Combined with a strong noble, it negotiable). available mail order from Avalon Hill with the provides instant means for forcing Harlech and The whole point of this is that players should usual postal charges. GENERAL shipping cou- capturing Edward of March. Again, of limited use worry only about grabbing up the royal heirs. They pons will be usable for orders of 3M games. as a shelter for a weak faction, especially when should only risk battle (and their nobles) only confronted by the other Welsh offioe- toward that end. And if a player lets a turn go by Chamberlain of Chester. when he is not scrambling after royal heirs (or the AREA faction harboring them) then he should ask himself mIICCUWVAUI* This issue marks the first appearance of the ...a"-",">mom why he's throwing the game away. AREA top 10 ratings lists. All correspondence --m.m--wm One note on tactics: it is a good idea for players dealing with AREA should be marked to the <"-*mmm.. t2)SO =: to allocate awards only as necessary, once the game attention of the new AREA technician; Ron La is under way. Since Crown cards can be played at CHAMBERLAIN OF CHESTER: A powerful Forte. We reserve the right to omit players from any time, it is a good idea to only play them- office. 250 troops optimum and operable in the Top 10 listing who do not play at least one ail particularly titles, offices, and mercenaries-just Wales-giving it dominion over the largest area rated game per year or who do not play a wide before a battle. The other cards-towns, ships, controlled by any office-makes this a key office. cross section of opponents. etc.-should also be kept free. A large pile of As players pass the provisional level of rated Can make Wales a secure base of operation for any unallocated (face-down) cards will give a player's faction provided that the noble holding it isn't prone games their records are transferred to a force quite a bit of respect. VERIFIED file. You can help us maintain the to summons from the Event Deck. Rivals should An exception to this are the nobles themselves. strive to eliminate the noble holding this office if he'r records by indicating whether you have played Since they can't be expected to pop up on a more than 10 rated games whenever filing a ever caught outside Wales. This office provides easy battlefield (they appear at their own manor) it is a means of forcing Harlech. victory claim. In this manner, our technician will good idea to enter them during a player's own turn, know which file to check to find your records. CONSTABLE OF THE TOWER: A key office, and join them up with the faction. That way, you'll giving control of London (and, usually, Henry VI have both the benefit of their personal strength- with it) and has an area of operations that ties upall and more opportunities for titles and offices. ORIGINS II UPDATE of southeastern England. A big vote in Commons Finally, a note on weak (or weakened) factions: come with the office. Summoned to the London no player is out of the game till somebody has won. We have picked up three new exhibitors area twice in the Advanoed Game. A weak player can still make trouble at Parliament, since last issue with the addition of The Little and bushwhack stray nobles out on Raids & Soldier Shop, C-in-C miniatures, and Simulation *LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND: (Advanced Revolts, and maybe even get some of his own Design Corporation. The Little Soldier Shop Game only) A rather remote, albeit strong, office. Crown cards back. Further, when a dominant under the direction of Ed Konstant will also Useful mainly for holding Ireland as a sanctuary- faction does emerge, it is in the interests of all the provide a Napoleonics miniatures demonstra- or discouraging others from doing likewise. rest to ally against him. If the weaker players can tion from I to 4 on Saturday. This will h present a common front-without any suspicion of preceded by a 1 hour naval miniatures dernon- 'CAPTAIN OF CALAIS: (Advanced Game treachery-then they can see that the game will stration put on by the Potornac Wargarner's only) The strongest of all the offiws, in its own continue.'It will be up to the dominant player then Association and the Washington Gamer's Imale. Provides access to Richard of Gloucester, to try and corrupt one of the opposition-or make Association. At 4 P.M. Saturday, Don Green- and a means of sanctuary. Invulnerable to direct the allies suspect each other. Players are reminded wood will host a field of 36 entrants in a SPEED assault (unless enemy factions can muster enough that, in any multi-player game involving alliances, CIRCUIT tournament. SPEED CIRCUIT is a 3M ships to carry 550 troops or better) but is vulnerable tteachery-creative, imaginative, devious racing game with extremely simple play me- to any army that can be shuttled onto the Continent treachery-is the final requisite for victory. The chanics so no prior experience is needed. in relays (an alliance?) and then moved north. If winning player, of course, will often be the player Registration for this event will be accepted only anyone insists on barricading himself in Calais with who can inspire treachery in members of opposing this office, it is in the interests of all other factions to alliances-and still appear trustworthy, the honest Continued on page 32, column 3 THE GENERAL PAGE 29 WINNING WITH THE UNDERDOG . . . Use of the Tactical Results Matrix The usual key to victory in 1776 as the attacker grind you down. In such situations, your Americans is simply to plan on winning in 45-60 -Joel S. Davis only hope is to surprise the other player. . . and turns . . . not the first twenty. Except for the first that means being unpredictabte. First, decide what During the last twelve years, an interesting few game-months, when there's approximate force the best thing you'd like to have happen is. paradox has developed. There are far more games parity, the Americans should concentrate on being Generally, this will be a withdrawal on your part on the market these days . . . there are a lot more where the British aren't . . . surfacing oqly long and something other than a frontal assault by the players . . . there are many more publications and enough to bushwack dragoons and small garrisons, attacking player. In any case, decide what card you means for education. Yet, when all is said anddone, or-in some circumstances-to force the British to would have to play to achieve it. Second, only play the general quality of play has signifirrantly use up supply units. Usually when an Amerifan that card about half the time. Third, if you don't dropped. I think this is because there are so many player complains that helshe can't win, it's because play that card this time, decide what your most games . . . players will only play a gameafew times that player gets ambitious or careless too early, damaging response would be to the kst card the before the novelty wears off, there are other games squandering histher meager troops to achieve a attacker could play against your initial choice. Play to be tried, and the player races on to the next. While battMeld victory. The Americans can throw away that card about two thirds of the remaining times. this encourages a lot of game purchases, the subtle their army killing twice as many British factors, Fourth, about one third of the remaining time, play points of many games are left in the dust. I776 may thereby losing thegame. Remember, for the first few something else-perhaps a good response to the be collecting dust on a number of shelves now years, guerilla warfare is the order of the day, and attacker's best play against your second choice that. because the players who tried it decided prematurely the key to this strategy is clever use of the tactical isn't one of your first two choices. that it was a sure win for the British. I pick up similar cards. If you're the sort of player that's frequently vibrations already about CAESAR'S LEGIONS- A classic example of proper tactical card use is outguessed, you can reduce this to a simple chance supposedly a sure win for the Romans. illustrated by the following scenario. The Ameri- table, based on a secret die rot I remember similar remarks made about cans, with 12 factors and a supply unit, have just STALINGRAD when it first appeared. Initially, bushwacked a 3 factor British garrison in Fort I: Card which bar potcniial for best result for you the 'hmrnon wisdom" was that the Russians didn't Stanwix. Other than small garrisons, the nearest sizable British troop concentration is 11 movement 2: Grd which bas potential for &st result for you have a chance. Faced by the enormously powerful 3: Card which hw g~mtialfor bcst result tor you points away. Hqvever, despite the risk of a German army, the Russians were chewed up almost $$-Elim, 4: Best card against attacker's best plmy mlgaihu abovt t& the concentratibn attempts a force march and 9 Best card agninpt attackds bcst play aptinat above tactic every time. That "wisdom" didn't last long . . . only 6: Surprise tactic1 untiI the quality of play went up on both sides. Ever suoceeds. 