From: "D. Holte" Subject: CRUSADER Arrives! CRUSADER arrived yesterday finally. Of course, my frustration with not receiving it right away was in direct proportion to the high level of anticipation I had prior to it's release... This is not meant to be a review, since I haven't played yet, but just some initial observations. The map looks very nice, though I would have preferred something more along the lines of Joe's BNA map. (Chain-Pull Mode On) Of course, Dean labeled 'Tobruk' correctly, if that's a bonus.. (Chain-Pull Mode Off. Claws promptly removed from JY's ego... ;-D ) While not many things can pull me away from the book that I am so feverishly trying to complete, I can see this evening will be occupied with prep-ing this puppy for play (..counters coated, punched, and clipped of course.. ) CRUSADER looks like what the SCS system has been made for: An outstanding gaming subject (Operation Crusader is one of those excellent topics where both sides get to manuever, attack, defend, etc..) with just the right counter mix to have allow many options but still complete the game in an evening. (AFRIKA sometimes came down to a few lucky die rolls, ARDENNES & SP II are great but take forever to play..) There are 280 counters, but only 216 are combat units; the rest are markers. The scale is 2-day turns, 2.5 mile hexes and mostly battalion-size units. The CRUSADER Specific rules utilize what looks like the air, artillery and supply rules from previous SCS games. Added is a 'Reconstitution' rule, which may allow destroyed units to come back into the game a random number (1d6) of turns after "elimination". On a "1", however, the unit is destroyed permanently. Four scenarios, a complete counter manifest, and Dean's 'Designer's Notes' fill-out the rest of the Specific rule book. An interesting side note: It seems that The Gamers have *firmly* committed to mail order only now - The CRUSADER box has a plain white box-bottom with no "What's Inside" info on the back. A good cost-cutting move for mail-order only business, not so good for any shops that might want to carry it. Unless they keep a copy of The Gamers' advertisement or an open copy of the game handy. I can't wait to try this one out over the weekend. And it may just prompt me to give 'em a call (The Gamers) and see if there are any more copies of D.A.K. lying around... -Danny