The K om m andeur

Volume 38 Number 6 A Publication of AHIKS December 2003 From the President (Playtesters for the SST redo—the real SST, not the silly movie trailer thingie— At last. The kids are back in school! are being sought vigorously right now!) Thanksgiving will be done by the time Have you checked out Consimworld you read this and Christmas is upon us lately to read over the folders for these (meaning—it's almost over too!). Life is games? Just the stunning counterwork always better when it runs on a schedule. for SST is worth the look-see—talk If it wasn't for our calendar, our family about eye candy! In more mundane wouldn't be able to function. And if Pam items, I am seeking volunteers to help and I didn't sit down and do bills together, with the by-laws rewrite. Don't be afraid O n the insid e: our meager budget would be toast with a to e-mail me. quickness. I know, you're all wondering That's what's going on in my world. G am e N ew s what the segue is. It's the budget, guys. What's going on in yours? I know Randy • Unfortunately, The K continues to Heller recently released Deluxe Bitter P B M not go down much in price. It is abso- Woods (he also has a folder on Consim- S ub m arine lutely our largest expense, and projections world). AHIKSers are involved in lots of the easy w ay right now are that dues would need to go projects for the hobby. I hope you will all to $12 for the next year to keep even. I take a moment to share with your broth- • have a vested interest in keeping the dues ers what irons you have in the fire by D iscussion on down to $6 a year. Not only is it cheap, dropping a line to Omar for the next K. I rules revision but... well... it's cheap! Our Editor and our know there are a number of you out there • website manager, Tom Thornson, are put- that like hearing what I've been up to and W hat’s an ting the finishing touches on getting The it's high time I remind you all that the e-K? K on the website with a simple security feeling is mutual. What are you up to? • protocol. We would need to keep avail- I would like to read from each It’s tim e to able a separate dues level for those who AHIKSer in the next K what you are cur- p ay your d ues don't do the net or would still prefer a pa- rently involved in, whether it be design, per Kommandeur. If it's worth it to you to development, playtesting, publishing, for 2004 pay the extra, then it is incumbent upon us writing, or whatever. If everybody sends • to deliver. This is all still in the final in an update, it will help all of us to see Y our next stages, so stay tuned. what is happening and how we can sup- op p onent While we're at it, I hope you have had port each other. This hobby is nothing time to look at the new website. Visit and without networking, and I want AHIKS give us feedback. It is very nicely done to be a first-rate society for members of (thanks, Tom). As more information gets the Society and members of the hobby, posted it will get better. The MC updates so we need to hook up with each other. It alone are worth the look. Roger has done all begins when we take advantage of the an amazing job of stepping up. Things are opportunity presented us bi-monthly in looking good. the pages of The K—whether we choose On a personal note, my shed is almost to get it by mail (paper) or electronically. done (we finished the electrical work last A fellow you might recognize named month for lights and such) which means once told me, “If you don't that work on my Kursk game and the toot your own horn, nobody else will.” Starship Troopers redo will be getting into full swing by the end of the year. Your Buddy, Chester 2

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -The Kom mandeur — — — –— — — — — — — — — –— — — — –

