The K o m m a n d eu r

V olum e 40 N um ber 4 A Publication of A H IKS A ugust 2005 to push actual cardboard. I had my From the President W hat I Did This Sum m er dice-and-card-game on demo status in the Open Gaming room and had a know this will come as a pear at ORIGINS next year at some blast. shock to most of you, but I sort of function acknowledging the All in all, it was the most amazing I actually took my own advice history of our hobby. As the first or- shot in the arm I've had in I and went to our premiere event: the ganization that also just happens to be don't know how long. Gentlemen, the WBC. Man, has it been a long time! the last one standing, AHIKS, he WBC is our Officially Sponsored As I was flying out, it hit me just how seems to think, has something to of- Convention for a reason—it's all many years my life has been out of fer the hobby. I agree. We'll see. about playing the games we love. whack vis-à-vis the gaming world in Get out of the house, guys. Rub general and attending cons in particu- shoulders with people just like you. lar. You deserve it more than you know. Was the con good? Oh, yeah. To start with, I not only got to Your Buddy, Chester room with Randy Heller, I actually talked him into accepting the post of Vice President! Rumors of best 2 out of 3 “wrassling” are entirely un- true. I've been trying to get Randy Editor’s Corner into the Officer Corps for a long time. While he is a bit rough on the The next issue (Vol. 40, #5) will edges (read: he can appear to be be delayed until the middle of Octo- gruff, but his motives have ber. I will be away until Oct. 10; then integrity), I hope to have him it will take time to unpack and get the smoothed out in no time. One thing issue together. Randy brings to the OC is drive. At the WBC, AHIKS had a table Randy is the kind of guy who Makes in the registration area where we had Things Happen. We just need to ease a sign-in sheet and notice board for him into how things work. Stay members, and application forms and tuned. Official photo of Our Leader. old Kommandeurs for prospective An amazing thing happened at the Signed, 8 by 10 glossies are avail- members. A noticeable number of the WBC. The group known in the hobby able at terms to fit any pocketbook. latter were taken; we will have to as GAMA sent a delegate to our wait and see if anyone joins. Those meeting. He wanted to meet and dis- The AHIKS get-together was members I came across I photo- cuss some things and to ask if small, but I brought goodies for all graphed, although I forgot to get a AHIKS could help. The first words the guys, and I think everybody had a photo of Chris Hancock. Those that out of his mouth were, “Forget every- good time. I know I was very hum- signed in but I did not see were Tom thing you ever knew about GAMA. bled by Randy's dinner in my honor Thornsen, Rod Coffey, and Bill We are all new people, all new atti- and I was very excited to make the Watkins. Undoubtedly there were tude, and all new approach.” I re- acquaintance of all the Gents who some members who did not sign in. plied, “You've got a lot to live showed up (including Murray Cowles Don Greenwood and his crew did down.” I was just being honest in the from AHIKS Europe across the another magnificent job in organizing spirit of how he started his presenta- pond), and I am told I put on a fairly the convention. It seems a mind- tion, and he didn't flinch a bit. He good show. I will attribute it to the boggling task to me to schedule and picked up the ball and ran with it. I freebies I handed out. They all got a place the many different games and must admit I was impressed. A wea- few shocks themselves. to find people to game master. They sel would have taken umbrage, and a Gamewise, I entered Titan, Af- did a great job. phony would have gotten defensive. rika Korps, and The Russian Cam- I had a chat with Richard Mataka A man with conviction stands his paign. My clean sweep of dying hor- at the con. He has a web site that is ground and makes sure he is heard. ribly in the first round of all three worth a look. Among other things, he This gentleman was all that. He games is a testament to the amount of offers a free download of Jim Dunni- wants someone from AHIKS to ap- time it's been since I've had a chance (Continued on page 6) 2 The Kom m andeur

