The K o m m a n d eu r

Volume 39 Number 1 A Publication of AHIKS February 2004

From the President Treasurer's R eport from Stuart Schoenberger

IG NEWS! This report includes only that income received and B You may recall back in 1991 when we published expenses paid in the year 2003. In the past, most mem- First Blood: The Guadalcanal Campaign as Volume 26, bers paid their dues in December for the upcoming Number 6 of The K to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. It was year. After the treasurer's computer crashed due to cor- big fun! Many of the brethren had helped with research and rupt files received from AHIKS, the treasurer was com- playtesting my design, and by publishing time I was quite pelled to wait until his computer was again up and run- satisfied with the final product. Every member received a ning to deposit those dues payments timely made in copy of my game under the AHIKS imprimatur. I was later 2003 for the current year 2004. Also, this statement able to sell my design to Strategy & Tactics, but during the does not reflect that the last of Les Deck's expenses process of transition from my design to a published S&T as MC were not finally paid until February, mainly product, FB underwent extensive redesign and redevelop- his telephone and paper purchases. The same applies to ment. The final product that appeared in S&T was substan- Omar DeWitt’s expenses in publishing the December K tially different from my original design—not unrecognizable, ($302), which were finally paid in January. The treas- but certainly not the same game. urer's biggest expenses, which consist of postage and Fast forward to December 2003. Over the past two computer printer stationery, were incurred in 2002. By months I have entered into negotiations with Dr. Cummins at buying extra stationery and using of the K to send the Decision Games and Alan Poulter at Grognards to give some- initial notice, it was possible to make sizable sav- thing back to the hobby at large and elevate the profile of ings. However, over 60% of the membership still re- AHIKS at the same time. Dr. Cummins has graciously agreed quired a printed notice outside of the K. With the new to allow my original design of First Blood (commonly re- administration, dues structure, and other plans for the ferred to as the AHIKS edition) to be posted in its original future, we can hope that the expenses will more closely form for free “download” on Alan Poulter's Grognards web- match the income of our organization. site (www.grognard.com). There will be a link to our official AHIKS website (as well as one to Decision Games or S&T), Income for which we are grateful to Alan. More importantly, there will now be a solid, introductory- Dues 470.95 level, playable board (with more than 50 counters) Interest 27.41 available for free to the public that can be printed out and Total 498.36 enjoyed. It was designed specifically in the “I go—You go” style to facilitate PBM play and should prove no problem for Expenses the novice to jump right in. I consider this an excellent start for the new year for AHIKS. It's nice to be able to give back Bank Chges. 2.64 to the hobby we love and to promote the hobby in a tangible Editor 2,052.55 way by offering to the general public, at no cost, a solid ex- M.C. 512.20 ample of what we do. In doing so, this spotlights not only Awards 42.17 AHIKS, but Grognards, S&T, and the entire hobby. I encour- Treasurer 25.79 age all of you to look the page up on the net and share it with Total 2,137.29 all of your non-gaming friends (and your gaming friends as well!). Pass it along to teachers, schools, and any group or Current Balance: $4,900.33 entity you can think of that might be inclined to pass along a link to something free that promotes reading and critical Pay-Pal Services: Especially for our overseas and thinking skills. Canadian members, I have added the option of payment Well, that's what I've been up to. by Pay-Pal. Any person utilizing this service must add How about you? an extra dollar; the service is not free to the recipient. This method is user friendly for all concerned. This is Your Buddy, Chester effective immediately. 2 The Kommandeur