Submarine by PBM or E-Mail vessels. Table 40.9 will have to be by Albert H. Thomas used for escort evasion against first turn of launch torpedo hits. Sonar, radar searches and all This system is playable with hid- pick. If listed ICRKs are already ASW attacks are resolved by ICRKs den movement and torpedoes by just used, just go down the ICRK lists that the escort player assigns to his two players. A game master is not until you find an unused one. attacks. needed. Two mailings are needed per At the beginning of the game each I have over 25 charts and playing turn with the possibility of a few player will make up 20 sealed enve- aids on my hard drive. The drive also more if there are several escorts lopes. Number on the outside 1 to 20. has several sheets of information on searching for a sub. It is unlikely that When you open an envelope num- using this system. If anyone wishes too many additional mailings will be bered 1 to 6, move number 7 enve- this material and sends me a self- needed. I have used this system and it lope into the empty slot. This way addressed, stamped, legal-size enve- works. Using ICRKs, the play is even you will always have six envelopes to lope with a 3 ½ floppy disc, I will easier. Each player must have a set of use, and players won’t have to keep format it and load all of my Subma- 20 sealed envelopes. Inside each en- replacing sealed envelopes every rine files on it and return it to you. velope is a slip of paper with a start- turn. Postage in the US is $0.60, to Canada ing ICRK set/#. The players will use $0.85, and Europe $1.60. these envelopes to resolve those items that do not have an ICRK assigned to T his system is p layable Albert H. Thomas them when they are listed in the w ith hidden m ovem ent 120 Kimberly Dr. West move. The escort player lists ICRKs Syracuse, NY 13219-2743 for sub player’s resolution of sonar, and torp edoes b y just radar searches, and all ASW attacks. [Some specifics of Albert’s system All other ICRKs uses are randomly tw o players. can be found (boxed) on pages 2,3, and 8. If you w ant to try this system determined by opening sealed enve- out, Albert is looking for a match.— lopes. The sub player will also seal E d.] his moves and torpedo launches into an envelope. He puts the turn number and his initials on the outside. This The system is such that you are Assigning ICRKs for envelope is sent to the escort player forced to open a specific envelope by Attacks, etc. each turn. The escort player signs the the situation on the board that you are Surface Fire outside and returns it to the sub resolving. This makes the starting ICRKs will be assigned by vessel ID player. The sub player keeps these ICRK random and the results of the number, or by name in alphabetical move-plot and torpedo-launch enve- resolution random. Each hex on the order. lopes for the remainder of the game. board has a value from 1 to 9. These Escort players will assign ICRKs to He will send them to the escort player values are on a chart in volume 38/2 firing escort vessels first, then firing after the game ends, at which time the of The Kommandeur or 17/4 of The convoy vessels. escort player opens as many as he General. These values are multiplied Test Depth ICRK wants to, to verify the play of the by the range to the target. This result In the case when there is more than game. is then divided by 6, with the remain- one submarine exceeding test depth, An important part of the system is der being the number of the envelope assign ICRKs by ID number or by the use of the ICRK sealed envelopes to be opened. A remainder of zero alphabetical order. and how to determine which envelope opens envelope # 6. Inside the enve- Torpedo Hits to open. The envelope system was lope is a starting ICRK for the resolu- ICRKs will be assigned by alpha- first outlined in The General Volume tions. At the end of the game all un- betical order for those torpedoes that 17/4 in an article written by Don Ei- opened envelopes are exchanged and may hit that turn. san. It was also redone for TRC in the players can verify moves, torpedo Each torpedo may need four ICRKs. The Kommandeur Volume 38/2. I’m launches, hits, etc. There will be quite The first two, if needed, for escort using sealed envelopes in a small way a number of envelopes so it is not evasion. The third one for hit resolu- for this game system. Most of the necessary to open and check all of tion and the fourth for damage re- ICRKs used will be picked by your them—just enough to verify that your sults, if needed. opponent. Sealed envelopes as stated opponent is resolving items without above are used for surface-fire resolu- errors. ICRKs will be assigned only if tion, sub test depth, torpedo hits, and I personally have found that the needed. escort evasion. Inside each envelope game / system works best as a basic Sonar, radar searches, and all will be listed an ICRK column / #. game with all optional rules except # ASW attacks are resolved by ICRKs This is a start ICRK, or, in the case of 24.0 and 26.0, and advanced rule that the escort player assigns to his crush-depth resolution, a single ICRK #39.0 only for first-turn hits on escort attacks. 3 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Kommandeur — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — E-Mail, Ciphers Convoy Log Movement plot is a two-section cipher. The following is a way that e-mail players may re- 2R would be one section for (2) and one section for place the use of sealed envelopes. It can also be used by (R). PBM players to replace some of the sealed envelopes For security’s sake I would use two letters for each they need to play the game by mail. section. Players have three segments that need to be kept hid- (Null)(2), and (Null)(R). den: the convoy log, submarine log, and torpedo-launch The letters may be reversed without changing the information. The easiest and most error-free way to do meaning. this is with a St Cyr slide rule. The slide is a simple-to- Index ship Board, Row, Hex #, and heading is also use, multiple-alphabet cipher, which is secure enough for ciphered. e-mail or PBM play. It would be better to change the key Every item except the Hex # is doubled with a Null. each turn. This won’t interfere with the game, as the play- ers will exchange the keys during the game or at the end Torpedo Cipher of it. The escort player will have to give the key to the This is filled out at time of launch. sub player for those turns the convoy moves. At the end Hidden torpedo run is important as it reveals the loca- of the game the escort player may then decipher enough tion of the submarine that launched it. items to verify the play. The whole torpedo run could be hidden if players I will go into using the St Cyr rule; however it would agree. be a good idea for players to go to a library and read up Ciphered are: Type, Speed, Heading, Launch turn on ciphers (Dewey 652.8) for more detailed information. travel, Launch hex (A, B, C, Z, Y, X). A St Cyr slide is very easy to make by using a 1/16” x 2” Launch plot. sheet of wood and three 1/16” x ¼” strips. I use bass- Run depth. wood. The important thing is to use a computer program The board hex of the launch hex is not necessary as it to type the alphabet strips and center the letter/number in can be found from the location of the launch sub. The turn a 2-unit space so the letters/numbers will line up over number and launch sub are listed in the clear. each other. This is best done with a spreadsheet program. All this information is listed as two letters with Nulls The slides I make are 15” long. The letters are 16-size included. font as that size is easier for me to see and line up! I color the center slide red. These strips of paper/alphabets are Submarine Log glued to the three strips, the two outside strips are fixed Eight sections for sub movement plots. and represent clear alphabets and the center one slides These sections will need a prefix letter L or N for and is the ciphered alphabet. what follows—a letter or a number. Board, Row, Hex #, Heading, Speed, and Depth are St Cyr Ruler, (Partial). doubled for security except depth, which is in three sec- tions. A B C D E F A B C D E F G H Book Review 1 2 3 4 5 6 An Army at Dawn The War in North Africa 1. The top line is one alphabet A to Z, These are clear by Rick Atkinson letters. 681 pages, maps, photos 2. The middle line is on a slide, two alphabets A to Z, © 2002 Published by Henry Holt A to Z. This is the cipher and is red. 3. The bottom line is numbers 1 to 0, 1 to 0, 1 to 6. I can’t recommend this book too highly. It has great These are clear numbers. maps and many photos, and Atkinson writes exceedingly 4. In use, the slide is adjusted so that the key letter is well. Atkinson not only gives us the large picture but in- under the “A” of the fixed alphabet. cludes details that result in a rich tapestry of the campaign. In our example, the key letter is “C.” As the American forces were retreating from Rommel’s E is encrypted as “G,” F would be “H,” and numeral attacking forces, “Indefatigable Tunisian peddlers stood 2 is “D.” along the road holding up eggs, tangerines, and tiny gaso- 5. It is possible that players would have to use a ci- line stoves.” pher “L” or “N” to indicate that the character following Atkinson plays no favorites, and places blame where he was a letter or number. This is necessary when ciphering believes it is due, from Ike to Anderson to Fredendall to the submarine movement. green US troops. 6. The slide is moved for every letter of the clear. Two more books are planned on WWII in Europe, and I That is, every clear letter is ciphered by a different alpha- will be eagerly awaiting them. bet. Om ar DeW itt 4

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -The Kom mandeur — — — –— — — — — — — — — –— — — — –

