From: Jack Chiantella
I can't believe the fantastic offer you have on your Napoleonic Tour this year. I'm astonished that people interested in Napoleonic history / war gaming are not flocking to go, especially with your latest offer. You know I have been on one and a half of your tours in Italy. It would have been nicer to have been on two Tours, but hey, I have to work.
I agree with what is written on your site, history is exciting, but the best part is meeting people; on your Tours, here in Italy I can certainly vouch for the fact that you do meet people and have fun.
It's also one thing to be a two-dimensional wargamer or stay at home historian, if you really want to get a deeper understanding of Napoleon's Campaigns, there is nothing better than your Tours I feel.
Anyway, the sluggish responses to the tour for this year is probably do to with US warning here and there, and the general disinclination to travel world wide this year.
I can tell you and everyone that here in Europe (remember they're now called the EU, with one currency), people in general are really making an extra effort to make Americans feel at home.
Getting back to the Tour, upon looking at the tremendous discount package for THE SPANISH CAMPAIGNS all I can say is WOW!
Unfortunately I cannot participate in the Tour this year, I will be back in the USA at that time; my loss. I hope that on the next tour I will be able to attend.
PS. I know for sure if you have a Danube Tour, I'll be there with a mandolin in one hand and a bottle of vino in the other; Oops wrong tour: I will be there with a bottle of Tokaji and a Snizzal.
[Ed sez:] Carlos Fuentes, of Madrid, did a wonderful job preparing for next year's tour of Spain and Portugal, scouting all the battlefields, making contacts with local historians, providing research material from archives, etc., etc. We have scheduled the tour for August 11th to 20th, 2003.
From: "Carlos Fuentes"
I shall send you a very finished Peninsula Map with roads, mountains, rivers, and so on (Corel Draw 9.0). I have used a big and detailed map made under command of Duke of Belluno, Marshal Victor, that I have found in (Spanish) National Geographic Institute. The map shows FOUR kind of roads:
Map is dated 1822, Victor acting as New Regime's Minister of War and it uses all French information about reconaissances made in past Peninsular War. For me, it's the definitive Map.
From: Andy Liu
Thanks for responding so quickly, and in person. I am looking forward to receiving the missing booklet. Your quad game with SPI, Napoleon's Last Battles, is still one of my all time favourite.
[Editor sez] I am very lucky to be publishing games for a living. Not everyone can afford to spend their time like that, so I feel a great obligation to you all. Knowing that our efforts are important to you makes a huge difference. I don't always get to answer everyone but I keep trying. Keep on writing.
Game designs cannot be completed by formula alone. Just when you think you know how it's done, it doesn't work anymore; everything keeps changing. Each campaign has its own gestalt, each game map places new challenges in front of our graphic artists, and it takes time for new solutions to emerge. Allowing each project the time it needs to evolve takes patience!
Subject: Highway to Madrid
"royal" roads (Let's say primary roads)
roads for "cars" artillery (Let's say secondary roads),
roads for horses (Let's say tertiary roads)and
roads for men (worse roads).
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