~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Fine Games for Players & Collectors | | 2078 Madrona St., North Bend, OR 97459-2143 | | | ~~~~~~~~~~ 541-756-4711 10am-9pm PST M.Dean@FineGames.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Games Update 1998 #26 20 May 1998 Early Father's Day WELCOME again to another Fine Games e-newsletter.These Updates contain news and other info of interest to active board gamers. The latest issue is always available at . If you choose to unsubscribe, you may do so via a simple, polite request to unsubscribe. <<----------------- Designed for fixed pitch font ---------------------->> C O N T E N T S Fine Games NEWS .......... What's going on at Fine Games - Father's Day - Web Site Update - FG Order Entry System - Gamers' Demographics Online - Price Fixing INDUSTRY NEWS ............ Hobby Distributors Merging Like Mad TimJim ? NEW Games ................ New Releases Pending Releases Your SUGGESTIONS ......... Suggestions Always Welcomed F I N E G A M E S N E W S THIS ISSUE is an Early Father's Day issue. Not because Father's Day is coming up, rather as a dedication to my own father who died of complications arising from urgent surgery last month while I was visiting him. As I say on my web site, if you still have your parents around to tell & show them that you appreciate all they've done for you, you probably don't, certainly not as directly as if you knew that they were going to die. But we never know that until its too late, do we. Take the time to tell your parents you care for them in your own way. Attending to my mother and their financial affairs has detracted from Fine Games. Thus this April issue of the newsletter in late May. I regret the need for this and hope you understand. THE FINE GAMES WEB SITE was updated earlier this week, and the new & pending releases listings were update again this afternoon. Take a moment to cruise the site if you haven't done so recently at . FG's ORDER ENTRY SYSTEM has been the focus of intense development efforts since the first of the year. This is entirely behind the scenes stuff to date; you won't notice that it takes me now FAR less time to deal with the accounting aspects of the business after you've already received your games. But so it is. Its too early for that productively gain to be reflected, but later this year it will appear as I turn my attention to things you WILL see -- web site enhancements such as order entry by form and email acknowledgement of payment and shipment, for instance. In the meantime, thanks for your patience as the very foundation of the business is reworked. THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ONLINE GAMERS continues its inexorable progression. In years past, those online were pretty self-reliant & comfortable with computers. They had to be to get anywhere on the internet. More recently, we've seen an widening of the spectrum of online gamers' knowledge. That is, there are more very recent converts to the internet and, in many cases, to computers themselves. Its a curious thing to watch from my side, much as it was when AOL dumped all of its subscribers onto the internet without any preparation a few years ago. One upshot of this is that a significant number of people have incorrect info in their emailer's setup info. Most often, the user's email address is incorrectly entered. So,when people the person writes to reply to the email, it bounces back undelivered & undeliverable due to a bad address. Is this you? Another upshot is that gamers more often overlook resources at hand because they're less familiar with the software they use. A prime example is that you can use the FIND feature of your web browser (CTRL - F) to find any keywords anywhere within a catalog file. Want to find games on siege warfare? Call up one of the complete catalog listings, then search for "siege". Want to find decent beginners' games? Search for "beginner" or "novice". You get the idea. A formal search engine isn't necessary as you've got a more flexible, faster tool already on your computer. ACCUSATIONS OF PRICE FIXING were traded between a couple of competitors on the usenet newsgroups recently. No need to repeat that little story here. I just want to say that we have not & will not participate in discussions for the purpose of fixing prices. Never have, never will. On the other hand, several manufacturers have attempted to control pricing of their product in recent months by attempting to influence who distributors sell their product to. This is another threat to the prices you pay -- and even whether you can get games from Fine Games. I N D U S T R Y N E W S HOBBY DISTRIBUTORS ARE MERGING like mad. And from my view point, its *really* scary. Longtime owners of Berkeley Games, a major west coast, full line hobby distributor, sold out to Topline, a Michigan based comics & card game distributor. Were it not for the volume expectations this type of owner brings to the table, this wouldn't raise an eyebrow. But the volume of board games is often trivial compared with successful collectable card games. Trouble brewing.... Also, Chessex, the nation's largest distributor, announced its planned merger with the Armory, another larger, national distributor. If we include the manufacturing ventures of these two firms, this is probably the continents #1 & #2 distributors merging together. Is this good? There will certainly be a better financed, larger firms trying to exploit economies of scale. And we'll benefit from progress such as being able to check their stock accurately as its online. Yet economic competition is suffering here. And the relative power of distributors to determine the life or death of gaming manufacturers -- esp. small board game companies -- is now stronger. Their power to extract more favorable terms, or to skate on their responsibilities to pay on time, is also greater. This is just what Fresno Gaming