G am e N ew s from A lan Poulter (grognard@ grognard.com ) driven game on the Russian Revolu- tion and the first such game from this This is a compilation of information No surprises perhaps in the games company. Its lineage descends from gleaned chiefly from Consimworld that won the CSR Awards. Awards Paths of Glory,but there are enough (www.consimworld.com) and Web- normally disagree on best games, but unique rules (especially covering Grognards (www.grognard.com). this year this was not the case. The politics) to set it apart. Designer is The material was correct at time of International Gamers Award for the David Dockter. A second edition of th writing: 9 August 2005 2005 Historical Simulation category La Bataille de les Quatre Bras, in went to Sword of Rome (GMT). the famed La Bataille tactical Napo- Alan Poulter www.internationalgamersawards.net/ leonic games series, is out. Although In the Origins Awards 2005 the it contains some 600 unit counters Game Awards Best Historical Board Game Award (including every Anglo/Allied unit The 2004 Charles S. Roberts went to Sword of Rome again! found at Waterloo two days later), the Award winners were announced re- www.aagad.originsgames.com/ small size of the battle makes it ideal cently at the 2005 World for players to learn the La Bataille Boardgaming Championships: New Company system. www.clashofarms.com Paul Rohrbaugh and Perry Moore, Best Pre-World War II Boardgame both designers of a number of pub- Columbia Games Sword of Rome (GMT Games LLC) lished games, have created a new Crusader Rex, covering the 3rd company, Firefight Games, Crusade (1187-1192), is a new design Best World War II Boardgame to produce DTP (desk-top published) by , who designed Ham- ASL Starter Kit #1 (Multi-Man games. Their first two games are mer of the Scots. Although the game Publishing) likely to be Battle of Long Tan 1966 system is derived from Hammer of and Hitler's Stalingrad: Breslau the Scots, it is yet more streamlined. Best Modern Era Boardgame 1945. www.firefightgames.com It is a two player game (Franks ver- Downtown (GMT Games LLC) sus Saracens) in which the objective NEW BOARD is to control important victory cities Best Magazine-Published Boardgame such as Jerusalem, Acre, Damascus, Fortress Berlin (Against the Odds) Avalanche and Antioch. A large cast of charac- Alsace 1945 covers the American ters (Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Best DTP-Produced Boardgame offensives of November and Decem- Barbarossa, etc.) bring colour to the Louisiana Tigers (BSO Games) ber 1944 and the desperate German game. www.columbiagames.com counterattack in January. Three sce- Best Wargame Graphics narios cover these battles, and a Games Downtown (GMT Games LLC) fourth covers a hypothetical German Dan Verssen is the designer of attack launched in conjunction with such well-received card games as Best Professional Wargame the Ardennes (“Battle of the Bulge”) Lightning Midway, Hornet Leader, Magazine offensive to the north and capable of Rise of the Luftwaffe, Zero!, and (tie) Against The Odds and Strategy being played alone or with America Modern Naval Battles. He has & Tactics Triumphant. Gazala 1942 covers launched a new gaming concept, the critical battle in the summer of games which can either be printed Best Amateur Wargame Magazine ’42 that led to the fall of Tobruk and and played or played online or both. Panzerschreck (Minden Games) the arrival of the Axis armies at the Online play is provided by software gates to the Nile delta, in three sce- called Vassal, which runs on any Best Historical or Scenario Article narios. Both games are based on the computer. Four games have been S&T “Sedan,” by game system used in America Tri- released : Special Forces (man to umphant. www.avalanchepress.com man combat), Hornet Leader II James F. Dunnigan Award (tactical air combat), Earth Gone To a Game Designer, Developer, Clash of Arms Mad, and Star Force Terra (both on Graphic Artist, or Game for out- Struggle for Europe—The Med science fictional topics). All games standing achievement is the third and final game in the are quick playing and come with a Lee Brimmicombe Wood for Down- Struggle for Europe series, the other free scenario to allow players to “try town (GMT Games LLC) two games being Brute Force and before they buy.” www.dvg.com War Without Mercy. This last game Clausewitz Award Hall of Fame covers the Desert War and links with Decision Games JD Webster the other two games to cover the en- The Western Front: 1914-1918 tire war in Europe. The Med is not contains six scenarios depicting cam- For details, see: playable without Brute Force. All paigns in France and Belgium during www.alanemrich.com/CSR_pages/ these games were designed by Rob WW I. Another scenario covers the CSRawards.htm Beyma. Triumph of Chaos is a card- entire campaign on the western front.