20 Britishfactorspounce on you. To make matters more difFlcult, assume a British supply unit since, we've been kicking around rule modifications Using this table will keep the attacker wor- just to give the German player a decent chance at was available at one of the nearer garrisons (e.g., Albany), so the British have a supply unit too. ried . . . but if you really want to be a good player, victory! WAKE UP-as you begin to learn the you will have to develop some skill at second nuances of a game, and begin to make use of tricks Finally, assume that-as is often the cas-the American supply situation is pretty tight. you guessing your opponent. You WILL be able to pick that aren't obvious the first time you play, you'll find . . this up, but it WILL take practise-a discipline in really don't want to use that supply unit more than that the defender generally has alot of advantages if very short supply these days. helsh plays well. Repeat-PU YS WELL!!! The once. What are your options? reason is simple--offensive strategy is simpler. One obvious possibility is to play an immediate To fully illustrate these principles at work, a still Because the player on the strategic offensive withdrawal while you have "free" use of your recent game of CAESAR'S LEGIOnrS provides a generally possesses a relatively large number of supply unit. The problem with this is that it b fine example. In a properly played game--no matter troops, helshe can, in most situations, &ord a few obvious . . . encouraging the British player to use which scenario-the Romans should feel much like mistakes, because the defending player has inade- frontal assault. A 3-2 with a +3 die roll bonus is the French in Indo-China . . . forced to send quate forces to capitalize upon them. (There are, of . remarkably similar to a basic 4-1. It's not too massive force concentrations running around in the course, exceptions to this rule. In ANZIO, for pleasant to be on the receiving end! I'm not boondocks, chasing guerillas who never venture example, a small mistake by either side can mean necessarily saying that you shouldn't withdraw into clear terrain ekcept to bushwhack stragglers, instant catastrophe!) While both sides are making a here . . . but the British player shouldn't be able to and who fade away whenever you do catch them. signikant number of mistakes, this balance works count on it. Let's assume that youwithdraw in these Again, the key is in the system of tactical cards. to the attacker's advantage. When both sides are circumstances about half the time . . . what are Except for the occasional clobbering of a few making few mistakes, the balance often shifts. your options for the other baU7 factors by a large stack at high odds, the usual Consider 1776. It was once suggested to me that situation is a large stack of units attacking a this game is heavily balanced in favor of the British, Another obvious choice is some kind of enfilade. somewhat smaller stack at odds somewherebetween even with no winter reducrion of the Continentah! You don't withdraw this time, but if the British has 2-1 and 3-1. Usually the attacking player, already (For those of you unfamiliar with this fine game, tried a frontalassault, he/shewillfind thata 3-2(-2) frustrated after a long chase, wants to eliminate each game-year, the Americans lose up to IOW of Iooks a lot like a basic 1-2. . . British expe~ted your pesky units asquickly as possible. As defender, their regular army to winter attrition.) The mind losses are three times that for the Americans and you usually want to get away-if not entirely away, boggles. The Americans have a distinct edge in the there's a 116 chance of halting combat through a NE at least so as to last onemore turn-and, if possible, optional-tournament version. With a maximum of (No Effect) result. Of course, if theattacker pulls the cause a lot of attacker casualties. The way the about 120 factors of British Regulars and Tory right kind of REFUSE card, it's still +3 . . . but if combat results table works, it usually takes three to Militia availableat any given time, the Britishplayer helshe pulls the wrong kind, it's atill -2. It's a 50-50 five rounds of combat to fully eliminate a stack. must capture and hold 20 out of 22 strategic towns "crap shoot," but if you think you're nervous, Furthermore, except in the last round, it's generally evenly scattered through the eastern United States. imagine the feeling of the British player. Aside possible for the attacker to suffer significant This works out to an average garrison of about six from worry of high losses, if you-the defender- casualties if the tactical results matrix is unfavor- factors each. Even before the French arrive, the ever pull a "withdraw," you get away, unless that able. American forces are typically at least 25% this very vulnerable FRONTAL ASSAULT card has Think of the advantage! The attacker must size . . . and are faster . . . and can exercise hidden been played. You'll find, after awhile, that 1776is as destroy you1 In CAESAR'S LEGIONS, theclockis movement. Hit-and-run tactics against isolated much a game of psychological warfare as anything against the Roman player. In 1776, the British garrisons are the obvious American tactic, and else . . . an essential element is exactly how para- player is not only working against time, but must constitute an enormous burden to the British player noid you can make the other player. also contend with the fact that if the Americans do trying to guard everything at once. So great is this Of course, if you try enfilades too often, the get away, they can outrun the British forces. You, burden, in fact, that the British variable garrison attacker will start playing enfilades too, or RECON the defender, have far more flexibility. You can run requirement-which forces larger British garrisons IN FORCE. This is why you should oc~asionally away immediately . . . or you can, for awhile, in larger towns-was made optional, and-in the play other cards. A REFUSE card turns attacker concentrate on causing casualties to the other side. first edition-an extra optional rule called "British enfilades into 50-50 "crap-shoots," and is relatively If your opponent is after a knockout blow, he has to Fire ~isci~line'~(essentially a freebie +I die roll risk-free otherwise . . . and there is the bonus of a play a lot of fi.onta1 assaults . . . every time bonus) was added, even though the designer (-3) die roll adjustment if the attacker chooses the something else is played, the attacker runs the risk admitted that the effect was aIready factored into wrong kind of enfilade l that you get away by playing a WITHDRAW card. the combat factor per number of troops normaliza- The main thing to remember is that if you're Yet frontal assault6 are highly vulnerable to tion! badly outnumbered, you'll always lose if you let the enfilades, as well ap to simple "stand and defend" PAGE 30 THE GENERAL

orders. If your opponent does use FRONTAL OK.. . you try a REFUSE LEFT and the Design Analysis Conrinued-frorn Page 25 ASSAULT too frequently, there will be a lot of Roman-guessing right this time-shows a RE- easily; other baggage camp placement can be casualties-and most of them won't be yours! FUSE RIGHT. There's no die roll modification, but experimented with; and it is possible to move a This is the situation. A ten-cohort legion (55 a five is rolled. You're now down to 35 facton counter into the baggage camp (which would be factors), three 74 auxiliary units, and Caesar . . . it's 2-I! Do you run yet? The answer, believe it impassible if the baggage camp was a three- (totalling 77 factors and 17 combat loss steps) have or not, should still be, "maybe." You're still strong dimensional counter). attacked four 11-3 German mobs and one chief (46 enough to inflict casualties at little or no loss to Final note: if a unit's combat factor is "0" in factors; 9 steps) in the forest. The odds are 3-2 with yourself and it's fully possible that the increase in certain directions, it is a good idea to print a large no die roll modifications. The Roman player has odds, with the prospect of further increases ahead, red "0" in the appropriate location on the appropri- three main alternatives: convinces the Roman that you'll withdraw this time ate stand. This is unaesthetic, but it avoids the a) FRONTAL ASSA ULT-This forces combat for sure. You decide to try ENFILADE LEFT to confusion of blankly looking for figures that aren't to continue, but at these odds, the possibility of a meet the expected frontal assault. . . only to find there. You have to weigh these factors yourself. (-2) on the die roll