Brian Adams, Newfoundland

My commentary is inspired by three sequential events:

• Exactly six months to the day after receiving TEM #36, I received Nos. 37, 38/39, and 40, all at once.
• Just a little over two months after this windfall I received TEM #41.
• Within the last few days, I received my copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls.

This leaves me feeling more optimistic than I have for a long time about the future of Europa. There is a real possibility that GR/D is about to get the magazine back to something approximating a regular publication schedule. And to judge from a first cursory glance at FWTBT, it seems that GRD has finally licked some of the nagging quality control problems that have intermittently plagued the Collector Series titles. In particular, the counters look excellent. With the promise of the imminent release of the 1943 Linking Scenario and War in the Desert, and the release of the first game in the World War I series before the end of the year, it seems that we may be teetering on the brink of something of a Europa renaissance.

With all the riches of the equivalent of four issues of Europa within a two month period, the two articles I most enjoyed were "On Filling in the Cracks of Grand Europa" from issue #40 and "Rommel Beyond the Pyramids" from issue #41. Being a selfprofessed lunatic-fringe Europa inclusionist, I'm actually quite obsessed with the cracks in Grand Europa, and my passion for East Africa and the Middle East has already been documented in these pages. Here, for what it's worth, is my comprehensive list of the cracks that still need to be filled:

(1) East Africa:

Everybody's favourite missing Europa, and also, to judge from my experience with Africa Orientals, potentially quite an enjoyable game. Somebody at Design Central should talk to Grant Luetkehans and Don McCue, since they seem to have already done much of the groundwork for the expanded East Africa package that I proposed in TEM #36.

(2) Czech `38/Austria `38:

If the Spanish Civil War and the armies of the Baltic republics have a legitimate place in Grand Europa, then the 1938 Czechs and Austrians should also be included. And by the way, Jason, I too would like to see an Anschluss scenario.

(3) The Yugoslav Partisan Game:

Although not as near and dear to me as some of the other cracks, I agree with Walter Hard that this remains the most significant gap in the series as a whole. It grieves me to think that Tito and his boys must, of necessity, be largely abstracted in the 1943 Linking Scenario.

(4) "The Outposts":

This delightfully trivial title was originally proposed by Bill Stone some years ago in the pages of ETO. The idea was to include a bunch of mini-maps covering strategically significant areas outside continental Europe, such as Iceland, the Azores, Dakar, the Canaries, and so forth. For a time the idea seemed to gather at least a modicum of official support, as it was once planned to include the Azores, the Canaries, and Madeira as "windows" on the FWTBT maps, a lovely idea that I regret has apparently been killed by economic realities. To be fair, I do rather like the way GR/D has handled the holding boxes for the Spanish and Portuguese islands and African colonies. Not even I would have dared to ask for maps of Angola and Mozambique, but there were their holding boxes! But the true lunatic-fringe Europa inclusionist would never settle for holding boxes when he could have maps, even if the maps are mostly sea blue.

(5) The Far Fastern Theatre:

This has always been my favourite piece of missing Europa. Arthur Goodwin was at one time working on maps, rules and OBs for a showdown between the Soviet Union and Japan in the Far Fast. I've always wanted to give Germany a hand by leading the Kwantung Army deep into the Soviet Far East.

(6) Odds and Ends:

Presumably the Grand Europa Hungarians, Romanians, and Bulgarians will show up somewhere in the revised Fast Front games. And just for the heck of it, I'd like to see the units of the Iranian army that were omitted from NE (because they were historically off map) included somewhere in the final GE package. Maybe we can even throw in British and French colonial forces, just so nobody feels left out.

Of course, I freely acknowledge that the significance of most of the forgoing is a matter for debate, and many saner Europaphiles will think me ripe for the loony bin. On the other hand, I personally believe that the strategic significance of Fast Africa is consistently underrated, Grand Europa must eventually include some representation of the Yugoslav partisans, and the Czechs and Austrians should get the same consideration as the Spanish. Thus, my dream list as given above can be reduced to those three "essential" titles.

Careful thought must be given to the production and marketing of these oddball titles. Some (East Africa, Far Eastern Theatre), if they're to be done at all, must be stand-alone games, since the maps don't exist. Others (Yugoslav partisans, Czechs/Austrians) could possibly be produced as add-on modules (counters, OBs, rules); this would hopefully reduce both the cost of production and the purchase price. Perhaps some can even be printed in the magazine. (We lunatic-fringe Europa inclusionists are not necessarily adverse to making our own counters, and can tolerate black-and-white maps.) Also, some (most? all?) of these proposals can be OPTIONAL.

