With this issue, Operations completes its fifth year as The Gamers' on-time, on-target game support magazine. As a subscriber, I watched the magazine grow from the Dean and Dave (Powell) report to a forum where players share their ideas and enhancements, analyses and opinions. Every three months Operations has showed up in your mailbox or hobby store to help you get more out of The Gainers games you own and, yes, to whet your appetite for upcoming releases. And while our mission is product support, Operations sometimes steps back for a look at the whole hobby (e.g. Jerry's excellent essay in this issue).

Looking back over the last five years, it's easy to spot articles of lasting value: "tactics school" pieces on the OCS, TCS, et cetera, strategy notes for individual games, new scenarios, and of course tons of CWB optional rules. For years I have been meaning to get all this material organized so it's handy when I want to use it.

Well, now I'm going to do it. The Gamers is going to compile and publish a set of reprints from Operations 1-20 in several "best of' or, at least, "most useful of' volumes, organized by series. For example, you can keep the CWB compendium handy, like another rulebook, so you and your gaming partners can pick out and agree on your favorite mix of optional rules. Or if your OCS games just don't have enough blitz, pick up the OCS compendium and get some ideas for how to orchestrate units with differing and complementary strengths.

Several hefty booklets culled from Operations' first five years will be available for ORIGINS. Be watching for them.

Ed Wimble

Ed Wimble, of Clash of Arms Games, underwent heart surgery in January. Everyone at The Gamers wishes Ed good health and a speedy recovery. It takes a strong heart to run a game company. Seriously, best wishes to Ed. Get well soon.