Game News from Alan Poulter Construction, Disengagement, Von Der Heydte's parachute battalion, and Skorseny's 150 Panzer Brigade. It is Decision Games yet another contender for the best This article is a compilation of infor- Battle Cry of Freedom, by new de- Bulge game. mation gleaned chiefly from Consim- signer David Smith, is a strategic- Medieval, designed by Richard H. world (www.consimworld.com) and level card game on the American Berg, is a card-based game set in 13th Web-Grognards Civil War. It takes a very different century in Europe, Middle East, and (www.grognard.com). approach from the ground-breaking North Africa. The cards represent the Blue vs. Gray. In Blue vs. Gray Powers (e.g. England, the Hapsburgs, players were responsible for the com- etc), various events, and also provide NEW GAMES position of armies and the choice of the playing map, that is formed of strategic objectives. In Battle Cry of nineteen Cards, only eight of which Avalanche Freedom, players re-fight the histori- start the game in play. The rest of the Tank Battles is the first Panzer cal series of battles and can micro- map cards come into play randomly, Grenadier series scenario book with manage the tactical engagements in but can be removed by the depreda- 48 new scenarios. The biggest is on each battle. The game also incorpo- tions of the Mongols. Medieval takes Operation Mars, the 1942 Soviet of- rates an immense range of historical three to five players and includes 110 fensive in front of Moscow. events. It has no map and no count- cards, markers, and play money. Great Pacific War is a strategic- ers. www.decisiongames.com The Great Battles of Alexander, the level game covering the entire war in game that started the Great Battles the Pacific from December 1941-46, Eagle Games of History series, has been re-issued based on the game system used in the Age of Mythology is a board game in an updated and expanded edition. Avalanche re-issue of the John Pra- based on the computer game of the It includes new counters, maps, and dos design Third Reich. Rules are same name. Players control armies scenarios that cover all the major included to link this game with Third made up of warriors, priests, heroes, battles from the original game (and Reich. and mythical creatures from ancient the Juggernaut module) plus five America Triumphant: The Battle Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythol- additional battles. Ownership of this of the Bulge is a new game in the ogy. They explore the world and new edition is required to play a new Decisive Battles of WWII series gather resources, which allow them to module, Tyrant, on the battles of from designer, Brian Knipple. It is a create buildings and armies. Special Carthage versus Syracuse, 480-276 one-map game with 280 counters. buildings allow players to build new B.C. www.gmtgames.com/ Based on Soldier Kings, Soldier army types and improve the abilities Emperor covers the Napoleonic of their units. Battles are resolved L2 Design Group Wars in Europe, 1803-1815. The with a unique dice and card system. It Bitter Woods, a divisional level game has two large hard-mounted is intended as a game non-wargamers game on the Battle of the Bulge, game boards and 64 cards plus over could play. www.eaglegames.net/ comes out in yet another edition. Bit- 300 pieces. www.avalanchepress.com ter Woods: Deluxe Edition has a GMT mounted map with enlarged hexes Clash of Arms A World at War is based on the Ad- and updated cartography, larger Whistling Death is the third card vanced Third Reich/Empire of the counters, an updated order of battle, game in designer JD Webster's WWII Rising Sun game system, which additional scenarios, and rules Fighting Wings series. It is on tacti- simulates the military, economic, changes and clarifications. cal air combat in the Pacific and con- political, diplomatic, research, and A re-appearance of a classic is the tains 110 scenarios involving 40 air- production aspects of the Second fourth edition of The Russian Cam- craft and ship types. World War. The game includes many paign, a strategic-level game on the www.clashofarms.com campaigns/scenarios, ranging from Eastern Front in WWII. It has a the introductory Battle of the Atlantic mounted map, larger counters, new Critical Hit and Barbarossa scenarios up to sepa- variant counters, new scenarios, an Moments in History's grand tactical rate European and Pacific campaign updated order of battle and an up- simulation of the Battle of Berlin, games and the entire war in Europe dated rules booklet. Gotterdammerung, has been re- and the Pacific. www.l2designgroup.com/ issued in a 2nd edition. The new edi- Ardennes '44: The Battle of the tion includes a new map, new count- Bulge, designed by , Lost Battalion Games ers, new play aids, a new rulebook, features a plethora of special rules Following on from Drive on Stalin- and a small map insert covering the covering Night Turns, Determined grad, Streets of Stalingrad is an fight for the fuehrer bunker. Defense/Attack Options, Engineer operational-level card game set on the www.criticalhit.com Teams, Traffic Jams, Variable Bridge Eastern Front during WWII. It con- 5 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Kommandeur — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — sists of separate unit decks, for Ger- War One battle. Designer is John counters with no ratings or numbers man and Russian infantry, mecha- Desch. of any sort! British counters represent nized and tank units, and operations/ Strategy & Tactics issue #218 con- 4 men, Zulu counters about 25-30 locations decks, which provide for tains games on two separate battles men.http://members.tripod.com/ engagement actions. Chancellorsville and Plevna, using ~RichardHBerg/bso.html It has been supplemented by 384th the Empires at War game system. German Infantry Division, which is Designer is Joe Miranda. Khyber Pass Games have released an independent unit deck, and Op- www.decisiongames.com/ The Battle of Jassin 1915, on a bat- eration Uranus which includes new tle in East Africa between veteran operations and locations decks and Vae Victis issue #52 contains La German Schutzetruppen and a mixed new unit decks for the Soviet 4th Campagne De France, 1814, an force of Indian regular army and Im- Cavalry Corps and the Rumanian 1st operational-level game on the Napo- perial Service troops. The game uses Panzer Division. leonic campaign. Earlier games using a new tactical combat system for www.l2designgroup.com/ the same game system have been World War One games. published in Vae Victis #41 and #47. h t t p : / / 2 1 6 . 2 3 4 . 1 6 3 . 3 9 / k p g / MMP Vae Victis issue #53 contains kpg_main.html Monty's Gamble: Market Garden Champs de Bataille IV: Asie on is an area-movement game based on tactical combat in medieval Asia. New from designer Perry Moore is the Breakout: Normandy system. It Earlier games using the same game Gunfight in the Valley of Tears covers the entire Operation Market system have been published in Vae 1973 on an engagement between 20 Garden campaign and contains one Victis #9, #15 and #30. See: Israeli Centurion tanks against over map, two counter sheets, and a 16- www.vaevictis.com/ 100 Syrian T-62/T-55 tanks! This page rule book. Note that Vae Victis magazine and tactical game covers the three hour For King and Country is an Ad- games are in French, but rules trans- battle that ended with an IDF victory. vanced Squad Leader module that lations are made available via: http:// http://pweb.jps.net/~perrya/ contains a complete order of battle grognard.com/vaevict.html for British units along with four Schutze Games have released Cards mounted maps and 20 revised and Against The Odds issue #5 contains of War, a card game themed around updated scenarios. North Wind Rain, an operational/ WWII and Fox's Gambit: Gazala, www.multimanpublishing.com strategic level game on a hypothetical designed by Paul Rohrbaugh, on the Japanese attack against the Soviet Far 1942 desert battle. Phalanx Games East in WWII. Designer is Mark www.geocities.com/schutze_games/ Age of Napoleon 1805–1815, by new Stille. www.atomagazine.com/ designer Renaud Verlaque, is a Designer Roberto Chiavini, under his grand-strategic, two-player game Alea issue #28 contains Africa 1859- TCS banner, has released The Battle based on the rise and fall of Napo- 60: The Last Romantic War, on of Montebello on the 1859 battle in leon. It has a mounted map, 162 large three battles of the Spanish-Moroccan the Second Italian War for Independ- counters, a short rule book and 56 war of 1859-60: Castillejos, Wad-Ras ence. E-mail Roberto at: cards. It is intended as a game non- and Tetuán. [email protected] wargamers could play. www.simtacludopress.net/ See: www.phalanxgames.nl/ Note that Alea magazine and games NEW WEB RESOURCES are in Spanish, but rules translations UGG are made available via: http:// As a preview of their forthcoming ¿Pasarán? is a strategic-level game grognard.com/alea.html new Men of Iron series on tactical on the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939, medieval combat, GMT is offering which uses the Blitzkrieg General Six Angles issue #8 contains Agincourt, a complete game for game system. The map is area based; Kharkov 1941-43, an operational- download: www.gmtgames.com/ there are rules for production, special level game on the campaigns for miv1/sneakpeek.html terrain, weather, and supply, and 55 Kharkov. Designer is Mas Yamazaki. option cards for special events. It is www.mas-yamazaki.com/ Designer Alan Emrich has made for two players but there is a solitaire sa8ordereng.html available for download, as part of a option. www.ugg.de/ game-design course he is running, NEW DESKTOP PUBLISHED two classic introductory games from NEW MAGAZINE SPI, Napoleon at Waterloo, at: www.alanemrich.com/PGD/ WARGAMES Strategy & Tactics issue #217 con- Zulu! is a BSO game from designer Week_09/PGD_NAW_rules.htm tains The Lost Battalion: The Richard Berg on the famous defence and Strike Force One at: www.alanemrich.com/PGD Meuse-Argonne Offensive 1918, an of Rorke’s Drift. It has no hexes, no operational-level game on the World squares, no point-to-point areas, and /Week_09/PGD_SF1_rules.htm 6