For example, Gary Dickson and Alan Tibbetts may very well be speaking for the majority of Europaphiles when they describe the partisan melee as "a big yawn." Fine, give these guys a comprehensive set of garrison rules and a partisan attack table or some such thing until Tito comes down out of the hills. But in the meantime, give those of us who want a more detailed treatment "Under No Flag" as an optional module.

The point of this rather discursive epistle is that we lunaticfringe Europa inclusionists are soon going to demand our day in the sun. While contemplating the recent flood of Europa goodies it suddenly struck me that Europa is almost complete!!! If WitD is released as scheduled, only the two Fast Front games, The Fall of France, Their Finest Hour, and Narvik will remain to be reissued. Assuming FoF and TFH are issued, as planned, in one box while the Fast Front games remain separate titles, that means only four games to go!!! Heavens, at the rate things seem to be moving along lately, that's only another two or three years worth of releases. So talking about the cracks in Grand Europa is by no means premature. Over the next few years there will be (I hope!) a growing clamour to see how the cracks will be filled in. And while I am quite supportive of plans for both Glory and the World War I series, I really do feel that before going too far down either of these roads some priority should be given to identifying and filling in the remaining cracks.

Of course, in the final analysis, this may all be nothing more than a massive case of ingratitude. Here we are with the biggest, most detailed game system ever inspired by World War II, and some of us still want more. Ah well, I guess it's true that some people are never satisfied.

Sally Watson, Virginia

Just wanted to drop you a line and say how much fun it was to be at Origins and Europafest. I must admit that I went wondering what in the world I would do for four days while my husband was immersed in Europa. Armed with a good (and thick) book and several small sewing projects, I felt prepared (or should I say `in supply'?). As it turned out, I needed none of my own projects. It was so enjoyable to be able to meet so many interesting and knowledgeable people, and in many cases actually put faces to names I had seen in the magazine. Equally entertaining was the opportunity to actually witness NODLs, somewhat heated discussions on setting up and moving, the occasional breakthrough, and a nuclear tweezers attack. The Europafest party was very nice, highlighted by Winston's monologue. I hope we will have a chance to come to another Origins/Europa convention. A sincere thanks to Winston, Heather, Rick, and all the other people who worked so hard so that everyone could have so much fun.

Thus is one letter that had to be printed After all it is the first we have ever received from a female. Sally distinguished herself at the GRD booth, showing an exceptional flair for salesmanship, while all of us so-called employees talked wargaming. Sally is currently forming a new Watson unit, due to be full Nov 95

James Broshot, Missouri

I have recently had a little time to catch up on my Europa reading, so I'd like to add my two cents.

I enjoyed the Ramcke Brigade article in TEM #40. I am glad to see that some other Europa nut reads and/or owns weird books in German about the Wehrmacht (I also own a copy of Die Fallschirmjager Chronik 1935-1945, that James Willauer lists in his sources). As James points out, there was a battalion of paratroopers with Panzer Armee Afrika before the Ramcke Brigade arrived. In view of the low counter density of WitD, I. think that a counter for Kampfgruppe Burckhardt should be added to the revised War in the Desert OB.

One-week Europa appears to have 48 turns per year instead of 52. A look at any calendar shows some months have more than four weeks. I believe the average is 4.3 weeks per month. If you use four-week months (ala Avalon Hill's old Anzio game), you short yourself 4 weeks each year, unless the "week" turns are calculated to really be 7.6 or 8 days in length.

I like Astell's proposed overrun rule. I may try to fit it into the solitaire game of Second Front I have been trying to start for the last six months or so. It seems that the game that would be the true acid test is WitD, especially in the Operation COMPASS and Rommel's Counterattack periods. Question: If the combat result of an overrun attempt is not a DE and the defenders are forced to retreat, are they subject to elimination for retreating through an EZOC. Furthermore, are the overrunning units deemed to be in the overrun hex at the moment of the overrun combat , or in the adjacent hex?