is highly unpleasant. you've been outguessed again! Not only does the Be warned. If you use 25mm scale figures, you b) RECON IN FORCE-This kind of attack is Roman play a refuse tactic, the card was REFUSE will have a BlGgame of A LEXANDER. You might often safer. The things you can do toendanger it are RIGHT-+3! The fact that only a one was rolled want to work out you own system of representing either highly dangerous to you too (e.g., Frontal (Defender Lose 2 steps) doesn't help your spirits combat strength; using the system I have indicated Assault) or do little good if the attacker plays much . . . you're down to 24 factors, 3-I! The only here, you will need 253 figures, plus wagons. something else (e.g., Stand and Defend). consolation is that if the wrong "refuse" had been Good luck finding elephant figures. C)ENFILA DEor REF USE-Fancy maneuvers chosen, the Roman would have lost two steps are chancy under all circumstances, but under these instead. Withdraw now? Again, maybe-on the circumstancesare mually the attacker's best bet if he other hand, 3-1 odds would encourage the hardiest chooses not to play a FRONTAL ASSAULT card. soul to bug out. You ponder . . . and you risk it- LEFT! At last, the ~omahgoesforthe The Roman stands to gain far more by a (+2) or (+3) ENFILADE LUFWVAFFE . . . . . CMUnmd from page I i than he stands to lose by a (-2) or (-3). FRONTAL ASSAULT . . . (-2)! Again, a one is I rolled-Attacker Lose 2 Steps. Very unpleasant. beat the shortage with synthetic fuels-and wasable As defender, what are your options? Note that The Roman is down to seventy factors, 2-1 again. As to fight on fora while. But, with the USAAFclosing your stack of German infantry has an excellent you chortle with delight, your opponent now in'on the refineries, the Luftwaffe became increas- ' chance of lasting several combat rounds . . . most ponders-you fought at these odds before . . . will ingly earthbound. of the results are of the lose-one-step or lose-two- you do it again? If you do, what will you try next? We cannot expect the Luftwaffe, in the game. to steps variety. Hence, you do not have to run Now indeed might be a good time to run . . . but Fight into '45 without having to consider fuel in immediately . . . and often you shouldn't-unless today you're a German Barbarian-fearless in the addition to losses. The German's game forces-as in you're pretty sure the Roman player expects you to attack! Once again, ENFILADE LEFT! Sure real life -are at their largest towards the end. But opt for a fight. Yes, 1 know, you don't want a enough, it was the very card the Roman felt sure German resistance, except maybe for the jets, fight . . . but you can fight and you should fight on you'd never dare to try again. Again the Roman tries became increasingly feeble in the last months. So some of these occasions if you think you can cause ' FRONTAL ASSAULT, (-2)! This time a three is should it be in the game, for besides the obvious some casualties. Your real objective is to still be rolled-Attacker Lose 1 Step. The Roman is down difficulties the German should have in gettingfuel in around at the termination of combat. You won't be to 66 factors and knows there's going to be a fight! a nation gutted by bombing-with few oil reserves if the Roman can count on your attempted This time youdo play WITBDRAW,as the Roman to begin with-there is the fact that the USAAF has withdrawal. Given all this, your options are: plays REFUSE RIGHT-no bonus or penalty. A an inherent handicap, as the I945 quarters usually a) WITHDRA W-Given anything except a four is rolled and you lose another eleven fac- see the largest German force, while the American frontal assault, you will get away. However, tors . . . but your chief, a mob of infantry, and player has to get the last targets that mean the "withdraw" is exactly what the Roman knows you whatever other units can join in will still be around difference between victory and defeat. really want to do. The Roman prayer shouldn'~ to fight next turn. More time ticks by . . . and time These ENERGY RULES can bt incorporated know that!!! At most, your opponent should only is against the Roman! accordingly: realize that you'll probably withdraw sometime in If the above sequence of events seems unlikely, it I) Each refinery (Oil target) produces 10 units the first few rounds of combat. Maybe you'll try it was. It's based upon an actual situation, and any of fue! pzrquarter. Each chemical plant produces 15 now . . . or maybe you'll play a card which would given sequence of events in real play is almost units per quarter (that's not the actual proportion of badly hurt a FRONTAL ASSAULT and withdraw always unlikely. Both sides could have had better or fuel they turned out, but the chemicals they made later. Vary your tactics . . . keep the attacker worse luck at almost any point, or could have made were vital in synthesizing fuel). Production drops to uncertain. Only withdraw about half the time. much better or much worse selections of tactical 0 at each facility bombed. (Fuel on hand each Otherwise, do something else. cards in light of hindsight. But hindsight is exactly quarter is computed at the start of each quarter). b) STAND AND DEFEND-This order will what neither side has! 2) Fuel stocks cannot be accumulated from adversely affect frontal assaults, and will badly hurt The whole point is that almost every combat quarter to quarter. Unused reserves will be taken by FORCE RECON IN attempts. It is, however, very should be "unlikely." When actions are predictable, the Wehrrna~ht~Kriegsmarine,and other Luftwaffe vulnerable if the Roman uses thehcrap shootntactic the side with superior force will win. It's that simple. contingents. of an enfilade. Face the facts, the attacker will win a great many 3) Each flight of a unit (regardless of time-in- C) REFUSE RIGHT-The attack- THE LEFT/ battles anyway . . . that's what being the attacker is air) consumes 1 unit of fuel. Each He 162 or Me262 er wil do a little extra damage witha frontalassault, a11 about. There's a big difference, though, between unit consumes % unit per sortie (they used a crude and will get a basic roll with most other tactics. The winning every battle and merely winning a lot of diesel fuel rather than the high-octane av-gas); the Roman can do real damage with the right sort of them. By keeping your opponent in perpetual Me 163 in the standard game- use 0 units. (Rocket enfilade (+2),but risks a (-3) penalty if the wrong uncertainty as to your current intentions, you may systems d,id not use petroleum fuels, nor did they kind is chosen. The way the table is arranged, that's well cause enough casualties and enough delays to a 50150 shot at the Roman making a basic 1-3! I consume that much of the German chemical win the war, despite the battles you lose. And that, industry's output.) That's why enfilades are such "crap shoots" for the gentle reader, is what guerilla war is all about. 4) German players may freely substitute He162s attacker-sure, the (+2) bonus will zap you . . . but A lot of players don't like this kind of second he pretty much expects to do that anyway. On the for new units. starting Jan '44, up to a total of 13 guessing. Yet, the greatest generals were those who extra He 162 groups (other than JG I). other hand, the (-3) penalty on a 3-2 intrcduoes the could outguess their opposition-capitalizing on 5) The Germans may freely substitute Me163s chance of a $$ A-Elim. Is it any wonder that ancient weaknesses in the opposition's well-laid plans. The Romans-like so many modern Americans-had for new units. starting Jan) '45, up to a total of 2 really intriguing feature about 1776 and CAES- extra Me163 groups (other than JG400). more than their share of nervous breakdowns.? .4R'S LEGIONS, is that the Americans and 6) German replacement fnctors cannot be used d) ENFILADELEFT1 RIGHT-In many ways, Germans have, as a rule, several opportunities to thiscard is as risky for you as it is for your opponent, to produce jet or rocket units except for jetlrocket second guess their opposition in every major battle, units already in the dead pile. except that you have less to lose. Enfilade tactics not to mention the entire campaign! They need only have the advantage of wreaking maximum havoc be right once . . . or even lucky once. Their BIBLIOGRAPHY: with frontal assaults. This is where the endless opponent not only has to be right every time, but COMEATAIRCRAFT OF THE WORLD. John W.R. Taylor ed. second guessing comes in. If you use enfilades too AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR N, Kenneth MunSon must frequently k lucky too . . . or the troops ME-709. Martin Caidin often, the standard attacker "cop out" is to step up they're after just slip away to fight again another SPITFIRE. John Vader his use of RECON IN FORCE cards, which still day. Good hunting! ROCKET