Air Baron saw some lofty participation numbers from 1996 through 2000 but had dropped off in recent years. I'm happy to report our numbers are heading back towards the 100s with a showing of 80 people for 2004. For those of you who didn't make one of the FOUR heats - what can I say, you missed out on the "Good Times Game of 2004". Next year is to be just as exciting, so do your best to make it out.

It was exciting to see the different strategies employed at the tables. While some shoot straight up the middle buying up Dallas-Fort Worth and its ilk, others would bunker down in LAX and JFK biding their time hoping to accumulate enough cash to win. However, the most successful strategy seemed to be taking control of Miami and eventually controlling Atlanta with presence in surrounding hubs. I didnít keep official stats, but this was also the strategy used by the eventual champion Michael Musko in the final game.

There were 26 games played resulting in 123 calamities being drawn. While the likelihood of each one being drawn should be even, Local Competitor was only drawn 13% of the time. Recession was drawn 19%, Crash 22%, Oil Can 23% and Strike 24% of the time. In games where the oilcan was drawn more than three times, you only had a 10% chance of finishing in the allotted three-hour limit. If it was drawn four times you almost had no chance and if it was drawn five times, you were certain to be adjudicated and the winner would have a measly 170-market share and cash total.

Here are a few rule variants Iím thinking about for next year, please e-mail me and let me know what you think. These rule variants would be used to help keep games going and end before the three-hour limit is up ... who really wants to be adjudicated anyway?

1. Crash, Local Competitor, Strike and Recession are mixed up, one is chosen and placed on the first calamity marker. Oilcan is then mixed with the remaining and they are distributed on the market share chart. This would give the game a chance to get going before the oilcan comes out and steals all your money.

2. Profit taking. Similar to Fare Wars in the sense that you have to declare if you're in or out before drawing chits. If you're in, then every chit of yours pulled brings in three times the value, but you roll at a -2 (defense and attack).

3. Remove the Oilcan chit from play whenever it is drawn after the two-hour mark.

Let me know what you think ... you can e-mail me at the address listed below.

Next year I plan on running just three heats, one during the week, one Friday night and one on Saturday. I'd also like a volunteer to run one of the heats (Friday night or Saturday). If you're interested again, e-maili me at the address below.

Until next year, don't overlook those foreign hubs and keep flying the friendly skies of Lancaster Air!