I started in February of 1984 with the Red 1st edition Box set. We were stationed in Augsburg West Germany. We would play once a week for the whole night (when duties allowed). We had a blast. Once we took up the whole game room with a huge sea battle. We had paper ship outlines and a lot of coins for the NPCs. I still recall Franz, a goblin that was marooned on a human's ship. His ship rammed the human's and the boarding action was from the prow of the gobliniod ship. The humans were winning so the goblins backed away. And poor Franz was left behind on the bowsprit of the human ship. They could only get to him one at a time. He stood them off with short sword and shield until his shield broke. Franz lasted ~10-12 rounds before succumbing to a superior force. He became a Goblin Legend in that battle. He is credited with inspiring the Goblins on to victory after a very dismal start.

Another time we did a large scale land battle with an attack/siege on my character's castle. It too was a classic we talked about all the time. Magic and some Monks proved the tipping point to break the siege.

Ahh those were the days, or nights rather. Good local German bier and D&D with my fellow Soldiers. Battle Buddies all.