Volume 20, Number 1 2 PiiiiiiiiiiiiiiihiiiiiiiiilOiiiiiiiiSiiiiiiiiOiiiiiiiiPiiiiiiiihYiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiPiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiirtiiiiiiii9iiiiiiii7iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~11 *The AVALON HILL 1.:..1iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiAiiiiiiiiYiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiloiiiiiiiiDiiiiiiii"iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiil On Page 23 of this issue can be found the Philosophy 94 (Vol. 19, No.4), the titles here GENERAL results of our latest masochistic effort to deter­ evaluated are ranked according to the reader­ , The Game Players Magazine mine how the collective readership (or at least generated Overall Value, ranging from the best­ those who responded) view the labors of the accepted downward. In general, the lower the nu­ The Avalon Hill GENERAL is dedIcated to Ihe presenta­ tion at authoritative articles on fhe strategy, tactics, and designers and artists at Avalon Hill. There were merical average for a title in a category, the better variation of Avalon Hill wargames. HistQd<;alartlclesare 884 response sheets returned (which represents the cumulative view of the respondents. How­ Included only insomuch as they provide useful background only about 4% of The GENERAL's current list of ever, in the case of Complexity, the lower values informatron On current Avalon Hill titles. The GENERAL is subscribers), enough to provide a valid sampling. represent games of adjudged ease in mastering; in pubhshed by the Avalon Hill Game Company solely for the culturai edification of the serious game aficionado, in the Indeed, a few continue to trickle in with each the Game Length category, the lower values in­ hopes of improving the game owner's proficiencY of ploy day's mail, weeks after my arbitrary cut-off. This dicate shorter periods necessary to play the game providing services not otherwise avaHableto the Avalon was both surprising and gratifying-well beyond to conclusion (in terms of ten-minute multiples; game buff, Avalon Hill is a division of Monarcil Av Industr',es, Inc" a wholly owned SubsIdiary 01 Monarch my cynical expectations, Before proceeding, for hence, a rating of 9.00 reflects the concensus Avalon, Inc, The shares of Monarch Avalon, Inc, are pubhclV the awesome task of tabulating the thousands of that an hour-and-a-half is required to complete traded on the NASDAQ System urder the symbol MAHI. For numbers that this figure represents, a word of play). The column Number of Responses merely ,nformation about the company wrrte to Harold COhen anhe '. thanks is tendered to our secretary, Karen lists the total number of readers who rated that executive oHices of the company, 4517 Harford Rd" Baltimore, MD 21214, Knezevich, and to Richard Hamblen's program­ particular title. The Percentage of Total indicates PLibltcation is bi~montb'YWltn mailings made clos~to mable calculator-both for dedication above and what fraction of the total 884 respondents con­ the end of February, April, Jure, August, Qctober and beyond the call of duty. sidered the game (a barometer of popularity). December All editorial and general mail should be sent to the AvalOrl; Hill Gal'ne COfflpaf1Y. 40'1 7 HarfOJ dRql:f(t8Bltilj)bl'e~ A word on the WARGAME RBG is in order to MD 21214, One year subscripticns are $ subscriptiMS are $14,00. All domeslic s preface this presentation. As explained in AH Continued on Page 22, Column 2 via bulk permit, Domestic First Class subscriptIons to Canada and Mexico must ~9,00 per year postage charge, All 0 must add an additional $ 12,00 per y Send checks or money orders only. AH Cash lost In transit. Those with a ourre , VISA, MasterCard or Choice may call 800-638-9292 toll . free to renew S~bsGfiptions or order merchandise. 'Absolutely no complaints or quest10n$ will be ,handled on this number.' Any business other than a .9redit 'card purchase must be handled by mail, Address changes must 6 weeks in advance to guarantee delive 00taccepted, but news of importance munltyis solicited, Convention a~~:~~~,,::~~~:~ received at least 3 months in advance tion pertaining to AHgamesinuse,. .. ." ..' Articles from subscrIbers are considered f6r public'ltion at Ihe discretion of our edit typewritten, double-sp"ced, a English usage, There is ing examples and diagrams shoulc be neally donein black or red ink. Photographs should have caption and credit line written on back. Rejected articles will be returned whenever possible. EXECUTIVE EDITOR' Donald J. Greenwood MANAGING EDITOR, Rex A. Martin ' GRAPHICS, Jean Baer, Dale Sheaffer, Charles Kibler, Rodger MacGowan, Stephanie Czech, David L'lwrence Cover Art: Rodger MacGowan Maothead Doolgn: Stephanie Czech AREA Tachnlclan: Diana Widener GENERAL Subocrlptlono: Gertrude Zombro , Purchaseo of Gameo, PBM klto and parts: Brenda Brauer FOREIGN DISTRIBUTORS: Overseas readers are urged to make subscription arrangements with tile appropriate agent, AUSTRALIA: Jedko Games, 18 Fonceca St., Mordialloc, FIRST IMPRESSIONS 5 3195, Victoria; DENMARK: Jom Eriksen, Sondertoften 209, OK 2630 Taastrup; GREAT