Assoc. (FGA) used to complain about. We live in interesting times. TIMJIM GAMES has announced that it has suspended publishing, but its not that simple. It appears that one partner is giving up on game publishing, leaving the other half (Prism Games) to pick up the pieces. That leaves the announced games Reign of Terror & perhaps 2038 Expansion in limbo for now. Too bad; TimJim produced good, solid if often complicated games. N E W G A M E R E L E A S E S You can always view the most recent listing of New Game Releases at . The Quiet Spring continued into May with only a few really notable releases. March to Victory is out, but you knew that. Competitive Edge publishes another issue, #13, but whether the games on the Hatfield/McCoy feud or pro wrestling grab you, we'll see. TURNING THE TABLES: Timoshenko Strikes is a promising game of the May '42 Soviet offensive followed by the crushing German response. Ziplocked with all the usual Moments in History quality. $20, in stock. PELUDE TO HELL (Markham Designs) is a desktop publishing (DTP) game of the well planned, well executed, British 1917 offensive that ultimately failed thru lack of exploitation. $22 in stock. The long awaited SPQR PLAYERS GUIDE finally arrived. This large mag covers many angles of SPQR strategy & tactics, together with some scenario unit type analysis. A MUST HAVE for followers of this game series. $15 in stock. Critical Hits ALL AMERICAN: SHANLEY HILL is the final part of a trilogy on the 82nd airborne's D-Day drop. $21, in stock. Decision Games latest S&T w/ CHARLEMAGNE looks like a winner of a game. A 2 player contest of the Frankish empire's 2 centuries of glory. Unfortunately, due to a couple of BIG errors at DG, they didn't produce even enough for their preorders. So...its already out of print & hard to find. I managed to find only a few copies, those are $25 but in stock. Columbia produced its VICTORY, BLOCKS OF WAR. A beautiful game using its block system and fictitious geography to model WW2-era warfare between 2-4 players. Their most beautiful game with color illustrated unit types and the best map yet. Intended as an moderate simplicity game suitable for beginners as well as repeated play. They've also hinted that expansions of various sorts may be added. $30, in stock. Lastly, and perhaps the biggie, AH's ON TO RICHMOND is out but I have yet to receive my copies. This is another in their popular Civil War series and covers the slow Union advance on Richmond, 1862. $28 and in stock by the first week of June. NEWLY RELEASED GAMES & ACCESSORIES between 98/ 4 and 98/ 5 ************************* 05-20-98 18:00 **************************** These items have recently been released. Box Est Cash Expected Publsr / Game Title & Edition Typ Wght PriceEA Rels Date ------ -------------------------------- --- ---- ------- ------------ AGENTS OF GAMING (Agents) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BABYLON 5 MINI: CENTAURI BATTLE CRUISER Y $8.75 98/ 5 #204. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 BABYLON 5 MINI: NARN HEAVY CRUSIER Y $8.75 98/ 4 #203. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 BABYLON 5 MINI: NARN OLD HEAVY CRUISER Y $8.75 98/ 5 #214. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AH AVALON HILL GAME CO. (AH) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ON TO RICHMOND BC $28.00 98/ 5 Sixth in AH's operational level civil war series. Covers the brilliant & lucky defense of Richmond against a ponderous Union advance in 1862. 8 scenarios including the campaign. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ATLAS GAMES (Atlas) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SPAMMERS, CARD GAME OF INTERNET Y $17.50 98/ 5 MARKETNG Card game in which players take role of those awful spammers sending emails galore. Score points by matching scams w/ compatible mailing lists. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHEAPASS GAMES (Cheapa) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST FALLING SB 0.4 $7.00 98/ 4 Small, fast-paced family card game for 4-8 players. Each player is falling; goal is to be the last player to go splat. J.Ernest'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COLUMBIA GAMES (ColumG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST VICTORY, BLOCKS OF WAR BC 1.8 $30.00 98/ 5 Simpler game designed with the beginner in mind. Uses blocks (of course), geomorphic maps & rules of varying complexity to game a variety of WW-2 era ahistorical, operational conflicts. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CRITICAL HIT (CRI) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ASL:ALL AMERICAN! 82ND AIRBRN n $21.00 98/ 4 SHANLYHILL 10 scenario kit focused on actions of the US 82nd airborne's desperate defense around Shanley's Hill, and allows mating all 3 All American kits together. Includes a giant heavy stock map of Chef du Pont. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DECISION GAMES S&T GAMES (DecS_T) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CHARLEMAGNE, DARK AGES IN EUROPE #189 n $25.00 98/ 4 OUT OF PRINT due to manufacturing problems at DecGms. 2 player strategic level game of the rise of the Frankish kingdom early in the Dark Ages. Systems cover diplomacy, economics, religious conversion & of course military combat. J.Miranda'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (EEE) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST NORMANDY NIGHTMARE zl $12.50 98/ 4 ASL scenarios pack for the fighting in the bocage in 11 scenarios. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GUILD OF BLADES (GldBld) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST AXIS & ALLIES: WAR TO END ALL WARS FB $14.00 98/ 5 Sml add-on kit for A&A providing rules, 3 maps & charts to play WW-1 using an A&A-like system. Requires TWO sets of A&A pieces for play. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GMT GAMES (GMT) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SPQR PLAYERS' GUIDE n $15.00 98/ 4 Tactics & strategy of play for this popular but now out of print game. Lushly produced.'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GAMES RESEARCH & DESIGN (GRD) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MARCH TO VICTORY FB* 5.2 $67.00 98/ 4 Large game of WW-1 from Aug 1914 to Nov 1916 using a scale, system & graphics similar to Europa series. 2 maps, 3300 counters, 6 scenarios, and a massive OoB covering 18 nations around the world thru 1916. Rgt/div lvl. E.Pierce, A.Goodwin'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HILLARY'S TOY BOX (Hillar) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST PLAGUE & PESTILENCE Y $12.00 98/ 5 Popular multiplayer card game in which the goal is to protect your own population from disease while sending the plague to other players. (This game has just been picked up by a distributor & I know many of you will be interested. I'll have it in June.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARKHAM DESIGN GAMES (Markha) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST PRELUDE TO HELL, MSSINES 1917 n $22.00 98/ 4 DTP game of the 1917 British offensive near Mssines, otherwise known as the 3rd Ypres campaign. R.Markham'97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MENDOCINO GAME CO. (Mendoc) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST PIRATEER: GM OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, 2ND BC $16.00 98/ 4 Revision w/ new packaging & solid playing pieces, revised rules w/ new variants. Simple 2-4 player abstract race game where players use their ships to collect treasure. Includes 9 variants including nuclear kamikaze -- Yee Haa! '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MOMENTS IN HISTORY (MIH) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST TURNING THE TABLES: TIMOSHENKO STRIKES! HC $20.30 98/ 5 Fastplaying game of the May 1942 Soviet Offensive followed by the highly successful German riposte. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE SMALL STEP COMP EDGE (ONECE) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST HATFIELDS & MCCOYS / WRESTLING #13 n $8.00 98/ 4 Two games: H&M is a humorous, tactical level game of the legendary hillbilly feud. Main Event Wrestling is a small little card game of, well, wrestling. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SAGARIAN (Sag) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SAGARIAN FB $23.00 98/ 4 Simple but entertaining game of strategy, knowledge & luck. One page of rules, for 4+ players and suited to team play. Mensa game of the year. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIMULATIONS WORKSHOP, INC (SimWor) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST PANZERS AT THE PYRAMIDS zl $11.00 98/ 5 Hypothetical game assuming Rommel breaks thru at El Alamein to the Nile Delta. R.Moorehead'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WINNING MOVES (WinMov) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MILLE BORNES: AUTO RACING CARD GAME, SB $7.50 98/ 4 2ND Reprint of this simple, very fun game of auto racing. Quick playing & suitable to all ages. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WINSOME GAMES (Winsom) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST 25 WORDS OR LESS, 3RD BC $22.00 98/ 4 Very simple family game for 4+ players. Essentially Pictionary played w/ words rather than pictures. Each work used to elicit the desired word from a partner counts against you. 600 word challenges included. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ XENO GAMES (Xeno) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SUSHI-JALEPENO WAR BC $35.00 98/ 5 Japanese invasion of Mexico in the not too distant future, defended by the US & the Great State of Texas. Ala Fortress America. Designed for fun. Much smaller game. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ XTR: COMMAND MAGAZINE (XTRCmd) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST TOMORROW THE WORLD, 2ND #48 n $23.80 due 98/ 5 Revision of the popular alternate history game previously published by WWW by the same designer. T.Bomba'98 P E N D I N G G A M E R E L E A S E S You can always view the most recent listing of Pending Game Releases (those due within a few months) at . Note the pending release of *American* versions of some popular German games such as Mississippi Queen. These have been popular in their German incarnation. PENDING GAME RELEASES due between due 98/ 1 and due 98/ 7 ************************* 05-20-98 18:00 **************************** These items are NOT yet released; info here is the latest available. Box Est Cash Expected Publsr / Game Title & Edition Typ Wght PriceEA Rels Date ------ -------------------------------- --- ---- ------- ------------ AUSTRALIAN DESIGN GROUP (ADG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST WORLD IN FLAMES 1997/98 ANNUAL n $17.50 due 98/ 6 ? Excell, extended mag dedicated to start & analysis of WIF 6th. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AGENTS OF GAMING (Agents) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BABYLON 5 WARS: BABYLON 5 CAMPAIGNS BC $17.50 due 98/ 5 BABYLON 5 WARS: COMING OF SHADOWS BC $17.50 due 98/ 5 BABYLON 5 WARS: DILGAR INVASIONS BC $17.50 due 98/ 5 Supplemental rules set for Baby5. BABYLON 5 WARS: EARTH WARS n $17.50 due 98/ 5 First in the WARS Supplement series. Details the Earth-Minbari War & Earth's Civil War, w/ OoB, scenario & ship info. '97 BABYLON 5 WARS: MILITARIES OF THE n $17.50 due 98/ 5 ? LEAGU Book detailing all the ships used within the League & the various political arrangements among member races. Includes scenarios of notable conflicts. Additional rules included. '97 BABYLON 5 WARS: SHIPS OF BABYLON 5 BC $24.50 due 98/ 5 WARS Supplemental rules set for Baby5. BABYLON 5 WARS: WAR OF RETRIBUTION Y $17.50 due 98/ 5 ? Miniatures rules set detailing the Narn-Centauri War of the 2nd season of the show. Details both navies' OoB w/ scenarios & new weapons. '97 BABYLON 5 WARS: WAR WITHOUT END BC $17.50 due 98/ 5 Supplemental rules set for Baby5. BABYLON 5 MINI: BABYLON 5 STATION Y $13.00 due 98/ 5 #205. