19.73MB - View From The Trenches

It is difficult to judge whether the relativelygood rating for Volume 19, Number 1 is due to itsmerits or merely reader reaction after the previousissue which so displeased so many. A number ofrespondents did condemn the amount of spaceallotted to study of STORM OVER ARNHEM, ourfeatured game. Despite this, the top three ratedarticles all dealt with SOA and the issue overallgarnered a cumulative rating of 3.19. Indeed, twoof the articles dealing with other AH titles placedbelow even the AH Philosophy, perennial occupantof the bottom of the list. The ratings for theindividual articles are as follows:THE COMBATANTS OFARNHEM 350SERIES REPLAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. 295THE CROSSING .. . 160THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN. . 142THE LONGEST DAY, PART I 107DESIGN ANALYSIS. . . 43AH PHILOSOPHY . . . . 38DOWN WITH THE KING 35TOBRUK DEFENDED. 30Jon Mishcon's series of tactical insights-theSQUAD LEADER CLINIC-dominated the polling ofreaders' favorites of the past volume year. The SLCLINIC, found in the second, third, fourth and fifthissues of Volume 18, has thus won the covetedEditor's Choice Award (and the equally coveted$100 bonus and lifetime subscription to theGENERAL the award confers). Closest competitorfor the honor was David Hablanian with THESPANISH GAMBIT (Vol. 18, No.5). The full list ofnominees with their percentage of the final tallyappears below.SQUAD LEADER CLINICbyJonMishcon. . .. . 29.3%THE SPANISH GAMBITby David Hablanian . . . 19.3%THE DECISIONS OF AUGUSTbyJohnBerry.... .14.0%BASIC ARMS & THE MANbyMarkSwanson .. .10.0%THE TACTICAL SIDE OF BISMARCKby Bob Proctor ..... 9. 1%OPERATION TORCHLIGHTERby Frank Preissle . . 9.0%AIR FORCE ANALYSISby David Bottger . . 5.4%NATIVE POLICY IN SOURCE OF THE NILEby M. Anchors 2.0%YET MORE POSSIBILITIESby Larry Bucher. . . . . . 1.9%Playtesters are now being sought for a simplecard game simulating infantry combat in WWII.Playing time is roughly one hour to ninety minutes.Playability is emphasized over realism. Testers willbe expected to play and report the results of at leastten games in each of a dozen scenarios over a threemonth period starting in November. Each testerselected must have access to willing opponentsand handle all correspondence reports between thegroup and the game developer. Compensation is inthe form of AH merchandise dispensed at thediscretion of the developer. Requests for positionsshould list age, previous experience, time and playingpartners available, and should be phrased insuch a manner as to foster confidence in the applicant'squalifications. We regret that we cananswer only those applicants we select to take partin the playtest.It is with great sadness that we note the passingof Matt Kovachevich, who lost his battle withleukemia in mid-August. Matt was an eager andvaluable participant in the G.I. playtest and receiveda dedication in that game in recognition ofhis attributes as a gamer and uphill struggle with hishealth. He will be sorely missed by his family andfriends.The American Wargaming Association (AWAI,a non-profit national wargaming club, has embarkedupon an ambitious project: compilation of anationwide directory of wargaming clubs. Thisdirectory, upon publication, will be made availablefor a minimal charge and will list each club in theUnited States, its membership, interests and activities,as well as mailing address. To commencethis AWA Survey, the officers of wargaming clubsacross the nation are being asked to submit a reporton their respective organizations to Mr. StuartSmart, AWA Membership Secretary, 8841 LockBerlin Road, Lyons, NY 14489. Alternately, theycould contact the nearest AWA Regional Director:Bill Salvatore, 2841 Summerfield Road, FallsChurch, VA 22042Robert Goddard, 3350 Peck, Muskegon, MI49444Gary Lange, 1026 West 3rd Street, Ottumwa,IA 52501Rich Buda, 3753 West 80th Place, Chicago, IL60652Nick Schuessler, 1002 Warrington Drive,Austin, TX 78753Kevin Slimak, 2861 West Avenue J-4,Lancaster, CA 93534Gary DeFoer, Brown Road, Oxford, MA 01540The editors urge officers of the many clubs devotedto the hobby to aid the AWA in its effort. When thedirectory appears, it should prove a valuable aid forthe many gamers who seek mature, competentopponents as well as proving a boon to the industryas a whole.We have been informed that the SecondNational Boardgame Championship is commencing.The tournament is co-sponsered by theAmerican Gamers Association and the NationalWargamers Association. Spanning a two yearperiod, the tournament consists of two phases: around robin (approximately 14 months of play) anda final elimination round (of ten months duration). Anumber of Avalon Hill titles are among those to beplayed. for those interested in testing their