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -The Kom mandeur — — — –— — — — — — — — — –— — — — –

The web site for Ancients, a previ- —T he rev is ed Axis & Allies, c reated Movie Review ously-published tactical-level game u n der the direc tion of L arry H arris , the of ancient era combat, now available g am e‘s orig in al des ig n er, w ill featu re by Albert Bowie for download, has moved to: m ore detailed g am e p iec es , a beau tifu lly c harted, fu ll-c olor w orld m ap , an d u p - www.relativerange.com/ancients/ “Gods and Generals” is a movie dated ru les that p rom is e to m ake p lay covering the first two years of the Civil Spanish Fury, Sail!, a complete set m ore ex c itin g than ev er. War in the eastern, or Virginia, theater, of miniatures rules for tactical naval —T he redes ig n ed edition of Axis & Allies and focusing on the part played by Gen- combat 1560-1603, is available for em p has iz es the g am e‘s dedic ation to eral “Stonewall” Jackson. download at: his toric al detail, in c lu din g the rev am p in g When the movie appeared last http://perfectcaptain.50megs.com/ of p lay p iec es to reflec t real-life m ilitary spring, liberal, politically correct movie sfsail.html v ehic les . N ow G erm an tan ks are s hap ed reviewers disparaged it (which for me is like P an ther tan ks w hile the U .S . an d the a kind of recommendation in itself). It is Designer David Kershaw has made U .K . tan ks res em ble S herm an tan ks . easy to see why liberals hate it. 1) To available for download three games, C han g es to the fig hter p lan es in c lu de the politically correct, the Southerners Barbarossa Solitaire, Imperium tran s form in g the U .K . fig hters in to S p it- were the equivalent of nineteenth cen- Romanum Lite, and Saxon Shore, fires , the U .S . fig hters in to P -3 8 L ig ht- tury Nazis; this film, however, tells the at: www.kerpob.com/games/ n in g s , an d the G erm an fig hters in to J u -8 7 story mostly from a Southern perspec- tive, treats Southerners with sympathy S tu kas . and respect, and articulates very well nd —While retain in g Axis & Allies’ his tori- Unofficial 2 edition rules for the reasons why they fought. (It gives Geronimo are available at: http:// c al flav or an d c om p lex s trateg y , u p dates an equally good and sympathetic ac- grognard.com/info1/geronimo.html to the g am e‘s ru les — s u c h as n ew g u ide- count of why the Northerners fought). lin es for w eap on s dev elop m en t res earc h 2) The film treats Christianity in a re- An unofficial Midway variant for —-help s tream lin e an d im p rov e g am e spectful and sincere way, instead of the Carrier is available (as a Word file) balan c e. O ther s p ec ific addition s to the denigrating, condescending fashion at: http://grognard.com/variants1/ g am e in c lu de n ew s ea z on e c on fig u ra- Hollywood usually employs. carrier.doc tion s an d ev en n ew territories .“ How good is the movie? For start- ers, Civil War re-enactors were used to GENERAL NEWS New edition of Conquest of the Em- supply the bulk of the troops, so of pire course the uniforms, weapons, etc. are Rob Markham Designs for Ava- Eagle Games in a press release an- all very accurate. There is one excep- lanche nounced the signing of an exclusive tion: re-enactors tend to be well-fed, Designer Rob Markham has merged deal with designer Larry Harris to re- middle-aged men; the actual troops would have been young and thin. But his Rob Markham Designs DTP- publish the classic game Conquest of this is a minor quibble. What is por- effort into Avalanche, so that his fu- the Empire in late 2004. Conquest trayed in the movie is accurate: the ture games get the same treatment as of the Empire was originally pub- characters represent real people who say standard Avalanche games. Rob lished in 1985 as part of Milton Brad- and do the things that the real people Markham is the designer of games ley’s Game Master Series. It became actually said and did. On the down side, like Soldier Kings, Granada, and immensely popular, and second-hand even four hours are insufficient to cover Montcalm and Wolfe: copies continue to be highly sought all the events of that period of the war, "We are thrilled to let Rob take the ball after. nor does the movie try to do so: it an d ru n w ith it!" c om m en ted A v alan c he —T he n ew v ers ion of C o n q u est o f th e shows only parts of three battles: 1st P res s C E O M ike B en n ig hof. "I'v e w orked E m p ire w ill in c lu de the orig in al g am e Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chan- on Rob's g am es for ov er 1 5 y ears , an d I (w ith n ew ru les for c atap u lts , an d other cellorsville. Of all the battles that oc- kn ow from p ers on al ex p erien c e that his g reat op tion al ru les ), g reat artw ork by curred between 1st Manassas and Fred- des ig n w ork is the bes t ou r in du s try has P au l N iem ey er, an d en tirely n ew c om p o- ericksburg (Jackson's Valley Campaign, to offer. Rob's g am es are kn ow n for their n en ts an d ru les for s c en arios that w ill the Seven Days battles around Rich- ac c u rac y , p lay ability , an d m os t of all fu n ! in c lu de T he E x p an s ion of Rom e, T he mond, 2nd Manassas, Antietam) there is H ow c an w e g o w ron g ? “ P u n ic Wars , an d T he B arbarian In v as ion s no mention. Those unfamiliar with the Civil War of the E m p ire.“ The first Markham Designs products will, I think, find this movie unintelligi- ÆÆ will be Stonewall: The Battle of ble: just a bunch of guys shooting at Kernstown and Greece Preserved: each other. Those who know something The Battle of Marathon. The UK region has also gone about the war will likely regret the electronic. You can view their fine omissions. Perhaps it was overly ambi- New edition of Axis & Allies newsletter, The Despatch, on our tious to try to portray so many events, Wizards of the Coast will release a website in PDF format. It is one of even in a movie of this length. If you new version of Axis & Allies in the options after you access the e-K. want to see a good Civil War movie, March 2004, according to a press See details in the Editorial on watch “Glory.” release: page 8. ÆÆ 7 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Kommandeur — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