The Kom m andeur 3

It is a Weltkrieg series game; it can purchasers are issued with a gift cer- 1945. Designed by Ty Bomba, the be linked with the others to cover all tificate for that amount redeemable game covers the planned but never fronts in the Great War and includes on other Lost Battalion games. executed US invasion of Japan. an earlier series game, The Schlief- www.lostbattalion.com/ www.decisiongames.com fen Plan. Designer is Dave Schroe- Vae Victis #63 contains Blitzkrieg der. www.decisiongames.com Multi-Man Publishing 1940, covering the battles of Hannut Bloody Ridge is the 13th game in a n d S t o n n e i n 1 9 4 0 . GMT the Tactical Combat Series (TCS) www.vaevictis.com/ Under the Lily Banners is a tacti- and was designed by Michael S. Note that Vae Victis magazine and cal battle game featuring five battles Smith. It covers the fighting on games are in French but rules transla- from the Thirty Years War. All bat- “Bloody Ridge,” Guadalcanal, Sep- tions are made available via: http:// tles feature the French army. This is tember 12-14, 1942. Bloody Ridge is grognard.com/vaevict.html the third game in the Musket & Pike the perfect introduction to TCS as it Panzerschreck #14 contains three Battles series detailing 17th Century is small, does not involve too many games: Race For The Vistula (a East warfare, after This Accursed Civil units, and has no armour units or fid- Front WWII battle), Brandy Station War and Sweden Fights On. De- dly LOS problems. Also new is the (an American Civil War battle), and signer is Ben Hull. Prolific designer second edition of the Advanced The Mighty Hood (on the WWII Richard H. Berg's latest game is Men Squad Leader (ASL) rulebook. It naval campaign that saw this ship of Iron. The game includes the bat- contains two errata sheets with a sink). Unlike previous issues, this one tles of Falkirk, Bannockburn, complete listing of all known rule- contains fully professional compo- Courtrai, Crécy, Poitiers, and Najera. book errata. Fire in the Sky, from nents, including die-cut counters and It is descended from some of his DTP Japanese designer Tetsuya Naka- full-colour maps in a full-size maga- game designs under his BSO label in mura, covers the entire Pacific theatre zine format. Not in Panzerschreck that there are no turns (units are acti- in WWII and uses a simple but effec- but from the same company is Battle- vated by their leaders), and fire and tive game system. It is a re- ships at War: Atlantic which covers melee combat are pretty straightfor- publication of a game that is popular WWII tactical-level ship-to-ship ward. www.gmtgames.com in Japan. Target Arnhem: Across 6 combat in Atlantic waters. The game Bridges has a half-size map, two system is the same as that in The Grenier Games pages of rules, and about 90 counters. Mighty Hood. Battleships at War Distant Foreign Fields: The It is being used as a freebie game at however does not have die-cut count- Great War 1914-1918 is a division- conventions etc. ers. www.homestead.com scale WW I game covering the action www.multimanpublishing.com /minden_games/ on all major fronts. Seven maps are Command and Strategy #3 con- needed to play the entire war from Naval Warfare Simulations tains yet another installment of the 1914 until its completion, and, since New from NWS is Nights of monster game Pearl Harbor. How- they are not directly connected, only Fury—Guadalcanal Naval Battles. ever it also contains a complete one table is needed. There are plenty It is a two-player card game with game, Operation Kadesh: the Suez of one-map scenarios. Apart from the cards for ships, markers, events, and crisis 1956. usual rule books, event cards, player map features. A solitaire system is www.ugg.de/c&s/c&s1.shtml aids, etc., there are 3,600 mounted available. www.navalwarfare.org/ Alea #30 contains Donde No se counters in easy-to-cut strips of indi- Ponía el Sol: Los Tercios, 1490- vidual rows of 10. Worthington Games 1690 (Where the Sun Never Sets: The www.greniergames.com/ For Honor And Glory covers Tercios, 1490-1690). land and naval battles from the War www.simtacludopress.net/ Khyber Pass Games of 1812. With hexagonal boards and Six Angles #9 contains War for Deguelo at Dawn covers the piv- terrain and unit tiles, a number of the Motherland (which was origi- otal battle of the Alamo. The map is battles like New Orleans, Chippewa, nally published by Rampart Games). rendered in perspective to give a sort and Lundy's Lane can be fought. A Designed by Masahiro Yamazaki, it of 3D effect. The counters are well naval map and miniature ship models covers the campaigns in the Soviet done and came punched, cut, and are used for naval battles. Union during WWII. even sorted in bags. This company www.worthingtongames.com/ hitherto produced DTP games, and NEW DTP WARGAMES this is their first “professional” effort. NEW MAGAZINE WARGAMES www.khyberpassgamesonline.com/ New from Cool Stuff Unlimited, Strategy & Tactics #229 contains Doro Nawa is a reprint of a game Lost Battalion Games Khan: The Rise Of The Mongol originally designed by Jim Bumpas. Battleships in Action is a fast, Empire, A.D. 1206—1295. Designer It covers the Japanese assault on the fun, simple game on ship-to-ship is Joe Miranda. Malayan Peninsula which resulted in WWII combat. It is free as after pay- Strategy & Tactics #230 contains the capture of the strategic British ing for the game (it costs five dollars) Downfall: If the US Invaded Japan, fortress of Singapore in 1942.

4 The Kom m andeur

Only100 hand-numbered copies are Khan (DG) available, and at the time of writing it http://grognard.com/info1/khan.doc M y W BC H ighlights looks like they are all sold. For more Sword of Rome (GMT) by Roger Eastep information e-mail: http://grognard.com/info1/sor12.pdf The Accommodations: I arrived at [email protected] about 11 on Tuesday. My room was Errata as far away from the convention part NEW WEB RESOURCES America Triumphant (Avalanche) of the LHI as you could get. The www.avalanchepress.com/ place is huge, so I got a lot of exer- General Interest AmericaTriumphantNotes.php cise making several trips a day back www.boardgaming.info/ The Big Push (ATO) and forth to the room. (The inn had a www.wargamedownloads.com http://grognard.com/errata1/ small exercise room, but it was rare bigpush.rtf to see anyone in it, least of all any of Heaven (PBEM aide/Windows, Khan (S&T #229) the gamers). My room was nice as far Mac) http://gold.natsu.gs/WG/ http://grognard.com/errata1/st/ as hotel rooms go. heaven/index.html st229.txt The Auction: It was in a very large Interview with Korea (MMP) auditorium off the lobby. The auction www.thedicetower.com/interviews/ www.gamersarchive.net/theGamers/ had been going on for almost three int042.htm archive/ocs/OCSGeneral/ hours, so a lot of the stuff was gone, Interview with Ted Raicer ocserrata.htm#Korea but with over 600 items to sell, there www.thedicetower.com/interviews/ A Fearful Slaughter (MMP) was still a lot left. I picked up a bid- int045.htm www.gamersarchive.net/theGamers/ ding number, but after about 40 min- Panzerleader (AH) – new Aachen archive/RSSGeneral/ utes, I hadn’t found anything to bid scenario rsserrata.htm#afs on. The auction seemed to be very www.consimworld.com/literature/ Semper Victor (Vae Victis #56) well organized and well run. It ap- aachen4pzleader.pdf http://grognard.com/errata1/ peared that the games were going for Flash reply of Seven Days of 1809 semper1.txt good (seller-wise) prices. So, even (OSG) www.napoleongames.com/ though they still had more wargames, Flash/1809.html Rules Translations Eurogames, and collector’s items to Ebre 1938 (HC) sell, I left. Free Games http://grognard.com/info1/ebre.doc The Gaming Facilities: There were The Battle of Brandywine Creek Pour Dieu et pour le Roy (HC) more gaming rooms than Hunt Val- (Mike DeSanto) http://grognard.com/info1/ ley, and many of them were very big. The Battle of Germantown (Mike pourdieu.doc As you would expect, they were DeSanto) War for the Motherland spread out upstairs and downstairs. I www.enter.net/~mdesanto/Games- (Rampart/Six Angles #9) think mostly because of my unfamili- Right-PftR.htm http://grognard.com/info1/ arity with the place, it seemed like a Interstellar War warmother.doc maze. I’m not sure I actually even www.geocities.com/Area51/ ÆÆ saw all the gaming rooms, especially Starship/5857/iw.html since I discovered two more on Satur- Turn or Burn day that I hadn’t seen before. I www.interformic.com/torb.html thought they had the gaming nicely