FIGHTER, Wm. Green yield a decent set of results if you do pull a FLYING FORTS. Martin Caidin withdrawal. FLYING FORTRESS. Jablonskl THE GENERAL PAGE 91 AIRPOWER IN PANZERBLITZ Adding the by Kenneth L. Benton The introduction of airpower units in Panzer Russian artillery reconnaissance is another the fuel crisis in the Fall of '44. On the l lth of Leader, even in simple form, certainly makes matter . . . basically, they didn't. There was no Septemkr the Germans flew only 250 sorties as Panzerblirz seem incomplete without them. What special reconnaissance aircraft of a tactical nature compared to the Russian's 2,000-2,500 for the same German player has not cried out for a flight of Stuka produced during the war . . . the fighters and day. During October-December the daily average tank-killers, or an aerial reconnaissance "Owl" to lighter bombers doing such work. Also, their had c6mbed back to 500 sorties, finally rising to spot for his artillery units . . . what Russian player aircraft had poor radio equipment and reconnais- I,000-a day in April, 1945, during the Battle oi has not gone into rhapsody at the thought of what sance pilots were notoriously poorly trained. Also, Berlin-, Some German ground commanders, while Storrnoviks could do to the Fascist artillery? the artillery units weren't set up to handle much admitting that the Red Air Force played a To see the importance airpower can play. it is aerial observation. For these reasons, no provision secondary role, were of the opinion that it was never only necessary to look at the performance of the 1V is made for aerial observation of indirect fire. a decisive factor in tactical operations. Antitank Group during the Zitadelle offensive: A GROUND ATTACK While most of these later German ground attack Russian Armored brigade was making a surprise sorties were directed at transportation systems and attack against the rear flank of the 1st SS Panzer In contrast to their recon effort, the Russians armored columns, they did have some effect on the Corps. The IV Antitank Group, composed of had some superb ground attack planes, principally numerically superior Red Air Force. In fact, one Henschel-129 aircraft armed with a 30mm antitank the IL-2, IL-2M3 and the IL-10. The basic German Luftwaffe general observed that throu- weapon, repeatedly attacked the brigade, eventually difference between the IL-2 and the IL-2M3, for ghout the war the Soviet fighters and ground attack destroying all 47 tanks and averting a serious game purposes, is armament. The lt-2M3, which planecwere "usually timid" when German aircraft situation from becoming fatal. appeared in 1943, had four 23mm guns, while the were in the air. Furthermore the Luftwaffe was continually IL-2 had two 7.62mm machineguns and two 20mm active on the Eastern front through April, t945, guns. The IL-10, which appeared in combat in 1945, ANTIAIRCRAFT COUNTERS even though the Russians unleased a virtual armada had the samearmament as the IL-2M3, but superior of fighter and ground attack aircraft from the winter peiformance. Their suggested combat strength is: The principal Russian tactical antiaircraft units are 12.7mm machinegun units and the 37mm flak of 1943 through the end of the war. The importance unit (which is found on page 9 of the Designers of ground attack aircraft on combat operations Notes and Campaign Analysis booklet). The during this period would be hard to estimate, but 1L-2 IL-2M3 German units with AA capability are the same as they exerted a definite influence on many tactical Machinegunslcannons 2 (1) 2 (A) those listed in the PANZER LEADER booklet. The situations, and should not be neglected. So how do Bombs (880 Ibs) 15 (H) 15 (H) we put these units into Panzerblirz? That's basically same rules and combat results table can be used; the or only addition I would suggest is the use of the up to the players themselves, but I'll suggest some Rockets (8 x 82mm) deployment ratios, some German and Russian Russian Guard, Infantry and Engineer companies in the AA role. ground attack aircraft counters, a German recon- In the German Luftwaffe, we find a parcel of naissance aircraft counter, and give some general Russian infantry-type units delivered antiair- aircraft used in the ground attack role. For craft fire in mass against low level attackingaircraft. information on their employment, plus antiaircraft simplicity purposes, since most of of the scenarios counters. The units were directed to lie down on their back are set in 1943 or later, we'll regard the FW 190G, and deliver concentrated fire against the attacker. RECONNAISSANCE the HS 129B21B2R3, and the JU 87D/GI, as being This was often very effective and should be the principal ground attack aircraft. The Germans conducted four basic types of included. 1 recommend that Russian infantry type aerial reconnaissance throughout the war: opera- units fire at aircraft at one-third their regular fire tional. tactical, battle and artillery observation. The Rules for movement and combat are the same as power factor. The regular infantry unit AA factor is only type that is suitable to Punzerblitz is artillery in PANZER LEADER. two. If used in this role, they cannot engage in any observation. The reason for this is that operational Now that we have the aircraft, what about their other type combat. They may only fire at aircraft in and tactical reconnaissance were on a much higher employment? After Zitadelle the strength of the the hex they occupy or in adjaaent hexes. level, while battle reconnaissance was conducted as Luftwaffe on the Eastern front continued to If you decide to add the dimension of air power close to 6,600 feet as the aircraft could get and still dwindle. However, the ground attack forces made to Punztrblita'and don't know the specific air see what was going on. Artillery reconnaissance was their presence felt up to 1945. The number of ground support committed to a scenario, 1 recommend the usually low level, as the observer had to see the attack sauadrons rose from 14 in October. 1943. to following German-to-Russian ground attack ratio: strike of the rounds that he was directing. As the over 24 by December of 1943. The monthly average players virtually perorm their own battle reconnais- for 1944 was 20-plus, while the figure for April, German Red Aircraft sance, (they can see the whole board), only the 1945, was 17. Air Force artillery observer is needed. As the German air strength continued to decline, Counters Counters Artillery observation is furnishing target data, the Red Air Force grew in dominance, but never 1943 I 1 particularily against enemy artillery forces, to subjugated the Luftwaffe, such as was the situation Jan 44-Aug44 1 2 friendly firing batteries and the observation and on the Western Front. As proof of this, the 85 Axis Sep 44-Apr 45 I 4 adjustment of those fires and the reporting of their aircraft in the Crimea, though grossly outnum- effect. German reconnaissance aircraft usually bered. flew 2,400 sorties during the first week of the If a Cerman recon unit is used, it should be operated singly, but from 1943 on they usually Russian assault in 1944. The low point on the within range of a friendly antiaircraft unit to operated with fighter cover or within range of Eastern Front for the German air effort was during provide cover against Russian fighters. (;;;) protective antiaircraft artillery support. The infor- mation received was radioed directly to the artillery While the weapon mix on the German'alc was unit. In the interest of reality, only major units, or variable, depending on the mission, weather and portions of major units, such as division artillery, target, 1 have simplified it to the following: could be directed by such observation. For simplicities sake, only those German units designat- FW 190G HS 129B2 HS l2932R3 JU 87D JU87Gl ed in Panzer LRader for indirect fire, with the exreption of mortar. may be directed by aerial Machinegunlcannons 2-20mm guns 2-20mm guns 4 mg's 2-20mm guns observation. Such weapons as mortars were not set (I) (1) 2-13mm guns (2) (I) (1) (1) up for use with aerial observation. (2) (1) The principle German reconnaissance aircraft AT guns 1-30mm gun 1-37mm 2-37mm was the FW-189. The A4 model, introduced in 1942, (4) (A) (4) (A) Flak 18 was armed with two fixed 20mm cannons, a flexible (10) (A) machinegun in the rear, and 440 Ibs of bombs. The Bombs 2200 Ibs strength is as follows: (32) (HI Flak 18 3,960 Ibs Cannons I (I) (60) (HI Bombs 6 (H) PAGE 32 GENERAL

A.H. Philosophy ... Continued from page 28 Second Thoughts at Tournament HQ. On Sunday morning noted English naval wargamers Nathan Okun and Andrew Smith will join with American designer A Briefing on the Changes in the new WATERLOO rules ... A. D. Zimm to,present a WWll naval warfare seminar. The discussion will last until 1:30 or by Thomas E. Hilton someone's voice gives out.