A Dialogue on Rules Revision I can really relate to Craig's de- with Tom Oleson, Craig Besinque, and M ark Simonitch sire to tinker with EuroFront. How- ever, there is a limit to what the gam- ing public will tolerate—you just No one knows more about the While there is ongoing develop- can't keep changing things. The pub- wargaming hobby than the member- ment to correct glitches uncovered by lic will lose interest after a while and ship of AHIKS, to whom I pose a gamers and make other improve- won’t bother to keep up with the new question: is EuroFront designer ments, much of it is currently driven changes, especially if they follow too Craig Besinque unique in his ap- (as it has been in the past) by the ex- closely. proach to the hobby? “No plan sur- panding modularity of the Front I figure a designer has, at most, vives the first contact with the en- games. WF brought sea rules, etc. NF three shots to change his game: Once emy.” Was it Clausewitz who said it? has opened new possibilities and is about three months after publication We all know that no in its consequently requiring new rules (to patch any glaring errors), about a original form survives contact with subsystems and modifications of old year later to patch any problems that players. However extensive the play- ones. IMO, no game system can be have surfaced after repeated play (and testing, some glitch is discovered and expected to handle the broadened make official any good house rules). must be corrected, whether by errata scope of additional expansion mod- After three years the public may put or a new edition. The first approach is ules without such modification and up with one more change from the nearly universal, the second, com- alteration. designer who wants to polish his mon. Then there are games like ASL, Secondly, the updating I do is puppy—but don't count on it. where new scenarios are always mostly in the background, to be in- M ark Sim onitch added. I have made many long week- cluded in errata updates (made semi end trips to New Denver, BC, to play annually or so) and updated rule- I had the unsettling experience at and playtest EuroFront with its de- books when reprintings occur. For the Baltimore convention two years signer, and I believe he has a unique example, what we are doing for NF ago of coming across a contradiction approach to his game. There have will not become official until it is in the Anzio rules on something quite been errata. There is a revised edi- printed. fundamental, which had gone unno- tion, but there is something more: ticed for decades. It finally popped up continual evolution. I am not talking in the championship match. Just goes ...overly-successful strategies about the several editions of Anzio, to show how hard it is to playtest. Be that evolve need to be or TRC, or Bitter Woods, but non- that as it may, it seems to me that counterb alanced, or p lay w ill stop updating. On my last visit, it games like Anzio or BKN or BW or becom e stereotyped . became evident that the Soviets could many others I could cite, which cover not properly garrison the Curzon Line a fairly narrow topic, should be thor- while simultaneously preparing for oughly playtested when sold, and— the Winter War. This new issue arose Agreed there have been some after a few years—should have the from the introduction of an expanded system tweaks that are not strictly glitches all ironed out. North Front addition. Craig decided errata, but needed (IMO) strategic A game like EuroFront is differ- to make a change in the way the Cur- rebalancers. But this really stems ent. Although easy to play, the topic zon Line boundary is made effective, from my desire (and Columbia's basic is so mammoth, and the permutations to solve this newly-revealed problem. philosophy) that the games should be so endless, that even as tirelessly EuroFront is always under revision, not just playable, but replayable. This dedicated a designer as Craig Besin- hopefully, improvement. This ap- means that overly-successful strate- que can not reasonably be expected to proach has pros and cons. The scope gies that evolve need to be counter- foresee them all. Just as one example, of WW II in Europe is so vast that I balanced, or play will become stereo- most of the minor powers in the game welcome Craig's receptiveness to typed. On this point I may be differ- may wind up on either side. For that improvements he and others discover. ent. reason, I welcome his approach, or as It makes for an ever-better game. On As far as the argument that some I perceive it to be. the other hand, not everybody wants a players do not want to be continually Tom Oleson game to keep changing, because that re-learning the game goes: these play- is something new to learn. ers always have the option to play You can't please everybody. I one ruleset and stick to it. If they do prefer Craig's approach, and again not play a lot of EuF they may never M ark S im on itc h has ju s t releas ed his ask—is anybody else doing it? encounter the strategy or situation g am e Ard en n es ’4 4 . S ee G am e N ew s Tom Oleson that prompted the update! If they do p ag e 4 . It c an be p u rc has ed at B ou lder encounter it, they then have a motiva- G am es for $ 3 4 .8 0 . V is it tion to deal with learning the updated w w w .bou lderg am es .c om an d ty p e in version. That is why it exists. —A rden n es “ in the s earc h w in dow . T om Craig Besinque O les on c alls it —s tate of the art B u lg e.“ 8

