My Gaming Odyssey

My first boardgame was Richthofen's War, which I bought brand new for $10 and played back in about 1973, when I was 14 years old. I went on to purchase and play many other Avalon Hill Games, especially with High School buddies in Pennsylvania. Most of the games I played focused on Air and Naval conflict, though I did buy Third Reich and tried real hard to figure out how to play the thing.

In the mid-1980s my gaming tapered off and came to an end. I got back into gaming in the early 1990s, when living in Ohio, and through the internet discovered many game companies other than just Avalon Hill. My collection began growing again. I added card-driven games by GMT, Great War at Sea games by Avalanche Press, and many, many others. I gamed with the great bunch of people in the Columbus Area Boardgaming Society.

A new field of opportuntities opened up. I proofed Strategy and Tactics magazine for a while. Then I was a playtester for Great War at Sea: 1904-5: The Russo-Japanese War. I was bumped up to the Developer of the game and then to a Co-Designer of the game. I have the Origins trophy for Best Historical Game Award for this game sitting on my shelf. I also served as the Designer for Great War at Sea: 1898: Spanish-American War . And I served as the Co-Designer for Second World War at Sea: SOPAC .

With a move to Arlington TX, and becoming full time Pastor of an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, I dropped game designing and developing (though I have recently proofed the rules ofCombat Commander: Europe and was a playtester for Asia Engulfed). I have added many excellent games to my collection, like the card-driven board games by Richard Borg. I have mostly settled on simply enjoying gaming with my family of 8 and the wonderful group of people in the South Arlington Gamers.