segregated, with most of the multi- Official Rules player games downstairs in the ball- Age of Napoleon (Phalanx) rooms, the juniors’ tournaments far http://grognard.com/info1/ enough away so you couldn’t hear aonrules124.doc prepubescent squeals, and the serious, Battlelines (Lost Battalion Games) manly tournaments in the enormous www.bggfiles.com/viewfile.php3? Lampeter room. Overall, I liked the fileid=9829 nd arrangements and the food (although Chosin (Pacific Rim) – 2 ed rules I ate only a few times in the inn). www.justplain.com/news#CHOSIN The Vendors: Decision Games was Downfall (DG) selling in one of the corridors during www.decisiongames.com/ the whole con. It was mostly full re- Downfall_eRules.zip tail, until Friday when the other ven- Empire of the Sun (GMT) dors opened for business, then many http://members.tripod.com/ of the Decision Games could be had ~MarkHerman/eotsrulesv1.3.pdf at a 25% discount. There were about Grand Illusion (GMT) a dozen other companies there, in- www.gmtgames.com/nngi/ cluding Avalanche, Columbia, Days GIRules060605.pdf Ed O’Connor of Wonder, MMP, L2, the Lost Bat-

The Kom m andeur 5 talion guys, and Clash of Arms. May- the games will eventually get pub- offer down because it had been so fair and a couple of other Eurogame lished.) long since I had read the rules. After- sellers were also present. MMP was My Gaming: As soon as I unpacked wards, I regretted not having played giving away an introductory game on on Tuesday, I grabbed some games it, especially when I found out they Market Garden. The components and went down to one of the ball- were just playing the basic game. I actually look pretty decent for a free- rooms looking for some action. I played in the Football Strategy tour- bie. Many of the games were dis- planned to play in the 1812 tourna- nament, which was a huge mistake. counted a bit. I bought the Gamers’ A ment, so I set that up. Instead, I got Sure, the rules are simple, but I Mighty Endeavour, an interesting talked into a game of Ivanhoe with quickly found out that the key to win- looking D-Day-to-the-Rhine game. I ning is really knowing the matrix also bought Amazonas and Domaine inside and out. I was humiliated 41- from Mayfair, In the Shadow of the 13 in the first round (it wasn’t even Emperor and Duell from Decision, that close). I had also intended to play and Age of Steam from I forget who. in the Paydirt tournament, but that The Attendees: It was a fairly decent conflicted with the Memoir ’44 tour- (in size—about 1,100, I think—and nament. Which tournament to play behavior) crowd, which included a lot in? Well, it ended up neither. Instead, of families. There must have been I played a campaign game of Deluxe seventy to a hundred kids ranging in Bitter Woods from 9 am until 11 pm, age from infants to young adults. when it was called because of the late Fortunately there were several activi- hour. I was to play in a multiplayer ties away from the inn (e.g., Hershey game, but when Randy could come Park) that appeared to keep them and up with only three players, he instead the moms who weren’t interested in had me play Eric Seadale while he gaming happy. Many of my cronies acted as facilitator. It worked out well unfortunately refuse to stop the aging for both Eric and me because it had process. And a lot of them have to Roger Eastep, Match Coordinator been a while since we had read the bend way forward to see their feet. rules. The game ended with my Ger- (Sometimes I feel guilty about not Rick Young (Europe Engulfed co- man units within about a half dozen sharing the secret of eternal youth designer), Dave Metzger, and John hexes of the Meuse, but Patton’s with them.) It was good to see them somebody. I’m glad I did because it’s units had just come in from the south anyway, and it was great fun sharing a great game. We played several and were threatening to recapture war stories with them over the course hands. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve Bastogne. Bob Ryan felt it would of the con. I was especially glad to got my sons coming over tomorrow probably end in an Allied victory, meet people I’ve known for years, to give it a try (I have to bribe them and despite what I’ve said on Con- but had never met in person, such as with pizza). I played a game of 1812 simworld, I think he’s probably right. Omar DeWitt, Chester Hendrix, Tom with John, only to discover that the Anyway, I enjoyed the game, and I Thornsen, Steve Likevich, and sev- rules had been changed substantially was grateful that I had a chance to eral others. since my 197? version of the game. play against such a worthy and gen- The Chester Hendrix Invitational Unfortunately, that made the tourna- tlemanly opponent. Dinner: Several AHIKS members ment more difficult for me, and I Next Year: I am definitely planning (more in fact than showed up for the ended up with a 1-2 record in the to attend, and I’m definitely going to business meeting) attended the out- Swiss rounds, not enough to advance. enter more tournaments. I was hesi- door dinner on Saturday night. Randy I still enjoyed it, and I was particu- tant this year because I hadn’t played Heller, the host, made a nice intro- larly impressed with how well Ric or even read the rules for some time duction, and then Chester talked Manns, the gamemaster, ran the tour- for most of the games I was inter- about his game-design career, which nament. I played an introductory ested in. But, I intend to be prepared started at age 14. Chester also gave game of Tigers in the Mist with next year. Also, I decided I wanted to all present copies of the desktop ver- Rick Young, who fortunately is an give gamemastering a try again, and sion of Bastogne or Bust, souvenir excellent teacher. I didn’t really care fortunately a great opportunity counters from the playtest version of much for the game, but, in fairness, opened up for me. Randy Heller the game, and some maze puzzles my exposure to it was pretty brief. I wanted a break from GM’ing DBW that he had designed. It was a very played a couple of pickup games of so I quickly volunteered. I’m going to nice affair that I’m sure everyone Memoir ’44, both against first tim- try to get in as many games of DBW enjoyed. (On a previous day, Chester ers. I won them both, which is, of as I can between now and next Au- showed me a couple of the games he course, what counts. I played a game gust so that I’ll be able to do a credi- had designed and was hoping to sell. of Bulge ’81, sort of thinking I was in ble job as GM. Hopefully, I’ll finally The quality of the components, espe- the tournament, but apparently I was- be able to figure out ADC2 so I can cially the dice with unique graphics, n’t. I won a close game over Eric play the game with that. and the originality of the designs Seadale. Tom Oleson tried to get me ÆÆ were really impressive. Hopefully, into an Anzio game, but I turned the

