A bit of superb news. Last time I told everyone of our test of a new diecutter and box maker. It turns out those folks were for real. They performed exactly as they had promised, delivering virtually perfect counters. From start to finish, they handled themselves and our account promptly and with due consideration to the exacting standards we (and you) demand.

[Ed. note: I've seen the new counters, and so have you if you own No Better Place to Die. The die cuts align perfectly with the colors, sheet after sheet.]

It was amazingly refreshing after dealing with our previous vendors. Owen Fuller was able to witness these guys personally and volunteered to report to the readership what he saw-look forward to his article next time.

With our new finishing company, I am looking forward to smoothing out some of the persistent kinks which have made production such a pain over the years. You'll see a dramatic improvement in the physical components of our games in the next few releases-as we are able to advance the throttle further than ever before. I know you will like the results, and results are where it counts.

After four years of ever-increasing postal and printing rates, we finally had to break down and raise the subscription and newsstand prices to the magazine. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. The new basic rate for a sub is $16 ($24 overseas) per year, or $5 per issue newsstand.

Look for another surprise in your mailbox around Christmas. This will be a mailing of a new Repls and Variants countersheet (140 freebie gems), a compete errata mailing, and the usual in new game announcements. The bulk of the counters will be those needed to make Guderian's Blitzkrieg to conform to the OCS2.0 rules. Included in the mailing will bean article by Don Nesbitt outlining all the changes needed for GB to work it with the new rules and Boyd Schorzman's extension article from Ops 12. This is an important addition to GB and is a must for all owners of the game. Make sure you and your friends are Up-to-date on our customer list so you (and they) don't miss this special mailing. We may or may not have copies left over after it is sent, so don't miss out.

This issue's cover shows the most formal moment from our 1994 retreat. The players on hand were (front row, L to R): Keith Fortner, James Stormes, Chip Pharr, Dave Demko, Joe Gerkhardt, Ken Spuda, Don Nesbitt, (2nd row): myself, Dave Powell, Zack Waltz, Bob Stettler, Lee Forester, Martin Schaubel, Maurice Buttazoni, Rod Miller, (back row): Boyd Schorzman, Dave Friedrichs, Bill Quoss, Marty Arnsdorf, Owen Fuller, Dan Bartlett, Perry Andrus, and Ron Akens. Several others missed the photo op. I won't presume to speak for any of these guys, but from where I stood it looked like a good time was had by all. We will be setting up next year's event shortly, so stay tuned for details. Also, we will be trying to set up a Gainers Room at Origins next year. Contact Sara here if you are interested in helping out. With any luck, the ability to set the thing up will be better this year than last.

I have now returned from what I hope will be my last hand surgery. This makes the ninth for those of you keeping track. This should be the last work of reconstruction on my hands. For those who have not been following this saga, four years ago when I was a range officer, one of my 81mm mortars misfired and traumatically amputated both of my thumbs. That ended a 12-year Army career as an infantry officer for me. In the nine surgeries since then, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN have rebuilt both hands by transferring the index finger of each to do the job of the missing digits. These surgeries (with an assortment of ups and downs along the way) have been successful, and I get around as well as I would want and am only rarely hindered by my wounds.

Many of you have helped over the years with your concern and well wishes, but I want to single out some folks for special mention-Jim Clark and his family volunteered to let me stay with them in their home during my innumerable visits to Rochester. Their hospitality saved my family and me from many hours of time spent in motels and nonetoo-little expense. Thank you Jim and Rita for being such gracious hosts time and time again.