o v e r. R ic h a rd B o rg , th e d e s ig n e r o f B attle Game News from Alan Poulter C ry !, h a s a n n o u n c e d th a t Da y s o f W o n - This article is a compilation of infor- b re a k tu rn s in to d is tin c t p h a s e s . T a c tic s d e r is g o in g to b e p u b lis h in g a W o rld W a r mation gleaned chiefly from C onsim- c a rd s o ffe r p la y e rs m o re s tra te g ic o p p o r- II v e rs io n o f th e g a m e title d M em oir '4 4 . w orld (w w w .consimw orld.com) and tu n itie s , a n d F o rtu n e c a rd s a d d a n e le - W e a ls o h a v e w o rd th a t th e g a m e w ill W eb-G rognards h a v e p la s tic p ie c e s . T h e g a m e is d u e to (w w w .grognard.com). m e n t o f u n p re d ic ta b ility .“ The material w as correct at time of b e re le a s e d in M a y 2 0 0 4 .“ w riting: January 27, 2004. New Francis Tresham Game Francis Tresham is the designer Design Challenge New Magazine: of classics like Civilisation and 1830 Richard Berg, designer of too Command & Strategy and has not published a new game for many games to list, recently opined UGG (Udo Grebe Games) is 15 years. That is about to change on Consimworld that there was no based in Germany. It produces its sometime later this year according to subject that he could not design a own games (for example Blitzkrieg a press release from Phalanx Games: game about. Taking up this chal- General) and acts as a European dis- —R ev olu tion : T h e D u tc h R ev olt lenge, Consimworld members sug- tributor for some American s im u la te s th e E ig h ty Y e a rs ‘ W a r b e tw e e n gested more than 80 potential “lame companies. Command & S p a in a n d th e N e th e rla n d s . T h is e p ic duck” game topics. A panel of Strategy will be UGG’s new quar- s tru g g le la s te d fro m 1 5 6 8 u n til 1 6 4 8 a n d judges, all game designers them- terly house magazine. The first issue e v e n tu a lly b ro u g h t in d e p e n d e n c e to H o l- selves (Lee Brimmicombe-Wood, should appear in the first quarter of la n d a n d th e n o rth e rn p ro v in c e s . In th e David Powell, and Charles Vasey), 2004. To quote UGG’s press release: s o u th , th e re v o lt w a s le s s s u c c e s s fu l, a n d selected the most unpromising of —Command & Strategy p ro v id e s m ili- B e lg iu m d id n o t e m e rg e a s a n in d e p e n d - these topics: the WWII Japanese bal- ta ry h is to ric a l a rtic le s , re v ie w s g a m e s , e n t s ta te u n til a fte r th e N a p o le o n ic e ra . . . loon bombing campaign against the re p o rts g a m e re la te d n e w s , a n d g iv e s R ev olu tion d e p ic ts a p o w e r s tru g g le w ith United States! Now Richard Berg has b a c k g ro u n d in fo rm a tio n o n g a m e s o r n e w m a n y fa c e ts . E a c h p la y e r re p re s e n ts o n e to turn this topic into an entertaining p la y e r o p tio n s . E a c h is s u e o f Command o f th e p rin c ip a l fa c tio n s in v o lv e d : th e and informative game. Check out the & Strategy w ill h a v e e ith e r a DT P g a m e , C a th o lic s , H a b s b u rg s , N o b ility , B u rg h e rs , folder for this Challenge on Consim- o r a n a d d -o n , o r n e w s c e n a rio s , o r a c o l- a n d R e fo rm e rs . E a c h fa c tio n h a s its p a r- world (www.consimworld.com) to le c tib le b o a rd g a m e . Pearl Harbor tic u la r g o a ls , w h ic h a re o fte n p a rtly c o m - see how Richard is doing. Updates (E m p ires of A p oc aly p s e P a rt IV ) w ill b e m o n . A lth o u g h fa c tio n s m a y s o m e tim e s will be reported here. p u b lis h e d in Command & Strategy a s c o o p e ra te , th e y a re n o t a llie s fo r lo n g a n d U G G 's firs t c o lle c tib le b o a rd g a m e . S in c e e a s ily tu rn o n e a c h o th e r if th e s itu a tio n Avalanche Pearl Harbor is a m o n s te r, it w ill b e c a lls fo r th is . T h is g a m e is n o t a d e ta ile d New from Avalanche Press is s p re a d o v e r th e firs t 6 -8 is s u e s . E a c h m ilita ry re -e n a c tm e n t o f th e E ig h ty Y e a rs ´ Tears of the Dragon, a two-player is s u e o f Command & Strategy fe a tu re s 4 0 W a r. It trie s to c a p tu re th e fla v o r o f th e s e -based wargame. It uses the p a g e s p a rtly c o lo re d , p a rtly b la c k a n d in te re s tin g tim e s in a m u c h b ro a d e r game system from their Granada w h ite p lu s o n e DT P c o u n te rs h e e t o r o th e r s e n s e . It c o n ta in s a n e le m e n t o f w a rfa re game, but adds spells and wizards to c o m p o n e n t in s id e th e m a g a z in e .“ in th e fo rm o f b a ttle s a n d s ie g e s , b u t th e give a new dimension to the game. It www.ugg.de m a in th e m e is b u ilt o n e c o n o m ic , re li- is simple enough to be playable by g io u s , a n d p o litic a l c o n tro l. T h e c o n s ta n tly non-wargamers. Designer is John R. New Axis & Allies game: D-Day s h iftin g b a la n c e o f p o w e r, c a u s e d b y Phythyon, Jr. edition te m p o ra ry a llia n c e s , m a k e s R ev olu tion www.avalanchepress.com /Hasbro re- a n im m e n s e ly c h a lle n g in g g a m e , a n d n o t cently announced a new edition of fo r th e fa in t h e a rte d . C le v e r a n d tim e ly AWE Axis & Allies: u s e o f a v a ila b le re s o u rc e s , in c lu d in g Azure Wish Enterprises have re- —A x is & A llies D -D ay w ill a llo w p la y - th o s e o f fo re ig n s y m p a th is e rs a n d a llie s , leased Austerlitz, the latest in their e rs to re -c re a te th e la rg e s t c o m b in e d is n e e d e d to a c h ie v e u ltim a te s u c c e s s .“ Vive L’Empereur! Napoleonic tacti- m ilita ry o p e ra tio n in h is to ry . S c h e d u le d cal-level series of games. The game fo r re le a s e in M a y 2 0 0 4 , A x is & A llies D - New Battle Cry! Games comes with rules in French, but Eng- D ay w ill fe a tu re d e ta ile d g a m e c o m p o - GMT will be producing an An- lish translations of the exclusive and n e n ts , in c lu d in g a n e w b lo c k h o u s e p ie c e , cients version of the American Civil series rules respectively are available a n e x tra - la rg e g a m e b o a rd a n d o rig in a l War game Battle Cry!, designed by as Word files at: a rtw o rk c o m m is s io n e d e x c lu s iv e ly fo r th e . No date has been set. http://grognard.com/info1/ D-Da y g a m e b o x . O th e r e le m e n ts o f th is According to a press release, Days of ausrules.doc n e w A x is & A llies v a ria n t in c lu d e a p re - Wonder, a European games company, http://grognard.com/info1/ s e t d e c k w ith th re e c a rd c a te g o rie s œ will make a World War Two version viverulesv3.doc O rd e r, T a c tic s , a n d F o rtu n e œw h ic h a d d available soon: in c re a s in g d e p th a n d c o m p le x ity to a —F o r th o s e w h o h a v e b e e n w a itin g Critical Hit p la y e r‘s g a m e -p la y e x p e rie n c e . O rd e r w ith b a te d b re a th fo r th e n e x t g a m e in th e New from Critical Hit is Santa c a rd s d e te rm in e p la y s e q u e n c e a n d B attle C ry s e rie s , y o u r w a it is a lm o s t Maria Infante. This new game in the

