off-the-shelf
vol IX, no 7

The Golden Strider. Game Name: Kip Keino. Have 8: Bill Scharf, Jim Reader, Mark Stretch, Brendan Whyte, Dave Partridge, Tim Snyder, Bart Denny, and Dave McCrumb. Please see game start announcement.

The Golden Strider. Game Name: Herb Elliott. Need about 8.

Of the next two offers, only the first game that fills will actually start. Game name will be: Skokomish River.

Regular Diplomacy. Needs seven players; please send preferences for position, press type and types of draws allowed when you sign up.

Fog-of-War Diplomacy. Needs seven players. This is normally gunboat where you only see your own units and units adjacent to yours. I'm going to let the actual players decide how to run this one. It'll be Fog-of-War as far as the reporting of game results by the GM. When you sign up, please send:

• Preferences for position,
• Gunboat vs. players know who they playing against,
• Type of draws allowed, Whether or not to allow press and, if so,
• Whether it should be white, black, or grey press.

This issue, we see the end of Lost in Space! Next issue I'll publish any end-of-game commentary or game evaluations submitted by the readership.

So, should we start a new all-player' game? Only about half of you tend to play these things, so they aren't as all-inclusive as I'd like. If we do another right away, what would you like to play? Do you have a suggestion for one we have not played here before? Should we go back and re-play one we've done already? If so, which one? I do this rag for you, so help me out here, and tell me what you want to play.

Some of you, in other venues, have been playing "Breaking Away!", a bicycle race simulation game by John Harrington in England. I know that because I've been playing in those games, too. Is there enough interest in the game for me to offer it in off-the-shelf?

As both player and GM, I find Dip (or any game) more satisfying when all the players have their hearts into the game. I don't know how to ensure that the games herein have seven enthusiastic players. Even when a game starts with seven gung-ho cutthroats, peoples' lives change and their leisure activities are affected. And, the lives of those of us who interact with them suffer or benefit in the consequence.
As his press over the past year or so has indicated, Pete Duxon has suffered from a general decline in intra-game communications within the playing community. Whether it has affected you as much as it has Pete, I'm sure most of you have also noticed that decline. Pete has resigned from two of his games herein; and, at his request, I am holding over the two games whilst the replacement players commence negotiations with the continuing players. Please talk to each other, guys. That's why we're all here!
Further, I am taking this opportunity to ask each of you to take an honest look at the level of enjoyment you receive relative to the time you commit to your participation here. My level of enjoyment is directly related to the number of interactions I have with each and all of you.
However, that enjoyment takes a sharp dive when the deadline expires with overdue orders. That is the one thing that will cause me to throw up my hands in frustration and abandon this enterprise in the near term. Andy York consistently sends me orders upon receipt of the 'zine and Mark Stretch is often close behind him. Thank you both for your alacrity! On those occasions when Andy or Mark send me revised orders, I know that one of you have corres ponded and convinced them to modify their planned play. That's good. Those of you on the other end, whose orders only come in after I've both reminded you that the deadline is approaching and that it has passed, please ask yourselves why that is. If it's because you've been waiting forever for some other player to respond to your overtures, I'd like to suggest you send me the orders you'll use if you never hear from that player and do so early in the turnaround period. Don't wait! Do it now! Send me your preferred orders after that laggard does write back to you. If you've been procrastinating because, well, as Pete said, he "doesn't enjoy it anymore," please consider resigning a few of your positions. You'll be doing me a favor, yourself a favor, and your fellow gamers a favor. Who knows? By freeing some time to spend on your retained games, they may become more enjoyable.
Three of the standbys I attempted to call for Pete's games told me variations on they enjoy reading what I send them, but their personal priorities do not allow them the time they would feel obligated to give were they to assume the offered positions.' Fair enough. I have found players who are interested and can commit to participating in the games.
A few of you subscribe but do not actively participate in any games, including the all player' games which are intended to be fun but not require a lot of time. As long as you want to pay for this silliness, I'm willing to send it. However, I hereby put each of you lurkers' on notice that I won't pursue extension of your subscriptions. My addressing system doesn't advertise your balances, but it does automatically notify you when your sub is about to expire. The warning is printed above your name and address on the back cover. If you renew, fine. If you don't that's fine too and my feelings won't suffer in the least.

A sample of this issue is being sent to Costaguana subscribers so they'll have an idea what we are about when Conrad folds up his tents and they need a replacement gaming outlet. The above will show them me at my worst...

Enjoy the ' zine!