I disagree with Jason Long's disagreement with me about the Korpsabteilungen. These were basically ad hoc combinations designed to create a hopefully effective combat unit out of the remnants of shattered German infantry divisions. Rather than merge the remnants into an existing division, as was often done with the Luftwaffe-Feld Divisions, the divisions (or what was left of them) retained (at least on paper and on the German OB) separate identities. I recall reading somewhere that the Fuhrer did not like disbanding divisions and wanted to see lots of them. This was a subterfuge to keep the divisional numbers up.

Jason seems to contradict himself when he first says that a Korpsabteilung could break down and receive replacements and then says that none were ever rebuilt. What happened was that they were all finally reformed and redesignated as infantry divisions, receiving the number of one of their component divisions. The other divisions were finally officially disbanded and removed from the rolls. I don't think that any of these Korpsabteilungen ever existed for more than a year.

I enjoyed Paul Bove's RECAM article in TEM #41. I seem to remember different OB treatments given for this unit in SPI's

Campaign for North Africa and GDW's Operation Crusader. I don't think it would be necessary to convert existing Italian units to receive a RECAM unit. Paul neglected to mention that in 1942, Rommel often grouped his three reconnaissance battalions under the 15th Rifle Brigade headquarters (of 15th Panzer Division) and operated them as a Kampfgruppe.

Pitcavage's article on conditional/flexible reinforcements was excellent and hit the nail on the head. The British Army OB/OA is pretty well set for the first year of the war. After that, the formation of the extra armored divisions, the commandos and the parachute units would be wildcards, depending on whether Churchill was running things or not. In addition, the availability of infantry replacements would determine whether the number of infantry divisions shrank or stayed the same.

Finally, TEM #42: a very good issue, but thin. I guess I was spoiled by the double issue. For your further enjoyment (or irritation) here's a nit to pick with John Astell's fine article on the American air unit ratings in Europa: Add the B-32 "Dominator." This very long range bomber was a backup to the B-29. Only 118 were built and saw very limited service against Japan at the end of the war; their maximum range with 5-ton bomb load was 3000 miles. The Dominator was armed with ten .5 caliber mgs in five turrets. [Source: Stephen Harding et al, Dominator, The Story of the Consolidated B-32 Bomber].

I wish to point out that despite all of my carping, nit-picking and grumbling about Second Front, you guys did a hell of a job on the research and design. I sat down last night and selected the Me410 deployments from the German air OB and checked them against my sources (William Green and Profile Publications). Perfect fit! As an example: IV/ZG26 (Me410s) which was attached to Luftflotte 5 in Norway in late 1944, after the disbandment of the rest of ZG26 (as is shown on the "North Tac Air OB" and the "Greater Germany Strat Air OB") transfers to Greater Germany briefly and then disbands. As my son would say, "Excellent!"

I am still waiting for the historical commentary from Astell and others about Second Front. I have figured out most of the counters for the Germans and the British, but some of the U.S. counters baffle me. I'd like to see a historical setup for the Axis. I am working on one for the Germans for Jul I 44, but need some more info (hopefully to be found in Tessin) about the deployments of some of the more obscure units in France.

How are things coming on the Czechoslovakian scenario? The more I read memoirs of the era, the more I believe that the British Army would be a mere cipher in a 1938 continental battle. All of the priorities were given to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy in this period, even after the real war started. According to Montgomery's biography and Arthur Bryant's history, based on Alanbrooke's diaries, the 1939 British Army had barely two divisions that were combat ready.

Nitpicking is a time-honored Europa tradition. In regard to the number of turns in one-week Europa, I note that standard two-week Europa has only 24 turns per year, and not 26 as indicated by a calendar. Thus, the 48 turns per year of One-Week Europa interfaces exactly with its two-week sibling.

Overrun Answers: Overrun combat is resolved in the same manner as regular combat. therefore, the overrunning units are deemed to be in the adjacent hex, and retreats and advance after combat are conducted per the combat rule.

Note that other (non-overrunning) units may move first in order to cut the available retreat routes of the defending units. Such units may not continue moving after the overrun combat is resolved however. Rick.

Rich Velay, British Columbia

What with all the rules quibbles and interpretations going on, I bet John Astell sometimes wishes we could return to the simple days of DNO/UNT, when things were less complicated. After all, DNO/UNT included the most simple, straightforward, and succinct rule in all of Europa, one that no rules lawyer could tamper with. I am referring to the sorely-missed Rule 15. Oh, you're not familiar with Rule 15? It's the one on page R3B of the 1/75 rules edition, where it says, "Rule 15-Not Used." Try and drive a Brandenburger through that one...

