Your participation in this project is crucial to the future of OSG. We are asking you to send us a committment to purchase the games you are interested in. We expect to publish no more than 3 or 4 games per year. Each game will go to the printer when the number of orders reaches 250. We are now offering a pre-advanced offer on each title at 20% off; as the number of orders for any title approaches 250 we will put the game on our schedule, and the preadvanced price will expire. Only 250 copies of each title will be sold at this price. View the current standings of pre-orders at www.NapoleonGames.com

Use the Order Form on page 27! Pay by credit card: we will not debit your card until the game is 30-days from shipping. Pay by check: we will not hold checks, but will deposit them immediately upon receipt. Timing: It may take some months to accumulate the necessary orders to put the following games on the schedule. We reserve the right to return funds collected and cancel the project.

Note that the game descriptions are grouped according to their series, which shows for instance that the first five titles listed are in the Napoleon at Bay Series. This should give you a very good idea of complexity if you know the games in that series (see page 6 for a brief account of the different game series).

GAMES IN THE NAPOLEON AT BAY SERIES

These games all take about an hour per turn. The scale of all the games in the operational system is the same: 2 miles (3.2 km.) per hex, 2 days per turn, 1,000 men per strength point.

Highway to the Kremlin

Campaign can be completed in 7-10 hours/24pp of rules Our NEXT release! (see upcoming article in OSG News).

The Sun of Austerlitz

12 hours/20pp of rules (see article on page 12).

Franco-Prussian War: The Second Phase

Components: Two 22 x 34" maps, 560 counters, 24 pages of rules. There was a very interesting phase to this war south of Paris, around Orleans. These maps will be at the same scale as Napoleon at Bay, and will link up with them, allowing for the possibility of a grand 4-map coverage of of the siege of Paris phase of the war as well.

The 1870-71 war is very well-documented (always a plus for a game designer). Histories tend to focus on the French losses up until the Germans reached Paris; but in the later stages of the war, simulated in the game, the campaign became much more even and interesting, and also a bit more mobile.

The River Loire is a natural defensive line, just like the Seine and Marne. Napoleon had intended to fall back on this line in 1814 and 1815. The campaign scenario commences when the encirclement of Paris is complete. French Forces on the Loire moved against the German vedettes which were screening their southern wing. The Bavarian Corps under von der Tann counter- attacked on the 10th of October, supported by the 22nd Prussian Division. The balance of Prussian forces were otherwise engaged.

There were three main battles: Coulmiers-Aurelle's advance to the relief of Paris-which commenced on the 7th of November (the first French victory of the war). On the 24th, the Prussians received three new corps--III, IX and X--released with the capitulation of Metz. The French advanced as far as Beaune-la-Rolande by the 28th. Finally, Loigny was a desperate effort to support the break-out of the Paris garrison. Each of these battles has a separate scenario set-up. The game ends with the historical fall of Orleans on the 5th of December.

The map stretches from the suburbs of Paris in the north to Bourges on the Loire in the south, and from le Mans in the west to Fontainebleau in the east; there is a little bit of overlap with the Napoleon at Bay map in the area between Paris and Fontainebleau.

Playing time: 12 hrs. Estimated Retail $50. Pre-Advanced offer $40-20%-off now.

War of 1812: The Eastern Shore

Components: One 22 x 34" map, 280 counters, 16 pages of rules. There is a lot of interest in the local campaigns of 1812 in Maryland, and there are quite a few local experts whose knowledge we can tap for this project. Of course, we are also close enough to visit the battlefields for some first-hand research. We will also include the action on the western shore, including the Bladensburg campaign and the attack on Baltimore. Low counter density, 30-40 minutes per turn; short scenario and campaign (long). Estimated Retail $40. Pre-Advanced offer $32-20%-off now.

GAMES IN THE NAPOLEON AT LEIPZIG SERIES

Scenarios in this series take a long evening. A "Campaign" takes a whole weekend.

