And now, the news... Mail keeps coming in on Balkan Front. Looks like we have a winner here.

I stated previously that the countersheet with the German and Italian forces would be replaced and we are going to do it. I figure to run the sheet when we do Second Front in a couple of months. As a member of the Association you will receive one sheet free from us with the magazine sometime later this year, and you will also get...well, you will see when it arrives.

In this issue we have a look at Plan Y, my favorite scenario in the game. In upcoming issues there will be more BF discussion, some optional rules, a tie-in with Supermarina, and so on.

Supermarina is out and about. We did this playtest module in sixty days, and we had to kill several people with work to get it done. In fact, Tom Johnson came for a visit on November 17th, last year, and I announced to him, sitting in our kitchen, that it was my intention to have the module done and out in sixty days. Tom looked at me and said, "Okay." Tom knows how to talk to me. But when the word got around I received calls from several individuals questioning my mental state at the time I had told Tom to get going.

Well, it may not be perfect, but here we are, looking at the module. The maps did not come out the way I hoped for, but in the final version the maps will be nice. I had them drawn in a computer format, but the darn thing didn't work out. I spent about 20 hours on the maps before throwing in the towel and settling on the hand-drawn version you have before you. Oh well, better that than nada.

The final version of the module will have nice, printed maps; mounted counters; charts, and rules in a folder- type container.

The module will be free to any interested member of the Association. When it is time to get one you will receive a notice with your magazine. If you send in the notice and we will ship your SM module to you.

By way of clarification, SM is NOT a game, it is a module for use with existing games. Then why did we include all those maps? Because you may need to know the distance in hexes from Rome to Tripoli, or other distances; because you may not own all the games covering the Mediterranean; because you will want to convoy some REs, and if we gave you a chart stating distances instead of a map it would be boring; because now you can play using the Italy maps that are not yet published; etc., etc., etc.

I was the individual who jammed the module through from here in Grinnell to get something moving on the naval front - as all you typo fans out there noticed, Winston's back. As stated in the module, this is a playtest version. We have gotten some good feedback from some of the initial playing using SM with Balkan Front. On that matter I must clarify one point. We did not include the ports in Yugoslavia on the port chart; use the ones on the BF maps when playing that game using the module.

The final version will have two types of modules; one operational module for those more interested in the ground campaign, but wanting a bit more sea action; and two, a much more tactical-type module with more ships in the OB/OA and a more detailed way to play the naval game with the added ships. At this time I am still of the mind to delete the subs, even from the more tactical version of the module. I am still trying to find a better name for the module as well. Any ideas?

Planning for the future is not an easy task. We know what GRID is going to produce through the end of this year, but after that time John and I have only a rough idea of where we are headed. I would like to see Their Finest Hour/Battle of Britain done soon with a tactical map and rules, something like Narvik, and thus provide a use for the RN with the new naval system. We also have discussed doing the desert games again, and then there is our favorite monster, FitE/SE/TU.

If production can stand the pace we could have all the remaining titles, some new titles, most of Grand Europa, and the tie-in modules done by 1995. This is quite a pace, but is necessary if we are to see the end of this by the time social security kicks in.

I'd like to discuss the redoing of FitE with you through this column. From what I have seen of the new maps, new OB/OAs and new rules, it would be quite a different game. John and I are trying to come up with a way to do a simple add-on so that you would not have to re-buy the entire game (after all, FitE is a good game as it stands). Putting out the new maps should not cause you to have to purchase it all again, BUT!...

There is more to it than that. From the new information we have been receiving (via Charles Sharp and others) it appears that the '41 Soviets are too strong and the '42 Soviets are too weak, and there are questions to address on the status of the Soviet armor and cavalry, plus the overall question of how to deal with all the ants.

Goodness, quite a bunch of stuff. Still, we have to call an end to it at some point. The idea of coming out with another FitE is not fun for me - I am the guy who will be doing the counters, box, and odds-and-sods work. It is quite a perplexing problem. The changes we have been looking at are substantial. The problems are as large as the game itself.

The ultimate solution is to market another game in the Collector's Series that addresses (with finality) some of these questions and fixes some of the minor problems we have encountered. Doing that would mean we would be done, once and for all, with the keystone game of the system, but we should have an interim fix for those who do not want to buy the whole thing again, BUT!... Well, we are still working it out, so don't bother to comment just yet. I believe that we can come up with a happy solution for those who do not want to purchase the entire game again.

Origins & Europafest Three

Cost to attend the fest: $5.
Cost to attend the fest party: $9.

Columbia Room, gaming. Chesapeake Room, seminars. Frederick Room, the party.

This year we are having the fest at Origins. At the convention we will be having a special gathering and party for all Europa enthusiasts. For all those who have the good sense to attend Origins, sign up for Europafest, and come to the party, here is what you must do: 1. To get in to E-fest you must preregister and buy a ticket for the fest at that time; or, register at the door for the convention and buy an E- fest ticket at that time.

Once you buy your ticket to E-fest (cost is $5 in addition to the Origins registration fee), if you want to attend the party the next step is to get a party admission ticket. You can buy a ticket to the party through preregistration, at the door of the convention, or at the GRD booth.

We are planning hot and cold goodies, a cash bar, the "Best of Europa" awards ceremony, and my annual insightful, informative, and revealing talk to you, our honored guests. Sure to break the ice at future parties. We will have Shelby Stanton, Rick Gayler, John Astell, Arthur Goodwin, Tom and his magic Task Force, Michael Parker, David Hughes and others who I have not yet badgered into confirming their presence, at the party.

In issue #17 we presented the first hard info on the convention: who to call, the prices of rooms, etc. In this issue on the inside, front cover is the same info, plus the address to write for preregistration. The party is now scheduled for Saturday night at 2000 hours (8:00 PM for you civilians). If our campaign to get the system elected to the Hall of Fame works as hoped, well, all the better reason to come and have a very good time.

First To Fight:

Have I told you about this game yet? No? Well, when it is time (meaning, when we have the game boxed and ready to ship), I will. A sneak peek at the inside reveals that this game has two maps, not three as in the older version, Case White, and more counters than last time. A rumor that the entire 1939 German Army will make a guest appearance has circulated, but has not been confirmed. First to Fight will also contain a special set of introductory rules for your friends that find the system too much to deal with.

A new look to the countersheets, a new type of box (the last two are technical, cost-saving, time-saving, agonysaving devices), a new counter font making the symbols easier to read, and some other stuff round things out. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT send money or questions on this game. I don't want to seem cruel, but your letters will be shredded, your checks cashed and money wasted on parties and extravagant dinners for big shots, and your pleas ignored UNTIL we are ready to give you more facts about the game. Then you will know all you need to know.

The practice of discounting games for Association members has been discontinued because of the negative impact this has on game stores, but if you consider that you will be receiving a free naval module this year, this should not dent your psyche too much.

Why First To Fight first?

Here we go back to what we have talked about in earlier columns. We want to get the older games out for several reasons.

One: To get product on the shelf. It is easier to do that with the smaller games that need revision, not invention.

Two: To give the public something it knows. Most older gamers remember Case White. I believe it was the first game covering the Polish campaign ever produced. Having it back in the inventory gets a known product back on the shelf.

Three: Older titles to the head of the bus. Self explanatory, I believe.

Four: It's a good test of the market place.

The Urals (believe it or not!) was not a good test of the market, it was a test of the ability of GRD to finish a project and a neat add-on to FitE/SE. Bringing out the older titles provides those who have never played the system an entry level into Europa. If the game sells well, the market is secure to do more things down the road. If the game sells well, the ongoing projects are funded.

And that, my brothers, will be good news for everybody.