The Kommandeur 3

Advanced Tactical Series covers the Theatre of Opertations) on the War in occur, and it has victory objectives slow advance of the Allies up the the West, 1939-1945. ETO combines known only to the German player. Italian peninsula in 1944 and features best elements of several existing Zhukov's First Victory, designed by American units taking on experienced games (like Axis & Allies and Third Paul Rohrbaugh, is an introductory- German troops in strong defensive Reich) to create a realistic but play- level game on the battle between the positions. www.criticalhit.com able recreation of the Second World Soviets and the Japanese in summer War. www.neppagames.com of 1939. Eagle Games www.microgamedesigngroup.ca/ Attack!, designed by Glen NEW MAGAZINE WARGAMES New from Canons en Carton, Drover, is a multi-player game (for 2- Strategy & Tactics issue #219 Epées de France (“Swords of 6 people) of world conquest. The contains Spanish Civil War Battles France”) is a quadrigame of four bat- map covers North & South America, 2: Guadalajara and Peñarroya. tles of the Hundred Years War Africa, and Europe/Russia/Middle Game designer is Perry Moore. (Cocherel 1364, Auray 1364, Patay East. There is a separate Attack! Ex- www.decisiongames.com/ 1429, and Castillon 1453). It is in the pansion that gives the rest of the Vae Victis issue #54 contains Au fil de l'épée (“By the Edge of the world and adds advanced rules. At- : 1942, covering the Sword”) game series published in tack! is crammed with 600 minia- Stalingrad campaign at the army/ Vae Victis #26 and #45. http:// tures for infantry, tanks, artillery, and corps level. www.vaevictis.com/ perso.club-internet.fr/fredbey/ aircraft, in two sizes to represent sin- Note that Vae Victis magazine New from Black Cat Studio is an gle units and groups of five units. and games are in French but rules unofficial Battle Cry Variant Kit. It There are cards for resources from translations are made available via: adds new scenarios, more realistic captured areas which also show http://grognard.com/vaevict.html rules, and a variety of new terrain forces defending neutral areas. This Against The Odds issue #6 con- types to Battle Cry!. game is reminiscent of Axis & Allies tains Go Tell the Spartans, a soli- www.blackcatstudio.net/ and Risk. www.eaglegames.net/ taire game designed by Rob Mark- New from Relative Range, Flying ham, on the three-day battle at Ther- Colors is a fleet-tactical game set in GMT mopylae between the enormous Per- the Age of Sail. Scenarios include Europe Engulfed, from new de- sian army under Xerxes and 300 Cape St.Vincent, the Nile, and Trafal- signer Rick Young, is just out from Greek Spartans. The player takes the gar. www.relativerange.com/ GMT. It is a departure from other Greeks! www.atomagazine.com/ GMT games in that it used blocks for Panzerschreck #11 contains three NEW WEB RESOURCES units (like games from Columbia games: Eagle Games has announced the Games) rather than cardboard count- 1. Panzers in the Southeast, de- release of a second edition of Civili- ers. It is also the first game from signed by Pieter de Wilde, a corps/ zation, their boardgame based on the GMT on the European Theatre of army level game between the Ger- computer game of the same name. Operations throughout the entire war, mans and the Soviets in SE Europe For owners of the first edition, the 1939-45. Their earlier game Bar- from Dec. 1944 to April 1945. new rules are available for download barossa to Berlin started in 1941. 2. QAR: Quick Armor Rules, from: www.eaglegames.net/products/ Europe Engulfed makes good use of designed by Gary Graben, is a minia- downloads/Civ_Manual_r2.pdf its blocks in hiding information from tures game on WW II desert warfare GioGames are offering advanced players. Its rules are reasonably short in North Africa rules for their tactical Napoleonic and concise, considering how much 3. Sink the Tirpitz, designed by game, Vive l'Empereur, at: www. ground they have to cover. For those Jim Gordon, is a solitaire mini-game giogames.it/VLEcontenutoit.html wanting an even simpler version, where the player (British) tries to sink The latest version of the rules for “Blockskrieg!” rules (16 pages long) the famous German battleship. Phalanx’s strategic-level game Age are available. www.gmtgames.com/ www.homestead.com/ of Napoleon is available at: http:// minden_games/index.html grognard.com/info1/aonrules.pdf Lost Battalion Games Limited intelligence rules, which A new card game, Battlelines: NEW DESKTOP PUBLISHED were dropped from the released ver- Winter Storm, covers the fighting WARGAMES sion, are available for GMT’s Prus- along the Chir River and the Rostov- The Design Group sia’s Glory (tactical-level Frederick to-Stalingrad railroad during the at- has released three new games. The the Great era battles) at: www. tempted relief of Stalingrad in 1942. Marcher Lords, from new designer gmtgames.com/nnpr/limintelrules.pdf It is the fourth game set in the Bat- David Cuatt, is an introductory game As a teaser for their proposed tlelines: Stalingrad Campaign se- on the Norman invasions of Wales. game release, Gringo! (tactical-level ries. www.l2designgroup.com/ Stalingrad: Pivot on the Volga, battles of he Mexican War, 1846-47), designed by Hjalmar Gerber, covers GMT have made available for Neppagames the German Sixth Army's campaign download a complete mini-game, A new company, Neppagames, in Southern Russia 1942 to 1943. It Churubusco, on the battle of 20 Au- has just released ETO (European has large hexes in which combat can (Continued on page 6)

4 The Kommandeur Y our Support Service O fficers partner in this effort is your tireless O n page 11 of every issue of this new sletter is printed a list of our editor who supplies me with elec- Support Service O fficers. In this article, they explain w hat they do. tronic versions of The Kommandeur and Despatch to post to the web Multiplayer Coordinator Venus, besides Diplomacy or Ori- site. Perhaps equally important are One must wonder if there is gins of WWII. the regular updates to the "Match much interest in this aspect of gam- In closing, the membership has Request" that Roger sends me every ing, or whether those who indulge do not demonstrated a great interest in other week or so. The three of us it outside of AHIKS. I write this be- multiplayer games, and for those few now have this down pretty pat so that cause I have heard almost nothing times it has been done, it has been I can simply upload the files they from the membership about such done by the individuals involved send me to the web host, then edit the gaming. A couple of years ago we without aid and support from AHIKS A H I K S p a g e s t o l i n k t o did manage to have a Diplomacy bureaucracy. Perhaps that is the way them. AHIKS’ publications will usu- game, but we have not been able to it should be. ally be in the secure area of the web start up another. It seems today's Tell us what you think! site for member access only. gamers are perhaps a little more insu- To access any publication that we lar. Many of the newer games are Bob Johnson have available, go to the home page large and complex as well. and enter "AHIKS" for the member I notice that in The Kommandeur name in the box provided. The pass- Chit holding service word changes with each issue of the the same people are offering to GM The Chit holding service is the same games in each issue, but I 'K'. Omar (or Roger) maintains a merely being the holder of secret contact list of members who have have not heard if any games are actu- troop locations, secret sudden victory ally under way. registered to receive the 'K' via the conditions, hidden fuel dumps, web page. When the next issue of the I suspect that this office might etc. Any aspect of a game that needs serve no purpose. But before abol- 'K' is available for download they to be held by a third party for possi- send an e-mail to all those on the ishment, I would like to suggest that ble later verification is what I am for. as part of our dues collection for the contact list with the new pass- I get very little traffic now that e- word. This makes life a lot easier for coming year, we include a survey mail is so prevalent. with just three questions: me because I only have to maintain a single member password for the web 1. Have you any interest in play- Bob Ryan ing in a multi-commander or multi- site. The password and the member

player game? name are case sensitive. 2. Have you any interest in being Web site manager I would just like to remind you the GM for such a game? I'll bet you thought you found a that this web page is for all AHIKS 3. If your answer to 1 and/or 2 is real webslinger for maintaining the related events. Have games you want yes, what game or games would in- AHIKS web pages, eh? Guess to sell? Just let me know, and I will terest you? again! I took on the role of a game host a page with the games you want I have run multi-commander master for an on-line game a few to sell and put a link on the home games in the more distant past. I years ago and part of doing so was to page to it. I am always open to sug- used my version of Colonel learn enough HTML to maintain web gestions for other ideas. My web T. DuPuys QJMA method for conflict pages for each of the games I was authoring software (Microsoft Front resolution based on his book (and running. Over the years the software Page) is pretty easy to use and I can direct communications) “Numbers, has improved and I have learned a put together pages pretty quickly. I Predictions and War.” In general I few tricks. The most important les- am not a big fan of graphics and art- have found that games with more sons I have learned are what not to work, as they take up space on the than 2 or 3 players per side rarely do. I have a support group of similar web space provider’s data base and ever get past the first two to four GMs that I still call upon to help with the pages take longer to load. There moves. (My most ambitious one was some matters when needed, but for should not be any ads or pop-ups on the whole ACW with about 6 to 8 the most part I can now handle 99% the pages, since AHIKS pays the $5/ players per side.) I would still be of the things that need to be done to month required to stop them. interested in running some games of create, upload, and support web For those of you who were fre- like nature. I should really enjoy pages. quent visitors to the pages maintained running a Battle of the Bulge game, For those computer-literate folks by Les Deck, there is a link to them but Allied players need hearts of steel out there, I am the guy who now on the AHIKS home page. —the panic can get to feel very real. maintains the AHIKS home I wonder if people would like to page. My number-one concern about Tom Thornsen play games like Settlers of Catan, this job is keeping the information on Serenissima, or even Merchant of that page timely and current. My (continued on page 5 column 2)

