AHIKS (pronounced a'hic's) means: "Avalon Hill International Kriegspiel Society"; is an international, nonprofit society of mature individuals 18 years or older (along with a newly formed separate Son's and Daughters Department for 12-17 years of age (see below), who desire to play board war-games by ordinary snail mail or E-mail.

Established in 1965 (thirty-seven years ago) by adults who were tired of immature, sporadic and/or disappearing opponents. AHIKS exists to minimize encounters with such players and foster a mature, responsible pool of gamers throughout out the world.

Back when AHIKS was established; Avalon Hill Game Company out of Maryland, USA, (now disbanded) was about the only company publishing board war-games (hence our abbreviated name). Nowadays, we play games from virtually every manufacturer you can think of.

We take pride in the high degree of personalization which characterized AHIKS from its inception. We strive to maintain the highest possible standards for prompt, courteous, and friendly play of all games to completion, win or lose. We consider this standard of quality to be more important than the expansion of membership. Therefore, admission to AHIKS is not automatic. Many members have become close friends through AHIKS, and they occasionally get together for face to face gaming.

In any case, our efforts to maintain the highest possible standards do not cease upon the admission of a member. All AHIKS plays are subject to review, and any member could be placed on probation or if necessary and after staff review be expelled in extreme cases. Which by the way has happened.

In order to introduce new members, and in order to facilitate the evaluation of your application, a new member is requested to include a brief personal sketch with their application. We like it to include information on the following which will be kept in strict confidence.

This should all be a relatively brief summary, more descriptive than factual, and should not require a major effort on your part. We do not discriminate on the basis of Race, Creed, Nationality or Gender (nor what ever Federal Law Prohibits), and you need NOT include that information.

The Society is subdivided into Regions through out the world. Each Region is headed by a Director (called Regional Director=RD) and his Assistant Regional Director for very large areas, who is responsible for the reviewing each memberships application and has the sole responsibility of either accepting or rejecting the applicant. If the applicant is accepted the RD further has the responsibility of assisting the member with any problems, complaints, or suggestions that the member may have to offer within the confines of AHIKS.

We publish the best newsletter in the hobby, the newsletter called "Kommandeur"( nicknamed the "K"). (Pronounced Kay); and the "Dispatch" published by the European Region. These publications contain hints on postal gaming, game review, play strategies, historical background, after-action reports, opinions debates, news by and about the members and the hobby, and most importantly list of OPEN MATCHES REQUESTS, members seeking opponents.

AHIKS is indeed international. Originally, Europe was a region that made up a fourth of the membership, but has been given a limited autonomous statues since about 1984. Both Match Coordinators still arrange matches across the Atlantic for any active member in good standing (on either side of the Big Lake) who may request it and thus play around the globe continues.

Our success as play-by-mail (PBM) or (PBEM) organization has been made in large part by our strict controlled ICRK (pronounced ERK) die roll system. This computer generated, random number playing aid sheet provides die roll results without any need for stock reading results or other such methods. It cuts across all political borders, language barriers, and time zones. It is strictly controlled by one officer of the Society who is the Match Coordinator (MC), each ICRK sheet is controlled by a code number and filed with the MC for future requirements in the event of any conflicts. No authorization is given to any other officer or member to reproduce this method except it be by the MC who is dully elected to that position and responsibility. Those found to do otherwise are immediately expelled without recourse from the Society for life. Thus, the game situations requiring die rolls can be resolved in the same convenient and foolproof manner whether your opponent is across the street, on the other side of town, county, state or across any sea, ocean or continent.

AHIKS has now improved it's ICRK delivery method by being able now to send through the internet. You can have your copy of the ICRK in seconds rather than days by snail mail. Provided of course you have a PC capable of Text or Binary messages. Instructions on the use of the ICRK is contained in the New Membership Guild manual given to all new members free. It is also available on the AHIKS Web site.

Another invention of the Society which improves the accuracy and speed of playing war-games by snail mail or E-mail is the style of PBM Order of Battle Sheets (OOB) which are provided with each assignment. Further one can secure E-mail playing aids by clicking on the white tab in the above map site that indicates "Playing Aids".