Marengo: The Plain of Scrivia

Components: One 22 x 34" map, 280 counters, 16 pages of rules. The great victory of Napoleon over Melas in 1800 which sealed French control of Northern Italy until 1809. A managable battle; 6 hours. Estimated Retail $36. Pre-Advanced offer $29-20%-off now.

Smolensk: On the Way to Borodino

Components: One 22 x 34" map, 280 counters, 16 pages of rules. Here the Russians showed they could give as good as they took, and withdraw without a pursuit. They took a toll on the French and not only preserved their army, but were still strong enough to contest the road ahead. A large battle with options; 8 to 10 hours. Estimated Retail $36. Pre-Advanced offer $29-20%-off now.

GAMES IN THE 1806 SERIES

With experience you can play three turns in an hour.

Abensberg/Eckmuhl-Regensberg

Components: Two 22 x 34" maps, 280 counters, 20 pages of rules. This campaign has plenty of opportunity for the offensive for both players-the Austrians at first have a shot at Davout's III Corps, which has to withdraw along the Danube. Later, Napoleon arrives with his army and can attempt to outflank the Austrians via Landshut in the south. Playing Time: 8 to 10 hours Estimated Retail $48. Pre-Advanced offer $38-20%-off now.

GAMES OF WORLD WAR II

Dark December II

Components: One 22 x 34" map (16mm hexes) and 400 counters. Regimental units primarily, but with recon battalions for the Germans. Artillery corps and groups for the Allies. Divisional HQ units which include the large calibre artillery for each division, anti-tank, engineer and bridge building assets as well as the trace source to supply.

Kevin Zucker has taken over the design of Dark December II from Danny Parker, who is unable to proceed for personal reasons. I have changed it back to a one-map game, and it will be closer to the original. Bob M. Ryan, who is a fan of the original game, is developing. Estimated Retail $40. Pre-Advanced offer $32-20%-off now.

Pacific Fleet

Components: One 22 x 34" map (area movement) and 400 counters.

Pacific Fleet is a design that is intended to go beyond the simplicity of AH's Victory In The Pacific, yet avoid the complexity of VG's Pacific War (both fine games in their own right). It is projected to have one map, 400 counters, and 32 pages of rules (including scenarios and designer's comments), and it will be possible to play it solitaire. With the rules (which have undergone numerous revisions), I have tried to be as explanatory as possible, so that mostly explains the 32 page length.

Currently, the game is semi-dormant as I totally exhausted myself by putting in about 400 hours into the project in a short span of time. I think it wise to allow the project to gestate while pre-orders accumulate. The game has had only limited outside exposure, and I hope to get back to playtesting soon.

Speaking of pre-orders, it seems that with OSG being recognized as Napoleonic experts, folks were caught off guard by the announcement of a WWII Pacific game, and not many are aware of it ... hopefully that will change shortly.

Try to envision VITP melding with VG's Pacific War. My entire design goal was to avoid the simplicity of the former, and some of the complexity of the later. Unique rules for intelligence, random events, solitaire play, etc. are included to enhance the game. Turns are seasonal.

Individual carriers (with their own counter for crew quality) and battleships, with other ships being in task forces. Air units are represented by a strength counter attached to the air groups. Ground unit size varies. The game starts immediately after Pearl Harbor, and can go the distance through 1945.

I've recently started back into the project. I'm double checking some historical research, and have completed an entire revised set of rules for Kevin to per-use.

We are very enthusiastic about this project, but preorders have to increase before proceeding to the next step ... so spread the word!

PF has an area movement map (30 zones) and seasonal turns (4 per year).

Random events were placed onto a chart that you roll (add) 2d10 for ... so those Japanese midget subs or a USA long- range P-38 strike can still occur.

The project still needs testing and fine tuning, and I am very interested in your ideas.

As soon as Zucker gives me the go-ahead (i.e. sufficient pre-orders come through), I'll shift into high gear...

--STEVE CAREY

Estimated Retail $40. Pre-Advanced offer $32-20%-off now.