THE GENERAL

PAGE 2

;he

"AVA~ON G I L@ENEW&L ~

TheAvalon Hill Philosophy- Part 10

Around 300 w a r g a m e r s w e r e involved i n the play-testing of conducted by r e s e a r c h d i r e c t o r , J a m e s F. Dunnigan. On t h e "Consumer T e s t P a n e l R e l e a s e F o r m s " r e t u r n e d by e a c h p l a y - t e s t l e a d e r , t h e m a j o r question a s k e d w a s : "Name the t h r e e Avalon Hill g a m e s you play t h e m o s t and w h y ? " T h i s a r t i c l e will b e b a s e d on the a n s w e r s given t o t h i s question. Battle of the Bulge w a s f a r out i n 6 of a l l f r o n t , being l i s t e d by o v e r 0 play-test leaders. Stalingrad was second with 40%. Blitzkrieg, A f r i k a Korps, and Guadalcanal r a n a tight r a c e with about 3070 each. Other g a m e s l i s t ed w e r e Jutland (23%), Waterloo (23%). D-Day (2170). Midway (19%). a n d Gettysb u r g (8%). It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t not one non-war g a m e w a s among t h e ten m o s t played g a m e s . It i s a l s o of i n t e r e s t t o note t h a t the l i s t of g a m e s most-played p r e t t y well p a r a l l e l s one of f a v o r i t e g a m e s a s d e t e r m i n e d by p r e v i o u s s u r v e y s of t h i s n a t u r e , although t h e r e a r e some differences. So, what a r e the r e a s o n s f o r w a r g a m e r s playing c e r t a i n g a m e s m o r e than o t h e r s ? The obvious one of c o u r s e , i s t h a t they enjoy c e r t a i n g a m e s m o r e than o t h e r s , but t h e r e a r e o t h e r r e a s o n s , a s evidenced by s o m e of the following replies: R e a s o n s f o r playing Bulge m o s t often: M a r k Kaplan: "Bulge i s a g a m e which o f f e r s r e a l i s m , playability, a n d the int r i c a c i e s of t e r r a i n . " John J e f f e r i e s : "Popular choice of m y opponents. I ' G a r y B e d r o s i a n : "I can find a f a c e to-face opponent easily. " L a r r y Dingle: "Because everyone owns it. " David Williams: " I t ' s popularity with o t h e r people often f o r c e s m e t o play i t t o find a n opponent. I ' m not s o c r a z y about Bulge, though. L e e Henderson: "Variability, uniquen e s s . Bulge i s m o r e o r l e s s a t a c t i c a l and not a s t r a t e g i c a l game. 'I

.. . a losing venture published bi-monthly, pretty

close to the first day of January, March, May, July, September and November. The General is edited and published by The Avalon Hill Company almost solely for the cultural edification of adult gaming. (It also helps to sell Avalon Hill products, tool) Articles from subscribers are considered for publication on a gratis contributory basis. Such articles must be typewritten and not exceed 700 words. Examples and diagrams that accompany such articles must be drawn in black ink, ready for reproduction. N o notice can be given regarding acceptance of articles for publication. All back issues, except Vol. 1, Nos. 1 & 4, which are out of stock, are available at $1.00 per issue. Full-year subscriptions B $4.98.

1914

1968 The Avalon Hill Company, Baltimore, Maryland. printed in U.S.A.

COVER STORY:

Cubist Generation
The r a t h e r incongruous c o v e r pix, R o j e r d e L a F r e s n a y e ' s "The Conquest of the A i r , " (with e m b e l l i s h m e n t ) s e r v e s t o introduce the following e d i t o r i a l o n a d e l i c a t e subject m a t t e r . Due t o r e c e n t militant ( t o put i t m i l d l y ) e v e n t s that have o c c u r r e d a c r o s s o u r nation, indeed the whole world, we have been the r e c i p i e n t s of a s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g flow of a n t i - w a r l e t t e r s . T y p i c a l a r e the following c o m m e n t s f r o m v a r i o u s e d u c a t o r s , peaceniks, a n d people who a r e sincerely concerned regarding m a n ' s , propensity toward aggression: "Have you (Avalon H i l l ) thought you might be doing a d i s s e r v i c e t o t h e youth of t h i s c o u n t r y with your new s e r i e s - the war g a m e ? Isn't i t possible t h a t t h i s country i s f a r too m i l i t a r i s t i c a l r e a d y without teaching t h i s d i s tasteful s u b j e c t i n school. " T e a c h e r s I have talked t o a r e shocked a t your new concept i n d e s i g n - the w a r g a m e , b e c a u s e none of t h e m c o n s i d e r w a r a s a g a m e - but r a t h e r a shame. " "You m a y b e well intentioned e d i t o r s but your g a m e s a r e unacceptable t o decent people e v e r y w h e r e . " What d o e s a l l t h i s have t o do with "Cubist Generation. " you now a s k . Simply t h i s . We think t h e s e i d e a l i s t s , f o r a l l t h e i r good intentions a r e s q u a r e s . And t h e i r i d e a l i s t i c philosophies a r e a s u n r e a l i s t i c a s the cubist5 a p p r o a c h t o life. To prove t h i s l a t t e r point, we a n s w e r e d e a c h and e v e r y one of t h e s e c o r r e s p o n d e n t s with w o r d s v e r y s i m i ' l a r t o t h o s e of a f o r m e r M a r i n e , Dimet r i o s J. Govostes . . " P e r h a p s many

R e a s o n s f o r playing Blitzkrieg m o s t often: David Ball: "Because this game c a n be played with many variations. " P e r r y Ball: "Includes a l m o s t a l l t a c t i c a l situations. " M a r k Kaplan: "Blitzkrieg i s a n enjoyable g a m e b e c a u s e it allows one t o develop skill i n managing v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s of a n a t i o n ' s m i l i t a r y f o r c e s . I ' A l b e r t Boone: " P l a y balance. " E d i B i r s a n : "Has the m o s t v a r i a bles. " R e a s o n s f o r playing v a r i o u s other g a m e s m o s t often: Kenneth Hoffman on Afrika Korps: " T h e r e i s no p e r f e c t plan. I t ' s a f a s t moving game. F a s c i n a t i n g r e a l - l i f e campaign. Unusual t e r r a i n . Mobility, surprise. " Gordon S o r e n s e n on Afrika Korps: "Simplest g a m e t o p l a y a n d l e a r n , t h e r e f o r e excellent f o r teaching novices." E d w a r d Weeks on Midway: "Offers a change f r o m land b a t t l e s and l e t s a i r power play a r o l e . " J e r r v Powell on Midwav: "It i s f a s t moving, exciting, and provides many opportunities f o r bluffing. ' I E d i B i r s a n on idw way: " E a s y to s e t up, e s p e c i a l l y i n school. I ' Kenneth Hoffman on Waterloo: "A classic battle. P u r e strategy/tactics with few o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , though t h i s i s not always b e s t . A welcome change. B e s t place t o t e s t wargaming t h e o r i e s . A s i m p l e game, but a chall e n g e t o both s i d e s . "
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(continued o n page 3 )

R e a s o n s f o r playing Stalingrad m o s t often: M a r k Kaplan: "Although lacking i n r e a l i s m , Stalingrad contains a high deg and play always - r e e of playability, m o v e s along a t a smooth r a t e . " Joseph Angiolillo: "The u s e of m a t h e m a t i c s t o win i s e a s i l y applied t a c t i c ally. " David Jacox: "The thought of a t t a i n ing the goals the G e r m a n G e n e r a l Staff failed to a t t a i n i s v e r y stimulating. I ' R i c h a r d Dalton: T h a t ' s a l l the guys a r o u n d h e r e play ! " B r u c e Sullivan: "I play v a r i a n t s of Stalingrad b e c a u s e I a m a n E a s t e r n F r o n t nut. "

L a r r y Dingle on Waterloo: "It i s a good multiple c o m m a n d e r game. '' T o m m y F l o w e r s on D-Day: " P r e s e n t s a v e r y difficult initial set-up, and e n t i r e s t r a t e g i c defense problem. ' I L a r r y Dingle on D-Day: "I like a s u r e win a s A l l i e s i n D-Day '65. I ' P e r r y B a l l on Guadalcanal: "Because it h a s m y f a t h e r ' s own m i l i t a r y unit i n it. (A l i t t l e f a m i l y loyalty. ) I 1 B r u c e Ogden on Gettysburg: "It i s a n enjoyable b r e a k f r o m the o t h e r - . g a m e s , r e q u i r e s l e s s mind work. " Kenneth Hoffman on B i s m a r c k : "Combines i n the b e s t m a n n e r yet, absolute h i s t o r i c a l a c c u r a c y with excellent playability. Should be a model f o r a l l AH g a m e s " Sidney D r i v e r on Jutland: "The new concept of playing without a battle board and t h e r e a l i s t i c r u l e s and a c t u a l individual ship control a r e what m a k e s t h i s g a m e high on my l i s t . " In conclusion, i t s e e m s the thing m o s t i m p o r t a n t to AH w a r g a m e r s i s v a r i e t y . Many of the r e a s o n s given f o r playing c e r t a i n g a m e s m o s t often w e r e s i m p l y brief d e s c r i p t i o n s of the g a m e s , t h e m s e l v e s . But we can s e e

PAGE 3

THE GENERAL

1914-2nd Edition Rule Clarifications

1914 sold out i t s initial run in one month. . . a new r e c o r d f o r Avalon Hill. (Of c o u r s e , we only p r i n t e d 126 c o p i e s . ) Unfortunately, f o r those of you who completely ignored o u r m e s s a g e in the M a r - A p r i l i s s u e t h a t we w e r e obligated to supply o u r o u t l e t s f i r s t b e f o r e p r o c e s s i n g d i r e c t m a i l o r d e r s , m a n y subs c r i b e r s had to w a i t o v e r 6 to 8 w e e k s f o r t h e i r copy when o r d e r e d d i r e c t l y f r o m u s . Now that we a r e i n o u r 2nd run, the following r u l e c l a r i f i c a t i o n s , a r e being i n c o r p o r a t e d into the g a m e components and should be noted by a l l who a r e c u r r e n t l y playing the f i r s t edition. CLARIFICATIONS ENTRY O F ALLIES INTO BELGIUM - T h e Allied m a y not c r o s s the Belgian b o r d e r until two m o v e s a f t e r the G e r m a n s e i t h e r d e s t r o y the Liege f o r t s o r c r o s s t h e Meuse south of Liege. T h e r e f o r e , if the G e r m a n s d e s t r o y e d t h e Liege f o r t s on move two the A l l i e s could not e n t e r Belgium until move four. RIVERS & ROUGH TERRAIN- Effect on Movement f o r R i v e r s & Effect on Combat f o r R i v e r s . Rough T e r r a i n a n d / o r F o r e s t s m a y b e l e f t out of t h e Introductory, S t a n d a r d and Advanced G a m e s .

T h i s i s a d v i s a b l e when t h e p l a y e r s a r e of equal ability o r when the Allied playe r i s the m o r e experienced. D E L E T E - T h e f i r s t two p a r a g r a p h s under "1914 Combat R e s u l t s Table" on the f r o n t of the Combat R e s u l t s Table a r e t o be removed. They no longer apply. The f i r s t p a r a g r a p h begins with and e n d s with stand "Units may. f a s t . I t The second p a r a g r a p h begins " and ends with with "Defending units. one a t t a c k . " The f i r s t r u l e change r e f l e c t s a change needed t o c o r r e c t a n i n c o r r e c t l y worded r u l e i n the f i r s t edition. The second change is. a s stated, optional and i s designed t o speed t h e g a m e up f o r those who want it. The t h i r d change r e f l e c t s the deletion of a m a r g i n a l r u l e which, f u r t h e r playtesting h a s shown, shouldn't have been included i n the f i r s t place. T h e s e two changes will a p p e a r on t h e CRT a n d t h e Introductory Game c a r d and will soon b e available f r o m Avalon Hill. O t h e r typographical e r r o r s a r e a l s o being c o r r e c t e d .

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COVER STORY
think your g a m e s childish a n d r i d i culous. I don't, n o r do m a n y of m y f r i e n d s i n the M a r i n e C o r p s a n d o t h e r s e r v i c e s . High ranking o f f i c e r s have enjoyed t h e m f o r t h e i r v e r y p u r e n e s s ; the idea of being a b l e t o u s e t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l knowledge h a s allowed t h e m I feel to take these games to heart. your g a m e s have o f f e r e d many s e r v i c e m e n the d r e a m of c o m m a n d without the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of human l i v e s .

