In support of Sicily, which makes its debut at Origins, this issue contains substantial designer's commentary about that game and the revised OCS version 3.0 series rules.

Our other Origins release, This Terrible Sound, does not include any major system revisions. But the game will be no less impressive for that. In terms of scope and physical size, the game is a friendly giant:

Maps: 6 (2 are 1/2 size)
Counters: 980
Number of Scenarios: 12
Price at Origins: $99.00 (enough of a savings off the retail price of $132.00 so you can afford to buy a $33.00 game to keep it company)

This Terrible Sound simulates the Battle of Chickamauga, a topic designer Dave Powell first visited in 1991 with Barren Victory for the CWB. The historical situation is a big part of what makes BV arguably the best CWB game ever.

Now this battle gets the full RSS treatment. Since I've been playing This Hallowed Ground, I've come to believe that "Regimental Sub-Series" is a misnomer. It makes more sense to think of RSS as a super-series. Compared with the CWB, the RSS zooms in one more echelon of command, provides more details on weapons, distinguishes terrain more finely, and lets us push around our favorite regiments (you gotta love having a counter for the 24th Michigan).

Along with being bigger, the RSS is smoother in several ways. After years of playing CWB games, I've grow accustomed to rounding rolls on the Fire Combat Table, force modifiers on the Order Acceptance Table, fire levels, and extended line markers. None of these details seems to impair the CWB's playability. But without them, play in an RSS game seems to flow along all the easier. I write this from the point of view of many hours with This Hallowed Ground, hours I enjoyed even when I was getting kicked around.

This year we'll see this big, playable system applied to one of the most interesting battles of the war. I hope you're looking forward to This Terrible Sound as much as I am. If you attend Origins, be sure to attend Dave Powell's demo of the game, and come by The Gamers' booth for your copy.