Ahh, I love this game! What other wargame system is still alive and growing after twenty-two years? Even after GDW stopped its involvement with Europa, the system was picked up by GR/D and has continued to grow and develop with no ill effects. One of the greatest things about Europa is that it is passionately supported by both its designer/developers and its gaming public. Questions are answered, ideas are exchanged and the system benefits from the input of both groups of people. Because of the ever-developing nature of Europa, our game never gets stale. The newest and best information gets put into each new release and can be easily retrofitted into existing titles. Perhaps the best thing is that the player always feels connected to the whole process of game design. Ideas are thought of, submitted and actually dealt with! In the final analysis, everyone who has ever written a letter to GR/D can feel that they have had a small part in the growth and development of this truly unique experiment in wargaming.

Even with all the nit-picking, rules lawyers, design questions, minor printing errors and unanticipated advances in the state of the art, Europa is never forgotten, never static and never just yesterday's flash in the pan. We players should never lose sight of the fact that Europa is a labor of love; without John Astell, Winston Hamilton and the rest of the team, there would be nothing to nit-pick about, nothing to argue about and nothing to play. Period.

Without GR/D there would be no Second Front, no Winter War, no Balkan Front. On the other hand, without all of the Euro-maniacs out there, willing to squabble over movement rates, Brandenburgers and the likelihood of the Netherlands collapsing in one turn, there would be no GR/D, and thus no Europa. So, while we need them, they need us, too. And that interdependence between GR/D and the Europa players is the real secret of Europa, and the main reason Europa will be alive and growing for a long time to come. (After all, this game will NEVER be finished. And thank heavens for that.)

Using a cost-benefit analysis, I can safely say that I have gotten my money's worth out of Second Front; the hours of enjoyment so far outweigh the tiny amount of money I have invested that I can almost ignore the cost completely. Even at $120.00 Cdn, if I never play Second Front again, I have gotten a year's worth of entertainment and enjoyment for 32 CENTS a day! No matter how you slice it, Europa is certainly one of the best entertainment values for the dollar around (even the, ugh, Canadian dollar...). If you can get better game play, better customer support and better research and design efforts anywhere else, be my guest. Considering what we get, and for so little, none of us have anything to complain about.

Aw shucks ... Rick 

Norman Pratt, Arizona

In issue #42 of the Europa magazine Winston Hamilton asked for feedback on replacement counters for First to Fight and Second Front. Although I do not wish to spend great amounts of money on replacement parts for games I already own, I would be willing to pay your costs and even a small profit (I own a business and know about cash flow) to replace the counters to FtF and SF. I do enjoy playing with well-designed and printed counters and would be glad to permanently retire the ones that came with those games.

Also, in issue #42 Rick Gayler commented on the prospects of putting out future issues of TEM without scenarios, if that would allow the magazine to appear on schedule. I approve of this approach; I would rather get the issue on a regular basis than wait for a scenario I may never play. Don't get me wrong, I do like to see scenarios in the magazine; however, I would rather get the magazine on time.

Finally, I want to say how very happy I am with GR/D's current service and products. It's refreshing to see good material produced and delivered promptly. I am particularly impressed with the counters and maps produced by the new printer, SVH. Keep up the good work.

His letter is representative of the general consensus on the issues he discusses. the replacement counters will be offered, and are now being prepared. Scenarios will likely grace most future issues, but if we hit a big bump in development, getting the issue out on time will take precedence. And thankfully, most Europa fans are pretty happy with the way things are going at GRD these days.

Ron Mazurkiewicz, Wisconsin

I am very intrigued with the article "Rommel Beyond the Pyramids" by Grant Luetkehans in TEM #41. I would like to obtain a copy of his map and add the Sudan to the Africa Orientals and Mediterranean campaign game that I am presently setting up.

I also continue to encourage your production of WWI Europa. The idea sounds great. There seems to be an increased interest in pre-WWII gaming, if S&T and Command magazines are any indication. WWI Europa would be a way to capitalize on that interest.

It is hard to determine how widespread the interest in a Europa East Africa game may be, but the project is certainly strongly supported by those in favor. Time will tell... Rick.