6 The Kom m andeur

(Continued from page 1) a W BC Report A nd There W as a Convention! gan “The Complete Wargames Hand- by Bill W atkins book.” It is available at www.mataka.org. The last time we were in Pennsyl- over hexes vs. squares for ancient There was one memorable mo- vania Dutch country, we discovered games. I never forgot that argument ment at the con that I would like to restaurants so bad they proved not all and fifteen years later talked Jim share with you. A man and his young the Amish can cook! We were Dunnigan into using squares in the daughter (her nose came to table smarter this time. We found Stolzfus S&T game Men At Arms. Mark is level) were entering the gaming area. Farms and Plain & Fancy. Family now a high muckety with Booz Allen He said to her, “Remember, don’t style service: they bring food until with 1,000 or so people reporting to reach up and move the little card- you fall over unconscious. Stolzfus him. Nice to see gaming can pay off. board pieces.” included with the fried chicken and I think. Of course, the most memorable homemade sausage an extremely I got my pre-order copies of ASL moment was meeting our president, good ham loaf. Plain & Fancy wiped SK 2 and GMT’s Savannah and Chester. After years of phone calls me out with really fine pot roast Carthage. I met GMT Revolutionary and e-mails, it was a pleasure to meet along with their fried chicken and War series designer Mark Miklos, the man in person. Also, I was very ham loaf—all for $16 apiece. Dessert who told me Eutaw Springs, on the happy to meet Roger Eastep, who is included. back of the Guilford Courthouse doing such a great job coordinating And the outlet malls. Lancaster is game, is the most perfectly balanced our matches. The Central Officer famous for them. Peg spent enough to game ever. I’ll have to try it. Also, I Corps was well represented, with five pay the next two months’ mortgage met Udo Grebe and Perry from MMP eighths of us present. for at least one mall. I got lost in and volunteered to playtest for ATO. every man’s wet dream: a Black & Also talked to Don Greenwood, who Decker outlet store! Absolute heaven! made my day by saying my motel Oh, yes, they were having a gam- will not be on the list for next year’s ing convention at the same time. I got con. America’s Best wasn’t. to spend only Thursday night, part of Oddly enough, even though I The web version of this issue (in Friday, and an hour Saturday morn- searched the gaming floors more than color) is available at our website ing. I attended the ASL Starter Kit once, I never ran across any of our (www.angelfire.com/ny4/ demo. I joined the tournament and other AHIKS folks, even though I gmtom/A H IK S .htm). asked for a highly experienced oppo- know there were quite a few in atten- User name="AHIKS" nent who could teach me. I got my dance. Don showed me the sign-in Password="Knox" (Both are case wish. My opponent Gary taught me list with Omar, Chester, Roger, and sensitive; do not include the quote more about ASL than I ever could plenty of others. I assume that meant marks. If you use the Caps Lock to have learned on my own. He also everybody was out having as good a write AHIKS, be sure to take it off wiped me out. Hint: never rush Ger- time as I was. for Grant.) man machine guns with your elite And that’s the bottom line. The Some people were having trouble Russian infantry. Wool shirts aren’t con wasn’t perfect. The hotel and the with the "hover buttons," whatever well armored against MG 42s air conditioning weren’t perfect. But they are, and Tom added another Since this was my first WBC and everybody seemed to be having a address to accommodate them. They my first gaming con in a decade, I good time. I didn’t find a single un- should use: looked for friends. I found designer happy camper: big crowds and lots of www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/ John Butterfield, who, unlike me, has tournaments. I expect I’ll see you ahiks.htm aged in the past 20 years. Also found there next year. I’ll be the one wear- If you still have trouble accessing designer Mark Herman, who I had a ing the BIG AHIKS sign! the web version, contact Tom at the great argument with 30 years ago ÆÆ address on page 11. Back issues available on CD