..

Typical of the r e p l i e s t o t h i s gambit were: "Your suggestion t h a t w a r g a m e s a r e a kind of t h e r a p y i s a n i c e point but i t a s s u m e s a n i n a t e d e s i r e t o kill which you c l a i m ( f a l s e l y ) i s the n a t u r e of the b e a s t . ' I "Your philosophy of human n a t u r e i s on v e r y shaky grounds which c a n be disproved, a s h a s been done, by a n thropologists who have found s o c i e t i e s

existing quite nicely without t h e n e c e s s i t y of w a r . " "No m a t t e r by what n a m e you c a l l i t , p r o d u c t s such a s y o u r s m u s t have a n influence i n engendering a n i n c r e a s ed militant attitude with t h e young generation of students. " We can, of c o u r s e , dispute s o m e of the above " a n s w e r s . ' I F o r i n s t a n c e , i n searching thru history we're darned if we c a n find a t i m e when t h e r e w a s n ' t a t l e a s t one nation w a r i n g a g a i n s t a n o t h e r . However, we think o u r r e butal to a l l t h i s w a s b e s t s a i d r e c e n t l y by T h o m a s Webster. Plainwell, Michigan, whose l e t t e r w a s originally m e a n t a s a r e s p o n s e t o Sgt. Donald S q u i r e ' s Vol. 5, No. 1 L e t t e r t o the E d i t o r t 1 t o wit: "All of u s a r e living in a n obviously n u c l e a r age; a n age in which we c a n quite quickly and e a s i l y be eliminated. T h e r e i s no g l o r y in that. Neither i s t h e r e g l o r y i n being p a r t of any a r m y in a world which m a i n t a i n s itself o n a constant w a r t i m e b a s i s in a cold w a r which t h r e a t e n s d e s t r u c t i o n and h a s a l r e a d y d e s t r o y e d peace by i t s m e r e existence. The a r m y ' s w o r k i s n e c e s s a r y , h a r d and not a t a l l glorious. T h e r e i s no r o o m i n o u r c o n t e m p o r a r y world f o r a H i t l e r , Napoleon, o r C a e s a r . Such a m a n would d e s t r o y the world and himself with it. A r e then a l l s u c h m e n dead and gone ? No. They a r e playing Avalon Hill g a m e s . They a r e attempting to r e d i s c o v e r the g l o r y of I m p e r i a l R o m e , Napoleon's F r a n c e , and the T h i r d Reich, using

c o l o r e d c a r d b o a r d c o u n t e r s and c o l o r ful, functional m a p b o a r d s , and not by using guns and t e r r o r . They a r e leading "horde s" of o f f i c e r s of w a r g a m e c l u b s to v i c t o r i e s r e s u l t i n g in nothing m o r e than honorable o v e r l o r d s h i p of v a r i o u s " t e r r i t o r i e s " which a r e just a s quickly l o s t again to o t h e r g a m e winning t e a m s . The l i v e s of m i l l i o n s of m e n a r e not a t stake. In a world w h e r e v i c t o r i e s a r e few in e v e r y a s p e c t of life, not j u s t o n the battlefield, a n Aval o n Hill Company is n e c e s s a r y . The f r u s t r a t i o n which could not be r e l e a s e d by playing w a r g a m e s (claiming v i c t o r y to a l l r e a d e r s of 0. W. a d s and a r t i c l e s containing p e r f e c t plays f r o m e x p e r i e n c e ) m i g h t be r e l e a s e d in the s t r e e t s . If Avalon Hill had e x i s t e d 50 y e a r s ago Stalin m i g h t have challenged H i t l e r to a p a p e r battle f o r E u r o p e i n s t e a d of the c a r n a g e t h a t w a s World War 1 1 . And s o the g r e a t debate continues. It i s o u r educated belief that the opinions of t h e "anti's" a r e b a s e d o n a n i n c o r r e c t p r e m i s e : they f e e l t h a t a g g r e s s i v e n e s s i s a l e a r n e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , thus Avalon Hill should be r e p r o o f e d f o r making a v a i l a b l e t h e tools of t h i s learning. We think o t h e r w i s e . We believe that m a n ' s a g g r e s s i v e n e s s i s not a l e a r n e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c b u t a n inborn one. TO i l l u s t r a t e , no one y e t h a s e v e r been a b l e t o t e a c h a b a l l p l a y e r t o become a g r e a t h i t t e r . He had t o have the n a t u r a l ability, o r instinct, f r o m the s t a r t . Lawyers, doctors, cubists a r e born not made. We r e s t o u r c a s e .

Philosophy
that s o m e g a m e s a r e played b e c a u s e they a r e e x t r e m e l y complex (Blitzk r i e g ) , o t h e r s b e c a u s e they a r e s i m p l e r (Afrika K o r p s ) , and s t i l l o t h e r s b e c a u s e they provide a change of pace. S o m e w a r g a m e r s play a g a m e b e c a u s e i t i s balanced, and o t h e r s a c e r t a i n g a m e b e c a u s e it p r e s e n t s a s p e c i a l challenge to one p a r t i c u l a r side ( G e r m a n s i n Stalingrad). We, h e r e a t Avalon Hill, have m a d e e v e r y effort to produce w a r g a m e s t h a t appeal to e v e r y type of w a r g a m e r .

THE GENERAL

PAGE 4

Wargamers' Clinic
M. R. Brundage, E d i t o r with M. J . F r a n k w i c z M. Kohn

"Clinic Deludged i n Mail" Due t o the wealth of l e t t e r s r e c e i v e d on the D-Day situation; the clinic had decided t o hold off the a n a l y s i s of E x e r c i s e # 2 t i l l the next i s s u e w h e r e i t c a n devote m o r e s p a c e t o p r e s e n t i n g the a r g u m e n t s of both s i d e s a n d t h e i r r e a s o n s f o r t h e i r points of view. Since there s e e m s to be a case for Allies & G e r m a n s , depending on whose s i d e you debated. The Clinic, i n t u r n , a t t h a t t i m e wil1,after a l l t h e a n a l y s i s , p r e s e n t a s u m m a t i o n of t h e i r own. We e x p e c t t o have a few s u r p r i s e s f o r both s i d e s a t that t i m e . " E x e r c i s e #3" In the m e a n t i m e l e t ' s c u t s o m e t e e t h on E x e r c i s e # 3 f r o m A.H. ' s l a t e s t game 1914 which i s just out. T h i s situation, o r plan of a t t a c k c o m e s f r o m M r . R a y Johnson of L a k e Zurich. Illinois. M r . Johnson i s a f r i e n d of the editor. He c a l l s it: Plan "Otto. -" "Clinic Note: We will f i r s t p r e s e n t t h e s e t - u p s G e r m a n a n d then t h e Allied. The Allied s e t - u p which w a s placed a g a i n s t P l a n "Otto" c o m e s f r o m M r . T i m P a l m e r of Arlington Heights, Illinois. R e m e m b e r . Allied p l a y e r w a s u n a w a r e a t s e t - u p t i m e of G e r m a n plans. What we ( T h e C l i n i c ) expect f r o m you i s a n evaluation of both s i d e s , of 1 ) . What you think of P l a n "Otto". 2). Can A l l i e s stop it. 3). I s M r . P a l m e r ' s s e t - u p adequate t o stop "Otto." We'd a l s o l i k e t o s e e your plans. Defenses, e t c . Kindly send t h e m on a Mobilization C h a r t s h e e t with your n a m e , a d d r e s s , etc. u n d e r t h e t i t l e of the s h e e t i n t h e l e f t hand c o r n e r . In a f u t u r e i s s u e the Clinic will m a t c h outstanding plans and d e f e n s e s f o r you t h e r e a d e r t o t e s t out. German Set-up No. 2 2 1 2 Code 0's 5's 305/ 7's Co- o r d i n a t e GG- 13 11-15 420/ 7's 7's 305/ 7's 0's 5's 0's 7's 5 7 5 305/ 7's 305/ 3 5's 5's . 7's
X

HH- 15 HH- 16

Namur DD- 15 E E - 14

HH- 18 11-18 11-19 French Armies

Brussels Ghent

HH- 24 Belfort HH- 25 Metz 11-27 JJ-28 KK- 29

7 5 5's
X

11-38 HH- 37 HH- 36 HH-35 HH- 34 HH-33

0's 3 0 2 2 2 2 5 4
X

MM- 3 1 NN- 32 Strasburg NN-33 NN- 34 NN- 35 NN-36 NN-37

HH- 3 1 HH-30 HH-29 HH- 28 GG-28 T oul

5's
X

0's Marines Allied S e t - u p Holland A r m y No. 1 2 1 2 1 Code 1 4's 2 4's 2 Belgian A r m y

NN- 39 00- 39 PP- 39

E E - 24 Verdun DD- 22

Co-ordinate DD- 8 FF- 10 GG- 11 W-15 Maubeuge u-12 T - 11 Liege

THE GENERAL
P L A N "OTTO" by R a y Johnson * E d i t o r ' s Note: Being a f r i e n d and opponent of M r . Johnson I know h i m t o be a n excellent w a r g a m e r . H i s P l a n "Otto" though v i r t u a l l y new and u n t r i e d i s well conceived i n m y opinion. We l e a v e i t t o you t h e r e a d e r t o decide how well. P l a n "Otto" i s a n Advanced Game v e r s i o n of 19 14. MS(mobi1ization s q u a r e ) A(Army) C(Corps) R(Reserve) E a s t e r n F r o n t IX, X, XI A r m i e s with the 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21st Corps- -3rd F o r t Corps--2,3,4th Landwehr C o r p s ; plus 1 , 2 - 4 - 2 & 1, 2-2-2. Total 110 points. Western Front I Army
Pr. Gds. C o r p s Pr. Gds. R . C o r p s

Belgium-When?
by 2nd Lt. C a r l F. Knabe I1 The m a i n advantage the G e r m a n h a s in 1914 i s n u m b e r s . Yet how to bring t h e m to b e a r with a combat r e s u l t s table that g i v e s s o little advantage to s u p e r i o r n u m b e r s ? The a n s w e r i s sugg e s t e d by a c t u a l history. If you have 10 s t e p s and your opponent h a s 8, you and he a r e n e a r l y equal i n strength. But if you exchange 7 s t e p s evenly with h i m , then you out n u m b e r h i m 3 to 1. ATTRITION! When should the G e r m a n invade Belg i u m ? Around the t h i r d turn. This g i v e s the G e r m a n valuable advantage a t a m i n i m u m of c o s t . In o r d e r to achieve this the G e r m a n i s giving up a little t i m e and allowing the F r e n c h to move onto t h e i r b o r d e r s q u a r e s with Belgium a s opposed to having to s t a r t one s q u a r e removed. On the o t h e r hand: The G e r m a n should a r r a n g e h i s s t a r t i n g units with about 314 south of Belgium and 114 a b r e s t of i t ( l a t e r m o r e f o r c e s m a y be t r a n s f e r r e d n o r t h a s they a r e needed a f t e r the Belgium invasion begins to r o l l ) with f o u r of the ten G e r m a n c a v a l r y units with the Belgium f o r c e and f o u r m o r e with the A r dennes f o r c e , w h e r e c a v a l r y a r e v e r y useful. The G e r m a n s i n the south should use the f i r s t t h r e e t u r n s to conduct a n a t t a c k along a s m u c h of the F r e n c h line a s possible with the idea in mind of achieving a n equal exchange with the F r e n c h player. R e m e m b e r , a t t r i t i o n f a v o r s the G e r m a n p l a y e r ! This a t t a c k will f o r c e the F r e n c h to tie down t h e i r r e s e r v e s defending t h e i r southern l i n e and help achieve a m o r e favorable balance of f o r c e s . T h i s a t t a c k should b e a l l - o u t and vicious. In the n o r t h the G e r m a n u s e s the two t u r n s ( i t will take a t l e a s t t h i s long) to m a s s along the b o r d e r s of Belgium and Luxemburg. E s p e c i a l l y being s u r e to place f o u r c a v a l r y units o n s q u a r e F F 1 4 . T h e s e units c a n then fan out behind Liege in o r d e r to gain a s much ground a s p o s s i b l e on the f i r s t t u r n of the invasion. T h i s t a c t i c of l a t e ( t u r n 3) invasion e n s u r e s the G e r m a n of a s much benefit a s possible f r o m h i s Belgium attack and d e l a y s e n t r a n c e of the B r i t i s h Expeditionary F o r c e f o r a s long a s possible. C o m m e n t s anyone ? 2nd Lt. C a r l F. Knabe I1 FV3189348, 3561st Sturon CMR Box 4545 Webb AFB, Texas 79720

1st C 2nd C

1st R C 2nd R C

402 M o r t a r

IA will mobilize n e a r MS 6 & r e duce Liege, then o p e r a t e on A x i s B r u s s e l s - L i l l e - A m i e n s with objective t o c l e a r a l l n o r t h of S o m m e , then move on P a r i s . I1 A r m y 3C 4C 5C 6C 3RC 4RC 305 M o r t a r

.That's Lt. Carl F. Knabe 1 1 getting back into his T-38: he just remembered to move the German 14th Corps in a "1914"gamehe's got set up under the cockpit.

