FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These are the most commonly asked questions by members. The questions were current as of August, 2014 and have not been updated since. Some of these answers are obsolete and someday will be updated. If you have a question and do not see it answered here, you can contact any of the executive committee officers listed in the contacts section of the “members only” side of the forum and discuss your question with them.
Where can I find the AHIKS on-line forum and what can be found there?
AHIKS’ on-line forum can be accessed through the AHIKS website at www.ahiks.com . Move your cursor to the Field Telephone icon that says Enter AHIKS Forum to the left and click it. You will be taken to the main menu on the AHIKS on-line forum. From here you can view all of the topics on the forum but you CANNOT post to the forum unless you log in.
To log into the AHIKS Forum, at the main menu, click the “log-in” button in the upper right hand corner of the menu. Enter your user name and password and click the “log in” button. You will be taken back to the main menu but you can now post comments, etc to the forum.
There are many interesting sections to the forum. You can meet other members for chats there and request game assignments. We also have on-line games playing there from time to time.
Where can I find the AHIKS Social Network Facebook page?
AHIKS has a Facebook page, a MeWe page and a Discord page. The pages are all called “AHIKS”.
Where do I go to download a copy of the current newsletter?
Past newsletterissues will eventually be posted under ‘AHIKS KOMMANDEUR”.
What is the publication schedule for The Kommandeur newsletter?
The approximate publication schedule of the newsletter is as follows; February 5th, April 5th, June 5th, August 15th, October 5th, and December 5th. If our editor will be away for any issue, he will notify everyone in the previous issue what the next publication date will be.
How do I join the AHIKS Facebook Page if I am already a Facebook Member?
Just search for “AHIKS” and request to be added to the membership there. Be sure to include your real name and AHIKS ID number in your request so we can verify membership in AHIKS. It’s a fun place to meet fellow AHIKSers who are also FB members. You can access the AHIKS website from a link on the FB page as well.
How do I find a game to play?
To submit a match request go to “Want an Opponent” on this website. Fill out and submit the form. Our Match Coordinator posts a list of members who are requesting opponents for games they wish to play in the Open Match Requests section in The Kommandeur Newsletter. You can check the list for a game you would like to play, and, if you find one, you can contact the Match Coordinator at MatchCoordinator@ahiks.com.
An example game listing looks like this:
Game Name Version Game Company Player Requesting/ID Number Play Format Codes
Battle of the Bulge ’81 AH Bob Best (552) VEPX
The game name is listed first. As many games have been published and re-released with upgraded rules and such, the version the requestor wants to play is also listed. In the example, the requestor wants to play the ’81 version of Avalon Hill’s Battle of the Bulge game rather than the ’65 version. Not all games have more than one version so this may be blank on some game requests. Next is the game company’s initials who published it. Again, some game titles have been acquired and re-releases by other companies so there may be multiple versions by different companies in the market place. The requestor wants to play Avalon Hill’s ’81 version of the game in the example shown above. Next is the requestor’s name and his AHIKS ID number. The capitol letters after the ID number represent the way in which the requestor wants to play the game. The code letters can be found in the table below and also on the MC section in The Kommandeur. The code letters in the example above indicate the requestor is willing to play a Vassal (computer aid) game – (the V) and/or he wants to play by email – (the E). He is also willing to play by USPS Postal mail – (the P). The X means he wants an unrated game, which means the game results are not reported to the Match Ratings Officer. (See message from the Ratings Officer below.) The full list of match codes is shown below and can also be found in The Kommandeur.
Match Codes
A: ADC2
C: Cyberboard
E: Email
F: Fast Play
G: Will Gamemaster
L: Learning Game
M: Multi-Player
P: Postal Mail
S: Slow Play
T: ACTS
V: VASSAL
W Virtual Face-to-Face
X: Non-rated Game
Z: Zuntzu
How do I submit a game request?
To make a game request for a game you would like to play go to the “members only” section and, after logging in, select Match Request Form from the menu. You are presented with two choices, you can either complete an automated request form that will send the document to the Match Coordinator, or you can select the “print the Match Request Form” option. This will allow you to print out the match request form, complete it by hand, and then you can mail it to the Match Coordinator. For questions, contact the Match Coordinator at mc@ahiks.com
What is the Rating System?
Members are automatically included in the AHIKS rating. Consolidated listings of the ratings will be published periodically in the “K”. A member may request information of his current rating by sending a request to the Ratings Officer. The Rating System methodology (the arithmetic of the points) will be published periodically in the “K”. The Rating System is provided as an information service in order to increase our enjoyment of our hobby, and perhaps avoid obvious mismatches of skill. If a dispute arises over the play of a game, ratings points MAY be withdrawn for victory in that game in order to ensure that disputes are not complicated by desire for points. We desire to encourage play for the sake of PLAYING, not BLOOD WINNING, and we will remove members from the Society if they do not observe this principle.
What is the ICRK Sheet?
The International Combat Resolution Key or ICRK Sheet was developed so that two remotely located players could securely resolve combat and other game functions that required a dice roll. Originally used for postal play the ICRK sheet has pretty much given way to AHIKS’ electronic dice roller in the Members Only section of the AHIKS website. ICRK sheets can still requested from the Match Coordinator for those members that do not wish to use the dice roller.
For each match assigned, a player receives an International Combat Resolution Key (ICRK, pronounced “irk”) which contains 400 random die rolls, each from I through 6 (NOTE: Special 0-9 and 2-12 ICRKs are also available). The numbers are arranged by columns lettered from A, and by rows numbered I through 10. When you make out your combat listing, specify one column and row (for example, “B3”) for each attack, weather die roll, etc. Your opponent will resolve your combats by locating the ICRK you specified on his ICRK sheet.
The above listed use of the ICRK is ONE way of using it and is shown here as an example for those unfamiliar with the process. You may want to agree to a different, more relaxed way of using the ICRKs with your opponent but do so BEFORE you start play, REMEMBER THIS IS FOR FUN!!!
(See the section – Using the ICRK)
Whom do I notify to change my email address and/or my mailing address? Email Secretary@AHIKS.com and Publisher@AHIKS.com