Back issues of The Kommandeur edited by the current editor are avail- able on one CD in PDF format. That includes Vol. 37 No. 2 through the current issue. These are available at cost: $2 to US addresses, $3 to other addresses. Send money and requests to me at the address on page 11. Make checks out to Omar DeWitt. John Welage Michael Kaye

The Kom m andeur 7

El Prez and new Vice Prez: Bob Ryan Chester Hendrix and Randy Heller Murray Cowles, AHIKS-Europe director

Bruce Monnin, Co-originator of the Perpetual Fund

Barrington Beavis, AHIKS-Europe treasurer

Tom Oleson, after your editor rolled his fourth “one” in a row.

Ken Nied 8 The Kom m andeur

lini’s mighty Italy. to that in BB ’65. The map is a stan- Treasury Bloody Keren was published by dard 34x22 affair, and again quite 3W as an issue game in their maga- colorful, as are the units. Unit density Notes zine, The Wargamer, back in the is low. The Italians enjoy a fair de- early to eighties; I can’t find a publi- gree of mechanization (it’s all rela- Maybe it is possible to go back cation date. Designed by the vener- tive) and considerable air assets but Last issue I talked about how able designer Vance von Borries, it is suffer from relatively few units. The much fun I used to have playing an operational-level game of the 1941 Italian army is small but powerful, Third Reich back when I was in high Allied invasion of Italian Eritrea and fast but road bound, and with air sup- school. As a result of my column I Ethiopia during Word War II. Game port can concentrate effectively. The was contacted by a member who is a mechanics are pretty standard, with Ethiopian army is large, but with devotee of that game and asked to the game at the battalion and regi- weaker units except for a handful of join a multi-player PBEM game of ment level. The rules are pretty clean, Imperial Guard units. Ethiopian ir- the 4th edition (pre-Advanced Third which is saying a lot for a 3W game regulars need minimal supply. Both Reich and any of the more recent from this period. It has the classic sides are effectively challenged. The incarnations) he was about to start. IGO-UGO format. Units have semi- rules are pretty clean, with only a few After some hesitation over meeting rigid ZOC’s and combat is voluntary. resolvable ambiguities. Although I response deadlines and my hazy rec- There are special rules for artillery can’t say with certainty how balanced ollection of the rules, I decided to go and colonial troops, with liberal this game is, since my one and only ahead and give it a try. stacking rules based on the stacking game was never completed, it struck I must confess I am enjoying my- values of each unit. It plays well by me as a very evenly matched affair self so far. The strategies and tactics mail. Unit density is low; the map is after several turns. With the mecha- have largely come back to me, as only 17x22, colorful, and pleasing to nized army and air units, this one just have most of the rules. The GM runs the eye. While based on the topic, may satisfy the panzer pushers: tanks a relaxed but supportive ship (thanks, game length, and victory conditions, vs. spears. If you’re looking for John!). My ally and opponent are one might think this game would be something a little different, but skilled and respectful. That’s a good an Allied romp. It is not. The terrain straightforward in play, give this one thing, because it turns out that the is extremely rugged and favors the a try. rules are written even more poorly defender, and effectively channels the Now here is just a brief mention than I remembered. We have already Allied advances on multiple fronts. of games to avoid. These just don’t had some significant rules discus- With judicious placement, allocation work, despite their apparent promise. sions, and we are into only the second and counterattacking, the Italian First is Hurtgen Forest, from the turn of the game. Just like the good forces can stem the tide and hold out original SPI Westwall Quad. Play of ol’ days (“You can’t do that...Oh yes until the game ends (in historical the game is OK, but the victory con- I can...”)! terms, the time when forces needed to ditions make it impossible for the Anyway, getting back up to speed be withdrawn to Egypt and Libya to Germans to have any hope for vic- has soaked up a lot of my gaming face the Germans). With quality play tory. Artillery restrictions allow the time, and for that I must apologize to on both sides, the game is quite bal- Americans to pour on air and artillery my other opponents who have re- anced. If you’re a panzer pusher, this assets, seeking maximum odds on the cently gotten used to my relatively game may not be for you. But if you attack and making German counterat- speedy replies (OK, a month may not like tense defense and want to try tacks extremely difficult. This is a seem speedy to you, but just a couple commanding some Italian forces for a shame, because it is perhaps the only of years ago my turn around time was change, I recommend you dig this out game on the subject on the regimental 10-12 weeks). I’ll be back in stride of your closet and give it a try. level. Even the historical notes indi- soon. For the rest of you, I may report Next is Lion of Ethiopia, from cate what a hard time the Americans the ups and downs of my brave Brit- Command Magazine #4 in 1990. If I had gaining ground in Hurtgen For- ons in future issues. remember right, a lot of us may have est, and the ferocity of German coun- gotten this game for free when Com- terattacks, but the American advance And now for something completely mand sent out a lot of courtesy cop- is relentless in the game, especially as different ies, looking for subscribers. In this the German player must withdraw I have mentioned before that I game, you get to step back a few forces for the attack in the Ardennes. like a variety of games and like to try more years as the Italians launch their Stick with the Arnhem game from new things. However, it is often dif- 1935 invasion of Ethiopia. Resisting this Quad. ficult to determine whether a new them is a mix of irregular tribal Then there is Korea: The Mobile title is worth the time and effort to forces and a handful of conventional War, published in S&T sometime in PBM, even if the subject matter is military units commanded by Em- the early 90's. This game encom- appealing. So, I thought I would peror Selassie. Although somewhat passes the first year of the Korean share my experience with a few titles more complex than Bloody Keren, at conflict. The map and units are at- to spark your interest in trying some- its heart it is still pretty much a stan- tractive; the rules are fairly clean and thing new (or old, as the case may dard wargame and easy to PBM; offer a lot in terms of partisan war- be). Let’s start with Benito Musso- ZOC’s, supply, and a CRT very close fare, naval support, air interdiction,