Negotiating their way through treacherous seas entering a river hex so long as they do not attempt to Conquest Game Co. will sponsor a tourna- of spilt beer and over mountainous hills of pretzel, cross. An example: it is 17 June and Marshal ment of CONQUEST to be held on Sunday at 10 the hazards of Avalon Hill wargaming, Napoleon's Grouchy with the French cavalry reserve is AM. In addition, The Potomac Wargamer's Armee du Nord is making its final futile assault attempting to smash througha Prussian rear guard Association will put on an American Revolution against Wellington and his regiments around the on the Allied left. miniatures Demonstration at 1 PM on Saturday. Belgian town of Waterloo. The Old Guard maneu- Custom Cast will follow with a Civil War miniatures Demo at 5 on Saturday and follow vers into position for the last attack before the Positions, Prussian: Merwitz Q21; Treskow, divisions of the Prussian Bulow smash into the that with a Fantasy Miniatures Demonstration Lutzow, H. Art., Sohr T20; Schulenberg, on Sunday at 11. French right flank routing them and making the Thumen, Lotturn 517. world safe for Continental kings and British The Potomac Wargamer's demonstration French: 1 and 1V H. Art., Roussel, Walthier, will be hosted by LeeTucker and will consistof a bankers. The blue, red, and green counters are swept Chastel, Soult V19. Grouchy, Stroltz, 111 into a tray already familiar with those pretzel H. 50 minute historical presentation of the Battle of Art., St. Gery., L'Hertier T17. crumbs and French defeats. The margin for victory Guilford Court House followed by a three hour in The Emperor's actual 1815 campaign was so The French do not have to stop upon entering a demonstration game by six players. Custom Cast small that Arthur Wellesley, also known as river hex so Stroltz moves to 516; Grouchy, will bring their specially constructed tables and WeIlington, considered the battle lost as the sun L'Hertier, 111 H. Art. to Sl8. Walthier and IV H. routines and can be expected to put on a began to set on that day of 18 June. The campaign Art. to U20. 1 H. Art., Roussell, Chastel, and Soult polished and professional show. All of the was a near thing, unfortunately for AH'S WATER- to T19. demonstrating miniatures groups will field their LOO it rarely is. Soult soaks off on Treskow and Lutzow and is own elaborately painted armies and figures and After yean of analyzing by wargaming experts forced straight back two hexes. Others destroy Sohr can be expected to present a beautiful panorama opinion is unanimous that WATERLOO is unbal- at 3-1 with a D back through forest. L'Hertier soaks in addition to expert commentary. off on Thumen and Lotturn and gets an exchange. anced against the French, at an approximately 3:2 We expect one of the highlights of the proportion. This will increase or decrease depend- I11 H. Art, and Stroltz attack Schulen at 4-1 surrounded and destroy it with a D back. The convention to be the Gladiatorial Combats ing on the expertise or inability of the players, which will be sponsored by IGB and judged by incompetence being an equalizing factor in conflict French have taken advantage of movement up and down rivers without crossing to decimate the members of the Potomac Wargamers Associa- simulations. Having second thoughts concerning tion. There will be a field of 64contestants doing the balance of the game, AH has revised the original Prussians. Concerning combat, stacking limitations apply battle with miniatures using the GLADIATOR WATERLOO rules which endeavor to give the rules of Hugh McGowan which are published by French a somewhat easier time of it. even in retreat, and since the Allies will be doing most of the retreating the French are helped by this Fantasy Games Unlimited. These rules are quite Ambiguity is no stranger to wargaming rules brief and will be explained to contestants before and mapboards, and WA TERLOOis no exception. new rule. More important are the Movement After Combat changes. Previously, only when attacking the first round begins. This event has been Besides the matter of balance, this problem is also tentatively scheduled for Sunday morning. addressed in the new rules. Grid coordinates and units doubled on defense could such an advance playable squares are clearly marked as is the famous take place, but now so long as any attacker is on a The game design seminars have proven to be "road between Charleroi and Fleurus" and the river or moving up a sIope, that attacking unit can highly popular and have already sold out. We starting positions of the Prussians, Clarifications advance after combat into the hex formerly wish we had more room to accommodate the continue in the combat instructions, "every unit occupied by the undoubled defender. demand but such is not the case. Those who moved into an enemy zone of control must attack at Clearly, these second edition WATERLOO have stilt to register should not select any of the least one adjacent enemy unit." This also makes instructions do more thanjust clear up a number of SPI seminars. There will be numerous other WATERLOO less likeable for nit-picking players. annoying ambiguities. They change important seminars conducted during the course of the Cities connected to primary roads are now consid- procedures for movement and combat significantly convention which are free of charge and require ered themselves primary roads. Attacks at less than aiding the French attacker, and therefore making no registration. 16 axe clearly defined as legal (benefiting the Allies the simulation considerably more balanced. It is the slightly), even though most players knew this author's opinion that by increasing the peculiarly The nominations are now in for the 2nd already. The manner of entrance for reinforcements low ratings for Napoleon's Guard infantry WA- Annual Charles Roberts Awards. Every manu- is clarified, as is the non-use of headquarters units. TERLOO can be made fully balanced. The Old facturer and magazine editor in the hobby was Finally, movement on secondary roads through Guard, Friant and Morand, can have their combat sent a ballot and asked to list three choices in woods is fully explained and any remaining ratings increased at the player's option to "8", while each of the four categories. The results were ambiguities on the mapboards eliminated. the Young Guard, Duhesme, can be increased to tabulated by Dr. Clifford Sayre and he came up It is not the minor clarifications that make the '7". This is a net gain of only five factors which may with the following official nominations for this rule changes so significant on the course of the well be the crucial French strength increase which, year's awards. game. Outright changes in movement after combat when combined with the new rules, yields a fully and road and river movement give the attacker, and balanced game. BEST PROFESSIONAL GAME: that means the French, considerable strategic and 0 BLUE & GRAY QUAD I ...... SPI tactical advantage. The Allies can no longer take CRIMEA ...... GDW unfair advantage of road movement aroind the FALL OF TOBRUK...... CONFLICT Quatre Bras crossroads, or anywhere else, since that KINGMAKER ...... PHILMAR, LTO movement must be traced through road hexsides MANSTEIN ...... RAND and must be taken at one time, i.e., you cannot take HEX SHEETS REVISED TOBRUK ...... AH part of the bonus, move off, and then move back on andtake the rest. Example, Langen's divisionon 220 The standard 5/8"(for use with Yi" counters) BEST AMATEUR GAME: is needed to help hold the hills south of Quatre Bras hex sheets have kenreprinted and now include BATTAILE OE LA MOSCOVA...... ME at AA26. Movement directly west three hexes to the the AH numbering system which features a SCHUTZTRUPPE ...... JB , road at 223 is of course permitted, and the road combination letter-number identification num- STELLAR CONQUEST ...... MGC bonus to Y26 is fine. But that bonus cannot betaken ber printed inside each hex. These sheets are to 226,nor can Langen use his remaining movement 22"x32" and sell for $1.00 each or four for ' BEST PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE: I point to move to the same hex and there use the $3.00 or twelve for $7.00. Usual postage S 8 T ...... SPI foufth road bonus point. charges apply. The GENERAL ...... AH Movement concerning rivers is also significantly different as units no longer have to stop upon Continued on page 34, column 3 THE GENERAL PAGE 33

