$2.50 2 l~riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiAiiiiiiiviiiiiiialiiiiiiiOiiiiiiiniiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiil *The AVALON HILL iiiiiiiPiiiiiiihiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiOiiiiiiiSOiiiiiiiPiiiiiiihiiiiiiiYiiiiiiiPiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiariiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiii8iiiiiiioiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;;;;;;;;;o;;;;lli GENERAL The post ORIGINS issue is traditionally my the industry and the wait-to-the-Iast-minute at­ The Game Players Magazine annual political harangue about what's right and titude of the various exhibitors to commit wrong with the hobby so why should this year be themselves to attendance. Unfortunately, the The Avalon Hill GENERAL is dedicated to the presenta­ any different? The sixth annual ORIGINS na­ facilities were woefully inadequate to handle tion of authoritative articles.on the strategy, tactics, and tional convention was an interesting mixture of even this reduced number of displays. Despite variation of Avalon Hill.wargames. Hisrorical articles are included only insomuch as they provide useful background highs and lows which will be reported on in sun­ reducing the square footage of individual booth information on current Avalo-n Hill titles. The GENERAL is dry tones throughout the hobby press. As such, spaces, the exhibits were packed in like so many published by the Avalon Hill Game Company solely for the .it appears to be fair game for this writer's slings sardines which, when coupled with the failure of cultural edification of the serious game aficionado, in the' hopes,of improving the game owne'(s proficiency of play pnd and arrows. What follows is admittedly just one the promised air conditioning, left exhibitors providing services not otherwise available to the Avalon HiW man's opinion of what transpired this year. once again fuming about the conditions under game buff. ORIGINS continued to grow with an which they had to operate. Very narrow Publication is bi-monthly with mailings made close to the end of February, April, June. August. OClober and estimated total attendance of between three walkways between booths left the exhibition December. All editorial and general mail should be sent to and four thousand, attracting a record number of area always crowded and sweltering. All in all, the Avalon Hill Game Company. 4517 Harford Road. exhibitors (104 boothes) with reports of several the exhibition area did not lend ORIGINS much of Baltimore, MO 21214. One year subscriptions are $9.00. dozen others being turned away at the last a boost in terms of impressing the public with a Two year subscriptions are $14.00. Previous subscription rates of $ 7.50 and $12.00 will be accepted as 5 and 8 issue minute for lack of space. Among them was GHQ professionally run show. terms respectively. All domestic subscriptions sent via bulk whose miniatures stand had been a familiar sight permit. Domestic First Class Delivery and all subscriptions to at the first five ORIGINS. The fault here lies both Canada and Mexico must pay an additional $9,00 per year Continued on Page 42, Column 1 postage charge. All overseas sUbscriptions must add an addi~ in the inadequacy of the site to accommodate tional $12.00 per year postage charge. Send checks or money orders only. AH is not responsible for cash lost in transit, Those with a current American Express, VISA, or Master Charge card may call 800-'638-9292 toll free to renew subscriptions or order merchandise. Absolutely no complaints or questions'will • be handled on this,-number. Any business other than a credit ': card purchase must be handled by mail. Address changes must be submitted at I'ea'§t 6 weeks in advance to guarantee delivery. Paid advertising is not accepted. but news of impor~ tance to the gaming community is solicited. Convention an­ nouncements must be received·at least 3 months in advance and contain information p~rtaining to AH games in use. Articles {rom subscribers are considered for publication I at the discretion of our editorial staff. Articles should be . • typewritten, double·spaced. and embrace the tenets of good English·usage. There is no limit to word length. Accompany­ • ing examples and diagrams shQuld be neatlydone in black or ~,....,:• red ink. Photographs should have caption and credit line written on back. Rejected articles wiltbe returned whenever .. possible. EDITOR: Donald J. Greenwood • ASS'T EDITOR: Alan R. Moon • STAFF: C. Allen, J. Angiolillo, R. Beyma, A. Blumberg, D. • Burdick, R. Chiang, F. Davis, R. Hamblen, R. Harmon, T. Hazlett, J. Jarvinen, R, Medrow, J. Mishcon, T. Oleson, G. O'Neill. C. Ransom, J. Stahler. M. Uhl, C. Vasey, M. Watney. K. Zucker. I GRAPHICS: Jean Baer. Stephanie Czech. Margaret Lehman. Rodger MacGowan. Dale Sheaffer • EXCLUSIVE AGENTS: ARGENTINA; Sandler Gesang. : S.A.; Jose E. Uriburu 377; 1027, Buenos Aires; AUSTRALIA: Jedko Games Ltd., 18 Foneca Street; Mordialloc 3195; Victoria; BELGIUM: CODACO SPRL; 1072 Chaussee de Ninove; 1080 ; Bruxelles; FRANCE: Jeux Dcscafles~5, rue de la Baume; 75008 Paris; GREAT BRITAIN: Michaels ModeLs; 648 High Road; N. Finchley N. 12 ONL; GREECE: American Book & News, 68 QUICK PLAY SCENARIOS INSERT Syngrou Ave; Athens 408; ITALV: Don. Alfredo Gentili; Tir- American Paratroops Venture Into the Realm of COl By Courtney Allen . renia (Pisa); Via dei Lecci, I; JAPAN: Post Hobby Co.; 1-38 ¥oyogi, Shibuya-ku Tokyo; MALAYSIA/REPUBLIC.OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS 5 SINGAPORE: Wong International Entp; 6 Jalan Sinar Bulan; Singapore 17; SOUTH AFRICA: Gamma Garnes Ltd; P.O. An In-depth Analysis of CRESCENDO OF DOOM By Bob Medrow Box 2904, Capetown 8000; SPAIN: Joe-Play; Aribau, 272-274; Barcelona-6; SWEDEN: Playbround HB; Skarpskynevagen·2 SOFTENING UP 20 F; S-222 42 Lund A Player's Guide to AH's New Microcomputer Software By Richard Christie Interior Illustration: Rodger MacGowan (page 5) Area Technician: Jack Dott BABYGAMER 24 GENERAL SUbscriptions: Gertrude Zombro The Ninth Installment of The Asylum By Alan R. Moon Purchases of Games. PBM kits and parts: Christy Shaw Questions Concerning Play: Research & Design Depart­ ment CROSSING THE SAMBRE 25 Note: All questions should be thoroughly diagrammed. No A "Waterloo From the Beginning" Variant By Elwood Carlson questions wiJr be answered that are not accompanied by a self-addressed. stamped envelope. Only questions regard­ STAFF BRIEFING 27 ing rule clarifications (not historical or design subjects) can be answered An Interview with Frank Davis By Alan R. Moon IFYOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: inform us immedi­ ately. The Post Office destroys magaZines even if you leave a DESIGN ANALYSIS 29 forwarding address. AH ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY CRESCENDO OF DOOM: A Game System in Evolution By Don Greenwood FOR ISSUES LOST DUE TO AN INVALID ADDRESS. Please state both your new and old address. SERIES REPLAY 32 VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC By R. Wright, C. Roehl, and G. Hendrix Thp- Copyright t 980 m .4t/ALO.'· HILL~\~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 45 #J,.",e CO,npIIIIY /~O QUESTION BOX & RBG 46 4517 Harford Road, fl\~C THE INFILTRATOR'S REPORT 47 Baltimore, Md. 21214 \.!/ 'LI 3 FORTRESS EUROPA June i944. For over two years, the Allies have been gather­ ing their forces in England, preparing the final plan and its execution. Over three million men have been assembled in England and Africa. The Allied Strategic Air Forces relentlessly strike at railroads, road networks, bridges, and industrial complexes in Germany, France, Belgium, and Holland, attempt­ ing to soften up they German defense and slow German production. The target is Hitler's Fortress Europa. The Germans have a million and a half men to protect the Atlantic coast of Holland, Belgium, and France, as well as the Mediterranean coast of France. Believing the war will be won on the beaches, they have fortified much of the coastline with mines, bunkers, barbed wire, flooded areas, Complexity Rating-7 Playing Time-Six Hours and Up and gun positions: The Atlantic Wall. FORTRESS EUROPA receates the Allied cam­ OH l 'SlOlOej '"UejUI17l-3S1ndWI ONO:J3S paign in Western Europe from D-Day to March JOWJ'd 4l6L 1!J8 apnpu! Aew 1945. The Allied player must select an invasion site sJOt,ej '''UejUI 817-3S1ndWI .lSIlI~ and make a successful landing, break out of the beachhead, drive across France, and push deep into Germany. The German player must prevent the Allied invasion or else conduct an orderly withdrawal across France, constantly delaying the Allies, and then counterattacking in the winter. AN EPiC STRUGGLE. FORTRESS EUROPA is the successor to the highly acclaimed THE RUSSiAN CAMPAiGN. And while the mapboard area and the time frame are the same as those covered in D-DA Y; FOR­ TRESS EUROPA is a tremendous step up, both in complexity and historical accuracy from both TRC and D-DA Y. In fact, the only remaining similarity to TRC in the AH version of FORTRESS EUROPA is the double impulse movement in the turn sequence. The completely new air system is quite involved, though still abstract in concept. In most games, the decisions involving the assignment of available air­ craft to specific air missions will be the most crucial factor in deciding the winner. Special unit characteristics cover commandoes, rangers, paratroopers, Volkssturm units, and partisans. Other rules cover restricted German movement, realistic but simple supply rules and restrictions, limited armor effectiveness in other than clear ter­ rain, sea movement, rail movement, invasion areas, , and the panzer reserve. The basic game is thirty-seven turns long, but five scenarios are provided that cover parts of the campaign and range from seven to twenty-eight turns long. Sudden Death Victory Conditions (again, quite different from those of TRC) are included and will shorten most games if used, as well as increase the excitement throughout. But, no matter which game is being played, neither side has it easy and after a player has mastered the rules, he will have innumerable subtle strategies and tricky t,actics to choose from. The game includes two Allied OB Charts, two German OB Charts, an Aircraft Mission and Replacement Chart, a Time Record Chart, a 22" x 24" mapboard, 520 counters, one die, and a sixteen page rulebook.