VI A r m y

9RC lORC

llRC 12RC

1 F o r t Corps(Metz) IIA will mobilize n e a r MS 9 a n d move on and r e d u c e Namur, then o p e r a t e on Axis Maubeuge-La F e r e - R h e i m s . I11 A r m y 7C 8C 9C 5RC 6RC 7RC VIA will mobilize vicinity Metz and o p e r a t e a g a i n s t Toul and Nancy. It will r e l i e v e IIIA when i t d e p a r t s . Mission e s s e n t i a l l y defensive. VII A r m y IIIA will mobilize MS 19 and initially o p e r a t e S E Nancy, but i t i s envisioned that i t will move by r a i l on 2nd o r 3 r d t u r n depending o n F r e n c h mobilization t o Liege a n d b e u s e d i n reducing B e l gian A r m y and take Antwerp; then o p e r a t e on l i n e Ypres-Boulogne, reducing a l l F r e n c h Strongholds n o r t h of t h e Somme. It will t a k e o v e r I A r m y 402 M o r t . a f t e r reduction of Lille. IV A r m y 10C 11C 12C 8RC 13RC 14RC 15RC l6RC

1 Landwehr C o r p s VIIA will mobilize vicinity of MS 22 and o p e r a t e defensively o r offensively t o w a r d Epinal. It will help r e l i e v e IIIA. VIII A r m y 4 - ( 2 ' s ) & 4 - ( 1 ' s ) plus 2nd F o r t C o r p s ( S t r a s b u r g ) . Will defend n o r t h of S w i s s b o r d e r & t h r e a t e n B e l fort. Will defend n o r t h of S w i s s b o r d e r & t h r e a t e n Belfort. 1 Cav. A r m y 1 Cav. C 2 Cav. C 3 Cav. C 4 Cav. C

IVA will mobilize opposite Luxemb u r g and move through A r d e n n e s t o w a r d s Maubeuge and a s s i s t IIA in reducing i t ; t h e o p e r a t e on A x i s R e t h e l - R h e i m s . V Army 1 s t Bav. C o r p s 2nd Bav. C o r p s 3 r d BC 1 RBC

305 Howitzer VA will mobilize n o r t h of Metz a n d r e d u c e Longwy, then o p e r a t e on e i t h e r Verdun o r Toul.

It will mobilize n e a r MS 12 and o p e r a t e through A r d e n n e s , s c r e e n i n g flank of IVA and a t t e m p t to b r e a k out n e a r Maubeuge to F r e n c h r e a r . Myron Brundage 2437 W. Sunniside Chicago, Illinois 60625

THE GENERAL

PAGE 6

THE BOOM IN WAR GAMES

Profie of a Wargaming Club

Lately, the greatest expansion to the wargame cult has been in the area of "Clubs." Club growth can best be typified in the profile of Boldlands. Here is the Boldlands (nee Red Lions) story as told by their Defense Minister Bill Stone.
Boldland w a s f o r m e d a s R e d Lions on August 1, 1966. Since that t i m e i t h a s r i s e n to be one of the l a r g e s t and m o s t powerful c l u b s in e x i s t e n c e . The club's o r i g i n a l policy, a s outlined by myself and Steve M a r i n , w a s to d e s t r o y the m e n a c e t h a t hung o v e r the w a r g a m ing world a t the t i m e of R L 1 s founding Aggressor.

A New Image for Wargaming

by: L e e Matthews I ' m s u r e m a n y of you have discove r e d that wargaming c a r r i e s a bad connotation f o r m o s t of the uninitiated public. Recently, a f r i e n d and I c r e a t e d a g a m e , b a s e d o n Avalon Hill concepts, in which we fought a w a r between two fictional c o u n t r i e s i n m u c h the s a m e s c a l e a s i t w a s fought in the 1800's. We had e l i m i n a t e d the u s e of c a r d b o a r d p i e c e s and used, instead, g r e a s e - p e n c i l s on a p l a s t i c covering; making this g a m e v e r y portable. Being e x t r e m e l y enthused we played this g a m e between c l a s s e s and during lunch, e t c . , and judging by the r e m a r k s m a d e by p a s s i n g students i t i s a c c e p t able to play t h e s e g a m e s only in locked padded c e l l s . They a c c u s e d u s of being " w a r m o n g e r s " , "fanatics", o r " F a s c i s t s " ; one e d u c a t o r went a s f a r a s s a y ing that i t w a s b e c a u s e of people such a s we that the w o r l d w a s i n the s t a t e i t i s today; that we w e r e the " d e s t r o y e r s of civilization. I ' Something i s definit$ly wrong when one cannot play a g a m e of s t r a t e g y and t a c t i c s without being branded in such a m a n n e r . We, a s s e r i o u s p l a y e r s of w a r g a m e s , should do something in the public r e l a t i o n s field to change this public outlook. T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of way of doing this. The f i r s t , m o s t e a s y way, i s to g e t a w r i t e u p in your l o c a l newspaper. T h i s h a s been s u c c e s s f u l , a s r e s i d e n t s of the San Diego a r e a c a n a t t e s t (Evening Tribune, M a r c h 30 '68, p. A9). The p a p e r s a r e usually quite i n t e r e s t e d in a hobby s u c h a s t h i s ; i t m a k e s a good a r t i c l e f o r the youth, hobby, o r family section. The second way of getting wargaming "accepted1' is by using the f a s c i l i t i e s of your l o c a l television station. They w i l l undoubtedly do a s h o r t f i l m clip f o r t h e i r news d e p a r t m e n t o n a n "International Tournament". The television side of the propoganda m u s t be undertaken by the l a r g e r c l u b s who have the c a p a b i l i t i e s of organization, such a s the P a c i f i c Northwest G a m e s As sociation, to name j u s t one. If one s e r i o u s w a r g a m e r out of ten could m a k e the public a w a r e of this hobby we would be t h a t m u c h c l o s e r to r a i s i n g the l e v e l of wargaming to that of c h e s s . With a little luck, it could become a national p a s t i m e ! ! ! L e e Matthews 1267 Olivet St. L a J o l l a , Calif. 92037

--

Since t h a t t i m e , the club h a s grown i m m e n s e l y and a new objective w a s ins e r t e d in o u r philosophy i n the s u m m e r of 1967 - - the union of a l l w a r g a m e r s into a n e u t r a l body f o r the a d v a n c e m e n t of wargaming. With t h i s i n mind, the D e p a r t m e n t of Defense h a s been v e r y selective c o n c e r n i n g the c l u b s that we fight. T h i s i s n e c e s s a r y so t h a t we will have no m a j o r e n e m i e s when we go neutral. However, o u r t a s k i s becoming inc r e a s i n g l y difficult. Now that A g g r e s s o r h a s been d e t h r o n e d f r o m i t s s e a t a t the top of the heap, m o r e and m o r e clubs a r e beginning to c o n s i d e r Boldland the m e a n c e to w a r g a m i n g that A g g r e s s o r once was. Although the 'international' s i t u a tion h a s taken a t u r n f o r the w o r s e , the i n t e r n a l situation i s good and continues to g r o w even b e t t e r . Until we go n e u t r a l , Boldland i s headed by the Defense M i n i s t e r . Under h i m i s the G e n e r a l Staff and the v a r i o u s S e r v i c e s : Army. Navy, A i r F o r c e , R e s e r v e s , M a r i n e s , and G u a r d s . The f i r s t three a r e our main battle forces. The f o u r t h i s a training g r o u p f o r r e l a tively inexperienced w a r g a m e r s before they a r e c o m m i s s i o n e d and placed i n a r e g u l a r s e r v i c e . The M a r i n e s a r e o u r b e s t p l a y e r s who take o n t h e . toughest opponents. The G u a r d s a r e used to a i d o u r a l l i e s who need help and to take o n o t h e r tasks. We a r e geographically divided into Regions and sub-divided into D i s t r i c t s . Our 85-plus m e m b e r s a r e s c a t t e r e d f r o m England to Hawaii, f r o m Canada

to the Gulf C o a s t . Although we a r e m o s t l y m a d e up of high school students, we include s o m e junior high students, a f a i r chunk of college students, and a handful of adults, including a n a t t o r n e y , t e a c h e r s , a USAF a i r m a n , a n accounta n t , a c a r e e r Navy M a s t e r Chief, and o t h e r s . Also, we a r e glad to have a United S t a t e s M i l i t a r y Academy cadet. Boldland p r i n t s The C o u r i e r , o u r official news magazine which c a r r i e s wargaming news and a r t i c l e s on playing, and a Diplomacy magazine. We have a number of Diplomacy and Confrontation p l a y e r s who s p o n s o r those g a m e s , and we have a l a r g e n u m b e r of g a m e inventors whose w o r k i s r e v i e w e d and s o m e t i m e s produced, s u c h a s B r u c e Kindig's g a m e The Guns of August. We s e l l p r o f e s s i o n a l l y p r i n t e d hex s h e e t s a t a low cost, cheap m i m e o g r a p h e d s h e e t s , unit c o u n t e r s , and booklets o n s t r a t e g y f o r individual g a m e s . Besides inter-club campaigns, there a r e a n u m b e r of club t o u r n a m e n t s spons o r e d by DoD and S e r v i c e GHQs. M e m b e r s who want s t i l l m o r e opponents c a n r e l y o n o u r matching s e r v i c e to find t h e m someone to play. The ranking s y s t e m a d v a n c e s e a c h m e m b e r according to h i s a c t i v i t i e s and so forth. I t i s p o s s i b l e to advance i n r a n k v e r y r a p i d l y , and t h e r e a r e s t i l l s o m e c o m m a n d p o s t s open f o r h a r d workers.

Readers genuinely interested in more complete details regarding the operation of a wargame club should contact Bill at Box 547, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401.

PAGE 7

THE GENERAL
mounted. In f a c t , one s e r i e s of ICBM i s r a i l r o a d mounted, although i t i s not known how many of t h e s e a r e deployed. The s t a t e controlled s y s t e m of education r e s u l t s i n m o s t m i l i t a r y m e n having a c a r e e r status. Developmental s y s t e m s a r e highly s e c r e t , but t h e r e h a s been shown to be g r e a t e m p h a s i s on s p a c e weapons, m i s s i l e s of a l l types, a i r c r a f t and s p e c i a l weapons. The Soviets a p p e a r to b e lieve that f i r s t s t r i k e capability i s p o s sible, that m i s s i l e defense i s p r a c t i c a l , an 1 t h a t t h e s e things a r e d e s i r a b l e .

