crete Archives - Galactic Journey

by Gideon Marcus

For the last decade or so, the term "wargame" has been virtually synonymous with Avalon Hill. That Maryland game company has come out with one or two new titles every year in this exciting genre (along with a handful of other, more general releases). But now, there's a new player in town.

Strategy & Tactics was, up to last month, one of many wargame fanzines. Most such 'zines are devoted to supporting Play-by-Mail games of Diplomacy, but S&T has been more catholic in its coverage, reviewing many games and providing articles of general interest to wargame-lovers. The magazine even included the occasional wargame, mostly rules for miniatures wargames (a related but different beast from board wargames).

Volume 1, Issue 7 of S&T including rules for the miniatures wargame of modern soldiering, Patrol

Janice and me playing Patrol with toy soldiers

With the latest issue, Volume 3, Issue 2 (#18 total), there is a new editor at the helm: Jim Dunnigan. Dunnigan's name may be familiar to you as the fellow who developed 1914 and Jutland for Avalon Hill… and also a self-published game on last year's takeover of Columbia University. He has elected to apply his wargame-creation talents toward designing a brand new board wargame for S&T—Crete.

Cover of the latest issue of S&T

Table of contents of the latest issue of S&T

This fascinating game is a full-fledged simulation, incorporating a number of neat innovations. It is also a Do-It-Yourself-er: the map and counters (and rules) are just printed in the magazine, which means you either need to cut them out and affix them to pasteboard, or make your own copies from scratch. Since I have access to a Xerox machine, I was able to have the best of both worlds, photocopying the pieces and playboard, the former on colored construction paper, and the latter tinted with colored pencils.

Lorelei provided the box cover art!