The Kommandeur 5

Survey results In slots 20 and 21, members entered these items of Many thanks to those of you who took the time to send interest: Games for sale (2), AH and SPI Classics, PC in the survey from the last issue. Where I was wandering in game reviews and news, info on who is playing whom in the dark before, there are now guidelines. what games, AHIKS’ History, game variants, where are What the survey results will not do is to tell me which of the best buys and selections on games, and two showed the articles in our files to publish. There is not now nor ever interest in an advice column that appeared in past issues has been a body of articles from which the editor picks and of The Kommandeur: Ask Sarge. If anyone is interested chooses. I may have missed something, but I believe I have in reviving “Ask Sarge,” please let me know. printed everything sent to me for publication. Three weeks Now that we all know where the interest lies, give before a deadline, I rarely have enough material to fill the serious thought to writing on a topic that interests you issue. [Those three weeks are quite nerve-racking.] and the rest of the membership. Your opinions on games What the survey results will do is indicate what the is of interest to others, whether someone else has com- membership would like to see in The Kommandeur. That, in mented on the game or not. This is also a clear call to the turn, will hopefully encourage you to write that article you Regional Directors: the membership wants to hear from have been pondering over. Now that you know it will be of you. O.D. interest to the membership, start writing. There will be no more misguided attempts at humor, at least from your Editor. Those attempts were universally (continued from page 4) given a “many thumbs down.” I was surprised at the interest in Upcoming Events, and I will endeavor to keep that in PBEM Coordinator I have a web page at www.abovethefields.com/ every issue and as up-to-date as I can make it. Your input ahiksmain.htm. It lists the gamer’s name, his e-mail would be invaluable. Most shared my appreciation of Alan address, and the games he would like to PBeM. I took Poulter’s fine efforts. over the list from Bruce Monnin some 5 years Here are the survey results. There were 35 replies [about ago. Since then maybe only five gamers have asked for 17% of the membership], which is probably very good for an update (never a new name). The last gamer to con- AHIKS. The table below gives the average score [based on tact me was over two years ago. I suspect most of the the 1 to 5 rating of interest]. Also listed is the number of 5’s AHIKS members on the webpage are unaware of it, and returned for that entry. if they knew, might well ask to be removed, given the Avg. 5’s humongous growth in spam since 5 years ago. 1. Game news (Alan Poulter) 4.2 18 In short, since the last one-game update two years 2. Game reviews 4.2 19 ago, I have coordinated nada.

3. Book reviews 3.1 6 Hank Burkhalter 4. Movie reviews 2.7 5

TM 5. Ouiji Dice 2.0 4 Archivist 6. Universal CF Counter 2.2 2 Over a year’s time I get only one or two requests for back issues. Sometimes the member wants one issue, 7. Member “Trading Cards” 2.4 5 sometimes more. The charge for this service is the 8. Game replays 3.9 14 copying cost (5 to 10 cents a page) plus the shipping. Occasionally I have an extra original copy, and in that 9. Wargaming History 3.9 10 case only the shipping is charged.

10. Play Aids 3.9 12 Bill Perry 11. Bios of Fellow Members 3.0 5 ÆÆ 12. Upcoming Events 3.8 11 13. Post-Convention News 3.5 5 12.4 REINFORCEMENTS 14. Game Scenarios 3.8 10 15. Quizzes 2.5 1 Reinforcements may enter at any friendly North, South, East, or West mapboard edge. New units 16. AHIKS Regional News 3.9 10 may arrive by ground, rail, sealift, or airlift and 17. Reports from AHIKS-UK 3.3 7 count against stacking limits. Reinforcements are fully combat-capable on Turn of entrance. 18. Editorials 3.8 11

19. President’s column 3.8 12 1562 Craig E. Ladner, Murfreesoro, TN

6 The Kommandeur

gust 1847, at: www.gmtgames.com/ Book Review Pacific R D New s cwgr/churubusco.html from Kevin R eid Roberto Chiavini has made avail- Hitler's Arctic War —The German able a free game Naseby (on the bat- Campaigns in Norway, Finland, and Hi to all the AHIKS members tle from the English Civil War) at: the USSR 1940-45 from the Pacific Region. Here in http://tcsonline.web1000.com/ by Chris Mann & Christer Jorgensen Australia it is summer with some nasebytemp.htm St. Martin’s 244 pp warm days, around 40° C and good Support for Columbia’s award- Reviewed by Tom Oleson reason to stay in, enjoy a few games, winning game Hammer of the Scots and watch the cricket. The Australian (on the Wallace and Bruce campaigns If you are thinking of spending National Game Convention is on over against the English) has been added $24.95 on this new book, my advice our Australia Day long weekend, to the Automated Card Tracking Sys- is to save your money, unless—like three days in the national capital for tem (ACTS) server, which manages me—you have a special interest. board games, miniatures, RPG, and cards for PBeM game play at: http:// Mine stems from playtesting the up- linked PC games. It is quite well at- acts.warhorsesim.com/ coming addition to EuroFront which tended, and many forms of games are A complete list of board covers that area. My conclusion was competed over, the largest I believe is wargames published in 2003 is avail- that designer has the DBM tournament which would able at: http://grognard.com/info1/ done a good job reflecting the condi- have over 100 participants. The game03.html tions the book describes. RPG’ers attend in force, and the Kevin Zucker, publisher of Op- The book is interesting, but only rooms for the “Magic” card game are erational Studies Group and veteran details were novel, and it has draw- always full. The boardgame events designer of Napoleonic games, is backs. Its 224 pages (including useful never have a large turnout which, I interviewed by Bob Schwartz of The notes and index) are padded with suspect, is indicative of the numbers Games Journal at: over 100 large pictures, said to be and age of the players out there. www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/ previously unpublished. Most are There tend to be about 6—8 players KevinZucker.shtml informative, but one shot of Russian each year in a tournament that used to "The Problem with Mr. Darby" is troops in a snow bank is pretty much attract 4 times that number. Com- a board-wargaming and military- like another, and do we really need monly played games are Victory in history inspired short film (19 ½ min- several big pictures of Hitler, Stalin, the Pacific, , utes) by Stormy Strong. It needs and other leaders? Also, the authors Paths of Glory, NATO, Squad Windows Media Player and is a are never content with merely stating Leader, and Fortress . I at- 37.6MB download! It is available their analysis. It must be restated sev- tend each year and post flyers at- from: www.stormystrong.com/ and eral times more. tempting to attract membership to w w w . c o n s i m w o r l d . c o m / So many books on warfare suffer AHIKS. If you’re in Canberra over Mr.DarbyBroadband.wmv from a lack of maps. This one has the long weekend, drop by the seven—useful, but too large-scale to boardgames section and say hi. help follow the frequent detailed nar- The Pacific area has had two rative of battles. This hill, that river, a members join recently. Paul Pawlak village, etc. It would have helped so used to be an American but is an much to trace the action on a map. Australian now; I will leave the story A minor error noted was a reference to Paul. I have met Paul for a couple Dean Essig Returns! to German supply difficulties in Ka- of face-to-face games. He lives about Dean Essig took a break after relia, when, as the book pointed out, 40 minutes south of where I am, and, selling The Gamers to MMP but now this sector was virtually entirely but for AHIKS, I would never have he is back, according to a posting in manned by the Finns. ÆÆ known. He is getting back into the the MMP folder on Consimworld: hobby after some years off, and I Back issues have enjoyed tutoring him on some —M M P is p ro u d to a n n o u n c e th a t w e games in preparation for the competi- h a v e h ire d De a n E s s ig fu ll tim e to h a n d le available on CD tion. Welcome to AHIKS, Paul. May o u r lin e o f G a m e rs g a m e s , in a d d itio n to you have many enjoyable games. h is o n g o in g e ffo rts in d e s ig n in g n e w title s Back issues of The Kommandeur Mark Humphries is a previous fo r u s . H e h a s b e e n d e s ig n in g a n d d o in g edited by the current editor are avail- member who has decided to rejoin. a rtw o rk fo r u s o n a fre e la n c e b a s is s in c e able on one CD in PDF format. That He is currently living and working in w e b o u g h t th e G a m e rs , b u t n o w w e a re includes Vol. 37 No. 2 through the the Philippines. Mark contacted me a d d in g h is c o n s id e ra b le o rg a n iz a tio n a l current issue. These are available at about rejoining, and it was quite easy s k ills a s w e ll. W e lo o k fo rw a rd to o u r cost: $2 to US addresses, $3 to other to explain AHIKS to someone who d e e p e n e d re la tio n s h ip b e in g lo n g a n d addresses. Send money and requests had already been a member. I hope fru itfu l.“ to me at the address on page 11. you have a great membership, Mark, (Continued on page 12) Make checks out to Omar DeWitt. and many great games ahead. ÆÆ