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 BABYLON 5 MINI: DRAZI WARBIRD Y $5.00 due 98/ 5 #218. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 BABYLON 5 MINI: NARN MAK'AROON Y $10.00 due 98/ 5 DREADNGHT #242. Detailed, highly crafted miniature for the B5 game. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AH AVALON HILL GAME CO. (AH) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ASL: ANNUAL '98 n $0.00 due 98/ 6 ? Mag style compilation of new scenarios, strategy, tactics, etc to enhance this lifestyle. '98 ASL:DOOMED BATTALIONS BC $28.00 due 98/ 6 ? Kit adding 2 maps, 8 scenarios, and the minor allied powers' armor & weapons from early in the war. '98 FOR THE PEOPLE FB $35.00 due 98/ 5 ? Strategic level game of the entire American Civil War for 2 players, played with cards. M.Herman'98 GALAXY, THE ARENA CARD GAME SB $19.00 due 98/ 6 Sequel to Titan: Arena, but on a grander scale. Card game for 3-5 players in which hordes of spacecraft battle thruout a universe for control of key worlds. 8 alien races each with special powers. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ATLAS GAMES (Atlas) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CULTS ACROSS AMERICA Y $31.50 due 98/ 5 Cthuloids attempt to take over America using cultist cells, high priests, and Cthulhu itself. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AVALANCHE PRESS, LTD. (Avalan) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST AIRLINES, THE GAME OF AIRLINE HC $26.60 due 98/ 5 OPERATIONS Fast playing, 2-4 player game of operating a national airline. '98 GREAT WAR AT SEA, V.2: NORTHERN WATERS BC $47.60 due 98/ 6 Sequel to the popular GWaS volume 1. Operational naval search & tactical combat in the North Sea and Atlantic. Lots of scenarios. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AZURE WISH EDITION (AWE) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST GRAND SIECLE BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Military & diplomatic game of the late 17th century in Europe for up to 5 players. 1 map, 1000 counters; French components & English photocopied rules. LA BATAILLE DE ECKMUHL BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Another company enters the La Battaille foray. Covers Davout's stout defense at Eckmuhl, Apr.1809. LA FOI & LE GLAIVE BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Diplomatic game set within the religious wars against Islam during the Dark Ages. 6 players further their cultural interests with military means being a secondary method. 1 map, 1100 counters; French components & Enlgish photocopied rules. LA GRANDE GUERRE 1914-18 BC $55.00 due 98/ 5 ? Operational-strategic level game of WW-1 thruout Europe. Includes economics, weapons technology, tactics, etc, in the grand campaign, but you can play with only the military aspects. 9 scenarios including the Big One, 1800 counters, 2 maps. '98 SALVE BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Tactical naval combat during WW2 between major elements of 7 major combatants' navies. 5 scenarios. SCANDINAVIA BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Fantasy game of six fantasy kingdoms duking it out in 1997BC w/ magical creatures. Includes economics & diplomacy. Components in French w/ English photocopied rules. XHENOR BC $46.00 due 98/ 5 ? Diplomatic & economic game set in a fantasy world in which 5-6 players attempt to negotiate & use their resources to conquer other kingdoms. 2 scenarios, 1 map, 640 counters; French components & English photocopied rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COMPONENT GAME SYSTEM (CGS) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BABYLON 5: 2259 MODULAR BOARD GAME Y $28.00 due 98/ 5 Modular boardgame system covering the Babylon 5 world in its second season. '98 BABYLON 5: REINFORCEMENT PACK Y $14.00 due 98/ 5 54 Additional tokens & 19 map pieces to increase battlefleet options plus generic raiders, freighters, etc, for first 8 empires. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHESSEX DISTRIBUTORS (Chessx) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST WIZ WAR, 7TH: EXPANSION #1, 4TH SB $5.25 due 98/ 6 ?? Reprint of the first expansion to this small, fun 2-4 player game of wizardly combat & theft. Maneuver a labyrinth to steal your opponents' treasures while using spells & traps to thwart others. '97 WIZ WAR, 7TH: EXPANSION #2 SB $5.25 due 98/ 6 ?? New expansion to this small, fun 2-4 player game of wizardly combat & theft. Maneuver a labyrinth to steal your opponents' treasures while using spells & traps to thwart others. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHIGGER GAME STUDIOS (CHIG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CORPORATE SNAKES & LADDERS Y $15.00 due 98/ 5 Start in the mailroon of MegaCorp & work your way to the executive suite. Simple family game for 2-6. Remember: s*** floats! '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CLASH OF ARMS (CofA) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST LA BATAILLE DE LUTZEN FB $49.00 due 98/ 5 La B series game of the 1813 battle in Germany w/ 2 maps, 1,000 counters and 4th ed rules. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CORGLENBURG LTD. (Corg) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST GANGLAND! CARD GAME Y $17.50 due 98/ 5 Card game of the mob wars in the 20s & 30s w/ 50 historical characters. Fast playing, for 3-8 players. Includes such nicities as massacres, drive bys, bombings, defections, extortions, the IRS, etc. Collectable expansion packs planned. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CRITICAL HIT (CRI) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ASL:ALL AMERICAN! 