Transitional Period

It seems as if everything and everybody associated with The Gamers, this magazine included, is coming through a transitional period. Now that we're starting to serve broader readership, I'm working to make Operations magazine more accessible to an audience less familiar with The Gamers product line. For years Operations served the cognoscenti. It still does, and in addition I want to address an audience of folks, both experienced wargamers and true newbies, who have recently become acquainted with The Gamers brand games.

The magazine's content will stay as it has been, but I'll take extra care to avoid assuming that readers already know what, for example, Op Sheets or loose cannon rolls are. Those of you unfamiliar with the OCS will still find John Kisner's article lucid and interesting (thanks to John). More OCS "how to" material is on the way in forthcoming issues, suitable for those who want to learn to play this and to play it better.

Operations magazine itself has never won a CSR award, but one of our authors has: see Tony Zbaraschuk's article on Hube's Pocket in Operations 41 and 42. My opinion of that article is already clear from the 11.5 pages I devoted to it, and I'm happy to see readers also found it worthwhile. Readers have told me they like HomerCon coverage and that they prefer photos that emphasize the games, not only the folks standing around playing them. Supported by several photographers, I've compiled words and pictures from HomerCon 2002 along those lines. HomerCon West will be held 7-9 March in Lodi, CA at the Holiday Inn Express (1140 S. Cherokee Lane, Lodi, CA, 95240, United States). There will be door prizes like last year. Registration is $45.00 for the weekend and limited to the first 16 people. If you are interested in attending or want more information, including room rates, email Mark Ruggiero at INVESTOR1965@msn.com.

Fallschirmjaeger has been popular since its publication in 2001. This issue offers the experience and observations of two good SCS players. What they learned while playing solitaire may help you out in your next face-to-face contest of Fallschirmjaeger. Henry Robinette's article gives a comprehensive appreciation of the challenges in the campaign scenario and suggests a plan for the Germans. Ric Van Dyke zooms in on the introductory scenario and finds that it is not necessarily as easy for the Germans as the designer's note suggests. Ric's detailed article also serves as an extended play example. If you haven't already discovered Fallschirmjaeger, now would be a good time. Even in a hobby as small as ours, with customers as loyal as the fans of ASL and The Gamers, these games don't sell themselves. MMP is happy to announce that Keith Dalton has taken on the role of Marketing Director. Keith is interested in hearing from you with your ideas about how best to reach The Gamers fans. Write to him at Multi-Man Publishing or by email at kdalton@citynet.net.

As this issue goes to press, the ASL Operation Veritable Historical Study has already graduated from the pre-order system and arrived in players' hands, receiving a good response. Monty's Gamble: Market Garden (area movement system similar to Breakout Normandy), Korea: The Forgotten War (OCS), and Out of the Attic #1 (classic and hard to find ASL articles and scenarios) have surpassed their order thresholds and await production. Orders have been climbing as well for A Fearful Slaughter (Shiloh for RSS), Three Battles of Bull Run (CWB) and For King and Country (Brits for ASL). Anyone still uneasy about ordering through a pre-publication offer should know MMP's policy. MMP will not charge credit cards for pre-ordered products until the ordered items are in the box and ready to ship out. To take advantage of the discount prices available on pre-ordered games, see MMP's Web site, send postal or electronic mail to MMP, or call at 1-888-TGAMERS (1-888-842-6377).