On Strategic Defense-Part II
Soviet Strategic Weapons Systems
The Soviet A r m e d F o r c e s have d e veloped a d i v e r s i f i e d s t r a t e g i c weapons d e l i v e r y s y s t e m , but i t i s b a s e d on ICBMS, although t h e s e a r e not identical to the A m e r i c a n v e h i c l e s . Current s e r i e s of I C B M ' s employ MIRV, and can strike a t several targets per m i s sile. They a l s o e m p l o y a new guidance s y s t e m that allows d e l i v e r y of weapons a c c u r a t e l y enough to d e s t r o y a m i n u t e m a n underground i n i t s silo. T h i s ICBM s y s t e m is supplemented by the scrag space missile system. The s c r a g m a y be employed in two ways. F i r s t , i t c a n be launched into o r b i t , and c a l l e d down o n a n y o r b i t . T h i s would put a l o t of p r e s s u r e o n p o s s i b l e t a r g e t s under i t s o r b i t , and provide little if any warning t i m e o n the o r b i t of attack. Second, the s c r a g c a n be used o n i t s f i r s t o r b i t , a s a f r a c t i o n a l orbital ballistic delivery system. This would c u t warning time to the point where command reaction i s impossible, b e c a u s e i t would take s e v e r a l m i n u t e s to d e t e c t the a t t a c k and r e l a y the m e s sage. Combined with the new guidance s y s t e m , the s c r a g would p e r m i t a f i r s t s t r i k e to d e s t r o y the m i n u t e m a n f o r c e . The Soviets a l s o e m p l o y extensively heavy and m e d i u m b o m b e r s and i t i s believed t h a t t h e s e have a highly d e veloped stand-off m i s s i l e capacity. Soviet s t r a t e g y h a s long c a l l e d f o r t h e s e a i r c r a f t to be u s e d a g a i n s t s h i p s a s w e l l a s c i t i e s , and they constantly f l y o v e r a l l d e t e c t e d units of the U. S. fleet. The Soviet Union h a s the l a r g e s t s u b m a r i n e f o r c e i n the world, with heavy e m p h a s i s o n h u n t e r - k i l l e r s to i n t e r c e p t U.S. P o l a r u s s u b s . C o m bined with a S a t e l l i t e Detection S y s t e m f o r s u b m a r i n e s , t h e r e i s a t l e a s t a potential f o r a s u c c e s s f u l f i r s t s t r i k e a g a i n s t the P o l a r u s f o r c e . Also, both conventional and n u c l e a r s u b m a r i n e s include c l a s s e s which launch m i s s i l e s , both IRBM ( P o l a r u s ) types and c r u i s e m i s s i l e s . The Soviet s u r f a c e f l e e t is l a r g e l y new c o n s t r u c t i o n and with heavy e m p h a s i s o n high s p e e d m i s s i l e s h i p s t h a t launch c r u i s e m i s s i l e s . T h e s e m i s s i l e s , up to 200 m i l e s in r a n g e , a r e of a type unused by the West, and employ s e v e r a l guidance options t o r e n d e r c o u n t e r m e a s u r e s difficult. Hundreds of m i s s i l e f i r i n g p a t r o l c r a f t have been deployed i n Soviet a n d Soviet Allied Navies. T h e s e p a t r o l c r a f t a r e a g r e a t d a n g e r t o the U.S. F l e e t , p a r t i c u l a r l y in in- s h o r e w a t e r s . The Soviets have extensively d e ployed a n ABM ( a n t i - b a l l i s t i c m i s s i l e ) s y s t e m to i n t e r c e p t a n y U.S. v e h i c l e s t h a t survived a f i r s t s t r i k e . It i s b a s e d on HANE (high altitude n u c l e a r explos i o n ) effects. T h i s s y s t e m w a s d e v e l qped by violation of the n u c l e a r t e s t m o r i t o r i u m in 1962-3, and upon d e v e l opment, the Soviets signed t h e T e s t B a n T r e a t y t o p r e v e n t a s i m i l a r U.S. development. B a s i c a l l y , t h e e l e c t r o magnetic e f f e c t s of the ABM d e s t r o y o r n u t r a l i z e a l l incoming n u c l e a r w a r h e a d s a t high altitude with r e l a t i v e l y no effect on the ground below. T h i s effect p e r s i s t s for a t least a short time for seve r a l thousand s q u a r e m i l e s . W a r h e a d s a i m e d a t vital t a r g e t s c a n a l s o b e int e r c e p t e d on a point-to-point b a s i s by the s a m e ABM s y s t e m . T h i s s y s t e m i s a l r e a d y m o d e r a t e l y deployed and r a p i d l y expanding. Supplementing the m i s s i l e defense s y s t e m i s the a i r defense s y s t e m of i n t e r c e p t o r s , s u r f a c e to a i r m i s s i l e s and AA guns f o r defense a g a i n s t a t t a c k by a i r c r a f t of t h e U.S. and i t s a l l i e s . It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o note that while high speed low altitude d e l i v e r y by a i r c r a f t would probably be t h e m o s t effective method of d e l i v e r y in the f a c e of r e d defenses, American strategic bombers a r e no l o n g e r maintained on a n a l e r t basis. Soviet s t r a t e g i c s p a c e m i s s i l e s , ICBMS and sealaunched m i s s i l e s a r e supplemented not only by b o m b e r s , but by land b a s e d IRBMS. ( I n t e r m e d i a t e Range Ballistic M i s s i l e s ) . T h e s e s y s tems a r e primarily for use against E u r o p e o r China. The Soviet Union c o n s i d e r s t h e u s e of biological and c h e m i c a l weapons a s efficient, and e v e r y m a j o r unit of the Soviet A r m y h a s s p e c i a l i z e d B/CW units i n t e g r a t e d into i t . E l e c t r o n i c s w a r f a r e a l s o a p p e a r s to be receiving extensive attention. The Soviets have concent r a t e d on developing l a r g e n u m b e r s of s i m p l e , r e l i a b l e equipments. Many W e s t e r n a n a l y s t s c o n s i d e r the tanks t h a t they r e p l a c e d in the 1956-7 s e a s o n to be s u p e r i o r t o A m e r i c a n tanks today. A l s o , the g i a n t Soviet A r m y p l a c e s a high e m p h a s i s o n mobility, and n e a r l y a l l land b a s e d t a c t i c a l m i s s i l e s and e l e c t r o n i c s equipment i s v e h i c u l a r

An Electronic Air Defense System

The lions s h a r e of Soviet s t r a t e g i c weapons depend upon m i s s i l e s o r a i r c r a f t f o r delivery. Yet the HANE ABM s y s t e m cannot be developed without a t m o s p h e r i c n u c l e a r testing, a violation of the t r e a t y . Point-to-point ABMS a r e expensive, and of l i m i t e d application a g a i n s t ICBMS with e l e c t r o n i c s devices o r against space missiles. Are there any a l t e r n a t i v e s to being without effective defense, violation of a t r e a t y o r the prohibitively expensive point-to-point ABM s y s t e m ? Nuclear weapons (and c h e m i c a l o r biological weapons a l s o ) m u s t be physically d e l i v e r e d to t h e i r t a r g e t s a t a finite speed, f o r p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s a t something below 20, 000 m i l e s p e r hr.. I n t e r c e p t o r m i s s i l e s cannot exceed this s p e e d by v e r y m u c h if a t a l l , and upon launch, they a r e l o s t . E a c h ABM l o s t i s a v e r y l a r g e amount of money, but multiplied by the n u m b e r of t a r g e t s and the n u m b e r needed f o r backups, i t bec o m e s n e a r l y , if not in f a c t , impossible to finance them. However, a n e l e c t r o n i c s a i r defense s y s t e m would e m ploy e l e c t r o m a g n e t i c b e a m s that t r a v e l a t the speed of light, and the s y s t e m could be r e - u s e d thousands of t i m e s i n the s a m e hour if n e c e s s a r y . Technically, a t l e a s t one e l e c t r o n i c a i r defense s y s t e m i s p r a c t i c a l a t this time. I t would employ the so-called plasmoid effect, s o named b e c a u s e i t creates a small a r e a where matter is "heated" to the s t a t e known i n physics a s p l a s m a . Two b e a m s of m i c r o w a v e s f r o m two antennas a r e focused a t one point, so a r r a n g e d that they r e i n f o r c e e a c h o t h e r . At s h o r t d i s t a n c e s , this c a u s e s a n effect commonly known a s a r t i f i c i a l lightning a t that point. Now, with the development of c o h e r e n t e n e r g y t r a n s m i t t e r s , known a s l a s e r s a t light f r e q u e n c i e s , o r m a s e r s a t the m i c r o wave band, the r a n g e a t which this plasmoid effect c a n be produced i s g r e a t l y extended. Now, if this weapon w e r e integrated with a tracking s y s t e m , i t could i n t e r c e p t a n incoming m i s s i l e in a f r a c t i o n

THE GENERAL
of a second allowing another f r a c t i o n of a second f o r t r a n s m i t t e r r e c o v e r y , the s y s t e m i s a l m o s t instantly r e a d y to r e use. Unlike psycological d e t e r r e n t b a s e d on the u s e of t h e r m o - n u c l e a r w a r h e a d s against whole notions, this i s a r e a l d e t e r r e n t (e. g. ability to stop the enem y ) that i s d i r e c t e d solely a t h i s m i l i t a r y machine. Now t h i s device i s not of a s o r t nor a range that would be p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e ful a s a long r a n g e offensive weapon, but i t would a l s o s e r v e a s a n e l e c t r o n i c defense a g a i n s t such long r a n g e e l e c t r o n i c s weapons if the Soviets w e r e to develop such s y s t e m s in the m i c r o w a v e bands. At p r e s e n t s t a t e s of weapons technology, i t would g r e a t l y a s s i s t in rendering a successful f i r s t strike impossible, and probably p r e v e n t a n e n e m y f r o m even trying, knowing in a d vance i t would be unsuccessful. F i n a l l y , i t would r e - o r i e n t A m e r i c a n d e f e n s e thinking along the p r i m a r y line of r e sponsibility of a defensive A r m e d F o r c e s - the ability to stop the enemy . f r o m successfully attacking the c i t i z e n s of the country. B e c a u s e no new technology i s r e q u i r e d to develop the s y s t e m , i t should be possible to do s o i n a r e l a tive s h o r t period of t i m e - hopefully before the Soviets fully deploy their p r e s e n t weapons s y s t e m s .
ETR 3 L. Sidney Treoethan USN OE Division USS Waddell DDG-24 FPO San Francisco,Calrfornia 96601

PAGE 8

Praetorian Guard Evaluation Test

by C h a r l e s Hoch

While Mr. Hoch was organizing the "Test" (see previous issue) he was already cornpiling the results o f the PGET Survey he

had sent to wargarners at random. Of the 104 Surveys sent, 65 were returned with the interesting results reprinted below.

The question i s given on the left and the question r e s u l t s in p e r c e n t a g e s on the right. The p e r c e n t a g e s r e p r e s e n t the f r a c t i o n of the total who a n s w e r e d the question. (A) 1. I a m y e a r s of age. a ) Under 1 2 b ) 12-14 c ) 15-17 d ) 18-21 e ) O v e r 21 I have played Avalon Hill w a r g a m e s f o r 2. y e a r s . a ) 1 b) 2 c ) 3 d) 4 e ) 5 o r m o r e . I have played Avalon Hill PBM w a r g a m e s 3. for years. a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e ) 5 o r more. 4. A t p r e s e n t I a m playing w a r g a m e s by mail. a ) l b ) 2 c ) 3 d ) 4 e ) 5 o r m o r e . 5. I usually p l a y . . . f a c e to face. a ) 1 o r m o r e g a m e s e v e r y week b ) 1 g a m e e v e r y 2 weeks c ) 1 g a m e e v e r y 3 weeks d) l e s s than one game e v e r y month. clubs. 6. I have been a m e m b e r of -PBM a ) 1 b) 2 c ) 3 d ) 4 e ) 5 o r m o r e . 7. I have w o n . . approximately. a ) m o r e g a m e s than I've l o s t b ) a s many g a m e s a s I've l o s t c ) l e s s g a m e s than I've l o s t d ) no way of telling. 8. I a m p r e s e n t l y attending a . a ) High School b) G r a d e School c ) J u n i o r High School d ) College e ) None. 9. My g r a d e s in school a r e usually s . a) A b) B c ) C d) D e ) F 10. The subjects I p r e f e r would be placed under the heading o f . a ) Humanities b ) Social S c i e n c e s c ) Bus. & Econ. d ) Science e ) Math. 11. I think age plays a m o r e i m p o r t a n t p a r t in wargaming than experience. a ) Often b ) S o m e t i m e s c ) Seldom d ) Never A 0 D E NONE B C 1870 46% 2570 11% X

Convention in California
August 17-18 i s the t i m e f o r the 1 s t annual wargaming convention f o r the s t a t e of California. Sponsored by the up and coming S p a r t a n W a r g a m e r s , the convention i s open to a l l who have the wher-with-all to m a k e the t r i p to North Long Beach, California. National P r e s ident R u s s e l l Powell r e q u e s t s advance r e s e r v a t i o n s ; those t h a t r e s p o n d p r i o r to the August 12th deadline will be in f r e e . Those not r e s e r v i n g in advance will be c h a r g e d a t "the door. I ' Housing and food m u s t be taken c a r e of by e a c h p a r t i c i p a n t although the S p a r tan W a r g a m e r s can c e r t a i n l y be of a s s i s t a n c e if you w r i t e to t h e i r home off i c e ; 5820 John Avenue, Long Beach, California. If the s i z e of t h e i r n e w s l e t t e r , the l a r g e s t of a l l club n e w s l e t t e r s , i s an indication of the scope of the convention, you c a n e x p e c t a r e a l l y big show o n the w e s t coast.

