From: "Michael Riley"

Just a little feedback from me. I received my game and I couldn't be happier with the contents, research, etc. I was a little surprised that the game did not come in a shrink-wrapped box, but everything was there and in mint. I will definitely continue with your line of games.

From: Zachary Grant

First off I'd like to congratulate you and everyone else who has worked on Highway to the Kremlin. I received my first copy of the two that I ordered about three weeks ago and it looks great. I promptly gave the game to my friend that I wrote you about, (if you don't remember, don't worry, you're a very busy man!), and he was ecstatic. He wasn't expecting it at all, so that made for a doubly good surprise. We looked at the game together and I'd like to echo everyone else that has already stated how fantastic this game looks.

I also would like to comment on something that I read at a Consimworld forum recently. I read a statement/question by Mr. Berg wondering to what end you produced Highway to the Kremlin, because as far as he was concerned, there simply is no game in this subject matter. I got the distinct impression he was suggesting it was pointless to spend time on such an endeavor simply because there aren't already two dozen other versions of this game out on the market. Of course if there were already more versions, I'm sure he'd criticize you for making yet another "Napoleon in Russia" game.

I appreciate that he is welcome to share his point of view, but I just wanted to let you know that I think his opinion stinks. I am very happy to have this game for three reasons: One, I simply look forward to playing it and seeing for myself how this campaign unfolded. Unlike Mr. Berg's statement on how this campaign "makes for an absorbing book but not an absorbing game", I find I don't really appreciate most campaigns until I sit down in front of a map. It's one thing to read about it, but to see it on a map with pieces you can move about is an added facet that I find greatly helpful in understanding operations of any nature. I once wrote you about your sources for designing this game. Here was your reply:

"I can't name names. It takes a lot of research to bring all the details together into a coherent picture. There have been many attempts, and I should not disparage the work that has gone into the study of the campaign so far. Highway to the Kremlin will be a more useful history of the campaign than any book can possibly be."

I'll be the first to admit I was disappointed that you didn't "name names", but I understand why you didn't. However, what impressed me the most was your statement about how useful HtK would be as a history than a book could be. I agree with you wholeheartedly! I feel HtK and almost any book of this campaign would complement each other greatly. If only Mr. Berg weren't so narrow focused.

Secondly, I think HtK might be a good way of developing some interesting scenarios with my miniatures group. We are always on the lookout for sources to construct battles and this could be just the ticket. If I see an interesting battle in HtK we can translate it into a battle for our miniature rules.

Finally, I look forward to trying to change the historical outcome by making different decisions than the original protagonists. But then again who doesn't?

O.K., I've rattled on long enough. Thanks again for all your hard work, it is greatly appreciated out here on the west coast.

From: "Kurt Gillies"

It was a pleasure meeting you at Origins in Columbus recently. I attended your East Prussia:1807 lecture which I thoroughly enjoyed. Also, spoke with you briefly afterwards regarding your battlefield tours in Poland and (former) East Prussia, where my mother's family originated (the town of Tannenwalde on the Samland peninsula). Hopefully, I might be able to accompany you on some future excursion, as these trips are unique opportunities to visit forgotten fields.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the convention, the War College in particular. This was my fourth visit to Origins and I seem to have more fun each time I go. Although my primary interest is in WWII and WWI topics, I also greatly enjoy reading about (and playing some of your games with my son) on the Napoleonic era. He's only 18 years old and really into computers, so I'm lucky he expresses any interest in a "snail like" board-game. But we've taken some turns at Napoleon's Last Battles, Napoleon at Bay, Napoleon at Leipzig and Eagles Turn East.

Thanks for sending along monthly OSG info to me via email. I need to sign up soon for a pre-order...