' 38A AIR COMBAT- I read "The Palcwda Gambit" in VoI. 12. No. -\the GE)VERAL with stat interesl, and I Letters to the Editor ... Spccisl condition% apply whcn alrcrafi rulcs Drfciate Jon Lockwood's desire tn lind a ncw are used. AFRIKA KORPS, I rcadily admit 38-41 Tactical Bombing dmnot undou- e play of the early turns of thc game is onen blc units on forts behind rivers. kstoait units of F17 cnsures [hat tht Gcrmana will havc an ypcd, and trying new apprmcher certainly ED. NOTE: The comparrmenralizarion probkm are resolvcd normally. [aee 30.41) undoubled targa, should the British dcfcnd along thc gamemore interestingto many players. is one which we ere currenrly working on. 38.42 Strategic %mblng of units od forts the cscarprnent line. If thc British retreat to vcr, all too often thc~nrchfor variety leada Unfortunately, solutians cost money. We plan am resolvcd normally on the BBT. No ground Tobruch, they effcctivcly neutrdlk anyadvantage ous dclcat. and we would do well to 10 provide standad comperlmant systems for units are uged and the= arc no lmes. (gee M.42) gained by the sacriliceof thc blocking force, as the that when a certain pattern of play has special mail order purchase. This w~llalhw us 38A3 An unoccupied forlili~at~onmay be Germans will havt no trouble cutting off Tobruch it k Usually for a god reason. namely to satisfy peopte such as yowsalf to whom attacked as an Additional Bombing Mission by . by Junc 1. has proved to generally he the most price is no object, yet allow us ro contrnue TAC and MDM bomben only. There is no A-A If the Britiah do not deslroy thc supply, the tive. Thus any radical dewrtu~from the setling the games at theirprssent price range fire and no lmcs lo the attacker. Attack is position domlnating lht coast road can still bc ahould be &fully scrutinized hefor it is The subject of a general gamingpublics- resolvcd on the BBT. Only a blank saves the fort. held, while suffic~entforcw are uscd to cxmute the outed. Inasmuch as Mr. Lockwood haschosen rion is somelh~ngwe've slso thoughr seriousty Remove the for1 from the board if dcslroyed. appropriate artack and capture the supply unit. c my name to identify the standard German about. However, it wouM be an extremely and there should be sulilcient forms to enable lng. I ftcl ~alledupon to dcfcnd it and expensive underleking. Yet. iris a suhject we'll cItmcnts of the 15th Divisloo lo outflank thc enaminc Mr. Lockwood's response lo it. bring up in s furure feedback survey. In any Ed. Nure: Foru and Forrifr~n!ions nor escarpment lint to the south Ont of the 2-2-6'~ Before getting into the specifics of the case, thGENERAL will remain s wsrgaming includd in 11te redesign becaus~of the exprnse of may still live but it can bc isolated by Italian Paleveda Gambil il would bc well lo pauw to magazine with only occasional mention of nmr owrerskrs, bo~h10 Awlun Hill. ondto rhe iniantry in future turm, and we have a captured cklcrrn~neexaclly what our goals are. Obviousty nun- wnrpmes. ccrmui?ier, who n,ovld haw ro buy [email protected] !hey must ultimately takefobruch and Alexandria. supply as compensation. am mrewsringidmsfor rhuse inl~rest~rlinvariants 1 by what methods? PosiLion plays a vcry I1 is obviously impossible to discuss subse- which IS whj we've printed rout trrer. portant rolcin AFRIKA KORPS, moreso than quent turns in any detail. as ind~vidualgames vary many games. and can reault in a tremendous too much. The ovcralI situalinn should look good ml advantage. Indeed. mrnv-.. ~kvers regard - to the Cerrnans,mnstderin~thc wakened British Gentlemen: a sort of mini-game, in which dclcnse faclng them, and thc poss~bilityofhavinga This is in response to your recent ulitomlln the Germans off LhcTobruch captured supply. 38.1 This is an optional rule for theTourna- the lalegt GENERAI. announcing your, racnl ghk. until the ~;ne reinforcements arrive. Now lhat I have atimpted 10 discredit the ment GamF of BLITZKRIEG. Fortifications are Paleveda Gambit. Iwould like loadd that ido not acquisilions and d~wlopmentplans. Frankly. 1 In the final analpla. however. AFRIKA engineered field emplacements for use by &in think it is wlthout merit. Thc element of gurprisc must say rm astounded. 1 had bccn expecting a PS is a game of attrition. For the German tJ ground foeto bedupanarea dcfcnsively. Their sales offensive by AH, bul what you've do* v ilhout virtually eliminating the British army should not btcntinly discounfed, as many players value lies chiefly in crcating a defeuive network morc ofa blitzkrieg I'm hearltncd to see Avalon xtremely ram occurrenw. possiblc only asa do not rcact well to unexpcctcd mows Ifustdasa inside enemy territory, but they may also be used Hill takt such bold steps. I'm greatly looking for- of u "back dnor" play against a careless gtandard tactic, however, I thinkopponents would asan offensivestarlingpoint for aIocal battle. Tht ward to seeing you bring out and handle cnt, Thus the prima~yalmof the Germans soon Icarn to deal with it effectively. It also use of forts will enhance the mobility of the and RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN; uld be to establish a favorable kill ratio. cfiectively %topsa German southern advanae, as omensive units while helping to accurc captured WPLOYACY especially the latter. Long ago I wrote and ilion is lrnponant only in hclping to reach this the 2Ist must wheelnorIhtodalwith it Forthose Lenitory. suggested sucha stcp. but while I'm sure my small . It n important to drive the British off tht Br~tishplayerr whu have [rouble dealitig with a ruch heights by June. not just lor the sake of aouthern thmt, or have an oppuncnt that prefers 38.2 CONSTRUCTION AND voicc had no influence in thc actual dccisinn, I'm he position, bul bacause~lirdifficultto kill it, the Palevda Gambit prnvidea an answer. OCCUPATION- very plead to set it come to fruition. Iregrd to hear you'rcgoing tochange the PBMCRTowto armor and 2-24s in that position without although lhc Series Replay in Nov.-Dec. '75 Each player may havc as many forts a& a 6-result Form, howcvcr. 1 would much prefcr to g German casualties. The killingorcmmy illustrates o much simplcr way to frustrate any desired and as olttn as des~redForts may bt built havesccn it go the otherway: add ancxtradieand ould lx the primary aim orevery German German who us- an extreme southern opening. In the final analyau, however, the 2-24s in any country when n~ded. use the PBM 2ndcditiontnble for FTFplay in the 38.21 Forts arc built on clear terrain only enlirc "classics" line. 11 is a vtry rimplr step (use The above may =em obvious. but many could probably be put to bntcr use strengthening thc mam derense~,whcrc their presence would and not in an enemy's zoneof,tril il lli8h price for now svailahl~.If h~cameneressar.~, 10 sralidardize Reseerch by Avalon Hill rs astounding news. 38.25 A fort may bc occupied during thc rn. Lei's look a1 specifics. PBM pror~dures. Composing sepurare PBM indeed. Although I own e copy of many d the same turn or its wnstruction by any onc ground begin with I should rnentlon that any CRTsfor ev@r,lmgame ~wuldbe roo r,o&.sirlg. current Aii wsrgames, my real preference is unit. Thc btacklngrule doesnot apply toforts. Air oaed strategy outlining moves more than one for your line of non-wargames which I Ilnd to units may not usc a fort as an airbase. 'n advance. of necessity aasumes a cnnven- be more playable, more fun, and more relaxing response. and an unorthodox one will of 38.B Airbrne. Ranger. and substitute than the wargames. I em very glad, therefore. Air Aasault units may upt a fort for a helicopter all for anad~uslmentto the plan. Thus the that AH is going into the non-wargame assault. The unit must begin its turn on thc fort pnl II move shoild look somethq lik this: busmess in a big wsy. and may land up lo 8 hexes away. Thc landing Dear Mr. Greenwood, Arietc& Bruica- In my opinion, the 3M llne is one of the ?.one hcx is any land hex nut in an cncmy'szone-of- t'avia-~5.Savena-~3. Bologna-J3, Rommel- Yourgame"Wooden Ships & Iron Mcn" is an . better adult game lines. In addition to the titles wntrol. Unit may movc only I hex upon landing. . In his discuaslon Mr. Lockwood does not excellent.game and definitely one of Avalon Hill's mentioned inthe AH Philosophy column offhe Airhorm and Ranger unlts may not move upon m ID haw anticipated thc move o121i 104. Not bat. But 1 was disappointcd and, being a GENERAL. I think that ACQUIRE, EVENTS, landing on a fortst or a mountain hex Substitute it keep the pmopen for Ihcltalians. it Ntthcrhnds Antillian, mmtwhut hurt to notice FOIL IMAGE. POINT OF LAW, SLEUTH. Air Assaull units may not land on a foxat hex and tens to surround 7131mtr. Tht 7-7-10 the hoatorical inaccuracy in the Design Credils SPEED CIRCUIT. TRYCE, and WIN. PLACE B may not move upon landing on a mountain hex. British from a doubltd pos~tionalong on page 12 of tht Rules book. SHOW are q~legod. On !he otner hano, while lhc 2-2-12 makcs sure the 2-2-6s Thcrt the cover art on thcgamt box,showing EXECUTIVE DECISION and STOCKS d BONDS 38.3 GROUND COMBAT- a French man+-war =luting an American bhip. is are inferior, respctively, to BUSIMESS descrihod as depictmng the FIRST recognition of Durina the British A~rilIi mow71 3mumust STRATEGY and THE STOCK MARKET GAME. A fort by itself has no combat value . However. tmt to avoid being suriounded at 5-1, D8 is tht the occupying unit Hams ceriain advantages when thc Amencan Flag by a Foreign Government I hops that AH w~llnow adopt the f~ne February 1'4. 1778. lhtx. Mr. Lockwood recommtnds- - that the I-I- on thc iort. compartmented packaging style used by 3M But thcJirsr off~klsalute to tht Amcricnn srrengtkn the Tobruch defense%.1 might bc andeeese ths"thnrweverything helter-skelter 3831 A fort doubles tkdefensive value of tined to thc slightly more aggrcssivc move of the occupying unit. Flag was almost two years earlier: on November - into an ernply box'' policy as typifies recent AH 16, 1776. On that day the guns of Fon Oranje on up a dertnse alow the wm~ernescarpment. titles. I also hope AH wrll reverse a rscent 3832 A fortifled unlt issubject tolhcbarne [-6bon F19. G19, and CZO to black Lhe supply rules as other units. Howcver. a Fort in an the Netherlands Antilles West Indian isIatld St. tendency towards cheapening ofthequalitvof Eustatius, at the orders of its Commander de The German May I move ~houldht tht came game components, the so-called credit unduced country may not be used to trna a aminst e~therdefew: 21 lSH16. 