(B) NOTE: In this section, the top t h r e e p e r c e n t a g e s a r e l i s t e d , and the o t h e r s combined. The AH game I c o n s i d e r m o s t complex i s . . Jutland-271, Blitz. -68%. Guadal1. canal-3%, Others-2%. The AH g a m e I consider m o s t difficult i s . . .Blitz. -4170, Jut. -280/0, Guad. -13% 2. Others-1870. The AH game I c o n s i d e r m o s t unbalanced is.. .Stalin. -33%. Bulge-1970, Gett. 3. 1470, Others-3470. The AH game I consider m o s t h i s t o r i c a l l y a c c u r a t e is.. .Jut. -33%, Guad. -16% 4. Bulge- 11%, Others-40%. The AH game I c o n s i d e r to be the e a s i e s t is.. AK-21%, Tactics-1670. Bis. 5. 16%, Others-47%. The f i r s t AH game I p o s s e s s e d was.. Tactics-18010, Gett. -140/0, AK-1370, Oth6. ers-47%. The AH game I a c q u i r e d m o s t r e c e n t l y i s . . . J u t . -3370, D-Day-1670, Waterloo7. 130/0, Others-3870. I find the p r i c e of AH g a m e s and the G e n e r a l 8. C D E NONE a ) Cheap b ) Reasonable c ) Expensive A B d ) Outrageous e ) Robbery 0 39% 4670 870 7% X When I play AH g a m e s I usually play the 9. a ) offensive b ) defensive c ) d o e s n ' t m a t t e r . 23% 10% 67% X X X 10. I play b e t t e r defensive than offensively. a ) Often b) S o m e t i m e s c ) Seldom d ) Never 140J06770Jol670 2% X X

THE GENERAL
In m y daily life, w a r g a m i n g is.. a ) V e r y i m p o r t a n t b) M o d e r a t e l y i m p o r t a n t c ) A hobby d ) An intellectual e x e r c i s e I c r e a t e m y own g a m e v a r i a n t s so a s to balance play. a ) Often b ) S o m e t i m e s c ) Seldom d) Never. If m y opponent m a k e s a m i s t a k e , I will l e t h i m c o r r e c t it. a ) Often b) ~ o m e G e s c ) Seldom d ) Never. I p r e f e r to take the s i d e which i s f a v o r e d to win. a ) Often b) S o m e t i m e s c ) Seldom d ) Never. In WWII g a m e s , I p r e f e r to play the. a ) G e r m a n s b ) A m e r i c a n s c ) Doesn't m a t t e r . I make c a r e l e s s mistakes on m y PBM pads. a ) Often b ) S o m e t i m e s c ) S e l d o m d ) Never. I consider to be the m o s t i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t in AH wargaming. a ) Intelligence b ) E x p e r i e n c e c ) Choice of s i d e s d ) Confidence e ) Luck.

24% 28% 34% 14% X

5% 33% 41% 21'70

33% 44% 18%

5%

..

8% 62% 27% 32% 3% 65%

3% X

X
X

T h e r e w e r e e n t r e e s f r o m 18 States, but with the m a j o r i t y f r o m C a l i f o r n i a a and New York. E a c h e n t r e e 1 4 y e a r s of a g e and u n d e r , only 10% thought age sometimes plays a m o r e important p a r t than e x p e r i e n c e in wargaming. 6070 thought i t s e l d o m played a m o r e i m p o r t a n t p a r t , while 30% thought i t played a m o r e i m p o r t a n t p a r t than experience. Take a c l o s e look a t the r e s u l t s of question seven, Section (A). If 6570 have been doing a l l the winning, whose been l o s i n g ? I t is i n t e r e s t i n g to note t h a t many w a r g a m e r s a p p e a r to p o s s e s s

never

5% 32% 44%

7%

12%

33% 63%

570

a g g r e s s i v e tendencies. Question Nine i n Section ( B ) and question five i n S e c tion ( C ) r e v e a l t h a t offensive tendenc i e s f a r outdistance the defensive tendencies. In question eight, Section (B), many people put down two c a t e g o r i e s o n t h e i r t e s t s h e e t s saying that the g a m e s w e r e p r i c e d r e a s o n a b l y o r expensively, and, t h a t the G e n e r a l w a s o u t r a g e o u s l y p r i c e d and f o r some, robbery.
C h a r l e s Hoch St. Francis College Alcala P a r k San Diego, California 921 1 0

Jutland Play-by-Mail
by R i c h a r d C. G i b e r s o n They s a i d it couldn't b e d o n e - - s o h e r e i t i s : How t o play JUTLAND by mail. That r e m i n d s u s of a n o t h e r s a y ing, "Why b e difficult, when with a l i t t l e m o r e e f f o r t you c a n b e i m p o s s i ble. ' I The i m p o s s i b l e follows. Actually JUTLAND by m a i l i s a b e t t e r g a m e than JUTLAND i n p e r s o n , a t l e a s t in a y e a r o r s o you will probably finish a g a m e ( h a s anyone e v e r f i n i s h e d a g a m e of J U T L A N D ? ) T h i s a r t i c l e will d e a l with the m e c h a n i c s of play, having t h e b a s i c g a m e p r i m a r i l y i n mind. A succeeding a r t i c l e will a d a p t the v a r i o u s advanced and t o u r n a m e n t r u l e s to the P b m f o r m a t . Search Procedure We s t a r t t h e g a m e using a s c h e m e s i m i l a r t o the s o l i t a i r e g a m e . P l a y e r s a g r e e beforehand on a m a i l i n g d a t e f o r t h e i r initial m o v e s . T h e G e r m a n playe r ( G P ) p r e p a r e s , i n duplicate, a n initial move. T h i s move i s t o end with h i s showing himself i n one o r m o r e of the shaded s q u a r e s . The B r i t i s h playe r ( B P ) p r e p a r e s s i x sweep p a t t e r n s a s i n the s o l i t a i r e g a m e . To s a v e s h e e t s it i s suggested t h a t c o l o r e d pencils o r o t h e r s c h e m e be u s e d t o s e p a r a t e t h e patterns. T h e s e sweep p a t t e r n s a r e a l s o to be p r e p a r e d i n duplicate. T h e B P n u m b e r s h i s s i x sweeps i n any o r d e r he c h o o s e s , not n e c e s s a r i l y t h e o r d e r of t h e s o l i t a i r e g a m e . A copy of the initial move i s m a i l e d by the a g r e e d d a t e to t h e opponent. E a c h player then c o m p a r e s the G P f l e e t m o v e s with the s i x B r i t i s h sweeps i n n u m e r i c a l o r d e r . The f i r s t one t o r e s u l t i n a contact i s then u s e d f o r the subsequent play. If no contact w a s m a d e t h e G P s e l e c t s the B r i t i s h s w e e p plan he wants t o u s e , a d j u s t s the t i m e s c a l e s and notifies the BP. Subsequent s e a r c h c a l l s c a n be m a d e quite nicely using post c a r d s . Since s e a r c h i s simultaneous the p l a y e r s m e r e l y a g r e e on mailing d a t e s (like e v e r y F r i d a y ) . Eventually Battle will be joined. R e m e m b e r , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e GENERAL, (Sept. - 0 c t . '67) a i l T F ' S have t o be called out. Battle P r o c e d u r e The P B M modus o p e r a n d i i s a s follows: When Battle h a s b e e n joined p l a y e r s simultaneously m a i l t h e i r init i a l s e t u p s then: 1. B l a c k Moves f i r s t . 2. Blue m o v e s and f i r e s . 3. B l a c k f i r e s a z m o v e s . 4. R e p e a t s t e p s 2 a n d 3 a s needed. S i n c e f i r i n g i s r e a l l y simultaneous t h i s method i s valid and s a v e s a n e x t r a exchange of l e t t e r s . Maneuver - T o l o c a t e s h i p s on t h e "battle board" u s e q u a d r i l l e paper ( r u l e d i n s q u a r e s 114 in. on a s i d e ) .

To those who feel that The General is overpriced, you must take into consideration the fact that there is no outside advertising (which usually makes ztp 60% of space in other magazines). In addition, the number of subscribers also has a bearing on the pricing structure. It is almost as costly to print 1,000 as it is to print 100,800 since the greatest expense is in typography, pasteup and plate-making set-up costs. However, once we get the subscription rolls up over that 50,000 mark, we'll be able to pass along a savings to you. So, spread the word. . . right now we're 48,721 short.

T h e Battle M a r k e r i s placed a t c o o r d i n a t e s 0 , O . All locations a r e r e l a t i v e t o t h i s l o c a t i o n - - s e e F i g u r e 1. Each s h i p i s p r e s u m e d t o occupy 3 s q u a r e s whether i n t h e horizontal, v e r t i c a l o r diagonal plane. A s h i p ' s location i s

THE GENERAL
glven by l i s t i n g the s q u a r e on which i t s bow i s and the d i r e c t i o n which the bow i s facing. Thus in Fig. 1 BB1 i s a t S6~21N and BB2 i s a t ~ 1 ~ 8 1 E s a~ c h. s q u a r e i s one movement f a c t o r . A t u r n i s executed by moving one s q u a r e i n the d i r e c t i o n of t r a v e l a n d then turning 450 in e i t h e r direction. R e m e m b e r you always move f i r s t a n d then t u r n . T h o s e f a m i l i a r with U-BOAT will recognize t h i s method. The JUTLAND r u l e s f o r p e r m i s s i b l e t u r n s s t i l l apply. We m u s t make one s a c r i f i c e of r e a l i s m in the i n t e r e s t of "playability't - a move in the diagonal d i r e c t i o n counts the s a m e a s a move i n the horizontal o r v e r t i c a l (though technically the d i s t a n c e i s longer). F i r i n g - Table I l i s t s the v a r i o u s f i r i n g r a n g e s and o t h e r pertinent d i s t a n c e s adapted t o the 114 in. s q u a r e format. Some a d j u s t m e n t s f r o m the a c t u a l JUTLAND game w e r e r e q u i r e d but in g e n e r a l Table I i s f a i r l y close t o t h e Range F i n d e r . The distance b e tween ships i s conveniently m e a s u r e d by a c l e a r p l a s t i c r u l e of a t l e a s t 6 inch length, 114 inch being equal t o one s q u a r e . Range i s to b e m e a s u r e d f r o m the mid-points of the c e n t e r m o s t s q u a r e s of the ships. T o avoid c o n t r o v e r s y the d i s t a n c e can always be calculated a s the hypotenuse of a r i g h t triangle. In Fig. 1 the r a n g e between BB1 and BB2 i s 13 " s q u a r e s . " However. the p r e s ence of CA1 precludes the B B ' s f r o m f i r i n g a t each o t h e r . Initial Battle B o a r d P l a c e m e n t Since movement into the battle s q u a r e i s f r o m a hexagon p a t t e r n and ship l o cations a r e t o be given in rectangular coordinates s o m e conversion i s n e c e s s a r y . Table I1 gives the p e r m i s s i b l e g r i d coordinates f o r ships entering the battle b o a r d f r o m e a c h of the six dir e c t i o n s . Note that t h i s p l a c e s s o m e s h i p s a t v a r i o u s movement f a c t o r s f r o m 0.0 but that i s r e a l l y of no p a r t i c u l a r consequence. Note a l s o that t h i s Table l i m i t s the m a x i m u m distance between l i n e s t o the confines of a single hex s q u a r e - - a n obvious r e q u i r e m e n t of a single T F a s s u m e d t o b e in a given square. T h i s r e q u i r e m e n t however, w a s not spelled out i n the JUTLAND r u l e s . E n t r a n c e t o the Battle Board a t night p r e s e n t s special problems ( o r had you noticed) Table I1 a l s o l i s t s the s q u a r e s f o r nightime usage. Note that the n u m b e r of p e r m i s s i b l e l i n e s of ships i s severely restricted inthis case. B a s i c Game G u n n e r y R e s u l t s Table L e t "sales-in-hundreds" of 1-6 r e m a i n a s i s and l e t 7 = 1 , 8 = 2, 9 = 5 and 0 = 6. O r d e r of Battle S h e e t s - It i s suggested that O r d e r of Battle s h e e t s ( s i m i l a r t o r e g u l a r play-by-mail pads) be p r e p a r e d t o r Battle u s e . A d e s c r i p tion of t h e s e i s shown in Table I11 and IV. Locations and movements a r e given on one side (111) and Battles on the o t h e r (IV). The Battle side i s s i m i l a r t o land Battle g a m e s but somewhat s i m p l e r b e c a u s e no advance column i s needed. The location s i d e gives the location p r i o r to the move a s well a s a t t h e end of the move. Also f o r conveni e n c e the c u r r e n t movement and comb a t f a c t o r s a r e l i s t e d (Tournament Game). Conclusion Obviously i f , engagements occur in m o r e than 1 s e a r c h a r e a a t the s a m e t i m e they m a y b e c a r r i e d on simultaneously m e r e l y by identifying the s e p a r a t e T F t s . A l s o note that locations of a l l s h i p s in a line do not have to b e given, if they a r e head to tail, just l i s t the F l a g s h i p n u m b e r they a r e following and position i n the line. Thus in Table I11 Agincourt i s in T a s k F o r c e I and i s F l a g s h i p 1 ( I - F l ) . The Ajax i s the second ship i n the line and i s designated 1-1, 2. If the Agincourt w a s BB1 of F i g u r e 1 then the location designation &of Ajax would be S9W2/N. R i c h a r d C. Giberson 1422 Agnes Richland, Washington 99352