BRITAIN: Avalon HiIIlUKI LTD, An Intro to SL Plus Three By Bob Medrow 650 High Rd" North Finchley, London N, 12, ONL; JAPAN" Post Hobby, 1·38 Yoyogi, Shibura-KU, Tokyo; SINGAPORE' Wong International Entr., 6 Jalan Sinat 8ulan; Singapore 1750; SOUTH AFRICA: Gamma Games Ltd, P.O. Box ANVIL OF MY EYE 13 2904, Capetown 8000; SWEDEN: Target Games, By Mark Nixon Skogvaktargatan 2, S-11542 Stockholm. GIs in the maelstrom, Part 1 Ruleo Queotlona: R&D, NOTE, all questions should be" diagrammed. No questions can be answered which>ars c unaccompanied by a self-addressed envelope, must be based on rules of play Inot historical GLASS ANVIL 24 mattersI and be based on the current rulenclition. A Dissenting View ofG.l. By James Collier on more than one game must be listed on separate pages and accompanied by a separate SASE for each game. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: h'lform us Immediately. Ttie Post Office destroys magazines even 11 you leave a ­ forwarding address. AH ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBI THE G.I. DESIGN TEAM REPLIES 28 FOR ISSUES LOST DUE TO AN INVALID ADDRESS In Defense of the Design By D. Greenwood, J. Mishcon, R. McNamara stata both your new and old address. Copyright 1983 GUN DUELS 33 TI.e.~... 1 Experimental Armor Rule By Don Greenwood il.VilLONlJo".p-yy~HILLA i ••• •••.••.•••• , (;a....., SERIES REPLAY 34 4517 Harford Road, ~ VITP-PBM-SM, Part II By J, Lutz, D. Sjnay&S. Resman Baltimore, Md. 21214 'LJ 3 PENNANT RACE! IS HERE PENNANT RACE!, Avalon Hill's revolu­ tionary new baseball game, is available 1982 HOUSTON ASTROS (NL WEST) both bydirect mailand in your local hobby shop! The latest addition to AH's BAT ENDURANCE ROTATION PARK MINORS RHP/lHP WEATHER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED line of games, 22 A B -2 3 -1/+2 Dome PENNANT RACE! scientifically STARTERS POS BAT POW SPD FlD evaluates all of the teams and players of I thefabulous 1982 season and allows you PHll~GARNER 2B ~ 3 4 0 to recreate this magic on your gaming , i table, either by yourself, with a friend, or ~RAV.:KNIGHT 0 3B 5 3 0 0 at a Friday night gathering of gamers. I This game is intended to allow players to -tONY scon CE -2 0 4 +1 replay an ENTIRE baseball season I according to actual schedules and the ec­ ALAN ASHBY C 2 3 0 0 -, centricities ofthe weather. Each ofthe 26 teams will play a complete 162-game _BENCH POS BAT POW SPD FlD schedule; as General Manager ofa given I team, you must trade players to improve fDAN.NLWALilNG- OFI1B 0 0 2 0 your club's weak spots, bring players up from the minors to replace injured MIKE IVIE 1B 1 3 0 0 veterans, establish a pitching rotation I that is both effective and physically KIKO~GARCIA INF 0 1 1 -1 durable, and most importantofall- keep I winning! Most baseball games on the market con­ PITCHERS R/l START END REST RELIEF centrate on a play-by-play system that is I fine ifyou arerecreatinga World Series or NOLAN RYAN R 4 1 4 - are participating in a league with a I BOB~KNEPPER 2 limited schedule. But if you want to l J 4 recreate the actual baseball year in all of I its confused and hectic glory or wish to MIKE LACOSS R 4 1 6 0 understand more of what makes a good I team click and a bad one bomb, then JtANDY MOFFIn R - - 0 PENNANT RACE! is for you. The game I BillY SMITH R -1 system is based on a game-by-game - -- I rather than play-by-play concept; as such, you can replay a three-game set Kansas City at Texas· Friday, May 21, 1982 Boston at Seattle­ between two clubs in a minute or two. Oakland at Boston" Detroit at Oakland· California at Detroit" New York at Minnesota· Game resolution takes all of baseball's Set!little at Milwaukee" vital elements into account: pitching, Mlnnesoh, at New York" Saturday, May 29, 1912 BaltImore at Toronto· Toronto at BaltImore· relief, power, speed, defense, endurance, Cleveland at Chicago" Chicago at Cleveland Tex8:!o at Kansas Clty· Milwaukee at California ballparks, weather, the minor leagues, Saturday, May 22, 1982 Kansas City at Texas· right-handed and left-handed pitching Oakland at Boston Boston at Seattle­ CalifornIa at Detroit Detroit at Oakland and batting, and more! With a little Seattle at Mllwllukee New York at Minnesota Mlnnesotll at New York" record-keeping, you willfindthat you can Baltimore at Toronto Sunday, May 30, 1982 Cleveland at Chicago· Toronto at BaltImore simulate an entire baseball season in a Texas at KanSl!IS Clty· Chicago at Cleveland remarkably short period oftime. Sunday, May 23, 1982 Milwaukee at California Oakland at Boston Kansas City at Texas Boston at Seattle· California at Detroit Detroit at Oakland (2) PENNANT RACE! is available from the Seattle at Milwaukee New York at Minnesota MInnesota at New York Avalon Hill Game Company, 4517Harford BaltImore at Toronto Monday, May 31, Cleveland at Chicago 1m Texas at Baltimore· Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21214 for Texas at Kansas City MInnesota at Cleveland· $14, plus 10% shipping and handling Monday, May 24, 1912 New York at Toronto· CalifornIa at Boston· Detroit at California (20 % for Canadian orders, 30 % Baltimore at Toronto Chicago at Kansas City· overseas).