The Kom m andeur 9 weather, invasions, Chinese interven- 8/6/05. Expenses are listed by cate- The Path to Victory—the Mediterra- tion, and so on, all in weekly turns, gory as of the same date. nean Theater in World War II and in a manageable package. It by Douglas Porch looks good. It plays awful. Because Actual Income: 779 pages $35 Farrar, Straus and of the very fluid ZOC’s and the ex- Dues and contributions $1955.56 Giroux treme restrictions on Communist Paypal test deposit 0.32 Reviewed by Tom Oleson movement in good weather, the initial Total Actual Income: $1955.88 attack against South Korea bogs Were you to go out on the street down quickly. Few UN units will be Actual Expenses: and ask the first score of people you destroyed, and the North Koreans K printing expenses $ 742.27 met about WW II, most would know will be lucky to drive much further WBC 125.00 very little about it, particularly south than Seoul. Assuming the Com- Bank fees 10.00 younger folks. How do I know? Be- munist player recognizes his limita- Perpetual Fund $409.56 cause it has been done more than tions, the game evolves into stalemate Total Actual Expenses: $1286.83 once. Most wargamers, however, are quickly. Mobile war it ain’t! Histori- very keenly interested. I recommend cal? Not after only a month. This is Projected Income through 12/05: this recent book on the subject by the only game my long-time oppo- Dues $ 72.00 noted historian Douglas Porch, who nent Bill Klitzke and I ever gave up Projected Expenses through 12/05 has many other scholarly books to his on. For a better, simpler game on the K printing expenses, 3 issues $420 credit. It is in hardcover. I took many same subject that seems to work, pages of notes from it, information stick with the original SPI Korea. Net projected income: $321 useful to me because of its relevance There is a large world out there to the Italian Campaign. I will pass it beyond Advanced Squad Leader, Analysis on to EuroFront designer Craig Paths to Glory, Breakout: Nor- Income and expenses reported for Besinque because I know he will also mandy, or whatever the game may this year are a little distorted, mainly find much of interest there. I was be. Take the time to explore that because the change in Treasurer and particularly interested in references to world. Look deep into your game the moving of the bank accounts re- long-range Axis air power from closet, find something that strikes sulted in a delay in making dues de- southern Europe into North Africa your fancy, and give it a go. More posits and payment of expenses until because this is a difficult design co- often than not, you’ll find the experi- after the first of the year. However, I nundrum in his game. Porch's thesis ence worthwhile. believe they roughly balanced out. is simple: because it was the only Our largest expense continues to be place the Western Allies could strike Treasurer’s Report the printing and mailing of The Kom- early at Germany, the Med Front was Here are the numbers since last time: mandeur, our newsletter, now at decisive. Not a view shared by all Checking Account (5/19/05): about $140 an issue. That expense historians. Even more controversial is $6603.71 has decreased somewhat as the year his contention that missed opportuni- Income: has progressed, as the membership ties to defeat the Axis in Africa ear- Dues $ 192.00 was culled and more of you switched lier than was accomplished were Expenses: to the electronic version. I have man- beneficial because they honed Allied K Printing $ 139.18 aged to virtually eliminate bank fees fighting skills needed later. as an expense, at the cost of an insig- ÆÆ Checking Account (8/6/05) nificant amount of interest we other- $6656.53 wise would have earned. The only bank charge was for a bounced check Perpetual Fund 8/5/05 $1229.48 from a renewing member who has since disappeared. Officer expenses As of this writing, $409.56 of the have been essentially non-existent as money in the checking account is communication becomes increasingly earmarked for the Perpetual Fund, electronic. currently held as a certificate of de- Regarding income for the rest of posit. Those funds cannot be added to the year, I have included an estimate the Perpetual Fund until that CD ma- only for those renewals that continue tures. Interest will be reported for the to trickle in and perhaps a few new Perpetual Fund upon its maturity. members. It does not include ex- pected renewals for 2006 that come Annual income vs. expenses in late 2005, which I will likely hold Looking at annual income versus until after the first of the year for expenses for this year shows us to be accounting purposes. Bottom line is in very good shape financially. In- that AHIKS is financially healthy. come reported includes all monies Jim Burnett deposited in calendar year 2005 as of Until next time, Brian Stretcher