skillsagainst the best in the nation, or those who desiremore specific information, it is recommended thatthey contact either Mr. David C. Hughes at 9500South Heights #61, Little Rock, AR 72209, orMr. George Phillies at 1225 Island Drive #204, AnnArbor, MI 48105.A personal copy of the new BA TTLE OF THEBULGE was inadvertently left at Origins'82 in thearea of that tournament. In the gamebox was acopy of the Fort Greely, Alaska, "Buffalo" newsletter.While the game can be replaced, thenewsletter cannot. It is asked that the newsletterbe returned to the Avalon Hill offices, care of TheGENERAL, should it be located. The game itselfneed not be returned.From the numerous entries, only seven solvedContest # 107. The contest was carefully contrivedto weed the true aficionados from the novices.These seven winners were: Bruce Degi, ColoradoSprings, CO; Ray Freeman, Raleigh, NC; MichaelGibson, Los Angeles,CA; Dennis Goldston,Colorado Springs, CO; Jeffery Rubin, Pawcatuck,CT; Michael Vilbert, Colorado Springs, CO; and JoeWeyeneth, Danbury NE. Since all other entriesreceived contained an error, only these seven willreceive AH credit vouchers.47Before the solution to Contest 108 can bediscussed, certain minor topographical matters onthe small map must be clarified. First: 101/501 islisted at L19, but is shown at 119 -the obvious positionis 119, since three German units occupy L19.Second: Lehr/902 is listed at P15, but shown in thediagram at P16-it really does not matter whetherthe unit begins in P15 or P16. Third: Artillery group333 Final Protective Fire is purposely not indicated-theFPF obviously goes to assist 101/501on 119. It would be a tactical mistake to assign theFPF to 101/502, on L16, because the Germanplayer could easily cancel it by advancing adjacentto 333rd after a high odds attack versus 101/501.There are four sets of 20PM combat resultsthat will significantly increase the probability thatthe Germans will exit mechanized units at A21 bythe 22AM turn.SET ONE: Trap 101/502 at L16 and eliminatethe two southernmost airborne units at /19 andF22. This will permit the Germans to capture A21on the 21 AM turn, because only the artillery unitwill be available for defense near Givet. Lone artilleryunits attacked at 6-1 odds are automaticallyeliminated with the attackers advancing fourhexes.SET TWO: Trap 101/502 at L16, eliminate oneof the two southernmost airborne units at 119 orF22 and cut the Ciney-09 road with a blitz attack.These results will prevent the Allied armor frommoving south and the Allies will be forced to holdGivet or Dinant with the artillery unit.SET THREE: Advance four in a high odds attackagainst 82/325 at F22. This will prevent the Alliesfrom holding Givet or C22 on 20PM and the Germanswill be attacking A21 on the 21 AM turn. Thetrapping of 101/502 at L16, the elimination of theairborne unit at 119 or the cutting of the Ciney-09road will weaken the Allied position further.SET FOUR: Advance three in a high odds attackagainst 821325 at F22. This will keep the Allies outof C22, but the retreating airborne unit will be ableto fortify Givet. Favorable results will also beneeded in the north (i.e.: the trapping of 101/502,the elimination of the airborne at 119 or the cuttingof the Ciney-09 road) to give the Germans a reasonableprobability of success.The combination of attacks with the highestprobability of success does not include a high oddsattack against the unit at F22. Therefore, the correctsolution to Contest 108 includes a 4-1 blitzkriegagainst 101 1327 to cut the Ciney-09 road, a3-1 surrounded to trap or eliminate 101/502, an8-1 with -2 DRM to eliminate 101/501 and a 2-1versus 821325 hoping for an exchange. The probabilityof eventual capture and use of exit road A21with these attacks is 804 successes in 1296 attempts.A 3-1 is not used against 82/325, becausethe chance of elimination would not increase. Instead,1-2 attacks are attempted against 3/36 and101/327 with the idea of tying down those units.In addition to choosing the correct attacks, theoptimum placement of certain units was important.Artillery group 766 fights adjacent the airborneunit at 119 in order to add defense strength to theweak nebelwerfers. Artillery group 406 fights adjacentto the airborne unit at 119 in order to prevent a1-2 HOLD-AT-ALL-COSTS attack by the Allied artilleryunit from the 118 woods hex. At least one artillerygroup was placed at bridge hex L21 , where itcould attack 119 and also protect the bridge.Nebelwerfer 8 was moved from M 17 to L17 whereit could disengage and move west if an Engagedresult was rolled against 101/502. The two airborneunits, 3/13 and 3/14, move to hex D26: fromD26 they can reinforce attacks at Givet or infiltratethrough the woods to hex A24 on the 21 AM turn.The volksgrenadier moves to K24 to protect thebridge.