GMT's AWAW is indeed a lifestyle, and that's even without the GATHERING STORM and STORM OVER ASIA prelude expansions!  A buddy of mine and I have been talking about getting into playing that game for years (we were old THIRD REICH and ADVANCED THIRD REICH players), but as we are geographically distant (and I'm so short on time these days), we've not yet done it.  There's just so much to the game and indeed has to take priority over other games to learn to play it well.  I dream of doing that; we'll see if it every happens!  I dream of mastering other games, too...if I find a small band of dedicated AWAW opponents, then maybe I'll get roped into it on a dedicated basis!

Will, I hear you on the press of responsibilities (family and work).  That's very much like my situation at the moment!  So I can relate.  I've not played the Compass version of FATAL ALLIANCES but thought a great deal of the earlier edition--indeed, I thought it was better than its inspiration, WORLD IN FLAMES, at the time!  And AIR ASSAULT ON CRETE was one of my Avalon Hill favorites; always felt it was underrated.  Most played it for the small INVASION: MALTA game which to me was okay but paled in comparison to the nail-biter that was the main event!  So here's hoping you get to these someday soon!  In the meantime, enjoy TUSCW!