Our OOB's are designed to hold eight to twelve or more turns per sheet and most games only use one or two sheets for the whole game! We minimize confusion and errors that can delay a game or, worse, destroy a skillfully planned campaign. These OOB's are free, and we have preprinted OOB's for most requested games, including many favorites.

Speaking of confusion, have you ever gotten frustrated by a set of rules or a game board which was incomplete, misleading, or ambiguous? We'll your not alone! We've found that even the best intentioned of opponents can have valid differences of opinion over a rules interpretation. For this reason we have a JUDGE. He is there for more obscure situations. He employs a network of Specialists who will make a ruling on disputed matters that arises between differing opponents. His judgment is finial. We save all rulings so that AHIKS never speaks with a "Forked Tongue".

To obtain a game assignment, members send a Match Request Form (MRF), (Printed in the Kommandeur's last page) and available on this web site (third bottom site map page above) and with the coming of PC age, it can now be sent by E-mail to the MC. In the event the game you want to play is not very popular or cannot be filled immediately, the MC places your request in the Match Request Column that appears in every issue of the Kommandeur News Letter quarterly. One can now read this same information on this web site under Open Match Request. We have many special services and opportunities to become involved in multi-commander, simultaneous and/or hidden movement games with Game master or Monitors.

We have a voluntary AHIKS rating system along with an attachment to the AREA rating system. The AHIKS rating system is some what similar to the AREA system, but strictly controlled by AHIKS. The Area system is controlled by it's sole owner Glenn Pietroski and is used world wide. Both system's however rate all games from various manufacturers. If you are an AREA member you can be rated on AHIKS system if you so desire but you must be a member of AHIKS. Your ratings can be published or not published which is the members prerogative and must be expressed verbally or in writing that he/she does not wish to be published, otherwise it will.

As mentioned above, we now have broaden our war gaming activities to embrace the Son's & Daughter's of our adult membership. If you have a son, daughter, grandchildren etc. and are between the ages of 12-17 inclusive, they can join in the fun of war gaming with an opponent of their age. They will receive the full benefits of all material and equipment as do the adults with the exception of the Kommandeur, which is received by the parent member normally. The cost for a years membership in this age group is $2.00 dollars. The parent member is responsible for the actions of their children while they are members and must insure that if committed to an assignment they will complete that assignment or be penalized by expulsion from the Society.

AHIKS charges a one time initiation fee of $1.00 dollars to cover initial kit mailings and our present dues is $ 5.00 a year subject to yearly review. Dues are required to be remitted by no later than 31 December of each year for the ensuing year. The Dues cover the expense for all mailings of assignments, OOB's, New Members Guild, AHIKS Business Mail, and the cost of publishing the Kommandeur News Letter.

The officer's serving the Society are all volunteers, they freely give their time and efforts to the task of making the Society the Best War-gaming Club in the World. And it is! They receive no compensation for their volunteer work (with the exception of out of pocket expense) and the welcome thanks from it's Membership at large. The officer's serve at the pleasure of the membership. They are elected or reelected every four (4) years coinciding with the National Elections of the United States. The elected president of the Society has the pleasure of appointing volunteering members to appointed positions and serve at the pleasure of the President

Those person who are interested in war gaming and desire to join our Society and receive enjoyment of camaraderie are encouraged to either, write, mail or E-mail to the address below for further information and guidance. It is requested that when doing so that you include your home address, phone number and E-mail address if any, this will allow me to send you the necessary information you will need to proceed further with your application and direct you to the Regional Director concerned.