21i 104- supply hne. A rortification itself is not a guppiy Gmff, returned ihc =lute of the American brig markers of HEAT INFLA TION STRA TEGY being d 7, 2fi3-~12. Aritlc-El I. Savena-Ch. Bresica- source. 'Andrew Dor~a".Thus, the thtn Rrpublic the a notable exampled thls. I would rather pay a United Ncthcrlands wns the first Foreign govcr- Pavia. Bologna-HIP, 1518. 151115-M15, l~ttlemore and get better quality components 38.33 Ifthe fortihd unit is eliminated lhc 33-M 17. mcnt to ofiicially recognizc thc Amerimn Flag. and god compartmented packaging. fort is also eliminated Otherwise, thc iort ignorm The British blocklng force is now in n The Amcricuns were acrually so plesscd that they Wnh your expansion inm a large line of the resulls of the TCAT. emma. If it does not retreat. either unit can be 3834 An unoccupied tncmy fort may be named two men-o-war aitcr de Graaff and hi nen-wargemus, you may be planning to wifc. include cwerege of non-wargames in the captured and uced by thc oppsing player. 38.35 Forts may be destroyed by any In 1939 F.D. Roosewkt presented a plaquc GENEML. Better yet, why not start s new commcmoratlng theevent to the populationofst. genarsl gaming magazine. By doing so, you playcr aftcr resolving normal comhl if his unit pture a supply. Alternatively the Britbh could bcgins lts turn on tht fon, does not move during ib Eustatius, which plaquc was afiixd to the old will eliminate a great void. Other than GAMES walls of Fort Oranje. erpyt,k supply unit.-in which case the Italian ANDPUZZLES(which is not entirslysatisfacto- turn, and is not withinanenemy'szonc-ofcontrol. lantry u~nposltlon to sola ate the block~nglorcc. Simply rcmove the fort From thc bcard. 1 do hope that in the next edition orrhc rulc ry inthe USmarket)therejustisn'tanygeneral book you will rectify the cmr (or even better. Ic thc tntire German armor lorce and Ariete gaming magazine. 3836 IF a fortificd unlt begins its turn nd May IIand Junc I plck~ngoff1-I-Vsaround adjacent lo an enemy unit it must attack. The ponray the rtal fint recopition on tht covcr). ruch, an altack by 28 laclors, rather than the Luman E. Wilmx combat factor or the unil rcrnains basic in this G. Smeets eslimated by Mr. Lockwod. The garrisoning Msnchester. Missourr slluation. Curacao. N.A. PAGE 34 TmGENERAL A.H. Philosophy . . . Continued from page 32 muster, go through their drills and marches. perform their wvolutions, and fight out wveral WER BUYER'S MIX live-fire banles. Muskets, rifles, cannon, drums. BEST AMATEUR MAGAZINE: fifes, and bagpipes, along with beautifully accurate uniforms w~llall be on display for your EUROPA inspection and edification when these units do JAGOPAN THER their stuff: W: WOODEN SHIPS & IRON MEN- PURSWT 62 DESTROY $#=:Fighting Sail Era Game of single ship and neet actions. American Slde: The First Virginia Regiment These nominations will be included on a and ballot to be sent to all pre-registrants for WOODEN SHIPS % IRON MEN was the The volume dour "nut mail" has backed The Maryland Company of Wayne's Light ORIGINS II with the convention program. Pre- 26th game to underwanalysls in the RBG but up the excellent rating for Completeness of Infantry Corps registrants may then deposit their ballots in a headed promptly to the hnad of the listwlth a RUI~S.Aside from a few typographical errors special box at the mnregistration desk Note: to cumulative rating of 2.34--the ktever there he$ been practically no erratte issuedfor British Side, prevent the possibiliw of ballot stuffing only chalked ua in the RBG. Leadina theassault On thegame. A wmplete listinpderrattafor W.S. bon pre-registrants will be allowed to vote. No 71n Afoot Rsgiment (Frazier's Highlanders) the rwwrds were bs-nver performances In g, I.M, will appear in next issue's Dusign ballots will be handed out attheconvention. The and the Play mlance (busting BLITZKRIEG by ,181 Analysis wlumn. ballots w~llbe counted by Dr. Sayre at the 64th Afoot Regiment Realism (over 1914 by and Excitement The rewd play balance rating was 0 big .lo). convention and the winners announoed on Level {toppiw THIRD RElCHby .07).Thegeme Surprise as we mads no snempt to balancu Whatever you do, don't miss thisopportunlty Sunday. also fared exceedrngly well in Overall Value many of the historical smnarlos. This rating is to witness a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. This is first-class, top-notch entertainment Bring your snd Completeness of Rules where it placd pmbablya reflectionofthe "DesignYour Own" third andfwnh respectively.The game's Worst formule fw picking balanced sidesfor mythical RE-ENACTMENT EXTRAVAGANZA cameras1 performance came in Ease of Understanding engagements. Everyone around here is very excited about Vol. 12. No. 6 of the GENERAL wasa failure where it placed 14th-not bud for B game Finally, the game Lemh rating should be the line up on the Revolutionary War re- in the ratings even though it was loudly praised claiming best-ever Realism honors. treated as an average of the many scenarios enactment which wrll be part of Saturday's by Civil War enthusiasts. The overall rating of We were especially interested in the rather then indicative of the game ase whole. entertainment Don't look now, but this thing 3.42 for the issue was the second worst rating ratings for Mapboerd and Cornwnents be- has REALLY mushrmmed! ks of this w~ting. we have yet polled. The individuet articles cause we had agonized at length wer the our skirmish re-enactment will be one of the stacked up as follows in our 1200 point max- grephics presentation mede therein. Experi- largest on the East Coastl If you've never seen imum scoring system: menting with the different shades of blue to one of these performances live, you can't 1- Four Roads to Richmond.. ,463 give the feelof different depthswhileoutlining mie imagine the excitement and spectacle thatthese ...... W.S. & 1.M. SERIES REPLAY. ,344 land arees for certain scenarias has amrently '-Mbo shows generate. As of now, we have FOUR .. . .. Weather or Not? ,154 been justified Almost everyone prefers it to 3. ~MPO different regiments and units committed to do ...... AH Philosophy...... the plarn blue mapboard of the earlier edition. savage battle on the college green, We have ...... 85 1, [w d Un Design Analysis.. . . . 83 Unfortunately, the planned geomomhic maw bean graciously provided with the privilege of ...... 5, Stalingrad Scenario Strategy.. . . . 81 hrdfor 'jumping" bond to catch running Mteing some of the finest historical re- . battles didn't turn out perfectly geomorphie '-% ''I enactment units in the country exucute their Wause the he- were not extended to the 7. Rll(i I board me.The elifninetion of names from the 4. hckoII*t Lm ship counters in favor of a uniform classifrea- g* 0~~11valu tion system ila PANERBLIz apparentlr has left no lingering side effects. - - - - Ih.,32 ,,,inn 1

k. D-DAY: the rcd arrow of the sca hex doepn't point to the Q. Are ~nvad~ngunits requid to establish thcir SAC target hex? supply the first turn ashore or suffer immediate A. Yes-although SAC attacks are disallowtd in HASh ' T If dirn~nat~onundcr thc AppendixSupply ruling#3? Allicd Zones of Control, point I of InvaEion 7 A. No-invading units are like paratrwps, they ~itackstates that Allied unitsinsca hexmexerta HflPPEWD To \IOU corn ashore with their supply as per the 1st week ZOC only en the coastal htx pointed to by thc red YOU sP*@ ?JIK hONrnS RESEARmthTWhlL.. SOWSWHEOL DCTf A umC: I=l)rc) OUT TWQt- Ts wc" lirnitatione. and are elirninatad by two turns of arrow the =a hex. As such, invading Allied "\weU nLRaDv -E 'r. WUR r~'~RV Od- rr. isolation. Thc Appcndix ruling rckrb to the unjtscannotblockGermanretreatintoorthrough bringing on of reinforcements in post-invasion adjacent coastal hexes other than lhtone they art turns. attacking. AVALON HILL RBG RATING CHART Q. [7an Allied rtinfommtnk k placed on a 9. Is it leal to break up combalagainst German coastal hex in German ZOC, and may such a hcx units on the same cmstal hex into more than one The games are ranked by their cumulative scores which is en averaged the 9 camgoriesfor each be used for Allicd supply? battle? game. While it may kfairly argued that each catsgory should not weighequally against the others. we USB it only as a generalizationof overall rank. By breaking down a game's ratings inteindrvidual A. NO A, Ycs-providing at ,cast , attack comta from categwies the gamer iseble todiscernfor himself wherethegame isstrong or wak in thequalities Q. can SACattacks beusedaga~nstcoastalhex= an adjacent land htx. lnvading units on the he values themom. Readersare reminded that theGameLengrhcategoryis measured in multiplesof adjacent to invading Allid units on sc~hcxeg, if sea hex must attack the mmc defenders ten minutes and that a rating of 18 would equal 3 hours.

