[Ed. note: This is an unusual issue. For example, Dean's supplying the "In Brief." You'll find an unusual selection of content in the rest of the issue also. In fact, this one might become something of a collector's item. Enjoy.]

Udo Grebe Gamedesign (UGG) has opened the European Gamers Service Bureau in Germany to simplify ordering from Europe and save our European customers some of the hassle involved in ordering from the US. Mr. Grebe will also be showing our wares at the European conventions, such as Essen. Here is his e-mail address:

UGGAMEDSGN@aol.com

For those who wish to have their series subs switched from direct to UGG, you'll need to contact us to cancel your sub and then contact UGG to open it with him. Magazine subs will remain with us for now. If this changes in the future, we will certainly let everyone know.

A Japanese Gamers Service Bureau along these lines has just formed by Masahiro Yamazaki. As of September we were in the process of shipping the first batch of games to him. Here is his e-mail address for our friends in the Far East:

mas-ymzk@sa2.so-net.or.jp

HomerCon '98 has just ended and I had a blast. Everyone else seemed to do so as well. Next year's Retreat is planned for 16-19 Sept, 1999. Make your plans now so you don't get left out! Sara promises to send out packets sooner this year, so call the office to let us know if you want one. We will be sending them to all who attended this year.

Our European friends are organizing a Euro-HomerCon on the Gamers List. If you have interest in attending or helping it get off the ground, subscribe to the list and jump on the bandwagon. See page 28 for details. I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend, but I will make every effort to do so!

Numerous guys have asked about getting their hands on semi-finished, ziplock versions of Omaha made from our spare parts department. I figure we might be able to put together approximately 20 copies which would have v3.1 series rules, charts and tables, v3.1 markers, all the Omaha unit markers, maps and game specific rules. The Omaha counters are "whatever we've got" so some are slightly miss-cut (this is the bottom of the barrel, after all!). Version 3.1 conversion rules (written by Dave Powell and originally published in Operations 21) are available for download at The Gamers' web site, or the game can be played with the original rules, if you have them. Anyway, once these copies are gone (first come, first served), it will be gone for good. No reprint is planned.

The one-time-only Omaha ziplocks are $75 each. At this writing there are 6 copies left.

I am currently working on the first game production batch. Using our new production system, these are the games that will come out over the next year to year and a half. No specific order has been produced yet, except that Gazala will be first and Burma will be for next Origins. The first batch games are:

Gazala (SCS), Burma (OCS), Malvern Hill (CWB), 1914 (SCS), Aspern-Essling (NBS)

On the on-deck circle for Batch 2 are:

A Frozen Hell (TCS), Chickamauga (RSS)

Sales of THG have been very good: of the games collated in July, every single copy has been sold (about half the print run). We put more together on 13 Sept. Several of these were in play at the retreat and I am quite impressed by the quality of Dave's work. Good work, Dave!

Of those of us in the crash, we are all recovering as expected. I'm getting along fairly well with only occasional ankle pain. Dave has had both his crutches taken away, but it is obvious walking is still difficult and painful for him. Chris is in good spirits and is fighting back as well as could be imagined. He is very strong and a good person. We were all together at the retreat and it was great to see them again.