Downer From Down Under
Mike Tonks from Queensland, Australia

Let me start by saying that neither myself nor any other member of our Europa group will be purchasing Balkan Front or any other rehashed Europa game, until we know the situation with the Second Front air rules are clarified.

Do you think we are all stupid? Why should we buy any of your games before SF is finally released. What if the air rules are different? Do we then have to buy Balkan Front Mark Two? I already own MM, why should I buy another version that could become obsolete as soon as SF is finally released? Why should I have to buy any game at all? Other than SF and then the greatest ghost of all, Grand Europa.

Some of us have been waiting well over ten years for these games, some others out there probably even longer!! What we want (and probably the vast majority want) is SF followed by GE. So get your act together and concentrate on the main issues, not the quick buck specials (The Urals) or you will die along with the rest of the quick buck mobs, i.e. SPI.

We feel let down by GDW for two reasons: (1) they did not finish something they said they would, after we all invested heavily in it, and (2) they then handed it over to a group of very similar people, PROCRASTINATORS!

Publisher's Reply

Your letter to our magazine is in this column because it asks several questions and raises points that I should answer. Here goes...

What is your Name?
What is your Quest?
What is your IQ?

When my wife Darla and I visited Australia a couple of years ago we met a lot of people. I don't remember meeting you and I am not in a position to judge if people are stupid. I would presume you are not, since Europa can not be played by a stupid person. I do detect a certain tenseness in your attitude. You are obviously upset and I would like to change that.

The Rules: Holy Grail, or Mostly Gravel?

You and your group want assurances that before you buy another game in the series the air rules will be finalized, written in cement. Of all the areas to choose, this is the one that has changed the most throughout the series. Specifically, the guarantee you seek cannot be given. Rules, 0Bs, charting and the other parts of Second Front are under development.

Playtesting what exists will cause changes to happen. The final product will be the rules for SF, as is the case for each game of the series. In as many areas as possible rules are tailored and written to reflect the same conditions and usage, regardless of the game they appear. In each game there are also different rules, reflecting the individual campaign the game represents. Some rules and concepts are repeated throughout, but it is not possible to write one set of rules covering everything, and that is it.

These changes show the evolutionary nature of Europa. The latest version of the maps exemplifies this fact. We have received strong approval from Europa players for these changed maps, which is doubly gratifying if you consider the contentious debate a few tried to carry on when word of these changes was first discussed in this magazine.

If you are refusing to buy any of these new releases, and are content with the games you have, great! We are not holding SF hostage until we sell all the BF games, or other titles we publish.

Time waits for no one; it passes, you buy.

The length of the series is its strength. I have worked with it since 1973, going on eighteen years. I am waiting to finish the series, more than you might imagine. Since I am now interacting with the dozen-plus individuals who have been in the trenches of this series I have gained no small amount of respect for them and what they have been doing especially when it comes to GE.

Europa titles, new or old, are not obsolete and are not planned to be made obsolete. BF was published to fill a demand. It was published with new maps, OBs, scenarios, rules, charts, box and counters because the old art did not exist and it would be silly to ignore the valuable new info and work we have available. In fact, no art work has survived except for FitE and SE. BF was published because we needed to expand the number of Europa players. It was published because we needed to test our ability to publish a full game. BF was published to introduce both the core Europa players and the new gamers to the Collector Series, the final editions of Europa. BF and First to Fight will be on the market because we need to have smaller games at lower prices so more gamers can play and pay without facing a price tag like that of FitE.

What I read in your letter is some belief on your part that we owe you. That we are under some sort of social contract to you and the others who own some or all of the Europa series. That we must publish SF, then GE, then be done with it. Sorry, you are wrong.

GRD: Al Capone or Mother Teresa?

The very thing you accuse us of, being a "quick buck mob," would be true if we did what you advocate. Sit back a minute and remember the history of this series. Time has been spent to make it as good as possible. Proof is found within the product line and the persistence of the individuals doing the work this past eighteen years. The point was driven home again when we were hammering out BF.

