Another Point of Singularity

I got this in an email last night, but I might as well post the TMP obit today, it sums it up nicely.

Walter 'Wally' Simon of Silver Spring, Maryland, the original guiding light of HMGS East, former president of NOVAG, and the "Wally" of the legendary "Wally's Basement," has passed away. He was 72.

"Wally was not a competitive gamer," says Michael Guth. "He primarily enjoyed writing his own rules and hosting friendly games to try them out." He edited the fanzine The Potomac Wargamer for several decades (it is still available on Magweb).

"Wally's death is a reminder that miniature wargaming has a history," says Guth. "Thirty years ago we played with Scruby or Kriegspieler figures, and Airfix was just releasing their range of Napoleonic figures. Games were played with Mini-tanks, Hinton Hunt figures, and the old pre-painted SAE figures. Figures were cast in people's basements, some players still gamed with 54mm metal figures!

"Today, there are dozens of figure manufacturers working in metal and plastic. The dealer space at an HMGS convention is bigger than the entire original HMGS convention site. It was not always thus. Wally, and others of his generation worked hard to make historical miniature gaming a more accessible and widespread hobby.

"His passing is also a reminder that many of my friends and acquaintances from this period are also entering the ranks of Grognard. Lee Tucker, author of Tractics with Gary Gygax. Pat Condray, who also worked uncounted hours to found the HMGS. Paul Koch, author of the Civil War rules On to Richmond. Ed Konstant, who introduced me to Napoleonic warfare.

"Wally Simon has left wargaming a bigger and better hobby than he found it. I will miss him."

Along with some other crusty old wargamers like Pat Condray and Leo Cronin, Wally Simon has had a huge impact on a lot of us. As for me, he provided an example of the kind of GM, player and just plain nice guy that I can only try to emulate (and will certainly fail). I liked Wally's style - gentle remonstration instead of puffed up chest-beating (though he could get angry, believe me). Reflective analysis instead of ascerbic one-upmanship. Non-competitive instead of "win at any cost".

I know we have a tendency to crown those who have left us with laurels out of sentiment, and sometimes we ignore the critical out when we do that, but Wally Simon earned every bit of the praise he will (inevitably) receive in the next couple days.