82ND AIRBRN GUIDE BC $8.40 due 98/ 5 Tips, maps history, photos and veteran interviews in a professionally printed mag format. '98 ASL:CRETE PLATOON LDR KIT zl $12.00 due 98/ 5 Platoon Leader 2nd ed campaign focused on the bitter fighting for the Prison Valley during the airborne assault on Crete, May'41. '98 ASL:GENESIS '48 Y $28.00 due 98/ 7 Huge module covering the '47-48 Arab-Israeli War. Includes lots of special rules, & new charts & tables to cover this unique conflict. W/ 2 die cut countersheets, maps of old Jerusalem, & 3 scenarios & the campaign game. '98 ASL:KAMINSKI BRIGADE BOOK/SCENARIO Bk $12.00 due 98/ 5 Osprey-style book covering the infamous Kaminski Russian SS Brigade, together with relevant scenarios. '98 ASL:LEATHERNECK CAMPAIGN PACK 2 zl $7.00 due 98/ 7 8 scenarios involving the US Marines in the Pacific and in Korea. '98 ASL:NORMANDY, POINTE DU HOC BC $24.50 due 98/ 5 Crit Hit's first boxed game, w/ mounted counters. Covers the 2nd Ranger btln's assault during D-Day. '98 ASL:OBLIVION PACK #1: THE POLES n $7.00 due 98/ 5 Kit providing the Polish arsenal with tanks, AT guns, & other pieces plus several scenarios. '98 ASL:ROUT PAK 3 n $7.00 due 98/ 7 8 new scenarios from numerous theatres of WW2 including Zionists during the Warsaw Uprising, Luftwaffe ground troops, Marine Jaegers and the Spanish Blues. '98 ASL:RUWEISAT RIDGE Y $17.50 due 98/ 5 Boxed. First of 3 Platoon Ldr campaigns focused on N.Africa. Includes map, 5 scenarios & notes on the Ruweisat battles of 1942. '98 ASL:THOSE RAGGED BLOODY HEROES zl $19.00 due 98/ 7 4 scenarios & a Platoon Leader campaign focused on the 7th Australian Div's battle w/ the starving but tenacious Jap. 41st Inf regt. '98 ASL:TOBRUK n $11.20 due 98/ 5 Additional campaign for the Platoon Leader module. Focuses on the Australians stubborn defense, Apr'41. '98 ASL:WAVELL'S 30,000, OP. COMPASS n $14.00 due 98/ 5 Second of 3 Platoon Ldr campaigns focused on N.Africa. Includes map, 22 scenarios & a special edition of Critical Hit mag. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DCP GAMES (DCP) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST DOUBLES BACKGAMMON FB $21.00 due 98/ 5 Modified backgammon game in which 2-4 players can compete & play as a team on the familiar board. '97 DOUBLES CHESS FB $24.50 due 98/ 5 Modified chess game in which 2-4 players can compete & play as a team on an octagonal board. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DECISION GAMES (DecGms) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST EUROPE, WAR IN... V2.0 [PC DISK] n $45.00 due 98/ 5 Req DOS, 4mb RAM, 6mb, VGA, 486+, mouse, 3.5HD; sound card supported. PC version of the grand old SPI monster game of war thruout Europe. Has many qualities paralleling the original: simple yet functional systems & graphics, fun, with lots of potential for fun. This version should have professionally produced manual & packaging. Elaborates on various areas w/ new optional rules. Requires 2-3 human players; no AI included. Can be played by email. G.Ploussios'98 NUTS! BATTLE OF THE BULGE CARD GM: HC $14.00 due 98/ 6 NORTH One of 2 150-card sets depicting the Bulge at regt lvl, w/ terrain cards illustrated with unit insignias, etc. 2-4 players. '98 NUTS! BATTLE OF THE BULGE CARD GM: HC $14.00 due 98/ 6 SOUTH One of 2 150-card sets depicting the Bulge at regt lvl, w/ terrain cards illustrated with unit insignias, etc. 2-4 players. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DECISION GAMES S&T GAMES (DecS_T) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST GAUNTLET, KOREA 1950 #190 n $14.00 due 98/ 6 w/mag. Covers the Chinese attack on the Eighth Army, which surprised & routed the UN forces in Korea, 1950. '98 SEA DEVILS #191 n $14.00 due 98/ 7 Ship-ship combat involving Confederate raiders during the ACW. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EARTH LORE LTD. (EAR) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST IDIOSYNCRASIES LB* $23.00 due 98/ 5 Multiplayer party game akin to Pictionary in which players compete in 3 categories by drawing pictures, giving an imitation or performing an action. Players participate actively thruout and share role of judge. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EURO GAMES / DESCARTES (EuroG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST FORMULA DE: EXP BOARD 11 & 12 Fo 2.0 $17.50 due 98/ 5 ? Add-on board for this acclaimed French formula D racing game. Shows 2 tracks from Watkins Glen, NY, and Silverstone Circuit, England. FORMULA DE: EXP BOARD 13 & 14 Fo 2.0 $17.50 due 98/ 5 ? Add-on board for this acclaimed French formula D racing game. Shows 2 tracks from Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, and Long Beach, CA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXCALIBRE GAMES (Excal) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST KAISERSCHLACHT, 2ND zl $59.50 due 98/ 6 ?? Reprint of this simpler 1977 monster game of the final year of WW-1 in the west, Mar-Nov 1918. Div level and weekly turns. R.Spence'97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FANTASY FLIGHT GAMES (FFG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BATTLEMIST LB* $35.00 due 98/ 5 Boardgame using hex tiles (as in Settlers) in which 2-6 players strive to build an empire, each with a unique race of being. '98 MAG BLAST CARD GAME SB $0.00 due 98/ 5? Small fast playing card game of fighter combat in space from the Twilight Imperium world. '98 TWILIGHT IMPERIUM: ARMADA KIT Y $21.00 due 98/ 5 ? Provides plenty (350) plastic ships in place of the limited # of die cut counters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIVE RINGS PUBLISHERS (FiveRi) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST DEADLANDS: DOOMTOWN EPISD 3 BOX/BSTRS SB $99.00 due 98/ 5 48 boosters. Poker-based collectable card game set in the weird world of Deadlands Doomtown. '98 DEADLANDS: DOOMTOWN EPISD 4 BOX/BSTRS SB $99.00 due 98/ 6 48 boosters. Poker-based collectable card game set in the weird world of Deadlands Doomtown. '98 DEADLANDS: DOOMTOWN EPISD 5 BOX/BSTRS SB $99.00 due 98/ 7 48 boosters. Poker-based collectable card game set in the weird world of Deadlands Doomtown. '98 DEADLANDS: DOOMTOWN EPISD 6 BOX/BSTRS SB $99.00 due 98/ 7 48 boosters. Poker-based collectable card game set in the weird world of Deadlands Doomtown. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FRONT LINE PRODUCTNS (FrontL) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ASL:EDSON'S RIDGE n $12.00 due 98/ 6 ? ASL kit covering combat for Edson's Ridge on Guadalcanal, 1942. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GALACTIC ATTIC (GAL) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MOONSHOT, THE GAME Y $30.00 due 98/ 5 Board game covering the development of manned space flight from the 50s to the first walk on the moon. Players race to develop all the programs necessary to develop the flight to the moon. Game uses cards w/ NASA space photos. For 1-4 players. Quick playing. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE GAMERS (Gamers) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SEVEN PINES BC $34.00 due 98/ 5 2nd in the mating Seven Days Btls series of Gamers Civil War Brigade series. Covers Savage Station in the White Oak Swamp in which McClellan had his big chance to grab Ricmond. 6 scenarios, 3 maps, 280 counters. '98 (This game WILL be available thru Fine Games.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GMT GAMES (GMT) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST GREAT BATTLES OF J.CAESER. GALLIC WARS BC $38.50 due 98/ 5 Tactical combat during Caesar's war to subjugate Gaul, 58-52BC, using the Great Battles system. 5 scenarios. M.Herman, R.Berg'98 INVASION, SICILY zl $21.00 due 98/ 6 ? Operational game of the campaign for Sicily in 4 scenarios by a veteran designer. V.von Borries'98 SARATOGA, TURNING POINT OF THE AM REV BC $20.30 due 98/ 6 ?? One of the more decisive btls of the American Revolution at a tactical level. Fast playing. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HEAT OF BATTLE (HOB) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ASL:FORTRESS CASSINO n $25.00 due 98/ 5 Kit providing a mini-ASL campaign of the 3rd, New Zealander's assault on Monte Cassino, March '44. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRON CROWN ENTERPRISES (ICE) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MIDDLE EARTH: AG THE SHADOW Bk $8.40 due 98/ 5 PLAYERSGUIDE 7th players guide for the popular ME CCG. Contains indepth analysis and reference info for the Against the Shadow expansion, including deck design strategy & b&w card reproductions. '98 MIDDLE EARTH: AGAINST THE SHADOW SC $81.90 due 98/ 4 BOOSTRS Expansion set for Middle Earth. Box contains 36 booster packs. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JOHNSON, TOM (Johnso) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MASTER EUROPA FIRST FRONT n $16.00 due 98/ 5 Redesigned rules set for First to Fight. Completely replaces orig rules & charts with a set consistent with other Master Europa sets. T.Johnson'98 MASTER EUROPA PARTISAN! n $16.00 due 98/ 7 Redesigned rules set for partisan activity thru out the Europa series of games. Completely replaces orig rules & charts with a set consistent with other Master Europa sets. T.Johnson'98 MASTER EUROPA SEA WAR n $23.00 due 98/ 5 Comprehensive, alternative naval system for Europa games touching the Indian Ocean & Atlantic (such as the war in N.Africa). Includes info on 1,000 ships. T.Johnson'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ JOLLY ROGER GAMES INC. (JOL) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST NATION ON TRIAL MINIATURE RULES Y $14.00 due 98/ 4 Operational lvl mini rules set allowing battles such as Antietam to be fought in a single day. Charts for 6, 15 & 25mm minis. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARKHAM DESIGN GAMES (Markha) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST THIS EMERALD ISLE: WAR OF THE ROSES BC $36.00 due 98/ 5 QUAD Set of all 4 DTP games of the War of the Roses. R.Markham'98 THIS EMERALD ISLE: WAR OF THE ROSES V.1 n $12.00 due 98/ 5 DTP game of the battle of Tweaksbury during the War of the Roses. R.Markham'98 THIS EMERALD ISLE: WAR OF THE ROSES V.2 n $12.00 due 98/ 5 DTP game of the battle of Barnett during the War of the Roses. R.Markham'98 THIS EMERALD ISLE: WAR OF THE ROSES V.3 n $12.00 due 98/ 5 DTP game of the battle of Tauton Ward during the War of the Roses. R.Markham'98 THIS EMERALD ISLE: WAR OF THE ROSES V.4 n $12.00 due 98/ 5 DTP game of the battle of Mortimers Cross, a meeting engagement early in the War of the Roses. R.Markham'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MAYFAIR GAMES (Mayfr) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST EXPRESS, 2ND SB $10.50 due 98/ 5 Reprint of this very simple game of building trains of like-kind cars, and playing nasty cards like Wreck on others' trains. Fast playing for 2-6 players of all ages. '97 INDIAN RAILS BC $21.00 due 98/ 5 ? Empire Builders does the Indian subcontinent. For 2-6 players. '98 QVO VADIS?, 2ND BC $24.50 due 98/ 5 Revision of this game of politics in ancient Rome. Build a faction & a party while avoiding the treacheries of the Senate. Abstract board game for 3-5 players. '98 SETTLERS OF CATAN CARD GAME SC $14.00 due 98/ 5 ? Anglo-ized version of the German card game, die Siedler. Quick playing card adaptation of Settlers. '98 SETTLERS OF CATAN: 5-6 PLAYERS BC $17.50 due 98/ 6 EXPANSION Kit combining the 5-6 player expansions based on both the German 5-6 Player & Seafarers 5-6 Player expansions. Redeveloped & combined into a single add-on kit for 2 additional players. '98 SETTLERS OF CATAN: SEAFARERS EXPANSION BC $24.50 due 98/ 6 Kit combining the best elements of the German version, and Angloized for this Mayfair version. For 2-4 players. '98 SILVERTON: GM OF COLORADO BC $24.50 due 98/ 6 ? RAILROADNG,2ND Revision of Two Wolf's game & expansion. Short & long versions for 1-6 players. RR bldg in Colorado plateau, late 1800s. Stake mine claims, build track, invest in rolling stock & passenger service. Includes elements of expansion kit previously published separately. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEDALLION GAMES (Medall) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ECHELONS OF FIRE CAMPAIGN BOOKLT Bk $4.20 due 98/ 5 Booklet providing campaign game & mulitplayer rules to this CCG of modern era combat. '97 ECHELONS OF FURY CAMPAIGN BOOKLET Bk $4.20 due 98/ 5 Booklet providing campaign game & mulitplayer rules to this CCG of WW2 era combat. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMEGA GAMES (Omega) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST 1864, YEAR OF DECISION BC $24.50 due 98/ 6 ?? Strat lvl game of the entire war in 1864. Uses regional movement of division/corp level units. Multiple scenarios. New level of graphic quality for Omega. B.Gibbs'97 CARRIER WAR EXP KIT: WAR PLAN ORANGE BC $21.00 due 98/ 6 ?? Large kit for Carrier War. Assumes WW2 in Pacific started in 1932, or that no naval treaties occurred so that navies were BB focused. Excellent graphics & history. B.Gibbs'97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ONE SMALL STEP (One) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST AIR DUEL, MODERN n $7.00 due 98/ 6 ?? Sml board game of modern air-air combat. '98 AIR DUEL, WWII Y $7.00 due 98/ 5 Sml board game of WW2 air-air combat. '98 CROSSED BONES Y $9.10 due 98/ 5 Game of pirateering ship-ship combat for 2+ players. '98 HATFIELDS & MCCOYS / WRESTLING zl $5.00 due 98/ 5 ? H&M is a humorous, tactical level game of the legendary hillbilly feud. '98 MAIN EVENT WRESTLING zl $6.30 due 98/ 5 Small multiplayer card game of wrestling. '98 REBEL YELL!: BRAWNER'S FARM KIT zl $9.10 due 98/ 5 Somewhat sardonic kit for this game putting players in the role of division commanders battling around a small farm. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PINNACLE ENTERTNMNT GROUP (Pinnac) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST DEADLANDS: GREAT RAIL WARS REINFORCMNTS n $7.00 due 98/ 4 Troop cards & errata for this unique miniatures-oriented RPG of the race to build RRs in a semi-fictional land paralleling the US West. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RIO GRANDE GAMES (Rio) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST EDISON & CO. LB* $28.00 due 98/ 6 2-4 player game in which players try to influence the race among 4 prototype cars to see which will be mass produced. Not really a race game, but a game that rewards cleaver, calculating players. '98 FOSSIL, 2ND LB* $21.00 due 98/ 6 2-6 player simple game of sifting thru sea beds for fossils that must be pieced together to win. K.Palesch'98 MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, 2ND LB* $28.00 due 98/ 6 German game of the year, 1997. 3-5 players compete as paddle wheel captains on the Mississippi. Simple game using tiles to create varying river terrain. W.Hodel'98 MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, 2ND: BLACK ROSE KIT BC $14.00 due 98/ 6 Expansion kit adding the Black Rose paddle wheeler which changes loyalties to aid & harass, plus new river tile types & new rules. W.Hodel'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SEEKING AGENT X (See) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST SEEKING AGENT X LB* $18.00 due 98/ 6 Interesting game in which players deduce the characteristics of each others' spys by means of revealing the number of matching characteristics from personals ads! Looks like a good party game. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SILLYSPACE CORPORATION (Silly) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BELLS OF WAR Y $35.00 due 98/ 6 ? 2-7 player, Axis & Allies-style game of WW2 in Europe w/ plastic pieces & 3 levels of rules complexity from simple to complex. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIMULACIONES TACTICAS (SimTac) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST RIVOLI 1797: BONAPARTE IN ITALY BC 2.0 $55.00 due 98/ 5 ? 2nd in the Alexandria series of simplified La Battaile games. Depicts the 14 Jan 1797 battle with the Austrians in N.Italy. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIMULATIONS WORKSHOP, INC (SimWor) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CUBA LIBRE! zl $14.00 due 98/ 6 Game of the US-inspired Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, 1961. R.Moorehead'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEVE JACKSON GAMES (SJG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST ILLUMINATI NEW WORLD ORDER FACTORY SET FB $25.00 due 98/ 5 Complete set of 450 cards for the Illuminati game. KNIGHTMARE CHESS II SC $11.00 due 98/ 5 New game -- different from KC 2nd. Includes 78 cards and is a stand-alone game (that *may* also be useable w/ KC 2nd?). '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SLIFE OF LIFE (SLI) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CULTIVATION POT GROWING BOARDGAME LB* $28.00 due 98/ 5 'Marijuana Monopoly': He who dies with the most pot wins. 2-4 players take the role of Canadian (or CA or OR...) pot growers by setting up an indoor or outdoor farm, chart your yield, protect it from varments like deer & cops, and other players. Highly detailed so you might learn something useful... '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SIMTAC, INC. (STI) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST BLACK CROSS, BLUE SKY MINI RULES n $14.00 due 98/ 5 Revised rules set for the earlier Squadrons. Includes rules for Poland, France & the Btl of Britain. Revised & updated. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TDC GAMES (TDC) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST MAKE YOUR OWN-OPOLY LB* $27.50 due 98/ 5 Roll-your-own Monopoly, complete w/ PC software to create your own customized/named labels for all game components including the properties, cards and even the box. Comes w/ both 3.5HD & CD-Rom in DOS format. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TASK FORCE GAMES (TFG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST IMPERIAL STARFIRE BC $24.50 due 98/ 4 Expansion for Starfire that allows a grand campaign on a large scale map. '98 STARFIRE, 3RD BC $15.40 due 98/ 4 Popular ship-ship combat game in which players design spaceships, form fleets & fight an interstellar war. Large game w/ 96pgs of rules, large map & 4 countersheets. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIMBUKTU (Timbuk) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST WADJET ARCHEOLOGY BOARDGAME Y $45.00 due 98/ 5 Sophisticated family game with high quality components focused on the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1923. Lots of Egyptian symbology, including the Wadjet, a cobra goddess that guards the grave. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TIMJIM GAMES (PRISM GMS) (TimJim) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST 2038: TYCOONS OF THE ASTEROID BELT BC $14.00 due 98/ 5 ?? EXPSN Expansion kit for 2038 adding 2 new corporations, a variant start, & additional ore counters & money. '97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UDO GREBE GAME DESIGN CO. (UGG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST EMPIRES OF APOCALYPSE: DESERT FOX zl $17.50 due 98/ 6 ? 2nd of a planned series of mating Op-Strategic lvl WW2 games. This one covers the war in N.Africa 1940-3. 4 scenarios starting w/ the Italian move into Egypt and ending w/ Torch. EMPIRES OF APOCALYPSE: MORSECODE LB* $56.00 due 98/ 6 ? First of a planned series of mating Op-Strategic lvl WW2 games. This one covers the West Front from 1940-45. One map but 1700 counters. Suitable for 1-5 players. Corp lvl w/ monthly turns, 6 scenarios. U.Grebe'98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US GAMES SYSTEMS (USG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST CROQUE SB $6.00 due 98/ 5 "Frenzied Fun Forming Frog Families" among 2-4 players of any age. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VAE VICTUS MAGAZINE (VaeVic) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST EBRO, BATTLE OF THE... BC $62.00 due 98/ 5 ? Huge 1400 counter, 4 (sml) map game of one watershed in the Spanish Civil War, 1938, as the Nationalist counterattacked the Republicans before Catalonia. Co/btln lvl. Graphics said to be professional but not outstanding. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WARFROG GAMES (WarFro) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST LORDS OF CREATION BC $24.50 due 98/ 5 ? 2-5 players create a world, then fight to populated it with their own worshippers. Terrain created with tiles ala Settlers. Fast playing. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WEST END GAMES (WEG) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST KINGS & WIZARDS & DRAGONS...& THINGS BC $24.50 due 98/ 5 ? 2-4 players take role of minor nobles seeking to gain notoriety & become king. They do so by scrounging incoming, assembling an army of creatures & heroes, building castles, etc. Played with a map of 48 hex tiles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WINSOME GAMES (Winsom) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST TRAINSPORT: CONTRACK KIT Tb $14.00 due 98/ 5 Expansion kit for either Trainsport Austria or Switzerland. Players use either w/ this game to form contracts & build track to serve market needs. For 3-5 players. '98 VELD SPOORWEG [PRAIRIE RAILROADS] Tb $14.00 due 98/ 5 3-5 player game of rail building in the Orange Free State & beyond, 1885-1918, including inconveniences such as the Boer War. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WIZARDS OF THE COAST (Wizard) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST GUILLOTINE CARD GAME SB $8.00 due 98/ 5 Small, rather macabre, non-collectable card game of the French Rev. Players try to collect the most points by cutting off the heads of nobles & scoring varying amounts. For 2-5 players who enjoy wanton, needless violence (and whose TVs are broken). '98 ROBORALLY, 2ND: RADIOACTIVE KIT Al $13.00 due 98/ 5 4th exp kit for RoboRally. 3 new boards & hazards like a nuclear core. Limited print run. '98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ XENO GAMES (Xeno) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST HAIL! CAESAR! LB* $28.00 due 98/ 6 ?? Strategic Roman game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MAGAZINES (ONLY) (_Mag) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST C3I #9 n $5.50 due 98/ 6 ?? In print issues thru current. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PC SOFTWARE & HRDW (ORIG) (_Sftwr) (541) 756-4711 10am-9pm PST POWER CHESS [PC DISK] SB $10.00 due 98/ 6 Neat, and certainly cheap, Win95 game of chess w/ a computer that learns how you play. Allows play by email & over the internet, plus voice comments & advice, and optional 3D rendering. Sierra Online'98 TAC OPS 98 [PC/MAC CD-ROM] SB $45.00 due 98/ 5 ? Computer simulation of 20th century low level tactical command, with an emphasis on logistical planning for all the weapon systems utilized. '98 Y O U R S U G G E S T I O N S YOUR SUGGESTIONS that help me improve the service I provide to you via this Update or in any other way are greatly appreciated. Michael Dean Fine Games for Players & Collectors ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FINE GAMES FOR PLAYERS & COLLECTORS The Best in New & Used Historical Gaming http://www.finegames.com Michael Dean (541) 756-4711 M.Dean@FineGames.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~