The Kommandeur 7

G ame in progress: The Russian AHIKS Top 40 Active C am paign by C ory W ells Players from Andy Johnson These members have a Rating This is a view of a game going on Finns are locked up with three Qualifier Greater than “C” in all cate- between Ron Brooker #1252 and me. Russian (5-3) and a few (4-4) + (3-4) gories. Players with the same Rating It is not a fully detailed explanation still in Finland. are then ranked by Qualifier. This list but a short synopsis of the game. A German (3-4) holds Brest. included all match completions re- We are playing a PBM game and I have lost three (2-?), two (3-4), ceived and posted as of December Ron is the Russian for this game. We and one (4-4): 6 units in total. So my 31, 2003. See The Kommandeur Vol. started the game sometime in the army is still pretty much intact. 37, No. 3 for the Numerical Rating early summer. It has taken this long Ron has lost nine (3-3), nine (4- Chart and the Qualifier Chart. because of my work schedule and 3), and two (2-5): 20 units total. But moving from one end of the country he has tons of reinforcements coming # Name Rating to the other. This is the old-fashioned in. He has a hell of a defensive line in 1 D Burdick 2035 way to play with "snail mail." It is around Moscow and now Kiev, with 2 K McCarthy 1885 really the first time playing this game more units shoring up Leningrad. I 3 B Stretcher 1875 where I have got through 1941. I know some of you vets out there are 4 G Young 1860 guess I get so excited that I'm in a shaking your heads, but this is my 5 P Landry 1780 PBM game and it's gone on this far (a first game as a German. This is how 6 R Heller 1770 really big advantage to being a mem- you learn, I guess. 7 P Truesdell ber of AHIKS is reliable opponents). 1755 In the past with other players I have [for the winter] 8 D Tierney 1725 made a mess with my moves: wrong Cory Wells 9 A. Bowie 1690 units in wrong places and major mis- Oakwood Apts. (Apt E-105) 10 C Minshew 1665 takes in my math. I really appreciate 6330 Randi St. 11 D Grant 1645 Ron putting up with my mistakes, Woodland Hills, CA 12 J Trout 1645 although I think I am better at keep- 13 H Lowood 1635 ing it straight. 14 T Thornsen 1630 This is a game for points 15 C Jehlen (AHIKS), and I think it's not going 1630 well for the German Army right now. 16 F Kraus 1625 It is the winter of Jan-Feb 1942. My 17 G Dandy 1625 units are in and around cities, but it's 18 M Yarwood 1610 the cities I'm around that bothers me. 19 C Stewart 1610 I was told that if you don't take Mos- 20 W Klitzke 1600 cow in 1941, it's over. I'm going to 21 R Wood 1595 forge forward and see what happens. 22 C Xanthos 1585 But I have also been told, by this date 23 J Jodoin I should be a lot farther and taken 1580 more cites. 24 A Morley 1580 25 T Oleson 1575 Here is the situation: News from the BPA 26 Peter Martin 1565 Three Romanian units and 1 Ger- 27 R Shurdut 1565 man unit are in around Odessa. Afrika Korps Champ 28 L Deck Sr 1560 I lost one R 2-5 cav trying to sail The first BPA Afrika Korps PBeM 29 T Holtz 1535 to Sevastopol. Tournament has ended with Ed 30 N Markevich 1520 Army Group South (AGS) and a Menzel defeating Doug Burke for the 31 J Grant Jr 1515 lot of reinforcements (most units) are championship. The Single Elimina- in and around Kiev. tion event started with 26 entrants 32 E Menzel 1515 Five panzer units from AGN and and lasted 20 months. Ed finished 5- 33 R Cottrell 1515 three infantry units from AGC in 0 against the likes of Richard Van 34 T Scarborough 1475 Smolensk. Vugt, Dan Tierney, Greg Smith, 35 B Lindow 1470 Strong infantry units from AGC Jonathan Lockwood, and, finally, 36 C Longest 1465 three (5-4), two (4-4) infantry and SS Doug Burke—a collection of oppo- 37 C. Leonard 1455 res are in around Vitebsk. nents with three WBC crowns. An A (4-4) unit AGN is in Riga. extensive account of the final game 38 D Bergmann 1450 A (3-4) AGN, two (6-7) Panzers will appear on the BPA results page 39 J Mueller 1375 from AGC with infantry in Tallinn. for Afrika Korps. 40 A Liboszowski 1355

