Yesterday, Allan B. Calhamer passed away at the age of 81. Mr. Calhamer is the inventor of one of the groundbreaking titles in the history of wargaming; the game Diplomacy, which was a favorite of presidents as well as being intimately involved in the early days of the wargaming hobby, in which fertile soil modern RPGs first took root. Gary Gygax published many of the earliest works concerning Dungeons and Dragons in those early Diplomacy ‘zines (as well as innumerable Diplomacy variants, such as games that took place in Tolkien’s Middle Earth), without which the wargaming community as we know it might never have existed. I know I myself have played Mr. Calhamer’s brilliant game hundreds of times, and enjoyed every minute of it, even when I was getting trounced. Truly one of the least-known, but nonetheless influential, founding figures of the gaming hobby has passed.
3 thoughts on “RIP Allan B Calhamer”
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Diplomacy was the seocnd war game i ever bought. Kingmaker was the first. RIP Mr. Calhamer
A great game. We played it at school and learned quickly that to win you had to appear trustworthy and honest – while all the while waiting for your allies to turn their back so you could stick it to them. The really honest players soon got ground into the dust.
The last game I won, (Turkey), I was the 'above the fray' player. Russia and I popped AH, then went for Germany. Russia was too deep in Germany when Both turned on me. In one double turn, I picked off 5 Russian builds. Never back stabbed anyone.
Damn fine game, the designer is sorely missed.