Here we are again. This is the first issue in which Dave Demko will take over the yeoman work of editing. (I would say I'll still be doing the in- and out-briefs, but I'm not sure what reception that will get.) I hope to see much of Dave's writing style and layout skills show up here over the next few issues. Perhaps now I can give more attention to the clamoring mob at the door who want more games NOW!!

Dave is a valuable addition to our team. The magazine is ready to move out and forward. Dave's note: except. for this one, the editor's notes in this issue are Dean's. You'll hear from me soon.]

Look for another surprise variant countersheet in your mailbox later this year. I'd say before Christmas, but I'm unsure if the timing will work out correctly. If you move fast, you might be able to get your favorite variant ideas onto the countersheet. Call Don here and let him know what you want. There is limited space-only 140 counters to work with. Also, make sure your address is current with us so that you get your free gift.

Don Nesbitt has taken over the coordination of playtesting. Please direct playtest reports and the like to him. Also, Don is the contact for players wishing to submit games to us-contact him for submission packets.

I would like to thank all of you who voted for the Charles S. Roberts Awards this year. We were pleased by the three awards we won-Afrika (Best WW2 game), and myself (Hall of Fame and James Dunnigan Awards). All three mean very much to us and were heartening to us for the effort put into our games. All I can say is thank you, a pat on the back always helps...

At this point we are going to try out a new die-cutter and box-maker to improve the success rate with each of those items. Usually, a rather poor 80% success rate was all we could hope for (or 4,000 out of what should be a 5,000 run). With Ardennes we ended up with less than 70%. With tears in their eyes, the collators (guys from a local game store who come for their fill of Burritoes and plunder) rejected countersheet after countersheet into the discard pile. Suffice it to say, the new firms promise better performance. From what the die-cutter has already done to ensure a good job, I am sure that they will reach nearly spectacular levels of quality. Specifically, they generated a template for my computer that will I EXACTLY match their cutting die (a nice touch) and the whole operation is machine run. Until now, our counters (and everyone else's) were mounted and cut by HAND--a ridiculously difficult proposition, as the guy who had to die-cut Second Front can attest. Mounting and cutting of Counters is a job made for a machine and only a properly supervised machine can do it right to the tolerances required. If they bomb out, don't worry-we will run back to the original vendors and do it the old fashioned way before anyone knows the difference.

With the six games a year operation under way, here is the way the series generally lay out. (There will be a single switch in next year's order between the OCS and SCS.)

January-Reprint
March-CWB
May-OCS
June/Origins-SCS
September-NBS
November-TCS

A number of folks at our seminar this year (thanks to all that attended and apologies for the "force" that managed to schedule us back-to-back with GMT so you had to choose) asked about new series. While my plate is full right now, I did begin work on what would be an Operational Age of Rifles system (Marlborough through to ,just before WW I ). I am hard pressed to devote any time to it right now, but I'll keep You posted ... You're gonna love it!!