AHIKS HISTORY AHIKS (pronounced a'hic's) means: "Avalon Hill International Kriegspiel Society"; is an international, nonprofit society of mature individuals 18 years or older (along with a newly formed separate Son's and Daughters Department for 12-17 years of age (see below), who desire to play board war-games by ordinary snail mail or E-mail. Established in 1965 (thirty-seven years ago) by adults who were tired of immature, sporadic and/or disappearing opponents. AHIKS exists to minimize encounters with such players and foster a mature, responsible pool of gamers throughout out the world. Back when AHIKS was established; Avalon Hill Game Company out of Maryland, USA, (now disbanded) was about the only company publishing board war-games (hence our abbreviated name). Nowadays, we play games from virtually every manufacturer you can think of. We take pride in the high degree of personalization which characterized AHIKS from its inception. We strive to maintain the highest possible standards for prompt, courteous, and friendly play of all games to completion, win or lose. We consider this standard of quality to be more important than the expansion of membership. Therefore, admission to AHIKS is not automatic. Many members have become close friends through AHIKS, and they occasionally get together for face to face gaming. However our main function is to provide for playing by snail mail, E-mail, phone, cyberspace (internet) and computer. In evaluating an application, we ask ourselves such questions as: 1. Will the applicant desire to play games to completion and stand the test of time? 2. Will the applicant live up to his/her commitment of promptness and honor the agreement made between opponents? 3. Is the applicant susceptible to having his/her situation change in such a way as to adversely affect his/her ability to continue to promptly play his/her games? 4. Is the applicant likely to play all of his/her games in the mature manner we expect and demand? As you can see, it is very difficult to determine the answer to these questions by mail. Therefore depending upon regional policy, some or all new members may be required to complete a probationary match before starting any other matches. In any case, our efforts to maintain the highest possible standards do not cease upon the admission of a member. All AHIKS plays are subject to review, and any member could be placed on probation or if necessary and after staff review be expelled in extreme cases. Which by the way has happened. In order to introduce new members, and in order to facilitate the evaluation of your application, a new member is requested to include a brief personal sketch with their application. We like it to include information on the following which will be kept in strict confidence. 1. Reason for wanting to join AHIKS. 2. Significant gaming experience if any. 3. Ones current situation and future plans, with emphasis on how you feel they might affect your gaming. This should all be a relatively brief summary, more descriptive than factual, and should not require a major effort on your part. We do not discriminate on the basis of Race, Creed, Nationality or Gender (nor what ever Federal Law Prohibits), and you need NOT include that information. The information you give will be held in strict confidence and will not be release or published with out the members permission given verbally or in writing. The Society is subdivided into Regions through out the world. Each Region is headed by a Director (called Regional Director=RD) and his Assistant Regional Director for very large areas, who is responsible for the reviewing each memberships application and has the sole responsibility of either accepting or rejecting the applicant. If the applicant is accepted the RD further has the responsibility of assisting the member with any problems, complaints, or suggestions that the member may have to offer within the confines of AHIKS. We publish the best newsletter in the hobby, the newsletter called "Kommandeur"( nicknamed the "K"). (Pronounced Kay); and the "Dispatch" published by the European Region. These publications contain hints on postal gaming, game review, play strategies, historical background, after-action reports, opinions debates, news by and about the members and the hobby, and most importantly list of OPEN MATCHES REQUESTS, members seeking opponents. AHIKS is indeed international. Originally, Europe was a region that made up a fourth of the membership, but has been given a limited autonomous statues since about 1984. Both Match Coordinators still arrange matches across the Atlantic for any active member in good standing (on either side of the Big Lake) who may request it and thus play around the globe continues. Our success as play-by-mail (PBM) or (PBEM) organization has been made in large part by our strict controlled ICRK (pronounced ERK) die roll system. This computer generated, random number playing aid sheet provides die roll results without any need for stock reading results or other such methods. It cuts across all political borders, language barriers, and time zones. It is strictly controlled by one officer of the Society who is the Match Coordinator (MC), each ICRK sheet is controlled by a code number and filed with the MC for future requirements in the event of any conflicts. No authorization is given to any other officer or member to reproduce this method except it be by the MC who is dully elected to that position and responsibility. Those found to do otherwise are immediately expelled without recourse from the Society for life. Thus, the game situations requiring die rolls can be resolved in the same convenient and foolproof manner whether your opponent is across the street, on the other side of town, county, state or across