TABLE I FIRING RANGES f o r PBM JUTLAND JUTLAND Range F i n d e r No. of S q u a r e s of PBM G r i d

Below 3,000 Daytime H i t s Maximum Nighttime Sighting Range Maximum C L , DD Daytime F i r i n g . Above 16,000 Daytime H i t s f r o m Maximum BB, BC, B Daytime F i r i n g . Maximum Daytime Sighting Range

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 o r l e s s ............... 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
TABLE I1

The ratio i s not constant but i s adapted f o r convenience.

GRID COORDINATES ALLOWED FOR INITIAL FLAGSHIP PLACEMENTS DAY TIME Enter F r o m NEESESW-

F l a g s h i p Locations

Bow Facing SW W NW NE E

N13E21, N14E19,N15E17, Nl6E15.. (all E21) N12, N10, N8, N6, N4, N2.0, SZ, S 4 . . S13EZl,S14E19,S15E17 S13W21,S14W19,S15W17 ( a l l WZl)N12,NlO,N8, N6,N4, NZ,O,SZ,S4.. NW- N13WZl,N14W19,Nl5W17

...............N23E1 ....... S12 .........................S23E1 ....................... .S23W1 .......S12

SWWNWTABLE I11 S3W3, S4W2, S5W1 NZW4,OW4,SZW4 N3W3, N4W2, N5W1

.......................N23W1
-NE E -SE

NIGHT TIME NEESEN3E3, N4E2, N5E1 N2E4,OE4,S2E4 S3E3, S4E2, S5E1 -SW W -NW

Day

Hour

Turn

OPERATIONS F O R BRITISH NAVY Date T F - F , L Destination I-F1 etc. TABLE IV MF 9 8 CF 14 12

Bow Dir. Type NAME S6W2/N BB Agincourt 1-1, 2 BB Ajax

Battle T u r n Stock Date No. 1.

BATTLE PLAN FOR BRITISH NAVY f o r Resolvine Battles DEF. SHIP Odds o r Gunnery F. STOCK

Date

OFFENSIVE SHIPS

RESULT

PAGE 11

THE GENERAL

Nuclear Psychology & Facts

by William B. S e a r i g h t T M l ( s s )

The "Peace-In" at Avalon Hill

Next s u m m e r you could be r e a d i n g a news i t e m l i k e t h i s . .

..

outside and a r o c k c a m e sailing through t h e window. A quick glance outside r e v e a l e d the s o u r c e . Surrounding the Avalon Hill Company w e r e s o m e s e v e r a l hundred hippies, d r e s s e d in t h e i r usual way-out a t t i r e , and displaying s u c h s i g n s a s : "PRESIDENT SMITH IS A WAR MONGER!" "AH SUPPORTS THE WAR IN VIETNAM AND A L L FUTURE WARS !" "AH GLORIFIES WAR ! " "AVALON H I L L KILLS CARDBOARD COUNTERS !" And, "WE LOVE YOU!" "We have your building surrounded, " shouted the l e a d e r . "And we a r e n ' t going to l e t anyone through. We've c u t the telephone l i n e s and nobody will be able to place o r d e r s . Your company w i l l go bankrupt and the c a u s e of justice and hippie m o r a l i t y will t r i u m p h again! And, if anyone t r i e s to help you, we'll b r e a k h i s neck! ! ! I 1 "Call the police. C a l l the FBI. C a l l the P r e s i d e n t ! " suggested Ken Johnson. "No phone," s a i d E d Adams. "Bes i d e s , I've got a b e t t e r idea. I'll sugg e s t to t h e m that we s e t t l e o u r differe n c e s peacefully.. o v e r a g a m e board. And s o the suggestion w a s made, and a t e m p o r a r y t r u c e w a s called. The m o b of hippies s u r r o u n d i n g the building lay down t h e i r picket s i g n s , t h e i r flowe r s , and t h e i r knives, clubs, and chains. The hippie l e a d e r picked five fellow hippies to a s s i s t h i m in the challenge. Inside, the Bulge board w a s being s e t up. The s m a l l band of hippies e n t e r e d the AH g a m e - t e s t i n g r o o m and g a t h e r e d a r o u n d one end of the table. "Are you f a m i l i a r with t h i s p a r t i c u l a r g a m e ?" q u e r i e d Adams. "Sure, man, I ' s a i d one hippie. "We use your g a m e b o a r d s f o r wallpaper." "Yeah," added a n o t h e r . "We hide o u r s u g a r c u b e s inside your g a m e s . We use m a g i c m a r k e r and the fuzz m i s t a k e t h e m f o r dice. " F i n e , " r e p l i e d Adams. " L e t ' s g e t underway. ' I AH m a d e the f i r s t move a s the G e r m a n s . A few m i n u t e s and s e v e r a l U.S. c o u n t e r s w e r e in the dead box.

As leading Petty Oficer in charge of the missile launching division aboard the F.B.M. Submarine Von Steuben, Searight attempts to explain a few o f the misconceptions concerning man's knowledge of nuclear power.
F r o m m a n ' s a n c i e n t p a s t until m o d e r n t i m e s , the human r a c e ' s psychologi c a l outlook h a s not changed m u c h e x c e p t i n applying a f e w m o r e c o a t s of v e n e e r to h i s civilization. The human r a c e i s s t i l l b a s i c a l l y the s a m e in that, what he d o e s not u n d e r stand, he e i t h e r f e a r s , t r y s to r a t i o n a l i z e , o r if t h a t f a i l s , to i g n o r e it. M o r e than likely he d o e s the f i r s t and l a s t and l e t s the m a s s n e w s m e d i a explain the r e s t f o r him. In today's f a s t pacing world, n u c l e a r power, (both f o r peaceful p u r p o s e s and w a r f a r e ) , i s being f o r c e d onto o u r conscious mind w h e t h e r we like the i d e a o r not. People today, a s a m a s s , a r e a l m o s t totally i g n o r a n t about the b a s i c f a c t s concerning n u c l e a r energy. The r e a s o n being, i t is f e l t b e t t e r to beguile the o r d i n a r y m a n s o a s n o t to dredge up h i s b a s i c f e a r s o n what happened i n J a p a n d u r i n g World War 11. I t is b e t t e r , r a t h e r , to play down, c o v e r up o r utilize p a r a p h r a s e s s u c h a s l ' t h e r m o n u c l e a r d e v i c e s " than educating the' people to the b a s i c f a c t s . When w a s the l a s t t i m e you e v e r r e a d o r h e a r d the p h r a s e "Atomic bomb1'? T h i s p h r a s e psychologically effects the a v e r a g e m a n with e n v i s i o n s of deadly r a d i a t i o n , m u s h r o o m cloud, etc. H e r e a r e a few questions: 1. Do you go to the b e a c h to g e t a suntan? 2. D r i n k m i l k o r w a t e r ? 3. E a t seafood, f r e s h v e g e t a b l e s ? 4. Wear a w r i s t w a t c h with a l u m i nous d i a l ? 5. Had a n X-Ray l a t e l y ? Then h e r e a r e the facts. You a r e in c o n t a c t and a b s o r b m o r e r a d i a t i o n than I would, e v e n though I a m in c l o s e p r o x imity to n u c l e a r r a d i a t i p n f o r m o n t h s a t a t i m e while o n patrol. Do the t e r m s alpha, b e t a r a y s sound o m i n o u s ? Not r e a l l y , b e c a u s e they t r a v e l v e r y s m a l l d i s t a n c e s . Your skin and clothing would stop t h e m and they could e a s i l y be washed off with s o a p and w a t e r .

HIPPIES PICKET AVALON HILL R e p o r t e r : J a r e d Johnson The Dow C h e m i c a l Company w a s f i r s t . Avalon Hill w a s second. The new m o v e m e n t s t a r t e d one day a s a group of r a g g e d , long-haired individua l s w e r e shoplifting i n a well-known d e p a r t m e n t s t o r e not f a r f r o m G r e e n wich Village. "Hey, m a n ! Look h e r e ! " s a i d t h e l e a d e r of t h i s s m a l l band of hippies a s he b r u s h e d the l i c e out of h i s h a i r . "How d o e s t h i s g r a b you? H e r e ' s a company t h a t s p e c i a l i z e s i n putting out war games. Realistic war games. Ree n a c t a l l the m i s e r y and a t r o c i t i e s of p a s t h i s t o r i c conflicts. " "It sounds i m m o r a l t o m e , " s a i d t h e boy g i r l thing standing next t o h i m h e r it. "What r i g h t have they got t o capitalize o n the d e a t h of hundreds of thousands of human beings. . . j u s t like us ? ? " "You're right, " s a i d a n o t h e r . " L e t ' s peacefully b u r n the AH company t o t h e ground. " ''NO! I t shouted the l e a d e r . "I've got a b e t t e r idea. We'll picket! We'll s t a r t a protest march. . .against the Avalon Hill company. It didn't t a k e long t o o r g a n i z e a s m a l l mob of o t h e r hippies who had nothing b e t t e r t o do than catch the next f r e i g h t down t o B a l t i m o r e . The next d a y s t a r t e d out a s a n o r m a l d a y a t the AH company. Kenneth Johnson, S a l e s M a n a g e r , w a s busy p r o c e s s ing the avalanche of o r d e r s f o r the l a t e s t AH g a m e . Subscription Lady G e r t r u d e Z o m b r o , w a s busy r e a d i n g l e t t e r s f r o m s u b s c r i b e r s who had r e ceived t h e i r l a s t i s s u e of The G e n e r a l a month l a t e , not t o mention t o r n a n d mangled by the U.S. P o s t Office. Suddenly t h e r e w a s a violent commotion

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You m a y have r e a d m a g a z i n e s and books w r i t t e n about t h e effects of r a d i a t i o n o n s u r v i v o r s of H i r o s h i m a and Nagasaki. Don't believe a l l that t r a s h . They w e r e w r i t t e n to c a p t u r e your int e r e s t f o r money s a l e s b e c a u s e a d u l l book j u s t wouldn't s e l l v e r y well.

William B. Searight TMZ(SS) U.S.S.Von Steuben SSBN632(G) F.P.O. New York 09501

"Now what do we d o ? " a s k e d the head hippie surveying the board. "Nothing, I ' s a i d the head of h a i r to his right. "We don't move anything. We'll just l e t o u r units sit. P e a c e f u l co-existence. Non-violent r e sistence. That's the a n s w e r to everything!" The o t h e r hippies nodded t h e i r approval. "Groovy, " s n e e r e d the head hippie

THE GENERAL
a t Adams. "Your turn. Several minu t e s and s e v e r a l die throws l a t e r a l o t m o r e U.S. units w e r e eliminated, and the G e r m a n s occupied Bastogne. "What now?" a s k e d the l e a d e r . "Move back. "Re treat. "Run f o r your l i v e s ! " A quick s c r a m b l i n g of s e v e r a l g r i m y hands and a l l of the U.S. units w e r e r e t r e a t i n g f o r the Meuse with the G e r m a n a r m y r i g h t behind them. A few minutes l a t e r the g a m e w a s o v e r . T h e r e was not a U.S. unit o n the board. "What did we do w r o n g ? " puzzled the head hippie. "Dunno. I ' "The game i s o v e r , " s a i d Smith. "Now keep your word and g e t your m o b out of here. "Sure, m a n . We hippies always keep o u r word. I ' And they shuffled dejectedly o u t the door. "What do we do now?I1 a s k e d one of the hippies outside. "We need a new r cause. " "Well, I ' s a i d another. "The pentar gon i s a m e r e sixty m i l e s away o r we can go have a love-in o n the White House lawn. I' This brought a rousing c h e e r f r o m the group and soon the band of hippies w e r e off o n another trip. Back inside the AH company w a s back to work. And wondering. Wondering how the c o u r s e of h i s t o r y might have changed if hippie philosophy had been influential in the past. H i s e y e s r a n o v e r the collection of AH g a m e s lined up on the shelf. Gettysburg, Day, Midway..