8 The Kommandeur

Mar 19-21 Clarksville, TN CHAOS CON E-mail: [email protected] www.chaoscon.org

March 5-7, Minneapolis, MN March 26-28, College Station, TX MARSCON AGGIECON www.marscon.org E-mail: emer- [email protected] March 5-7, Racine, WI http://cepheid.tamu.edu/aggiecon CONGENIAL www.congenial.org/ March. 26-28, Carbondale, IL EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN This listing is as accurate as I March 5-7, Austin, TX E-mail: [email protected] could make it. I checked the OVERLOAD-A-CON dates at many of the w eb ad- www.siu.edu/~gamesoc dresses given. W here there is www.overload-a-con.com a ?? by the date, current infor- March. 26-28, Wayne, NE mation w as not available, and March 5-7, Portland, OR WILLYCON the month is the same as last GAMESTORM E-mail: [email protected] year’s meeting. If you are inter- Contact: John Williamson http://wildcat.wsc.edu/clubs/sfclub/te ested in that convention, check E-mail: [email protected] xt_site/willycon/ the w eb again and try the e-mail address. O .D . March 6-7, Kenosha, WI March 26-28 Stony Brook, NY MIDWEST OPEN I-CON 23 Feb 12-15 Denver, CO Contact: Glenn Petroski www.iconsf.org/ GENGHISCON E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] March 26-28, Memphis, Tenn www.denvergamers.com March 12-14, Lancaster, PA MIDSOUTHCON 22 COLD WARS www.midsouthcon.org Feb 13-16, San Ramon, CA E-mail: [email protected] DUNDRACON Web: coldwars2000.webjump.com Mar ?? South Bend, IN E-mail: [email protected] SEVEN YEARS WAR www.dundracon.com/ March 12-14, Pittsburg, Kans E-mail: [email protected] GORILLA CON Feb 13-15, Pasco, WA www.gorilla-con.com Mar ?? Lincolnshire, IL RADCON LITTLE WARS E-mail: [email protected] March 12-14, Hunt Valley, MD E-mail: [email protected] www.radcon.org ENLIGHTENMENT VII www.boardgamers.org/specific/aor04 April 2-4, Kalamazoo, MI Feb 13-16, Los Angeles, CA .htm MARMALADE DOG 9: GAMEFEST STRATEGICON: ORCCON 2004 E-mail: [email protected] March 12-14, Burnaby, BC Canada www.wmgg.org/marmaladedog/ www.strategicon.net SALUTE E-mail: [email protected] April 2-4, Scranton, PA Feb 20-22, Springfield, MO www.trumpeterclub.com MEPACON SPRING 2004 VISIONCON www.mepacon.com E-mail: [email protected] March 19-21, High Point, NC www.visioncon.net STELLARCON April 2-4, Madison, WI E-mail: [email protected] ODYSSEY CON Feb 21-22, Sheboygan, WI www.stellarcon.org www.oddcon.org FIRE AND ICE E-mail: [email protected] March 19-21, Stamford, CT April 2-4, Toronto, Canada www.bytehead.com/~fireandice/ CONNCON ORION E-mail: [email protected] www.rigelgroup.org/orion.html Feb 25-29, Charlottesville, VA www.conncon.com/ PREZCON April 8-11, Seattle, WA E-mail: kingmak- March 20, Philadelphia, PA NORWESCON [email protected] PAGE GAMEATHON E-mail: [email protected] www.prezcon.com www.philagamers.org www.norwescon.org

The Kommandeur 9

April 9-11, Melbourne, Australia May 1-2, Hamilton, Ontario Canada June 4-6, Charlotte, NC VICTORIAN DIPLOMACY CHAMPION- GREAT CANADIAN BAYCON CON CAROLINAS SHIPS www.greatcanadianbaycon.ca/ E-mail: [email protected] http://daanz.org.au/dip- http://secfi.org/concarolinas/ tournaments.htm May 1-2, Ft.Wayne, IN UGACON June 24-27, Columbus, OH April 16-18, San Antonio, TX [email protected] ORIGINS CHIMAERACON 2004 Contact: Gama (303/635-2223) www.chimaeracon.com May 1-3, Brisbane, Australia www.originsgames.com/ BIG WEEKEND April 16-18, Glen Ellyn, IL E-mail: [email protected] July 9-11, Hunt Valley, MD CODCON IX www.thebigweekend.com SHORELEAVE 26 www.geocities.com/scificod Phone: 410/496-4456 May 14-16, Columbus, OH E-mail: information@shore- April 16-18, Amherst, MA CAPCON XXVII leave.com OURCON www.mgaosu.org www.shore-leave.com www.ourcon.org May 14-16, Maumee, OH August 3-8, Hunt Valley, MD April 16-18, Columbia, SC DRUMS ALONG THE MAUMEE #5 WORLD BOARDGAME CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDCON www.HMGSGL.com Contact: Don Greenwood www.roundcon.org www.boardgamers.org May 21-23, Ottawa, Ont Canada E-mail: [email protected] April 17-18, Secaucus, NJ CANGAMES EMPIRE FAN FEST E-mail: [email protected] August 5- 8, Indianapolis, IN www.empirefanfest.com www.cangames.ca www.gencon.com April 22-25, Timonium, MD May 28-31, Los Angeles, CA GAME DAYS 2004 GAMEX 2004 http://gamesday.gamesclubofmd.org/ www.strategicon.net Editorial

April 22-25, Timonium, MD May 28-31, Los Angeles, CA The Perpetual Fund, set up origi- TITAN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT STRATEGICON: GAMEX nally by Bruce Monnin, is still in the http://gamesday.gamesclubofmd.org/ E-mail: [email protected] process of being put under the aegis www.strategicon.net of AHIKS. It should be finished be- April. 30-May 2, Somerset, NJ fore long. Results of the member do- GAZEBO OF GAMES May 28-31, Lansing, MI nations to the Fund were not avail- E-mail: [email protected] MEDIAWESTCON able by the deadline; however, I will www.wildgazebo.com E-mail: [email protected] keep my offer in effect for the re- www.mediawestcon.com mainder of 2004. I will match any April 30-May 2, Columbus, OH donations to the fund up to a total of BPA BLOCK PARTY May 28-30, Columbus, OH $300. E-mail: [email protected] MARCON I would hope that you all glance www.buckeyeboardgamers.org/block E-mail: at page 11 from time to time to see party [email protected] just what is there. In this issue you www.marcon.org will see that a new RD is needed for April 30-May 2, Overland Park, KS the West Central Region. Volunteers CALL TO ARMS 2004 May 28-31, Burlingame, CA please contact our president, Chester. www.hahmgs.org/ KUBLACON It is not too late to change your E-mail: [email protected] preference concerning how to receive April 30-May 2, Washington, IL www.kublacon.com your Kommandeur. Let me know if SPRING OFFENSIVE you would prefer to download your http://Springoffensive@yahoogroups May 28-Jun 1, Tempe, AZ issue from our web site or if you .com MONSTERGAME.CON would like it as an e-mail attachment Contact: John Kranz (Consimworld) (of about 500 KB). April 30-May 2, West Des Moines, E-mail: [email protected] As you will see on page 11, the IA www.consimworld.com/monstergam deadline for the next issue is March DEMICON econ 31. E-mail: [email protected] www.demicon.org Om ar DeW itt