any sea, ocean or continent. AHIKS has now improved it's ICRK delivery method by being able now to send through the internet. You can have your copy of the ICRK in seconds rather than days by snail mail. Provided of course you have a PC capable of Text or Binary messages. Instructions on the use of the ICRK is contained in the New Membership Guild manual given to all new members free. It is also available on the AHIKS Web site. Another invention of the Society which improves the accuracy and speed of playing war-games by snail mail or E-mail is the style of PBM Order of Battle Sheets (OOB) which are provided with each assignment. Further one can secure E-mail playing aids by clicking on the white tab in the above map site that indicates "Playing Aids". A chief complaint of other sheets is that every move required a different sheet; this led to confusion and piles of paper. Our OOB's are designed to hold eight to twelve or more turns per sheet and most games only use one or two sheets for the whole game! We minimize confusion and errors that can delay a game or, worse, destroy a skillfully planned campaign. These OOB's are free, and we have preprinted OOB's for most requested games, including many favorites. Speaking of confusion, have you ever gotten frustrated by a set of rules or a game board which was incomplete, misleading, or ambiguous? We'll your not alone! We've found that even the best intentioned of opponents can have valid differences of opinion over a rules interpretation. For this reason we have a JUDGE. He is there for more obscure situations. He employs a network of Specialists who will make a ruling on disputed matters that arises between differing opponents. His judgment is finial. We save all rulings so that AHIKS never speaks with a "Forked Tongue". To obtain a game assignment, members send a Match Request Form (MRF), (Printed in the Kommandeur's last page) and available on this web site (third bottom site map page above) and with the coming of PC age, it can now be sent by E-mail to the MC. In the event the game you want to play is not very popular or cannot be filled immediately, the MC places your request in the Match Request Column that appears in every issue of the Kommandeur News Letter quarterly. One can now read this same information on this web site under Open Match Request. We have many special services and opportunities to become involved in multi-commander, simultaneous and/or hidden movement games with Game master or Monitors. We have a voluntary AHIKS rating system along with an attachment to the AREA rating system. The AHIKS rating system is some what similar to the AREA system, but strictly controlled by AHIKS. The Area system is controlled by it's sole owner Glenn Pietroski and is used world wide. Both system's however rate all games from various manufacturers. If you are an AREA member you can be rated on AHIKS system if you so desire but you must be a member of AHIKS. Your ratings can be published or not published which is the members prerogative and must be expressed verbally or in writing that he/she does not wish to be published, otherwise it will. We do require that you be 18 year of age or older and that all members play their games promptly, courteously and to completion without exception. Resignation or Death from AHIKS excluded. As mentioned above, we now have broaden our war gaming activities to embrace the Son's & Daughter's of our adult membership. If you have a son, daughter, grandchildren etc. and are between the ages of 12-17 inclusive, they can join in the fun of war gaming with an opponent of their age. They will receive the full benefits of all material and equipment as do the adults with the exception of the Kommandeur, which is received by the parent member normally. The cost for a years membership in this age group is $2.00 dollars. The parent member is responsible for the actions of their children while they are members and must insure that if committed to an assignment they will complete that assignment or be penalized by expulsion from the Society. AHIKS charges a one time initiation fee of $1.00 dollars to cover initial kit mailings and our present dues is $ 5.00 a year subject to yearly review. Dues are required to be remitted by no later than 31 December of each year for the ensuing year. The Dues cover the expense for all mailings of assignments, OOB's, New Members Guild, AHIKS Business Mail, and the cost of publishing the Kommandeur News Letter. The officer's serving the Society are all volunteers, they freely give their time and efforts to the task of making the Society the Best War-gaming Club in the World. And it is! They receive no compensation for their volunteer work (with the exception of out of pocket expense) and the welcome thanks from it's Membership at large. The officer's serve at the pleasure of the membership. They are elected or reelected every four (4) years coinciding with the National Elections of the United States. The elected president of the Society has the pleasure of appointing volunteering members to appointed positions and serve at the pleasure of the President and the Society. Those person who are interested in war gaming and desire to join our Society and receive enjoyment of camaraderie are encouraged to either, write, mail or E-mail to the address below for further information and guidance. It is requested that when doing so that you include your home address, phone number and E-mail address if any, this will allow me to send you the necessary information you will need to proceed further with your application and direct you to the Regional Director concerned. You can contact me by E-mailing to: Domerider2@cs.com Phone: 1-802-253-9535 Snail Mail: 80 Worcester Road, Stowe, Vt. 05672-4320 Attn.: Match Coordinator.