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Oficial A valon Hill Game Clubs...

The clubs l i s t e d below supplement the initial l i s t i n g made i n the Jan-Feb 1968 i s s u e . Due t o space limitations, we have not r e p e a t e d any p r i o r l i s t i n g s although many have f o r w a r d e d u s updated information. The purpose of t h i s l i s t i n g i s simply t o provide b a s i c information t o those r e a d e r s looking f o r new clubs.
CLUB Military Province of Vestavia 2017 Chambers Drive Huntsville, Alabama 35811 Schrverpunkt 619 Leo Drive Santa R o s s . California 95401 Brock's Militia 615 Islington Avenue N. fo ling ton. Ontario. Canada Bavarian Guard 288 Spring Street ~ ~ ~ ~ a Connecticut t ~ c k . 06770 The 5th Reich 239 Robin Road Russell. Kentucky The Eliminators 2541 Gregory Road Benton Harbor. Michigan 49022 Third Reich 114 P i e r c e Street Buffalo, New York 14206 Reichswehr 109 Heather Lane Camillus. New York 13031 33rd Paneer Lehr Diviaion 115 Hillton Boulevard Canfield. Ohio 44406 Infantry Regiment Gross Deutschland 214 Waterford Centerville. Ohio 45459 PRESIDENT Wm. J. Schrenk MEMBERSHIP CLUB PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP

Steve Forkelson

Keith Ottawsy

Bud Biletz

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Kevin H. Dobyns

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Red F o r c e s 18090 NW Avalon Drive Portland, Oregon 97229 Gernish Empire 1822 Soles Street McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15132 IFW 2249 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132 Imperial Lancers (SAC) 57 Cranberry Street Johnson City. Tennessee 37601 Gestapo 1708 Larkspur Drive Arlington. Texas International Task Force 4608 Holt Bellaire. Texas 77401 The Iron Brigade 1548 Cameron Crescent Drive Reston, Virginia 22070 The ESS 6521 100th Tacoma. Washinkon

Bill Dobbins

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Ron Kinlough

Scott P . Duncan

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Delmar C. Lange

Carl Pawlak

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Mark P e t e r s

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Ronald Garland

Greg Pitts

Eric Riedl

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Dan Richardson

Scott Hennes

Stephen Tang

Steve Wiae

Togetherness for the Confederates

by Alvin F i l e s All in all, a r t i c l e s in the G e n e r a l about Gettysburg '64 ( s q u a r e g r i d ) have been few and f a r between. All the a r t i c l e s I have s e e n have dwelt on the b a s i c imbalance of the g a m e which would allow a m e d i o c r e Union player to defeat a good Southern player. I a m not offering a p e r f e c t s t r a t e g y o r a s u r e - f i r e plan to win. I a m offering s o m e advice that i n m y opinion will a t l e a s t put a l i t t l e a c tion into the game and with a l i t t l e luck i t will allow the Southern p l a y e r to b e a t the Union a r m i e s quite often. After watching a few Gettysburg g a m e s around h e r e I have found the m i s t a k e s which l e a d to the G r a y l o s s . As the g a m e s t a r t s the R e b e l p l a y e r , seeing h i s supposed inferiority, r u s h e s a t the Union f o r c e s , trying to defeat the North before ample r e i n f o r c e m e n t s a r r i v e f o r Meade. The Union p l a y e r m e r e l y yawns and moves f a r o v e r to h i s s i d e of the board. By the t i m e the South g e t s to the Blue l i n e s the Union f o r c e s f a r outnumber the Southern f o r c e s and the Southern f o r c e s , lacking cavalry s p l i t up due to the s t a g g e r e d a r r i v a l of help, find t h e m s e l v e s soundly trounced before they know what hit them. My advice i s simple. Looking a t the time r e c o r d c a r d you s e e that the South can e a s i l y delay his a t t a c k until the second half of the game and s t i l l have ample t i m e to wipe o u t the Union units a s p e r the v i c t o r y conditions. Nok i t becomes c l e a r whatthe South should do. They w a i t o n t h e i r side of the board until a l l t h e i r units have a r r i v e d , including the c a v a l r y . Then the South puts h i s 4 - 2 units in the middle of a long e a s t - w e s t line. A r t y units a r e linked with the 4-2's. 3-2's a r e placed behind the 4-2's to a c t a s a r e s e r v e . C a v a l r y i s put on the flanks to prevent Union units f r o m sneaking past. Then the Rebels advance southward d e s t r o y ing the Union f o r c e s . Union countera t t a c k s a r e e a s i l y defeated. The bigg e s t danger to the South i s 3-1 exchanges. By keeping o n the offensive the Confederates c a n double and sometime even t r i p l e t h e i r a t t a c k f a c t o r s . After the Union c o m m a n d e r l e a r n s of this s t r a t e g y he will probably s e t up defense positions on the r i d g e s to the east. This will h u r t the Rebel attack but by skillful maneuvering he c a n win and he will always give the Blue comm a n d e r a r u n f o r his money.. .Alvin F i l e s , 630 W. 16, Ada. Okla. 74820.
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Club Registration
All Avalon Hill c l u b s a r e u r g e d to r e g i s t e r officially with The General. Those who have r e g i s t e r e d previously need only to complete the f o r m in the event of a n a d d r e s s change.

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THE GENERAL

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OPPONENTS WANTED ADVERTISEMENT

Please print or type your advertisement on the spaces provided below, maximum (including your name and address) 35 words per ad.

Jutland Since e a c h p l a y e r m u s t c a l l out the s q u a r e in which he h a s s h i p s , why w a s the A i r Recon r u l e included? A. This r u l e w a s to be u s e d i n conjunction with a t h r e e - p l a y e r v e r s i o n of the game. In that v e r s i o n ( a l s o s u i t able f o r play by m a i l ) a t h i r d p l a y e r the r e f e r e e - r e c e i v e s the m o v e s f r o m both p l a y e r s and c o m p a r e s t h e m to d e t e r m i n e if contact i s made. P l a y e r s need c a l l o u t s q u a r e s in which they have f o r c e s only if' they d e s i r e to do so. Thus the a i r r e c o n r u l e b e c o m e s v e r y useful to the G e r m a n s . Q. How do you d e t e r m i n e the f i r i n g odds when t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of s h i p s f i r i n g a t a single t a r g e t f r o m v a r i o u s r a n g e s , s o m e doubled, s o m e n o t ? A. - F i r e s h i p s i n g r o u p s a c c o r d i n g to their ranges. Q. -

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Contest No. 26
In honor of Avalon H i l l ' s 10th anniv e r s a r y (May 1958-68). we focus t h i s m o n t h ' s contest on t h e i r v e r y f i r s t c o m m e r c i a l l y produced g a m e - Gettysburg. You a r e the Confederate c o m m a n d e r attacking the Union divisions of Williams a n d S c h u r z . The object i s elimination of t h e s e two divisions i n t h i s b a t t l e f o r control of S e m i n a r y Ridge just south of town. On your O p e r a t i o n s Sheet, specify the e x a c t b a t t l e breakdown i n t h e o r d e r i n which they a r e t o b e r e s o l v e d . S e c ondly - specify the battle odds and finally - t o r e s o l v e combat, s e l e c t a stock f o r e a c h battle t o a c t a s the d i e r o l l in the m a n n e r s i m i l a r t o t h e P l a y by-Mail games. The judges will consult the S a l e s - i n Hundreds column f o r the closing N. Y. Stock Exchange t r a n s a c t i o n s of Monday. August 12, 1968 found i n Tuesday m o r n i n g ' s p a p e r . The l a s t digit of the S a l e s in-Hundreds column f o r e a c h Stock s e l e c t e d will be matched up a g a i n s t the B l i t z k r i e g B a s i c Game Attrition P l a y by-Mail Table f o r r e s u l t of combat. In c a s e of t i e s , w i n n e r s w i l l b e those who have specified combat i n the optim u m t a c t i c a l m a n n e r quoting c o r r e c t b a t t l e odds accordingly. All e n t r a n t s m u s t l i s t what they p e r s o n a l l y f e e l a r e the t h r e e b e s t a r t i c l e s i n t h i s i s s u e . T h i s s e l e c t i o n h a s no b e a r i n g on the contest r e s u l t s but e n t r i e s not containing t h i s information will be voided.

Don't f o r g e t t o vote on what a r e t h e t h r e e b e s t a r t i c l e s of t h i s i s s u e . . . r e c o r d your v o t e s w h e r e provided on t h e Contest E n t r y blank.

Subscriber Discount.. .
The Coupon shownbelow i s f o r t h e b e n e f i t of the f u l l - y e a r s u b s c r i b e r . A s soon a s you have a c c u m u l a t e d 4 s u c h conpons, 1 e a c h f r o m t h i s and succeeding i s s u e s , you a r e entitled t o a $1.00 d i s count applied t o t h e p u r c h a s e of a n y Avalon Hill g a m e s , p a r t s , play-l;ym a i l equipment a n d t h e G e n e r a l . H e r e ' s how i t w o r k s E a c h coupon is w o r t h 25$. But one coupon a l o n e d o e s not entitle you t o a 25$ c r e d i t . You m u s t a c c u m u l a t e 4 different coupons b e f o r e taking advanta g e of the $1.00 c r e d i t . When you h a v e accumulated 4 coupons, then you c l i p t h e m a l l together a n d s e n d t h e m i n with your o r d e r f o r a n Avalon Hill g a m e . When o r d e r i n g i n t h i s m a n n e r , you simply s e n d u s a check o r m o n e y - o r d e r f o r $1.00 l e s s than t h e u s u a l r e t a i l value of the g a m e .

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S e l e c t Stock f r o m t h i s Group Ampex Chrysler Food F a i r Polaroid White Motor Zenith

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always the s t r u g g l e of the o u t c a s t S t u a r t s to r e g a i n the throne of England. BONNIE PRINCE CHARLEY. And f o r the h a r d - n o s e d h e r e t i c , how about a g a m e that gives the B r i t i s h a chance to win the A m e r i c a n Revolution? I r e a l i z e that g a m e s along this line have been produced before. B u t . . . The g i m m i c k would be to make the l o s t c a u s e a s o l i t a r y g a m e . In effect, pitting the lonely p l a y e r a g a i n s t the s e e m ingly inexorable f o r c e s of history. Of c o u r s e , the odds should be weighed so that h i s t o r y a s w a s , wins m o s t of the time. S o m e t i m e s Loyalist Spain holds out a little l o n g e r , s o m e t i m e s i t coll a p s e s a f t e r a y e a r , but s o m e t i m e s . . J e r r y L. Watkins 241 1 Davenport St. #2 Omaha, Nebr. 68131

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MECCA: the front door of Avalon Hill's business ofice. T o those of you who are planning a vacation trip, feel free to drop in on your way through. Because of the secretive nature of much of our printing especially involving government work, Avalon Hill must limit guided tours to Tuesdays, only, between the hours of 8:30 AM and 11:OO A M . Any other time we will, of course, be glad to talk to you briefly but could not show you around.

Sirs, I would l i k e t o c o m m e n t on Michael P a l u s z e k ' s a r t i c l e "Aftermath of Victory. " F i r s t l e t m e s a y t h a t I a g r e e that "the a c t u a l positioning of your u n i t s immediately after battle i s extremely i m p o r t a n t . I' The r e a s o n being v e r y simple, positioning, both p r e - b a t t l e and post-battle i s the e s s e n c e of w a r gaming a s i t i s i n c h e s s . Or t o go even a n o t h e r step, positioning i s w a r g a m i n g . The r e s u l t s of the b a t t l e o r f o r t h a t m a t t e r , the r e s u l t s of the g a m e depend on how skilled you a r e a t positioning on both a t a c t i c a l and s t r a t e g i c a l b a s i s . T h e r e i s no g a m e i n the AH collection i n which you c a n i g n o r e positioning a g a i n s t a competent opponent and s t i l l b e victorious. B e c a u s e of t h i s , t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t a d e g r e e of skill i n t h i s fundamental i s n e c e s s a r y , b e c o m e s quickly a p p a r e n t . L C P L C. D. Ohlson, U. S. M. C.