10 The Kommandeur

Open Match Requests from Rog er E astep In requesting matches, it’s helpful if you use the Match Re- Grunt (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E quest Form available on the back of each issue of The Komman- Guadalcanal (AH) (1555) Scott E/M deur or on the AHIKS website: Hannibal (AH) (0216) Schoenberger E/M www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Invasion America (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Mail the request to me at 16456 Tomahawk Drive, Gaithers- Invasion Sicily (GMT) (0225) Segarra E burg, MD 20878, or e-mail the equivalent information (including your e-mail address) to me at Kasserine (GMT) (0225) Segarra E [email protected]. When a match is set up, only one of Muckden 1905 (Spence & G) (1192) Humphries E the players should request ICRKs for all players in the game. Musket & Pike (SPI) (1192) Humphries E If you plan to change or have changed your address, phone Napoleon’s Last Battles, number, or e-mail address, please let me know the updated in- any Quad (SPI) (1210) Fassio E/M formation as soon as possible to avoid delay in the receipt of PanzerBlitz (AH) (0804) Sheppard E your Kommandeur, ICRKs, and other valuable AHIKS infor- PanzerBlitz (AH) (1551) Dohrman E/M mation. Panzer Leader (AH) (1551) Dohrman E/M Please send top portion of completed ICRKS to Match Rat- Panzer Leader (AH) (0804) Sheppard E ing/Roster Officer Andy Johnson. Pre-Stags (SPI) (1192) Humphries E Note: this list is updated periodically between issues of The Red Parachutes (AP) (0012) Jolly E Kommandeur at www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Red Star/White Star (SPI) (0012) Jolly E Russian Campaign (AH) (0804) Sheppard E 1776 (AH) (1561) McCabe E Russian Front (AH) (0036) Yarwood M 1914 (AH) (1550) Scott E/M Russian Front (AH) (1086) Mitchell E Adv. Third Reich (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Schutztruppe (Flying Buffalo) (1192) Humphries E Afrika Korps (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Search & Destroy (SPI) (1192) Humphries E Alexander (AH) (1192) Humphries E Siege of Port Arthur (Strife) (1192) Humphries E Antietam (SPI) (1137) Watson E Soldiers (SPI) (1192) Humphries E Anzio (AH) (0111) Oleson Adv (AH) (1293) Wood E/M Anzio (AH) (0413) Osmanson Squad Leader Adv (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Anzio ‘69 (AH) (1192) Humphries E Squad Leader Basic (AH) (1557) Williams E Arab-Israeli Wars (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Stalingrad (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Austerlitz (SPI) (0036) Yarwood Submarine (AH) (1468) Thomas M Avalanche (AH) (0225) Segarra E Submarine (AH) (0012) Jolly E Bitter Woods (AH/MMP/L2) (0073) Johnson E Tannenberg (Spence & Gable) (1192) Humphries E Blitzkrieg (AH) (0804) Sheppard E (AH) (1019) Llewellyn E Blue & Gray Quad 1,2 any (1210) Fassio E/M Von Manstein’s Backhand Blow(1530) Franz E Bomber (Yaquinto) (1312) Wells E World War III (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Bulge ‘65 (AH) (0804) Sheppard E Year of the Rat (SPI) (0804) Sheppard E Bulge ‘81 (AH) (0939) Martin E Bulge ‘91 (Smithsonian) (0804) Sheppard E E (member requests e-mail only) M (member re- Chantilly (Ivy St) (1262) Marcone E quests mail only) E/M (either OK) Chattanooga (SPI) (1137) Watson E Civil War (VG) (1561) McCabe E Opponents in the European Region Civilization (AH) (1185) Ringhoffer M Combat Mission: We the People (AH) Poulter Beyond Overlord (1560) Vanspengen E Diplomacy (AH) (1185) Ringhoffer M Contact Jeff Hawarden Dunkerque ‘40 (SDC) (1192) Humphries E [email protected] E.T.O. (Neppagames) (1466) Svevsson E EastFront (Columbia) (0044) DeWitt E Flattop (AH) (1430) Warnick E Flattop (AH) (1550) Duffield For the People (AH) (1086) Mitchell E Gallipoli (Paper Wars) (1192) Humphries E Global War (AH) (0804) Sheppard E

The Kommandeur 11

C E N TR A L O F F IC E S SU P P O R T SE R V IC E O F F IC E R S P R E SID E N T: E D ITO R /P U B L ISH E R : W E B SITE M A N A G E R P B E M C O O R D IN A TO R : C hester H endrix O mar D eW itt Tom Thornsen H ank B urkhalter 915 12th St 1580 B ridger R oad, N E 113 G lensummer R d 3444 P alisade C ove D r M arysville, C A 95901-4707 R io R ancho, N M 87144-1579 H olbrook, N Y 11741-5007 D uluth G A 30096-6671 (530) 741-1177 (505) 891-8846 (631) 472-3566 (678) 417-9640 C E H [email protected] A H IK [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

V IC E -P R E SID E N T: SE C R E TA R Y M U L TIP L A Y E R C O O D IN A TO R C H IT H O L D IN G R ay Labarbera W illiam D . W atkins SE R V IC E : 5522 A lvelais D r. 918 B ogert R oad R obert Johnson R obert R yan U nion C ity, C A 94587-5580 R iver E dge, N J 07661-2338 61 South Fox H all L n 32444 N ottingw ood St. (510) 471-1833 (201) 265-7795 W eyers C ove, V A 24486 F armington H ills M I K [email protected] W [email protected] 48334 (540) 234-8767 (248) 371-7846 M A TC H C O O R D IN A TO R JU D G E : P hilorej@A O L.com B obM R yan@A O L.com R oger E astep M ike W est 16456 Tomahaw k D r. 10 Shelburn C t. E U R O P E A N E D ITO R A R C H IV IST: G aithersburg, M D 20878 D urham, N C 27712-1626 K evin C roskery W illiam A . P erry (301) 208-9354 (919) 471-6825 4 B eechey W ay 102 C hamber L ane C opthorne W est Sussex C olumbus, N J, 08022 [email protected] w [email protected] U K R H 10 3L T (609) 298-9823 K C [email protected] [email protected] TR E A SU R E R M SO -R A TIN G S/R O STE R Stuart Schoenberger A ndy Johnson III R E C R U ITE R W E B SITE A D D R E SSE S 63-84 Saunders St. A pt 2-J 2951 C arlsbad C ircle ***O P E N P O SITIO N *** U S: w w w .angelfire.com/ R ego P ark, N Y 11374-3106 A urora, IL 60504 ny4/gmtom/A H IK S.htm (718) 459-4946 (630) 820-3991 [email protected] D A D J3@A O L .com U K : w w w .ahiks.co.uk

