welcome back! Rob

- - why do u put all of these quotations on your replies in the BBS ?

A: Military history is one of my hobbies. Axis & Allies is a historic simulation (roughly) and I find that I enjoy it much more when I link my game turns and posts to moments in history that I find amusing or having some sort of linkage. If I can't find a good parallel, I just make up some crazy smack-talk. Without a good dose of sarcasm, history, and extreme silliness, A&A is just another board game. It's the people that make it special and something to keep playing.

YES! YES I do agree with u

- where do u get them from etc?

A: My library at home is full of books on military history, and there are a few good websites that can also be researched.

well looky here, another Hess we have

- what difference do u see in the club now and when u active?

A. I think the administration of the club is much more efficient than the way we had to do it. We used club officers to assign all games to game numbers, update records, publish the club standings, maintain the player pool and GM pools, etc. That was very time consuming work once we grew to over 100 active players. I salute all those that worked in the trenches for all those years. I also enjoy the GM-less feature that has been refined since I left the club. I think it works remarkably well and the Ministers keep tweeking it through the BBS inputs. Very good stuff.

On the downside, I find the club much more impersonal now than when I was previously playing in the 90's. I log into the website every night, check for new posts, see if anyone is hanging out in the chat room. I see Boromir there sometimes, but other than that.. it's pretty quiet. When the club was younger, we knew each and every one of the 100's of active players; not just their screen name and stats, but the people behind the screen name.

seems like this was to just be the natural growth of the internet and the club we also had the luck of a dedicated webmaster.

- why did u leave?

A: I received orders to deploy with Fleet Air Reconnaisance Squadron Three. Those who have held the job of Club President (or any Club position) know that it is a very demanding one, and one that I could not even consider continuing while on sea duty. Luckily I had a wonderful group of Club Officers, a solid club charter and bylaws, and I had no misgivings in turning the leadership over to the Vice President.

- what brings u back to us?

A: I have completed my sea-duty tour and now have a nice job flying a desk for Naval Aviation Systems Command in Maryland. I have the time to play the game I love once again.

well I do hope that u stay there and do not have to go and protect the oil

- what do u like about the game?

A: I like the anticipation. I enjoy developing a strategy, be it offensive or defensive, and seeing what the dice gods think of it.

- what do u dislike about the game?

A: Same as most people I guess, and that is those games that are really lopsided when it come to dice. I don't like to win that way, and I certainly don't like to lose that way.

so true so true

- what do u do to earn a living?

A: I am a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy. I have completed 1 tour as a Navy EOD Diver, 2 tours as a Naval Aircrewman, and two tours with the Fleet Marine Force on both the East and West Coasts of the US. I plan on retiring from active service in 4 years with 21yrs total, and become a Middle School Teacher.

nice pension to

- if u had the power what changes would u like to see concerning the playing of the game?

A: If I chose to exercise that power, I would like to see live games in the chat room return. I know that when we had the online live games, everyone enjoyed them and they were a great place for club members to get together and talk about the game, strategy, etc. I'd also like to see weekly club meetings in the chat room where if nothing else, a sense of community could develop.

well we could use all of the help we can get. hint- hint

- u must have taken notice that the bids are becoming higher now in the 20tys do u think that this is a good thing?

A: I do. A bad Germany `1 was almost always the end of the Axis when the bids were 8 - 12 ipc's. The club bid has evolved upward to take into account the chance that bad dice on GE1 or very good dice on RU1 does not necessarily shut the Germans down.

yep! the players finally wised up no one was that good to win with a bid of 12 unless the dice were oh so good

- who was the toughest member u played against?

A: I would have to say it was a tie between EnemyThine and Randy (Rewstr). Both of these knuckleheads were able to beat me without mercy every time I went up against them. Of course I blamed it on bad dice, but in reality I am not a master of the game, but rather just someone that enjoys playing it.

- what are some of your fondest memories about the club?

A: My most fond memories were of the late night chat room discussions running between 10-20 club members on strategy, politics, life, you name it. Almost all disagreements ended up with.. "ok.. I'll kick your @$$ with a bid of 12", and off they went.

I would have to say that setting up the first club tournament, and seeing the enthusiasm and appreciation of the other club members is the second-best memory that I have. Some other good memories include helping Quixande set up the first live convention in Las Vegas, beating down the America Online Staff to get our own club gaming area, and then finally setting up the club to move to the internet.

- can u tell us how the club was formed and by who ?

A: The "club" started in 1993 as a single folder in the America Online Strategy Games section that was predominantly run by the Chess Club. There were about 20 semi-active players. There was no club government as it exists today, but two players handled most of the disagreements and what we consider club government responsibilities. Their names were Jamidan and CaptRJ. They were the de-facto leaders of the folder. It continued this way for quite a few months, and then the folder began to die and players left - Jamidan and CaptRJ faded away (for a while, but that is another story). At this time the players that were left gave the nod to Barnacleez as the first official Club President. I would consider this the beginning of the Club, although a humble one.

Barnacleez jumped right in by appointing a Minister of Recruting (me) to build the player pool back up, administer the final hurdle, and mentor new players. He selected LASteam (Quixande) as his VP and we were off and running. Barnacleez used the club ranking model that the AOL Chess Club was using, modified it for Axis & Allies and dubbed it the BRS or Barnacleez Ranking System. This was a big step, as players had something to work for, and the ability to rank themselves against other players in the Club. With the BRS and some awesome recruiting efforts, the Club was reborn and was growing quickly.

I am currently working on a detailed Club history that will cover these times, and those that followed. If there are any *old* club members out there that can provide me with their insight and stories, please contact me at r.a.morris@verizon.net

~V~

well there u have it folks a great interview with a past A&A legend . I am sure that we will be hearing more from him in the future . I would think maybe in the chat room. So if any of u wish to ask him any more questions , then do go and visit the chat room and u just might find him roaming the hallways

the squire