Before going into the Return Fire results from the last issue I want to announce a big push to further increase the rate of growth in the circulation of PANZERFAUST. First, we are now offering a 5-year subscription for $20.00 -- the most economical rate yet. Secondly, we will now extend your current subscription by one issue for every new subscriber (not renewal) you can bring us. Get 6 of your friends to subscribe and you'll have a whole year of PF free! (We won't change the number on your address plate because it's too expensive just for an issue or two difference, but we will keep track and see that you get your extra issues.)

As of issue #58 we had about 1,350 paid subscribers and sold about 400 to hobby shops across the country for over-the-counter sales. This issue will probably reach about 150 more than that, as that's been about the average growth between issues. When we took over from Don Greenwood (issue #53) circulation was around 650-700.

The same offer will apply to subscriptions to our new history magazine, CAMPAIGN. Incidently, since the appearance of CAMPAIGN means that PF will lose the major history articles -- such as future installments of the Russian Front and Civil War series -- and since some of you are perhaps more interested in those than the rest of PF, we will allow you to transfer your PF subscription to CAMPAIGN. The swap will be on an issue for an issue basis, and you must request the change before 1 November 1973.

And now for those Return Fire results:

Prelude To Disaster 7.59
Trouble In The Ardennes 6.91
Issue #58, as a whole 6.87
Designer's Notes: VERDUN 6.44
Design Analysis: VERDUN 6.35
Thumbnail Analysis 6.16
Reconnaissance In Force 5.81
WATERLOO: Combined Arms Armies 5.80
Game Design: SICILY Game Notes 5.76
DIPLOMACY: Whirlwind of Knives 5.64
Passing In Review 5.61
Line of Communications 5.40
G2 Reports 5.21
Book Review: SOLO WARGAMING 5.11
Miniature Warfare 5.06

This is the first time since we took over, and before, that all articles rated above 5: Also the 7.59 for "Prelude To Disaster" is the highest rating any article has ever received.

Furthermore, the 6.78 rating for the issue as a whole is up from 5.64 for issue 57. So I guess we did something right.

The following were voted the best articles in issue 58:

1. Prelude To Disaster Lundstrom $5.00
2. Trouble in the Ardennes Parker 3.00
3. Designer's Notes: VERDUN Hill 2.00

For once these results agree with the 110 ratings: The race for first and second were by no means close, but that for third was very much so. "Designer's Notes" just barely beat out "Design Analysis" and the DIPLOMACY column. The "Editor's Choice" $5.00 bonus also goes to John Lundstrom for "Prelude To Disaster", a truly excellent piece of research. And since #58 rounded out a full six issues since we took over, the Best of the Year bonuses are now due. Therefore, each of the following will receive $10.00 for the highest rated articles in their categories.

HISTORY: Prelude To Disaster - Lundstrom 7.59
GAME/VARIANT: SPIRIT OF '76 Lane 7.51
DESIGN: ANZIO: Born 1969, Died 1972 Oleson 7.08
REVIEW: Design Analysis: DUNKIRK & FRANCE, 1940 - Totten 6.88
STRATEGY: WATERLOO: 30 Turns Of Battle - Gygax 6.36
MISCELLANEOUS: Operation Contact Macintyre 5.69

Don't Forget that, beginning with this issue, authors will be paid $2.50 per printed page, plus the bonuses.