The wargaming t-shirts are now available and The back sports an enlarged, silk screened although these black and white photos do nol version of the Avalon Hill logo. The neck and portray the vivid colors and sharpn~ssof the sleeves feature attractive red collars to present artwork youcan takeourwordthattheseshih~ a very pleasing overall appearance. I. W.S. & I.M. sport nn exact full color likeness of wargam- ing's most widely recognized box cover. The shirts sell for S6.M) each plus the usual vtage charges based on the dollar amount of your total order. Be sure to specify size. Wryland reridentr add 4% State %lea Tax. Small -Large -Medium -Xtra targe THE GENERAL PAGE 35

"Gen-Con West" boldly claims to be the Old LE MANS diehards will want to take in largest wargame convention ever planned for the action at GEN CON IX where a giant 4 hour the West Coast. Tentatively scheduled for LE MANS style race is scheduled for August September 4th. 5th and 6th at McCabe Hall in 21st. The game will be very similar to the the San Jose Civic Center, Gen-Con West original AH version with additional embellish- ments for mechanical problems and endurance. promises wargame tournaments, movies, club An interesting way to travel to Origins II is demonstratlons. miniature figure painting presented to us by Ross Callender and Ken Modern cars with varying specifications will be used rather than the specs published in the competitions, military displays by the armed Meyers. They are driving and hoping to cut early AH version. Each car will be handled by a forces and much more. lnterested partiesshould expenses by staying the night at wargamers driving teamof twoplayerswhich willallowfor a call Thomas Vaughan at 41 5-591-3548. houses along their route. They should be a maximum field of 36 contestants. Further minimum of trouble to their host and will make details on this event plus all the other pageantry it worth their while. Their route will take them which usually surround GEN CON are available Interest Group Garden Grove, CA informs us through Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, S.C., from Mike Carr, P.O. Box 756, Lake Geneva, WI that they are in full operation and are planning N.C., Maryland. Anybody that would be willing 531 47. tournaments in 1776, WS&/IW. and FOOTBALL to accommodate these gentlemen should STRATEGY as well as a host of non-AH games. write Ross at 2601 Esther, Pasadena, TX lnterested parties should contact Mike Cohn at 77502. The contestant is faced with two distinct 11441 Rainier Ct., Garden Grove, CA 92641. problems in order to win. He must: 11) try to The Northern Ohio Wargaming Society eliminate the Union forces already across the river and; (2) prevent reinforcements from The Miniature Wargamers of Western New announces their MINICON IV to be held at arriving. With but 39 combat factors worth of rork will sponsor their Third Annual Convention Baldwin Wallace College in Cleveland on units at hand, he will not be able to guarantee on August 28th and 29th at the Adam Plewacki October 2, 1976. Several Avalon Hill board- the elimination of any of the Union forces even Post in Buffalo, Although miniatures w~ll games will be among the many planned NY. be though they can be surrounded, and inturn risks the feature attraction, tourna- activities. For more information contact Art a PANPERBLITZ quick loss of his own units if an Attacker ment is also planned for AH enthusiasts. More Lubell, 23351 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood, OH 441 22. Disrupted result occurs. Even concentrating Information can be obtained from Richard J. against one stack is risky as Union defensive Kohlbacher, 246 Stockbridge Ave., Buffalo NY. artillery fire has a good chance of lowering the The Fort Myers Warriors will be traveling by. odds. The best guarantee of preventing a Union BEST MID PL4NS DEPT.-Last issue's Civil car from Ft. Myers, FL to ORIGINS II at leastfour breakthrough is in removing the pontoon bridge. War counters which were supposed to fit onto days prior to July 23rd. They invite all those This prevents the Union player from exploiting our standard blank counter sheet fit perfectly. ,garners along their route (the eastern seaboard) unsuccessful Confederate attacks and allows Unfortunately, the parts dept. recently changed to join them, lnterested parties should write to the Confederate to deal with the exposed Union the die for their blank counter sheets without the Warriors at 1154 Harbor Dr., N. R. Myers, FL forces at leisure. Those ten contestants whose our knowing it, so . . . If you still want to mount 33903. entries gave the best probability of removing the those counters eas~ly order a BLITZKRIEG bridge and eliminating those forces already counter sheet. The price remains the same; across were judged the winners. Note that our 81.00 plus postage. Our apologies for any Robert Bailey writes to inform us of the solution gives a 1OO?& chance of removing the iconveniences this caused. existence of Interest Group Bangor, ME which brldge and preventing it from being replaced for claims 13 members with bi-weekly meetings at at Least one turn. The artillery on the right Tom Oleson, our devoted ANZIO redesigner, 80 Mount Hope Ave. in Bangor. lnterested pounds the pontoon bridge at 5-1 while A. P. Hill announces that his third edition of the ANZIO parties can contact Robert at the above address. attacks Griffin's position at 1-1. On the left the addendum (5 pp) is available from him for 25C Union artillery is hit at 1-2 by the Confederate (cost) and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. artillery and 1-1 by Early and the 7-4. Tom can be reached at 1200 High Ridge Lane. Michael Peterson of Interest Group San Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Francisco reports that their 30 members meet every month and are planning a Bicentennial wargames tournament in July based on the format of the AH 500 event at ORIGINS. Mike Prestigeous GAMES 8 PUZZLES magazine also reports that members now carry member- picked DIPLOMACY third on their list of TOP ship cards which give them special discounts at NVENTY games in their Annual GAME AWARD a local hobby shop. IGSF can be contacted by competition in the December 1975 issue. writing Michael at his 1929 The Alameda #36, DIPLOMACY placed right behind SCRABBLE San Mateo, CA 94403 address. andh4ASTER MINDand ahead of MONOPOLY in the ratings-an impressive finish for a war- game in a general gamlng interest magazine. Cincinnati Games Con VI will be held at SLEUTHandACQUlREfinished 16th and 18th in Thomas More College on July 10 and 11. Dorm that same poll. DIPLOMACY is available direct rooms are available for $12 per night. Among from Avalon Hill for 811.00 plus the usual the many events being planned are tournaments postage charges. ACQUIRE is also available in in DIPLOMACY and KINGMAKER. Interested bookcase format for Sf0.00 plus postage. parties should address their queries to: Games SLEUTH is available only in the smaller gamette Convention, c/o BOARDWALK, 1032 Delta version at the present time and sells for 84.00 Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208. ' plus postage. The 1975-76 Team Championship Tourna- Followers of the 3M line of games will be ment has gotten off to a rocky start with the happy to hear that we will continue offering default of two US based clubs as OKH and USC updated sets of computer cards for their popular have forfeit their opening games. The event now CHALLENGE BRIDGE game. Titled Volume I!. has four teams left fighting for a $100first prize this set comes complete with a 112 pp manual as they test each other's,prowess across the Those who came closest to our solution for and 100 additional deal cards taken from actual board in the AH classics. Each team hasto field a Contest No. 71 were: L. Sullivan, Houston, TX, 6. ACBL tournaments and is packaged in a sturdy representative to play each side in STALING- Dvorak, Encinitas, CA: M. Knautz, Saukville, WI; plastic overwrap. The set sells for $10.00 and is RAD, R-DAY. BLITZKRIEG, PANZERBLI77, WA- R. Whaley, Knoxville, TN; J. Schleifer, College- available by direct mail order purchase only. Of TERLOO, AFRIKA KORPS, and ANZIO. Parties dale, TN; R. Milczarek, Chicago, IL; 0. McCor- course, one must first own CHALLENGE interested in next year's competition should mick, Chicopee, M& E. Niemira, Staten Island, BRIDGE ($17.00) in order to utilize Volume I1 to write to Nicky Palmer, Lehwaldsvej 3, 8g. DK- NY; E. Legget?, Columbus, OH; and J. Alsen, St. best advantage. 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Paul, MN.