I don't have much to say this issue, so let's get right to the the "Return Fire" ratings:

CROSS OF IRON: A Review Retreat Hell! A Review of YALU Rebalancing VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC Issue #88 as a whole Thumbnail Analysis Line of Communications The War Elephant Mail Call G2 Reports Impressions From the Prism

7.16 6.81 6.77 6.76 6.68 6.32 6.29 6.16 6.00 4.68

Number 88 was a pretty popular issue - only topped by 85's 7.11 among recent issues. As usual, the voting for best three articles differed slightly from the 1-10 ratings:

CROSS OF IRON: A Review - Bird Rebalancing VITP - Dworschak Retreat Hell! - Bomba

$5.00 3.00 2.00

"Impressions From the Prism" was a big hit with some, not with others. The sizable minority that are not interested in fantasy and role-playing gave it zeroes or low marks. But many others rated it highly. This brings up a point which may as well serve as the subject for my soap box dissertation this issue:

A fair proportion of you readers are strictly military boardgamers and are interested in nothing else. That is your right. But, because of this limited interest, articles on role-playing, fantasy, miniatures and the like are always rated very low. Again, that is your right. But I would like to explain why I keep including such articles anyway. Mainly because there is more to wargaming than hexagons, cardboard counters and panzer divisions. The modern hobby of wargaming with miniatures was around 50 years before Avalon Hill. Role-playing games are only about five years old bur constitute by far the most dynamic, fast-growing part of the hobby. Computer gaming is about to follow suit. It has always been mmy intention that Campaign (and Panzerfaust before it) should address itself to the entire hobby. For one thing, I'm interested in the entire hobby. For another, there just aren't enough hardcore, military boardgamers to support me in the manner to which I'd like to become accustomed. So rate the articles as you see 'em. The information is valuable and does guide me in selecting articles to some extent. But I reserve my right to exercise my office as editor and look out for the minorities. I just hope the low ratings don't scare off too many writers.

And now it's time to reveal the best articles of the year in our six traditional categories:

HISTORY - Weserbung - Gunnette (7.27) #84
STRATEGY - Weapons & Tactics of SL - Bird (7.17) #87
REVIEW - COI: A Review - Bird (7.16) #88
VARIANT - Rebalancing VITP - Dworschak (6.77) #88
MISC. - Cathedrals of Wargaming III - Greene (6.72) #83
DESIGN - Realism and Playability - Nofi (6.69) #85

Note that Lorrin Bird won in two categories. Two of the best articles appeared in issue #88. And of the last six issues only #86 did not contain a winner.

Next issue we'll take your vote for the Best Game of the Year and the Best Game of All Time for 1978.