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -The Kom mandeur — — — –— — — — — — — — — –— — — — – Submarine PBM d. The next turn=s mailing date Editorial Sequence Sheet could be changed because of suc- [T he terms “stocks” and “IC R K s” are cessful searches. Please note that my e-mail ad- interchangeable in the follow ing.] D. Sub Player dress is now AHIKSomar@cableone Phase 0 Both Players a. On the CTD from C/a resolves .net. The Juno address is no longer Position all units so as to reflect the all moves, searches in order listed. active. last turn=s moves, attacks or the first b. At the first successful search, The printer erred with the last turn positions. he stops the move and returns the issue. It was printed on a paper that Phase 1 Movement Plot, Both info about the search to the escort turned out to be heavier than the Players player. The rest of the turn is voided. usual paper and thereby increased the Movement 7.0 E. Escort Player postage. Some were sent out with a A. Sub Player Picks up his turn where it was 37¢ stamp. If any of you had to pay a. Plots this turn=s move. ended by the successful search. postage due, I apologize. The printer b. Plots the launch/movement of F. Both players repeat c and d has promised to reimburse AHIKS torpedoes to be fired this turn. above until all escorts have searched, for the extra postage we did pay. c. Lists submarines—stock for attacked, etc. Several mailings and Our annual dues are rising to a subs attempting to exceed test depth. could be needed before the phase is more realistic level. They had been d. Seals this information and completed. However, more than two lowered the last few years to decrease mails it to escort player. mailings is unlikely. our surplus. Dues will rise to $12. P h a se 1 -5 M a ilin g . B. Escort Player However, there is a cheaper op- a. Plots the move of the convoy A . M ail all en v elop es an d s u rfac e attac k/ firin g s to y ou r op p on en t. T his m ailin g is les s tion. We have devised a way to dis- three turns in advance. the S u b en v elop e w hic h w as s en t earlier. tribute The Kommandeur electroni- b. Seals this info into envelope. B . E s c ort p lay er w ill in c lu de the c on v oy cally—an e-K. If you chose to re- Phase 2 Surface Gunnery, Both m ov em en t for this tu rn . ceive your Kommandeur electroni- Players C . T he date of this m ailin g is the lates t date cally, your dues will be only $6 a A. Each player lists firing ships, lis ted by both p lay ers in las t tu rn = s P has e 1 1 . year. Since editors, and all other Offi- range, and target ship; gunnery fac- D . A t his op tion the es c ort p lay er m ay res olv e cers, work for no charge, the biggest tors; die modifications; and stocks. P has e 2 before g oin g on to P has e 4 , 5 . expense AHIKS has is printing and B. The escort player picks a CTD Phase 6 Both Players mailing The Kommandeur. The cost which will be used to resolve all Visible subs lost by sonar homing is approximately $2 a copy to print surface attacks. revert to hidden status. and mail domestically. There will Phase 3 Escort Player Phase 7 Sub Player always be a paper Kommandeur be- Star Shell Firing A. Moves all torpedoes launched cause a few members do not use the Lists firing ship and target hex. this turn. internet. You will choose whichever Phase 4 Convoy Movement B. Moves all torpedoes on board, form you prefer, but do not choose Escort Player moves convoy in alphabetical order, because he the paper K as a favor to the Society Phase 5 Movement of Escorts, knows the result of and hits and because all your dues will then go to Searches, ASW Attacks detonations. the newsletter. That is said not to A. Escort Player: searches C. Resolves any torpedo hits. Use coerce you, but, if you are uncertain no st a. Lists escorts= moves. Lists 1 listed CTD in Phase 5c. in your decision, keep that in mind. these moves in the order to be fol- Phase 8 Sub Player No one wants to buy a pig in a lowed. A. Moves sub(s). poke. You can, right this moment, b. Lists hexes attacked, type of B. Resolves test depth dies. Use find out what the electronic version attack, and ICRKs. last CTD listed in Phase 5/c. of The Kommandeur looks like at our B. Escort Player: with searches C. Notify escort player that a sub web site www.angelfire.com/ny4/ a. Lists escorts= moves. exceeded test depth at the first op- gmtom/AHIKS.htm. [Note: if you b. Lists these moves in order. portunity. type “anglefire,” you will get a porn Lists hexes attacked. Phase 9 Sub Player site.] Type in the user name c. Lists searches, ship, die modi- Resolves ASW attacks. Use last “AHIKS” and the password “Torch.” fications, type of search, stocks. CTD listed in Phase 5/C This issue will appear, in PDF for- d. Lists attacks, ICRKS etc. Phase 10 Both Players mat. You will need Adobe Acrobat C. After completing A or B above Visible subs out of visual range or Reader to read, download, or print the a. Pick a CTD even if no attacks, radar depth revert to hidden status. newsletter, which will be available searches are planned. Phase 11 Both players pick a date page by page to make downloading b. Pick a mailing date for next for next turn’s mailing of Phases 1, easier. Adobe Reader can be turn=s mailing of both sides of Phases 2, 3, 4, 5. See PBM instructions #2. downloaded for free at 1, 2, 3, Phase 12 Both Players send all www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/. c. Send all move information A, results, papers, etc. for this turns Downloading from our web site, B, C/a from above to the sub player. results etc. to opponent. which is run admirably by Tom Thornsen, will be one way to receive 9 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Kommandeur — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — your e-K. The other way is to have me send it to you as an e-mail attachment. Since the file will be about 3 MB, SURVEY your server will have to allow and accommodate files Since taking over as Editor over a year ago, I have sent that large; many servers do not. If you choose the e-K, I out over 200 copies of The Kommandeur every two months. will have to know whether to send you a copy or just let It is a bit like dropping 200 pebbles into a deep well. Every you know it is available at the web site. In either case, I once in a while I hear a “plunk,” which indicates feedback. will need your e-mail address. For many issues, there are no “plunks.” The advantages of choosing the e-K are: it will save I would like to know how I am doing and what you like the Society money, you will receive it about two weeks to see in your newsletter, so a survey follows. I would appre- earlier, it will have some color, and, since page 12 will ciate it very much if you would fill it out. You can cut it out not be needed, there may be some extra stuff. of this issue and mail it to my address below, or you can e- Work on moving the Perpetual Fund from its origi- mail me at my address on page 11, and I will send a copy in nator, Bruce Monnin, to the aegis of AHIKS should be an e-mail that you can fill in and e-mail back to me. done in the very near future. Stuart’s column, which fol-

lows, gives you the opportunity to contribute to it. Con- “1” = uninterested, “5” = very interested tributions are returnable only upon the demise of AHIKS and if you have donated $10 or more. The Fund will 1 2 3 4 5 work as an endowment, with the interest going to the 1. Game news (Alan Poulter) general fund and the principal remaining intact. Interest rates are low now, but they will not remain low. As, I 2. Game reviews hope, an incentive, your Editor will match any contribu- 3. Book reviews tion you make to the Fund—up to a total of $300. You may wish to review the article on the Fund in issue 37/4. 4. Movie reviews \znÄ-QrdvÇÇ 5. Ouiji Dice TM Treasurer's Report 6. Universal CF Counter Memberships are $6 and $12. A $6 membership enti- 7. Member “Trading Cards” tles you to receive The Kommandeur electronically, and a 8. Game replays $12 membership will get you a paper copy. The increas- ing costs require us to institute these new fees. Hopefully, 9. Wargaming history the $6 fee will be an economical way of keeping your 10. Play Aids membership and connection with AHIKS. This year there will be no separate mailing of dues 11. Bios of fellow members notices. All 2004 dues (with check made out to 12. Upcoming events “AHIKS”) from members within the continental U.S. are to be sent directly to the Treasurer: 13. Post-Convention news Stuart Schoenberger 63-84 Saunders St. Suite 2-J 14. Game scenarios Rego Park, NY 11374-3102 15. Quizzes If your dues are not received by the end of January, you probably will not receive the next Kommandeur. 16. AHIKS Regional news Outside the US, you may still send me your dues and 17. Reports from AHIKS-UK change of address information, or you can send it to your Regional Director. Les Deck is no longer responsible for 18. Editorials collecting your dues and keeping the membership list. 19. President’s column When you send your dues to the Treasurer please include name, membership number, address, Zip code + 4, tele- 20. phone number, and e-mail address. We want to be sure 21. our files are up-to-date. If you are opting for the elec- tronic Kommandeur, indicate if you want the e-K e- mailed as an attachment or if you will download it from Please fill in, clip, and mail to: the web. Omar DeWitt Members who have a credit with the Treasurer will 1580 Bridger Rd. NE also need to write to pick the mode of delivery of the Rio Rancho, NM 87144-1579 newsletter and to help update our files. All members are encouraged to donate to the Perpet- If you are choosing the e-K for 2004, circle here ual Fund. Even a dollar or two from each member will go download or e-mail attachment and include your e-mail far toward increasing the principal of this endowment address. fund. Name & #:

Stuart Schoenberger E-mail address: 10

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -The Kom mandeur — — — –— — — — — — — — — –— — — — – T his page in the paper Kommandeur contains open-match requests. Y ou can get a more up-to-date list from the w eb site. (If you w ere not electronically literate, you w ould not be reading this.)

