Little Bighorn and Rosebud games

[mike]

Khyber Pass games will be publishing my game "The Battle of the Little Bighorn". Also in development is my other design, "The Rosebud". Both are table top games designed for two or more players.

Here is the address:
www.khyberpassgamesonline.com/

Click on the "Boardgames" button to see the LBH game and then go back and click on the "In Development" button to see The Rosebud.

[mike]

The Little Bighorn game began shipping out today. The first 17 copies were mailed this afternoon. Diane, I checked and your copy is among this first group. The rest will go out between now and the 31st of Jan. I am not totally sure but I think that well over half of the print run (500) is already sold. They are only doing this single print run, so if you want a copy I would seriously think about ordering one before the summer (if not sooner!).

[Diane Merkel]

That's good news, Mike! Thanks for the update. I look forward to receiving the game.

[fred]

mike--

I ordered your game today & dumped a check for $29 in the mail. I e-mailed Khyber Pass early this morning & asked for a confirm, but I've received nothing back. Is that a problem?

Best wishes,
Fred.

[mike]

Fred

No, it should not indicate a problem. I am sure Bruce will e-mail you back very soon. If not, try again. If you don't hear from him in the next day or two let me know and I will contact him. We'll make sure you get your copy right away. Bruce has a day job so he may not be able to check the Khyber Pass mail until the evening.

Copies continue to go out every day, and the entire pre-order is still on schedule to be completely mailed out by the end of the month.

[fred]

Mike--

Thanks. I mailed the check yesterday.

It looks like a great game. At one time I had 20 or 30 of the Avalon Hill & Simulations Publications games, dating back to the original "Tactics" game of the late 1950s. Yours appears to be of the same quality, & if it rivals the old "Panzer Blitz," it'll be a joy, indeed.

Again, thanks, and best wishes,
Fred.

[Diane Merkel]

My game arrived today. I look forward to playing it.

OK, Fred, I'm ready for hurricane season now. I've got my stack of books-to-read, my Little Bighorn game, and lots of lamp oil. Bring it on!

[fred]

Careful Diane... I'm death w/ these board games. You won't want to challenge me, hurricane or no. Remember, I was reared on "Tactics II" & "Panzer Blitz."

Fred.

[Diane Merkel]

I've never heard of them, but I love your quote.

I was "reared" (quaint, Fred!) on Risk, which is probably why I still fantasize about being Ruler of the World.

[fred]

Awright, Diane... here's the $64 question. It is a quote. From whom?

Best wishes,
Fred.

[mike]

Diane and Fred,

For some reason the turn record track was not printed on the back of the cover and it was missed when it was proofed, so the games shipped without it. Khyber Pass Games will provide one as a download from their website soon (or you can ask them to send you a copy if you don't want to use your printer ink, but it won't use very much). For now you can still play the game if you keep track of the game turn on a piece of paper. This error is unusual for them and they are quite upset about it, but will do what they can to correct it.

I hope you like the game. Please give us some feedback when you can. If you have any questions about the rules or the design post it here or e-mail me directly. I will answer as soon as I can. I have the game set up here, so if you have a specific problem just let me know the details and I can replicate the situation on my map and resolve the problem. Hopefully there won't be very many!!

[Diane Merkel]

It looks great, Mike. Chuck and I looked at it briefly, but we probably won't have a chance to play it until next weekend. I have no problem with downloading the turn record from the website.

Diane

[Diane Merkel]

Fred -- Oscar Wilde.

[fred]

Diane--

I am[/b] impressed! I don't know you very well, so "stunned" may be the better word. It's a great phrase & little known.

Mike--

The bill for a new toner cartridge is in the mail! You are very kind to ask for comments. If it plays anywhere like it looks, it's a winner.

Best wishes,
Fred.

[fred]

Oh-h, & Diane, sorry, I forgot--

Panzer Blitz is an old Avalon Hill game, based on tank battles between the German & Russian armies in WWII. The original game came w/ several scenarios (20, I think), loosely designed around 20 actual battles fought between the two. It has a geomorphic map board (I'll save you the trip to the dictionary if you don't know what that means...I[/b] had to look it up 3 times before I remembered it!)-- a 3-section board whose terrain features & roads all fit together no matter which way you align it or put it together-- & the coolest markers you've ever seen w/ one of these games: road blocks, burnt-out vehicles, horse-drawn wagons, historically-accurate armament, etc., plus a 50-page (or so) instruction book.

I haven't played one of these games in ages. I used to have about 20 or 30 of them (divorce casualties; please, no guffawing); now I have 2. And I almost always played them by myself; you can do that. Some of them, even w/ multiple players, took days to play. You just keep the thing set up & you come back to it. If you're interested in military history-- as you & Chuck obviously are-- they are fascinating & a tremendous intellectual challenge. It's really a shame they've essentially gone the way of high-buttoned shoes.

It's nice to meet up w/ a fellow like Mike.

And actually, Panzer Blitz was an easy game to play-- for their advanced gamers-- &, I think, Avalon Hill's best game ever. As it gained in popularity-- in the '80s-- they added another set of scenarios. Unfortunately, I lost those as well in the divorce! Ain't life a b... er... hoot?

Best wishes, Diane,
Fred.