R E G IO N A L D IR E C TO R S Tw o of the offices previously listed here have been removed. A ll support officers w ere asked to contribute to the article on page C A N A D A : N O R TH C E N TR A L : 4. W hen no response w as received after several reminders, I Steve Llew ellyn John K reuz could only assume those tw o offices w ere no longer functioning. 37 Surrey C rescent 260 E ast O akview Lane Should the offices resume functioning, you w ill be notified. F redricton, N . B . O ak C reek, W I 53154-4513 C anada E 3B 4L 4 (414) 766-6747 llew [email protected] JK [email protected]

N O R TH E A ST: P A C IF IC : P aul K . Jordan K evin S. R eid 2802 C onnecticut A ve 10 Tollhouse W ay M edford, N Y , 11763 W indsor N SW ,2756 A ustralia (631) 654-1510 02-45-773-274 [email protected] K [email protected] CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send Change of Address notices to Roger Eastep, 16456 Tomahawk Dr. Gaithersburg, SO U TH E A ST: W E ST C E N TR A L : MD 20878. Send the change notice as soon as the new address is known. A lan M urphy R ichard L . Tucker has re- 705 Seventh St S. E . signed. Volunteers are urged W ashington, D C 20037 to contact C hester. SUBMISSIONS AHIKS desires from its membership original submissions of game-related articles, (202) 543-7004 analyses of tactics and strategy, series replays, game reports, reviews of games especially A [email protected] suitable for PBM, book reviews, convention reports, and stories of the military. All ______submissions should use tasteful language and refrain from non-AHIKS political E U R O P E : discussion. All submissions are subject to editing for grammar, clarity, and consistency of M urray C ow les style. Columns by the Officer Corps are news items, not articles, and will be published 6 C hafford G ardens subject to space availability. Please do not submit an article for publication which has W est H orndon, B rentw ood Seadogge@A O L .com also been submitted elsewhere. The preferred format for submitted articles, in order of E ssex, C M 13 3M J, U K 01277-811540 preference, are: Microsoft’s Word, WordPerfect, Wordpad, Notepad; any ASCII type file; typed articles that must be re-typed into the editor’s computer; hand written articles that

also must be re-typed into the editor’s computer. All submissions can be sent to the editor via either e-mail attachments or regular snail-mail. GENERAL INFORMATION Graphics can be in any standardized graphic format or in pen and ink sized to the The Kommandeur (K) is the official newsletter of AHIKS, an international width of one K column or less. The Game Company and The Gamers, Inc., society of mature adults who play historical simulation games by mail. have granted formal permission to reproduce game-related graphics in articles about their AHIKS is an organization of amateurs, staffed by volunteers, and is not games. Permission must be received in writing from any other company to use their affiliated with any game company or publisher. Society dues are yearly, graphics or game-related materials in the K. prorated quarterly, with a one-time initiation fee. Additional information about current rates is available from the Secretary or the European Regional Director. Subscriptions to the Kommandeur are available to non-members at PUBLICATION DEADLINES $1.50 per issue. We do not accept advertising. We do accept “ad trades” on an Articles will be accepted at any time though submission of an article does not issue-for-issue basis with other publications and organizations. Direct inquiries guarantee its publication. News items will be accepted if received in sufficient time to to the Editor or the European Regional Director. allow production schedules to be met. Deadline for next issue: March 31, 2004.

(Continued from page 6) ”Y o u e a rn a fre e re le a s e c o p y o f th e Pay to Playtest? g a m e s th a t h a v e y o u r p la y te s t o r d e - Lost Battalion Games, who pub- s ig n e r c re d it. Y o u re c e iv e 2 0 % o ff a ll lish an innovative series of card o th e r p u rc h a s e s o f L o s t B a tta lio n G a m e s games on operational East Front p ro d u c ts o n o u r o n -lin e s to re . In a d d itio n , combat, have issued a unique call for y o u w ill b e in d u c te d in to th e C h e r A m i 39/1 playtesters: L e g io n a n d re c e iv e a p o lo s h irt, w ith —M a n y o f y o u h a v e a s k e d a b o u t b e in g C h e ri A m i a n d th e le g io n m o tto o n it. p la y te s te rs . W e a re a n n o u n c in g a lim ite d A ls o , y o u g e t a c c e s s to th e p riv a te L e g io n n u m b e r o f p la y te s t p o s itio n s w ith L o s t fo ru m w h ic h is lim ite d to th e te s te rs a n d B a tta lio n G a m e s . W e k n o w y o u w ill th in k d e v e lo p e rs . w e a re c ra z y , b u t w e h a v e d e c id e d to s e ll —O n c e th e ro lls o f th e C h e r A m i - L e - th e p o s itio n s fo r a life -tim e m e m b e rs h ip g io n a re fu ll w e w ill c lo s e th e m e m b e r- fe e o f $ 2 5 0 d o lla rs to th o s e w h o q u a lify . s h ip . T o g e t in th e C h e r A m i - L e g io n a fte r T h e a p p lic a tio n p ro c e s s re q u ire s th a t y o u th a t w ill b e b y v a c a n c y . T h a t m e a n s y o u Standby opponents for new members only s ig n a n o n -d is c lo s u re a g re e m e n t a n d w ill h a v e to re ly o n th e o ld B ritis h a rm y s u b m it a n a p p lic a tio n le tte r th a t le ts u s to a s t to g e t a s p o t. ”H e re is to b itte r w in - Ron Brooker 1252 Bull Run k n o w w h y w e s h o u ld s e le c t y o u to b e te rs a n d b lo o d y b a ttle s .‘ Robert Johnson 0073 Bulge-61, in d u c te d in to th e C h e r A m i - L e g io n . —If y o u a re c ra z y e n o u g h to jo in C h e r Stalingrad —W h y re q u ire a m e m b e rs h ip fe e ? A m i's L e g io n th e n e -m a il u s a t ”W e b e lie v e th a t a n y o n e w h o is c raz y c ra z y @ lo s tb a tta lio n .c o m .“ John L Kreuz 1333 Bulge-81 e n o u g h to p a y to b e a p la y te s te r is d e d i- Kenneth Oates 1238 Pz. Ldr. Pz. Blitz. c a te d e n o u g h to a c tu a lly d o th e w o rk . Alan Poulter Thomas Oleson 0111 Anzio A n d w e h a v e a g re a t d e a l o f n e w p ro d - ([email protected]) Robert K. Smith 1437 Russian Front u c ts th a t re q u ire te s tin g b y p e o p le th a t a re s e rio u s a b o u t th e q u a lity o f th e (Anyone who desires to be listed as standby g a m e s th e y p la y . for new members please inform the MC.) —W h y s h o u ld y o u jo in th e C h e r A m i - L e g io n ?

MATCH REQUEST FORM

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

Game title #1. ______Letter Codes ______

Game title #2. ______Letter Codes ______