Six months passed from when I thought it would be shipping, until the day it finally did ship. During this delay we received numerous calls and letters asking about the status of the game. With two exceptions the position these people took was: take the time, get it right, we understand. Time wasn't nearly as important as quality.

As I have stated before, but feel that I must state again because of this serious accusation, no one involved in this project has made a dime in profit except the vendors that publish the finished work: the printers, artists, box companies, and UPS (you know, the smart ones). Rick Gayler has never been paid for the endless hours he puts in to edit this magazine, month after month. The researchers and developers get free games and a mention for their efforts and I, my friend, have subsidized Europa out of my own pocket to the tune of over $38,000, which I do not expect to get back for some time. You are dealing with a "no buck mob." Why do we do it? We are all infected with the strange virus, the "Europa Complex." It infects us all, including you.

Yeah, so what? So when will we stop procrastinating and get "the job" done? Grand Europa is not one big pizza. It is pizza by the slice. One of the slices is in this magazine and it is called "Supermarina - Naval Operations in the Mediterranean." This is the working title only and this is (dare I say it? Yes! Yes!) testing the waters (yuk, yuk, yuk) for naval ops. Tom Johnson and I hope you enjoy it and have some fun.

SO THERE!

We publish a magazine devoted to the Europa series six times a year, now into its third year. We have put on the market a module, The Urals; a game, Balkan Front; and have four more games entering final development: For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Winter War, First To Fight, and Second Front.

We have had two Europa conventions, Europafests. We have the largest demonstration team in the industry that has attended the major conventions and has involved over 300 people first hand in Europa, Task Force Johnson. We have made Europa the central event of the national wargaming convention, Origins '91 in Baltimore. Not one single person involved in any aspect of this entire operation does this on a regular "job" basis or gets paid to do any of it. Unbelievable, but it shows the care and love we all feel for Europa.

When John Astell left GDW the company lost the man who, more than any other, made the series. Faced with this, and the fact a replacement for John could not be hired, GDW decided to turn the series over to GRD because they believed that we could do those things the company believes in and we would carry forward with the final mission of completing the series. GDW trusts GRD. GDW helped ensure the success by using their staff time and other company resources to help us at every turn. Please don't feel that GDW let you down. GDW deserves all our thanks for their assistance. John and I appreciate it, very much.

Remember the Maine!

The main issue, then, is the revitalization and completion of the series. What we are going to do, and what we can do, will be done as time and finances permit. I am confident of our ability to produce. No doubt problems will arise, but your lack of support, pending the release of SF and GE might change if you take a look at how improved BF is over MM.

Your investment may be several hundred dollars. For that you have received many hours (and many, many, many hours if you play FitE/SE) as a return on your investment. That is quite a value. If you own the entire series your investment is small when compared to the work others have invested to get this great series of games into your hands. Try to remember that as well.

We sell games. We have to sell games, about 2,000 on the initial order, to get back the money invested getting the game from the drawing table to the gaming table. You don't have to buy any games and neither does anyone else, but they do! We sold 1,800 on the preorder and initial distribution order for BF. The reorders are coming in and we should sell about 900 more within two weeks of the initial order, which is outstanding. The funds necessary to continue will be coming in and the war chest for SF is building. This is a major turning point for GRD and is the real insurance needed to get the job done, as you wish.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

So, I've taken time to explain to you why you don't have SF and GE in your hands right now. I do not want you to view GRD as a bunch of hosers, indifferent to your feelings, or trying to rip off a very dedicated gamer. I could have dismissed your letter as a baseless complaint. It is not indicative of what we usually get from any part of the gaming market. I didn't because I know how you feel. GRD and Australia have a special relationship. I was able to meet the Pacific Europa Players face to face and get to know them and their families. I got to see your country and get the feel of your life and I like it a lot.

Although your letter was very negative, I truly do understand what you are saying. I hope you will reflect on what I have said and I hope you come to the conclusion that we are doing the best we possibly can, and, like you, are devoted to this thing we call Europa.