Dear Sirs: One a s p e c t of h i s t o r i c a l g a m e s m a n ship that s e e m s to be neglected i s that staple fodder of o t h e r m e d i a , the r o mantic l o s t c a u s e . W e ' r e f a s c i n a t e d by the wistfulness of m i g h t have been, e i t h e r i n h i s t o r y of o u r p r i v a t e lifes. The twist of h i s t o r y i s one of the m o s t popular of d e v i c e s in s c i e n c e s fiction. P e r h a p s we s e e s o m e s o r t of c o s m i c juxtaposition between the destiny of nations and o u r own p r i v a t e Gettysburgs. "If Santa Ana had held o n to T e x a s , I ' d n e v e r been s e n t to F o r t B l i s s . Subsequently, I ' d n e v e r m e t and M a r r i e d P e t u n i a Ann. So why not produce a s e r i e s of l o s t cause games where history can somet i m e s be r e v e r s e d ? F o r the l i b e r a l t r a d e , a game b a s e d on the Spanish Civil War. NO PASARAN! F o r the c o n s e r v a t i v e , one b a s e d on the R u s s i a n Civil War. What r i g h t i s t could r e s i s t a g a m e c a l l e d BEAT THE RED ARMY? F o r theIrish, real or ersatz, there's always d e a r , old EASTER MONDAY. And f o r the r o m a n t i c , r e g a r d l e s s of ethnic o r political leanings, t h e r e ' s

Dear Sir: In a world of Conformity in e v e r y thing including r e v o l t the Avalon Hill w a r g a m e r s a r e the l a s t t r u e individua l i s t s left. The c l u b s s p r i n g up to s a t isfy the d e s i r e s of e a c h individual group. But a l l i s not well, f o r the coh o r t s of e v i l have e n t e r e d the w a r g a m ing world. Viewing the f r e e d o m of the c l u b s with d i s t a s t e they decide to f o r c e a l l w a r g a m e r s to c o n f o r m to t h e i r idea of wargaming. A s a s c r e e n f o r their t o t a l i t a r i a n a c t i v i t i e s they confound the c l u b s with the ideal of a higher l e v e l of w a r g a m i n g , making wargaming m o r e popular than c h e s s , etc. while ending the f r e e d o m of individual clubs. A c e r t a i n n e u t r a l club spent well o v e r $100, r e p o r t e d l y , i n subverting the l a r g e s t club, A g g r e s s o r , and p r e s t o ! You have the A g g r e s s o r Homeland (RAH) governed by a high-ranking officer of the o r i g i n a l n e u t r a l club. Reportedly, c e r t a i n s m a l l clubs have been o r d e r e d by this new, n e u t r a l o r l o s e t h e i r Agg r e s s o r t r e a t i e s . Yes, the new "Reformed'' A g g r e s s o r sounds like a true c h a m p i o n of the s m a l l clubs. Sgt. S q u i r e ' s l e t t e r i s a typical example of t h e i r propaganda, though in a l l f a i r n e s s he probably believes it himself. And Avalon Hill Company now c u t s off the only open f o r u m open to the clubs. A b e t t e r solution to the s p a c e "problem" would be to c u t out a l l a d s by S p a r t a , Big A r m y , Boldlands, and Reformed A g g r e s s o r and expanding the a d s into the s p a c e saved by eliminating l e t t e r s like Sgt. S q u i r e ' s and a r t i c l e s like C h a r l e s Hoch's. H i s t e s t would amount to t o t a l i t a r i a n conformity even in playing the g a m e s f o r when he s a i d " c o r r e c t way" he m e a n t "according to the i d e a s of the judge. I ' W. P. Guthrie 3130 L a u r e l Avenue C h e v e r l y , Md. 20785

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THE GENERAL
A n g r e i f e r Zeitschrift. 631 W. 66th T e r r a c e . K a n s a s City, Mo. 64113, a compendium of the usual t e r r i t o r i a l c l a i m s a n d propoganda rationale. P a c i f i c Northwest War G a m e s Opponents Guide, 3934 S. W. Southern, Seattle, Wash. 98116. valuable i n i t s e f f o r t s t o o r g a n i z e g a m e s with l i s t e d subscribers. S t o r m t r o o p e r , Room 316, Aroostook Hall, U of Maine, Orono, Maine 04103, combination of the above t h r e e with college - level vernacular. The P e n n y o r k e r , c / o P a n z e r f a u s t , a n opponents wanted guide f o r a l l g a m e r s within 50 m i l e s of Pennsylvania and New York s t a t e s . The Propogandist. 67 Lawlor St.. Holyoke, M a s s . 01040. bi-weekly newsl e t t e r of obvious content. The A r t i s a n , c / o The Spartan, a c t s a s a c l e a r i n g house f o r newly designed amateur games. D e r A r m v o g e l , 954 Kittiwake Lane, Chula Vista. California 92001, a Der Totenkopf SS publication keyed t o "17 y e a r olds with 4 y e a r s experience.It The C o u r i e r , Box 547 F r e d e r i c k s b u r g , Va. 22401. influential house o r g a n of n a t i o n ' s l a r g e s t w a r g a m e club, Boldland. Civil War T i m e s Illustrated, 302 York S t . . Gettysburg, P a . , highly succ e s s f u l c o m m e r c i a l publication dealing with a l l b a t t l e s of Civil War. W a r g a m e r ' s Newsletter. 69 Hill Lane, Southampton, Hampshire. England, r e c e n t l y upped i n production quali t y . . .now r a n k s with t h e b e s t a s a n a l l a r o u n d w a r g a m e magazine. Das S c h w a r z Korps. 16 Oliver S t . , Hartford. Conn. , q u a r t e r l y containing r u l e s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s of one complete game (amateur) per issue.

The Infiltrator's Report

Riding the c r e s t of a r e c e n t u p s u r g of i n t e r e s t i n Management, w e ' v e r u n a s e r i e s of a r t i c l e s titled, "Is Howard Hughes Just a Myth, " i n the Wall S t r e e t Journal. The r e q u e s t s f o r b r o c h u r e s f a r s u r p a s s e d o u r expectations.. s o we decided to t a k e a n o t h e r l i l o l e look a t the g a m e . It astounded u s t o suddenly r e a l i z e t h a t the g a m e Management i s a p o r t r a y a l of what i s happening i n r e a l l i f e today. . t h a t of high finance wheeling and dealing and a tremendous leaning towards formation of c o n g l o m e r a t e s . T h i s i s t r u e even i n the g a m e i n d u s t r y w h e r e , f o r ins t a n c e , P a r k e r B r o t h e r s (of Monopoly f a m e ) bought out William J. F u l d Company (Ouija B o a r d ) who, i n t e r n , w e r e "Acquired" by G e n e r a l Mills. In the m e a n t i m e , G e n e r a l Mills w a s a l s o buying out Kenner P r o d u c t s a m o n g o t h e r s . Not t o be outdone, chief c o m petitor Milton B r a d l e y h a s m a d e o v e r t u r e s t o Playskool. T h e a d v a n t a g e s of a l l t h e s e m e r g e r s a r e pointed out r a t h e r g r a p h i c a l l y i n t h e play of Management. Among u s e r s of t h i s g a m e a s a t r a i n ing a i d a r e G e n e r a l Dynamics, IBM, P u r d u e , F t . Belvoir a n d Northwestern. Sun O i l ' s Dallas, T e x a s d i r e c t o r of Training. H e n r y S. Mansel, just r e q u e s t e d 1,000 s h e e t s of t h e Management Running R e c o r d Pad. (Nice p a r t s b u s i ness, what?) While w e ' r e name-dropping, t h e IBM Education C e n t e r a t Poughkeepsie, New York, r e c e n t l y r e q u e s t e d Gettysb u r g and 1914 f o r g a m e - s i m u l a t i o n studies. S i m i l a r r e q u e s t s have b e e n made by t h e A m e r i c a n University f o r t h e i r f o r e i g n s e r v i c e i n s t i t u t e a t Yonsei, Soeul, K o r e a , a c c o r d i n g t o P a u l M y e r s gaming and simulation i n s t r u c t o r .

kunst, M a r k Booy. J e r r y Powell a m o n g others grace this f i r s t issue. Another new ~ u b l i c a t i o n . The A r m c h a i r G e n e r a l , r e l e g a t e s itself m o r e t o wargaming with m i n i a t u r e s . T h i s i s a m a t u r e l y edited magazine on p a r with Donald Feather stone's War g a m e r ' s N e w s l e t t e r . Many fine photos and g r a p h i c s g r a c e this new publication now a v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e i r office a t 4936 Powder Mill Road, B e l t s v i l l e , Maryland 20705. Excellent value h e r e a t 50C p e r copy. And, of c o u r s e , t h e o t h e r e x c e l l e n t value previously mentioned m a y b e obtained f r o m the offices of the Wargamer's N e w s l e t t e r , 69 Hill Lane, Southampton, H a m p s h i r e , England. A l s o just out i s the S p a r t a n Phantom with t h e i r motto, "Candidus Immunitus Publicu" and c o v e r pix p r e s e n t i n g a very promising literary approach to w a r g a m e editorializing. 60C a copy f r o m the John Hall Syndicate, 2233 South Louisville, Tulsa, Oklahoma 741 14. F e a t u r e s include a n o t h e r one of t h o s e m a r v e l o u s S u r v e y Questionn a i r e s , plus h u m o r o u s c o m m e n t a r i e s on t r a n s l a t i n g w a r g a m e s , a n d a F o r u m w h e r e m a l c o n t e n t s get t h e i r say. Quite i n t e r e s t i n g reading. Capsule c o m m e n t s on o t h e r publications follow: P a n z e r f a u s t , Box 280, RD #2, S a y r e , P e n n a . , devoted to a l l AH g a m e s of s t r a t e g y including LeMans and t h e s p o r t s titles

Was, -

Even a t the r i s k of l o s i n g you subs c r i b e r s , we m u s t c o m m e n t on a r i v a l ' s new look: S t r a t e g y & T a c t i c s h a s done i t again; m o r e pages, f r e s h e r a n d b r o a d e r scope i n a l l a r e a s of w a r g a m ing. Edited by f o r m e r a i r m a n C h r i s Wagner, the l a t e s t h a r d - s e l l sheet m a y b e obtained f r o m t h e i r P r o j e c t A n a l y s i s C o r p o r a t i o n office. 50 F a i r f i e l d Ave., Albany, New York 12205. Reflecting the continued t r e n d b a c k t o t h e gaming t a b l e i s the l a t e s t i n t h e "new m a g a z i n e d e p a r t m e n t . '' Vol. 1. No. 1 of The M e r c e n a r y , with 12 p a g e s and g l o s s y stock, e m e n a t e s f r o m 6009 Wornall, K a n s a s City, M i s s o u r i 64113. A r t i c l e s by Sgt. Zocchi, R i c h a r d Guten-

Bob O l s o n ' s Waterloo A s i t Really w a s way out i n f r o n t of the pack of " b e s t a r t i c l e s " i n the May-June i s sue; followed by Michael P a l u s z a k ' s A f t e r m a t h of Victory, Scotty Bowden's Hold the R e i n s Loose. P e i p e r ; Myron B r u n d a g e ' s W a r g a m e r s Clinic; and M a r k Booy's spoof entitled Maps of the Coal Age Man.
P

Avalon Hill e n t h u s i a s t s a t t h e Naval Academy will get the chance t o whoop i t up f o r the Avalon Hill baseball t e a m a s they m e e t Navy August 3rd. 2:30 P. M. a t the Academy i n Annapolis, Maryland.

Avright, George.. .have it grour way. ;1etll play Bulge without t h e Plq-Balance r u l e .

The s h o r t e s t w a r on r e c o r d l a s t e d only 38 minutes. It o c c u r r e d August 27, 1898 between England and Zanzibar. We always s a i d the B r i t i s h should have handled t h i s Vietnam b u s i n e s s .