(Continued from page 12) Malbion, which is the only maga- can fly in Dewitted’s camp stool to have put Returnbull off his zine in the world with a waiting in time. usual game. Dewitted complained list. briefly that the lights were reflect- Armageddon, July 17. Returnbull ing off Returnbull’s Nazi helmet. Armageddon, 6 July. Although drew red in the Afrika Korps The problem was quickly solved crowds of fans packed the airport game, giving him a slight techni- when a member of the audience today, there was no sign of Dewit- cal advantage. Returnbull started supplied a pair of panty hose, ted arriving for tomorrow’s first with the classic Bologna Sand- which were placed over the hel- game. No one seems to know wich opening. Dewitted replied met. where he is; there are even rumors with the rare Limbo Indian de- that he is already on the island fense (all Indian units move to X- News also leaked out today about somewhere. 62 and stay there behind the Qat- Dewitted’s 14 points. He de- tara Depression for the entire mands: 1) a larger tent, 2) air in Armageddon, 7 July. The World’s game). The game lasted 28 ½ his bicycle tires, 3) food on days Championship may not be held! minutes before Dewitted kicked when there are no games, 4) the Dewitted is closeted in New York the game table across the stage— sandbox all to himself… demanding more money. At the —the traditional indication of re- Where will it all end???? moment, he is to get 30% of the signing. The game was interrupted $50 purse. This is a new high— only once for 25 minutes when (“Return to Reykjavik” originally the previous high was $7.63. Tho- Dewitted became annoyed by the appeared in EuRegion’s Albion mas 0 Blackstone, the umpire, sound of the die rattling in the under the title “The Wargame granted Dewitted an extension, Websterdicenfallentower. The die Championship of the World” although the British contingent was eventually wrapped in an old based on an idea of Bob demanded he forfeit the first sock to deaden the noise. This, McLaughlin and written by Omar game. however, slowed the game, since DeWitt. It is reprinted with per- the sock had to be unwrapped af- mission.) ÆÆ Armageddon, 8 July. The prize ter each die roll so the pips could money has been doubled and, af- be read. ter an hour’s consideration, Dewitted decided to leave for the Armageddon, July 19. Dewitted Alan’s picture did not arrive in time to accompany his article in Canary Islands and the match. did not appear for the second the last issue. It is included here. The extra $50 was put up by an game today. He complained bit- anonymous Scottish millionaire, terly about the cameras and sent a N. Watson. stiff note to the committee on the subject, saying he could not con- Armageddon, July 15. Dewitted tinue the match under the present arrived this morning. After he circumstances. “There are entirely tied, up his rowboat, he went im- too few cameras covering the mediately into Seclusion, an out- match. And, what is worse, most of-the-way Botel. Returnbull, of the cameras that are there are however, said there was no hope pointed at Returnbull. Either I get of the match beginning unless more cameras, or the match is Dewitted made an abject apology off.” Because Dewitted failed to to his budgie. appear, the committee gave Re- turnbull the game by forfeit. He Armageddon, July 16. Dewitted smiled like the Cambridge cat. wrote “Sorry” on an adhesive pa- per in bird seed and sent it to Pan- Armageddon, July 21. The third zer III, who ate it up. The match game, Barbarossa, ended in a tie. Alan M urphy, RD Southeast begins tomorrow if the airlines Dewitted’s fake red beard seems Self portrait 11 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Kommandeur — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

C E N T R AL 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 IT O R /P U B L ISH E R : A.R .E .A. C O N T AC T P B E M C O O R D IN AT O R : C hester H endrix O mar D eW itt G lenn P etroski H ank B urkhalter 915 12th St 1580 B ridger R oad, N E 6829 23rd Ave. 3444 P alisade C ove D r M arysville, C A 95901-4707 R io R ancho, N M 87144-1579 K enosha, W I 53143-1233 D uluth G A 30096-6671 (530) 741-1177 (505) 891-8846 (262) 654-5044 (678) 417-9640 C E H [email protected] AH IK [email protected] G E L P @C O R E .C O M [email protected]

V IC E -P R E SID E N T : SE C R E T AR Y U N IT C O U N T E R P O O L : C H IT H O L D IN G R ay Labarbera W illiam D . W atkins SE R V IC E : 5522 Alvelais D r. 918 B ogert R oad C lyde T . L ongest Jr. R obert R yan U nion C ity, C A 94587-5580 R iver E dge, N J 07661-2338 3344 L ynnhurst B lvd 32444 N ottingw ood St. (510) 471-1833 (201) 265-7795 C hesapeake V A 23321 F armington H ills M I K [email protected] W [email protected] 48334 (757) 483-7999 (248) 371-7846 M AT C H C O O R D IN AT O R JU D G E : B K N FAN @AO L .com B obM R yan@AO L.com R oger E astep M ike W est 16456 T omahaw k D r. 10 Shelburn C t. E U R O P E AN E D IT O R AR 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 [email protected] w [email protected] C opthorne W est Sussex C olumbus, N J, 08022

U K R H 10 3L T [email protected] T R E ASU R E R M SO -R AT IN G S/R O ST E R Stuart Schoenberger Andy Johnson III K C [email protected] 63-84 Saunders St. Apt 2-J 2951 C arlsbad C ircle R ego P ark, N Y 11374-3106 Aurora, IL 60504 M U L T IP L AY E R C O O D IN AT O R W E B SIT E M AN AG E R (718) 459-4946 (630) 820-3991 R obert Johnson T om T hornsen [email protected] D AD J3@AO L .com 61 South Fox H all L n 113 G lensummer R d W eyers C ove, V A 24486 H olbrook, N Y 11741-5007 (540) 234-8767 (631) 472-3566 R E G IO N AL D IR E C T O R S P hilorej@AO L.com T [email protected] C AN AD A: N O R T H C E N T R AL : R E C R U IT E R W E B SIT E AD D R E SSE S Steve Llew ellyn John K reuz ***O P E N P O SIT IO N *** U S: w w w .angelfire.com/ 37 Surrey C rescent 260 E ast O akview Lane ny4/gmtom/AH IK S.htm F redricton, N . B . O ak C reek, W I 53154-4513 U K : w w w .ahiks.co.uk C anada E 3B 4L 4 (414) 766-6747 llew [email protected] JK [email protected]

