For the foreseeable future we plan to stick with the article mix you have seen in the fast few issues...

Annual Review

This is the sixth issue of our 1994 publishing year, and that means several things:

We have completed our seventh year of publication. It is time for you to resubscribe for 1995.

The time has arrived to look ahead to issues #41-46.

We are still about two months behind schedule in getting the magazine out. The intent is to catch up when we put out our next double issue, slated for #42/43. That issue will include the Grand Europa 1943 Linking Scenario. If we manage to finish it by Origins, we will be back on track. It always sounds easy enough...

For the foreseeable future we plan to stick with the article mix you have seen in the last few issues, which has been very well received. Ideally, each issue will contain a scenario, a revised or new errata sheet, at least four pages of EXchange, an article outlining a rules variant proposal, a Grand Europa article, one or more articles addressing actual play of the games, a unit history piece, and, of course, the usual columns by John, Winston and me.

We are making a conscious effort to increase the amount and quality of the graphics in each issue. In 1995 we will have more line drawings, maps and graphically represented examples of play. Also slated to get more attention is the area of puzzles and contests. Frank, Jason and Winston are clever fellows, and each has mentioned some interesting ideas for testing your tactical and historical acumen.

If there is a theme for 1995, it is to bring more fun to these pages. The Europa community is often characterized as being populated solely by cartridge counters and stuffy egomaniacs. I don't subscribe to this theory; I think we can cut up with the best of them. TEM will always be a serious magazine, as befits our collective tastes, but we should never forget that Europa is, after all, a game. There has always been a rich heritage of good humor in the Europa literature: ETO and The Grenadier were never especially known for their reverence. As editor, I have been seeking for some time to recapture some of their innovative and mind-expanding flavor and salt it into the tried-and-true TEM article mix.

So get on board for 1995. We intend to make the Europa magazine the best publication of its kind, while keeping it fresh and enjoyable.

1943 Linking Scenario Update

A number of people have been hard at work on this project and we can share some details with you.

David Hughes and Jason Long have been doing most of the heavy lifting. There are a number of major issues to be resolved, chief among them combining the orders of battle, amalgamating the air systems, concocting a method for handling the Balkans, taking a fresh look at AxisAllied surrender rules, and tailoring the naval system to fit an all- fronts game.

As part of the process of creating consolidated orders of battle, there are many small cracks to be filled. One of the largest fissures is the 1945 Soviet OB. Jason has been seeking for some time to wrangle this from Charles Sharp. Between these new units and the Axis units marked in bold italics in Second Front there will be a relatively large number of missing counters. GR/D may only be able to provide these as icons in the magazine; better plan for now to make your own counters.

We are still wrestling with the choice of the appropriate start date, waffling between April and July. David Hughes' staunch veterans in Ontario have started a playtest using an April start date. He reports no major problems. The biggest news so far is that the Axis managed to get a bunch of cadres out of North Africa. David reports that in many ways April makes for an easier start date than July, as the dreadful weather means that many fronts, especially the East, are placid for the first few turns. However, John Astell is already on record that the scenario should start in July, so as to avoid the anticipated "Africa Problem" (would Adolf really allow those cadres to bail out of North Africa?).

Some Well-Deserved Praise

If you have perceived an improvement in the magazine lately, be sure to think kindly of Jason Long and Frank Watson, who have selflessly kept their shoulders to the wheel this past year. Any progress we have made wouldn't have happened without them. They certainly have my thanks and admiration, and deserve yours as well.

A Final Reminder

This is the last issue of the 1994 publication year, so it is time to resubscribe NOW!

Win a $25.00 Gift Certificate!

The Soviets can indeed overrun both a 5-point and 6-point stack in the Nov I movement phase, but assembling the 50-point and 60-point stacks to perform the two overruns takes a little doing. List the composition of the two Soviet stacks.

Only entries received by April 15, 1995 will be considered. The winner, selected at random from the correct entries, will receive a $25 gift certificate from GR/D.

TEM #37 Errata

Kasserine Crisis II: Allied Reinforcements.

Under Feb II 43, British 8th Army, the fourth line should read:

2x 5-3-10 Arm X 22,23

For astute readers of "Cunningham's Pond":

The Queen Elizabeth and Vanguard weren't sunk in Alexandria in 1941. The Queen Elizabeth and Valiant were. The Vanguard wasn't even finished until 1946.

The Mediterranean was not Admiral Richard Cunningham's pond. It was Admiral Randall Cunningham's. No, wait. He's a quarterback. Andrew. That's it! Admiral Andrew Cunningham.

There were plenty of British Cunningham's around. Admiral Sir John Cunningham also played a prominent role in the Mediterranean theater. Alan, Andrew's brother, commanded the 8th Army for a time. And Richard? The best I can figure is that (as you may have already guessed) Richie Cunningham was on Happy Days!. Oh well, it sure sounded right at the time. I guess it could have been worse--I could have had the valiant Admiral Fonzarelli leading the Italian fleet. Or Potsie in the vanguard of Force K. And Rick wants me to edit other people's mistakes? He must be desperate.

Fixed in the MagWeb.com archive--RL