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 In Memory of: Richard H. Berg
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 [F] CSW Forum  / Consim Cafe (Chat, General Discussion & More!)  / In Memory of...  / In Memory of: Richard H. Berg

CSW is saddened to learn of the passing of a true legend in wargame design, Richard H. Berg. It would be a rare circumstance indeed if any of our members have not enjoyed countless hours of enjoyment playing a game designed by Richard Berg. He was a major force in the hobby and influenced many of today's designers. He is also, of course, a close friend to many and will be sorely missed.



Older Items Oldest Items Outline (older msg: 138)

Dave Casper - Aug 9, 2019 1:10 am (#139 Total: 158)  

[Casper, Dave]
I remember I met him and spoke briefly at Origins '78, in Ann Arbor. It was a panel for his War of the Ring game, and Howard Barasch was also there. I was between my sophomore and junior years in high school.

It seems like a lifetime ago, because it was...

He seemed like quite a character, and he designed some remarkable games.

Condolences to his family and friends.

John Kranz - Aug 9, 2019 4:05 pm (#140 Total: 158)  

 
[Kranz, John]
Thanks. I've added a thread to remember Mike Uhl.

John Alsen - Aug 13, 2019 4:36 pm (#141 Total: 158)  

 
[Alsen, John]
We make this stuff up, so can you.

I don't care to imagine where my hobby might be today without the genius of RHB and the craftsmanship he brought to tabletop games.

His designs were able to meld history and game play like no other. Sure, sometimes his rules left a bit to be desired...there are few designers who can write rules well enough to play the game without a competent developer. I cannot think of a game where it was said he got the history wrong.

Berg also advanced the craftsmanship of game design through his Berg's Review of Games publication and column. He may not have been diplomatic but his critiques were spot on I thought.

I was lucky to become his developer for his Great Battles of the American Civil War system (GBACW) through GMT unit he sold the system rights (did not know one could do that) about a year ago. My favorite memory of working with RHB occurred at the last Consimworld Expo he attended. A group was playing a GBACW game and one of the players wandered over to me with a game question (don't remember who or what the question was). My answer appeared unsatisfactory to him. Sensing something was up I watched him circle his way over to where RHB was sitting by himself prepping for a soon-to-start playtest. A minute or two later the gamer walked away still not pleased as evident in his body language. RHB looked over to where I was, caught my eye and yelled out "Hey John, we both gave him the same answer!" A moment one cannot make up.

RIP, friend.

Stephen Oliver - Aug 13, 2019 5:30 pm (#142 Total: 158)  

 
[Oliver, Stephen]
Berg also advanced the craftsmanship of game design through his Berg's Review of Games publication and column. He may not have been diplomatic but his critiques were spot on I thought.

Are Richard Berg's Review of Games available online and/or as PDFs anywhere?

Thanks.

Ken McGovern - Aug 13, 2019 5:55 pm (#143 Total: 158)  

 
[McGovern, Ken]
Yes. Many places. Google is your friend. Here's one: http://richardhberg.tripod.com/ebrog.html @Yay! Long live one of the Kings!!!

Dan Finnerty - Aug 13, 2019 6:00 pm (#144 Total: 158)  

[Finnerty, Dan]
John Alsen says, "I cannot think of a game where it was said he got the history wrong."

Maybe his history wasn't exactly wrong but he didn't pursue Lion of the North, the application of GBOH to warfare in the age of Gustavus Adolphus, when Ben Hull's Musket and Pike Battle System appeared. I can't provide a quote or cite where it appeared but Mr. Berg acknowledged, in a perfectly gentlemanly and professional way, that Ben Hull had more accurately captured what was happening on those Thirty Years War battlefields. Classy, I thought.

My other favourite (off gaming table) Berg moment was listening to the audio tape included in Moments In History's A Famous Victory describing the subject and the game. Hilarious and informative, and if that isn't a worthy epitaph I don't know what is.

Thank You Richard Berg. Where ever you are I hope the food is good!

Peter McCord - Aug 16, 2019 1:09 pm (#145 Total: 158)  

[McCord, Peter]
Did RHB have any projects submitted to publishers that and are they still being worked on?

Jay Townsend - Aug 17, 2019 8:53 am (#146 Total: 158)  

[Townsend, Jay]
I know of at least one, called: Warriors of the Sun, that he had put on the back burner. I mailed him some helpful materials about a two years ago.

geneforsburg - Aug 17, 2019 10:20 pm (#147 Total: 158)  

[geneforsburg]
There is also Vindaloo being carried by Legion games.

Jim Anderson - Aug 21, 2019 1:15 pm (#148 Total: 158)  

[Anderson, Jim]
Not to be morbid, but does anyone have any details of what Richard died from?

Jeff Newell - Aug 21, 2019 3:51 pm (#149 Total: 158)  

 
[Newell, Jeff]
Not morbid to ask.

All I know is that it was unexpected.

Jeff

Martin Gallo - Aug 22, 2019 8:48 pm (#150 Total: 158)  

 
[Gallo, Martin]
I had heard prior to his death that he was in poor health.

GHW - Sep 3, 2019 6:55 pm (#151 Total: 158)  

[GHW]
more bad news

Tom Johnson has passed away

T. Johnston - Sep 3, 2019 7:17 pm (#152 Total: 158)  

 
[Johnston, T.]
Phew, that caught me off guard. The "t" makes quite a bit of difference.

Mr. Johnson and I had communicated occasionally, usually due to a mis-communication from someone else.

There seems to be a rash of bad news on CSW these days. :frown:

Jim Anderson - Sep 3, 2019 7:39 pm (#153 Total: 158)  

[Anderson, Jim]
There seems to be a rash of bad news on CSW these days.


We are getting to be an older bunch.....

T. Johnston - Sep 3, 2019 7:45 pm (#154 Total: 158)  

 
[Johnston, T.]
Yep. What's up with that?

Kevin Caldwell - Sep 3, 2019 8:01 pm (#155 Total: 158)  

 
[Caldwell, Kevin]
Time travel. We're all traveling into the future at the rate of 1 second per second.

John B. Firer - Dec 28, 2019 12:44 pm (#156 Total: 158)  

 
[Firer, John B.]
Wow, did a bunch of postings get deleted?

JBF :chagrin:

John B. Firer - Feb 15, 2020 12:27 pm (#157 Total: 158)  

 
[Firer, John B.]
...boy, this has died down rather quickly!

JBF :eek:

Peter McCord - Feb 15, 2020 3:10 pm (#158 Total: 158)  

[McCord, Peter]
The latest c3i has a tribute by Mark H.



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