N O R T H E AST : P AC IF IC : P aul K . Jordan K evin S. R eid 2802 C onnecticut Ave 10 T ollhouse W ay M edford, N Y , 11763 W indsor N SW ,2756 Australia (631) 654-1510 02-45-773-274 [email protected] K [email protected] CHANGE OF ADDRESS SO U T H E AST : W E ST C E N T R AL : Send Change of Address notices to Roger Eastep, 16456 Tomahawk Dr. Gaithersburg, Alan M urphy R ichard L . T ucker MD 20878. Send the change notice as soon as the new address is known. 705 Seventh St S. E . 1705 Standford Ave

W ashington, D C 20037 M etairie, LA 70003 SUBMISSIONS (202) 543-7004 (504) 455-2935 AHIKS desires from its membership original submissions of game-related articles, [email protected] R [email protected] analyses of tactics and strategy, series replays, game reports, reviews of games especially ______suitable for PBM, book reviews, convention reports, and stories of the military. All E U R O P E : submissions should use tasteful language and refrain from non-AHIKS political M urray C ow les discussion. All submissions are subject to editing for grammar, clarity, and consistency of 6 C hafford G ardens style. Columns by the Officer Corps are news items, not articles, and will be published subject to space availability. Please do not submit an article for publication which has W est H orndon, B rentw ood Seadogge@AO 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 Avalon Hill Game Company and The Gamers, Inc., society of mature adults who play historical simulation games by mail. have granted formal permission to reproduce game-related graphics in articles about their AHIKS is an organization of amateurs, staffed by volunteers, and is not games. Permission must be received in writing from any other company to use their affiliated with any game company or publisher. Society dues are yearly, graphics or game-related materials in the K. prorated quarterly, with a one-time initiation fee. Additional information about current rates is available from the Secretary or the European Regional Director. Subscriptions to the Kommandeur are available to non-members at PUBLICATION DEADLINES $1.50 per issue. We do not accept advertising. We do accept “ad trades” on an Articles will be accepted at any time though submission of an article does not issue-for-issue basis with other publications and organizations. Direct inquiries guarantee its publication. News items will be accepted if received in sufficient time to to the Editor or the European Regional Director. allow production schedules to be met. Deadline for next issue: January 31, 2004. The First W orld Boardgaming Championship Surprisingly, it wasn’t the last.

The following appeared in determined by a die roll. The first The Kommandeur, Vol. 7 12 games will be played in Arma- 38/6 No. 4, 1973. geddon on the Canary Islands; the It is a strong argument second 12 in planes at Marathon. for members sending in articles so there is no A 10-day recess was called before room for drivel like negotiations begin on which this. games will be played in what or- For those who may remem- der. ber, it is a parody of the Bobby Fisher/Boris Garryowen, 30 Jan. Returnbull’s parakeet—it has a stiff upper lip.) Spassky chess match that demand for 24 games of took place in Reykjavik Although he had sprinkled the PanzerBlitz was dismissed out of bird with yellow dust, an alert in 1972. “Returnbull,” of hand here today, as was Dewit- course is Don Turnbull, customs man, J K Nono, noticed Editor of Albion, an ted’s plan for 12 games of Battle- the falsification, which meant A award-winning gaming ship and 12 of Go To The Head back 2. Returnbull stormed about magazine of the 60’s and of The Class. claiming he must have his budgie. 70’s. No one seems to With the match in jeopardy, offi- know who “Dewitted” is, Garryowen, 4 Feb. Decision was cials made an exception to the however. reached today to play one each of Island’s Bird Laws, and Panzer III every Avalon Hill wargame in flew inland. The British Grand RETURN TO REYKJAVIK print at the time of the match plus Master quickly oriented himself enough SPI games to fill out the and began establishing a daily Garryowen, Montana, 5 Jan. 24—picked at random from the routine—visiting the local pubs in (Neuters). Negotiations began huge Bingo cage in Edinburgh, alphabetical order. here today on the Banks of the Scotland. Still up in the air was Little Big Horn to determine the the sequence in which the games Armageddon, 4 July. Some of the site for the World’s Board will be played. One side demands many followers of this grand pas- Wargame Championship between chronological order based on the time know the backgrounds of the U.S. Grand Master 0. Dewitted date of battle; the other side in- great players. Most do not. Dewit- and British Grand Master D. Re- sists on chronological order based ted comes from a poor family turnbull. The negotiations were on the date of game copyright. from the ghettos of Michigan. As conducted by the Masters’ sec- a youth, he was always ragged but onds, 0. Dewitted II and D. Re- Garryowen, 30 Feb. A compro- dirty. He played in the streets and turnbull II. After four hours of mise has been reached. The 24 alley (it was a small town) of digging, the talks were recessed games will be played in alpha- Balding. It was a tough town; they for lunch with no apparent meet- betical order. The word “the” will played hopscotch with real Scots. ing of mines. The traditional site be ignored, but “battle” will be His first war games were not for board wargames is Berlinville, taken into consideration. The fa- simulations. Dewitted started Argentina, but the U.S. Grand mous international observer, Aye playing board wargames in 1959 Master wants the site moved to I Aye, said, “A major curdle is out and rolled his way to the top with Yorktown, Virginia (his second of the whey!” The match for the his “magic die.” choice is Bunker Hill). Returnbull Championship of board wargam- favors Quebec, Canada, or the ing will begin at Armageddon in Returnbull comes from a long line deck of HMS Nelson off Cape the Canary Islands on 7 July, and of wealthy aristocrats. He was Trafalgar. The Nelson is a sub- the first game will be Afrika born in a private public house (the marine. Returnbull normally plays Korps. Bitt) on the estate, and rarely feels in a wetsuit. This is due mainly to comfortable outside a pub. After the fact that he is a messy drinker. Armageddon, 2 July. D. Re- his first championship, Returnbull turnbull arrived here today with was, of course, known to be Garryowen, 20 Jan. After two his contingent of British Masters, Champion at the Bitt. After show- weeks of impasse, the site for the a box of Dutch Masters, and his ing Hugh Hefner how to run a championship was budgie, Panzer III. (A British magazine, he started his own, the (continued on page 10)