10 The Kom m andeur

Open Match Requests from Rog er E astep In requesting matches, it’s helpful if you use the Match Re- Red Parachutes (AP) (0012) Jolly E quest Form available in each issue of The Kommandeur or on Red Star/White Star (SPI) (0012) Jolly E the AHIKS website: Richthofen’s War (AH) (1554) Trosky www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Road to Gettysburg (AH) (1075) Morley E Mail the request to me at 16456 Tomahawk Dr., Gaithersburg, Russian Campaign (AH) (1000) McPherson MD 20878, or e-mail the equivalent information (including your e-mail address) to me at : Russian Campaign (AH) (1345) Scarborough E/M [email protected]. When a match is set up, only one of the Russian Campaign (L2) (1566) Leonard E players should request ICRKs for all players. Russian Campaign (L2) (1566) Gregory If you plan to change or have changed your address, phone Russian Campaign (AH or L2) (1243) O’Connor ADC2 number, or e-mail address, please let Secretary Bill Watkins Russian Campaign (AH) (1252) Brooker know as soon as possible to avoid delay in the receipt of your Russian Front (AH) (0036) Yarwood M Kommandeur, ICRKs, and other valuable AHIKS information. Stalingrad Pocket II (Gamers) (1553) Evenson E Please send top portion of completed ICRKs to Match Rating Stonewall Jackson’s Way (AH) (1075) Morley E Officer Andy Johnson. Stonewall’s Last Battle (AH) (1075) Morley E Note: this list is updated periodically between issues of The Submarine (AH) (1468) Thomas M Kommandeur at www.angelfire.com/ny4/gmtom/AHIKS.htm. Submarine (AH) (0012) Jolly E Terrible Swift Sword (SPI) (0275) Scanlon 2nd Fleet (0826) Ten Eyck USN (SPI) (0275) Scanlon Adv. Squad Leader (AH) (1382) Massey E Victory in the Pacific (1345) Scarborough E/M Anzio (AH) (0111) Oleson War and Peace (AH) (1554) Trosky Attack Sub (AH) (1382) Massey E Austerlitz (2nd Ed) (0036) Yarwood Battle for Germany (SPI) (0826) Ten Eyck E (member requests e-mail only) M (member re- Bitter Woods (AH/MMP/L2) (0073) Johnson E quests mail only) E/M (either OK) Bitter Woods (Deluxe) (L2) (1553) Evenson E Bitter Woods (0036) Yarwood Blitzkrieg (AH) (1000) McPherson Members willing to volunteer as GM Blue & Gray II (SPI) (0036) Yarwood Borodino (0036) Yarwood Achtung! Spitfire—William Lindow 0988 Brothers by My Side (1394) Rice M/E History of World—Jeff Miller 1303 Bulge ‘91 (Smithsonian) (1566) Gregory M/E Napoléon (Columbia)—Omar DeWitt 0044 Bull Run (AH) (1252) Brooker M Red Parachutes, Red Star/White Star—Sid Jolly 0012 Civilization (AH) (1185) Ringhoffer M Diplomacy (AH) (1210) Fasio M Diplomacy (AH) (1252) Brooker M Drive on Paris (0275) Scanlon M/E EastFront (Columbia) (0044) DeWitt E Flattop (AH) (1430) Warnick E Standby opponents for new members only Flattop (AH) (1550) Duffield Gettysburg ‘88 (AH) (0711) Leonard E Ron Brooker 1252 Bull Run Gettysburg ‘88 (AH) (1527) Brooks M Robert Johnson 0073 Russian Campaign, Grant Takes Command (AH) (1075) Morley E Stalingrad, Bulge-65, -81 Guadalcanal (AH) (1555) Scott E/M John L Kreuz 1333 Bulge-81 Invasion Sicily (GMT) (0225) Segarra E Thomas Oleson 0111 Anzio Kasserine (GMT) (0225) Segarra E Rick Roksiewicz 1108 Victory in the Pacific Monty’s Gamble (MMP) (1382) Massey E Napoleon at War (0036) Yarwood M On to Richmond (AH) (1075) Morley E (Anyone who desires to be listed as standby for PanzerBlitz (AH) (0711) Leonard E new members please inform the MC.) PanzerBlitz (AH) (0826) Ten Eyck Panzer Leader (AH) (0711) Leonard E Pre-Stags (SPI) (0817) Riley E

The Kom m andeur 11

AHIKS MATCH REQUEST FORM

Complete this form (please print clear