New and returning players are welcome! For those wishing exposure to the game, a session of three mini-scenarios (raiders, bombing Germany and North Africa) is offered on Monday from 1:00 - 5:00 pm. These mini-scenarios are complete, standalone games (including units) that participants may keep at no charge.

For veterans, this event consists of one LONG round (60 hours) of the Global War Campaign Game Scenario, played in teams of two or three. This will continue to be the case, although a two-player campaign game of the European Scenario is also allowed. The Global War campaign games usually last from Tuesday through Saturday, meaning that participants play this game exclusively during that time. It is a unique, as well as highly enjoyable, experience for those who attempt it. Many of the participants have attended multiple times since the inaugural Advanced Third Reich event at Camp Hill, PA in 1992. The addition of Empire of the Rising Sun, as the Pacific companion to Advanced Third Reich, transformed the event from a one theater game, to the ultimate World War II gaming experience. The subsequent publication of the revised game, A World at War, under GMT, continues the tradition.

The game and the rules have undergone continuous refinement since publication in 2003. Some of the most recent post-publication changes have included naval combat revisions to encourage more carrier engagements in the Pacific, new rules for Russian Unpreparedness, Russian winters and Russian Spring offensives, the ability to eliminate invasion beachheads by attrition, and the ability to transfer 1 or 2 research points between projects to overcome poor rolls on long-term research. In addition, clarifications to existing rules have made this ruleset one of the cleanest and most playable available anywhere, for a game of this scale. A second edition of A World at War is anticipated in 2009. The first edition from GMT is sold out. The current rules are just a web-click away. A prequel, called Gathering Storm, is also in the works, and will allow starting World War II earlier or later, with different initial conditions.

If you like World War II games on a grand operational level, this is worth your consideration. The players who come year after year are excellent and sportsmanlike opponents. In a game of this complexity it is easy to overlook something crucial. Players are quick to point out such blunders, and to allow correction whenever asked, to ensure the best contest possible. Players will be matched by experience level.

Plaques are awarded as determined by the GM and assistant GMs, with input from all players. To that end, a special meeting will be held Saturday at 11 PM in the Hopewell room to conduct the discussion of the campaigns just waged.

For Campaign Game players that wish to do so, and who have already been paired for a match, the first few turns of the Global War campaign game can be played prior to the tournament using Warplanner, a free PBeM play-aid developed exclusively for A World at War and Advanced Third Reich.

The tournament officially begins at 6:00 PM on Tuesday night. However, space is usually available in the Ballroom starting at 9:00 AM Tuesday, for players who want to come early and start at that time. Space may not be available for setup on Monday night, because the room may not be set up yet.

The preliminary Second Edition rules will be used, as posted on the website www.aworldatwar.com. Scenario modifications will be posted there. This site has a link to the free Warplanner PBEM aid. For preliminary pairings, please join the A World at War Yahoo discussion group (instructions and link on the website).

If you are not a member of the discussion group, please join. Rules clarifications and refinements to eliminate game flaws and maintain game balance are hotly debated with the designer, Bruce Harper, who also comes to the convention to play whenever possible. Strategies are discussed, and game reports are posted. You can also subscribe through the website to Ultra, the quarterly newsletter devoted exclusively to A World at War. This can be received either electronically or by mail, and provides excellent articles by Bruce and expert players. You will not find a game anywhere more strongly supported by its designer and the community of players.

GMT will provide merchandise credits of $20 for all laurelists in the amount of $20 (1st), $15 (2nd), $10 third, and $5 (4th-6th).