Classic Europa: Europa Legion of Honor

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Please note, this is not an official Europa hall of fame or anything. It's just some people I choose to honor for their contributions to Europa, together with some reminiscences. I hope to add more details and pictures here over time. --John M. Astell

The Founders: Paul R. Banner and Frank Chadwick

Rich Banner, c. 1978

Rich Banner, c. 1978

Frank Chadwick, c. 1980

Frank Chadwick, c. 1980


Rich Banner and Frank Chadwick started Europa with the design and publication of Drang Nach Osten in 1973. They were two of the founders of Game Designers' Workshop. Rich and Frank both contributed to the game's design and research, as well as that of many other Europa games.


Rich was the art director of GDW and created the successive Europa graphic treatments until he left GDW after Fire in the East was published. Rich was active with Europa throughout his period at GDW and is still involved in it today.


Frank was the premier game designer of GDW (and by all accounts one of the top three designers in the entire wargaming business). I believe Frank preferred fresh challenges and breaking ground on new game systems, so after Their Finest Hour he tended to concentrate on new, non-Europa designs. He kept a keen interest in Europa and provide valuable support and research for the series, such as for the GDW desert game trio (Western Desert, The Near East, and Torch).

  

Winston HamiltonWinston Hamilton, c. 1997

Winston got involved in Europa through Narvik, published in 1974 by GDW. Winston lived in the US Midwest not too far from GDW, and he and Frank Chadwick got together over Winston's interest in Narvik. Frank and Winston became friends, and Winston became a supported of GDW and Europa.


In the 1980s, Winston and I got together to do sets of play aids for the Europa games (reduced-size maps and extra charts). We did this through Game Research/Design, Winston's wargaming business. (As I recall, he first set up GRD when he designed his Aachen game, which was published by Peoples' Wargames.) The play aids were a success, and GRD thus was in the Europa business. Later, GRD acquired the license to publish the Europa games itself and went on to publish the Collectors' Editions and a newsletter that became The Europa Magazine.


Winston was a tireless promoter of Europa. Unfortunately, he became very ill with diabetes and had continual health problems in the 1990s, until he untimely passed away in the year 2000. His friends and true Europa supporters who knew him still miss him to this day.

GRD and GDW at Origins 1997

GRD and GDW at Origins 1997 (left to right): David H. Lippman, Frank Watson, Winston Hamilton, Frank Chadwick.

Jack and Winston at Origins, c, 1983

Jack Radey (left) and Winston (right) at Origins in the 1980s
(perhaps Origins 1983, the year Winston's Aachen game was published).

Honor Roll

In addition to the triumvirate mentioned above, the following individuals have made significant contributions to Europa. (This is by no means a comprehensive list! And, its in alphabetical order by first name, just to make things interesting.)

 

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