Old Question - New Group

[Larry Reese]

My mom got tired of all my small plastic soldiers (I even had the Guns of Navarone set, kick ass for a kid let me tell you) and thought she could save space and money by buying me Panzer Blitz for Christmas. I was probably 9 or 10, I don't really know. She was a history buff and even played a few games of it with me (I especially remember playing the Kursk scenario). Then played this game with my friends. got a book on miniatures rules from the library at one point and played some of that, but was too expensive for the miniatures. At same time expanded into Midway, Afrika Korps, and eventually Squad Leader (while I liked this, it simply moved too slow, too much minutiae involved). Then got into computers (built first machine myself with friend). Games were super primative then. Lots of non-strategy games held my fancy on the computer, as well as role playing games, especially Traveller and D&D. Ran into Squad Leader again at The Citadel of all places. Then Civilization - holy cow how addicting that game was, first super out of control computer game I had. Loved M1 Tank Platoon too, for the POS machines then, the programmers did an unbelievable job with that game. Axis & Allies was in there too, probably most addicting non-computer game I've ever played. Lots of folks who wouldn't consider themselves war gamers, or gamers of any sort for that matter, played that because it was so much fun. Then a long time later, after a bad break up with a girl friend, I was nosing around in the games section of a Best Buy and saw East Front on the shelf.

I was hooked. Looked like basically a computerized version of Panzer Blitz. Played solo for a while then started looking on line for opponents. Hooked up with Jim vK, Scott Cole, and others at a place called Lead Eaters. Lots of great gaming there, and email and even IRC/ICQ chats. Then I disappeared for a while, with real life. A few years later, ducked into The Blitz when it first opened up, then dropped off again for awhile. I kind of come and go as life permits. Still like the friends I've made and the gaming system, though I feel it could be so much better (but who has the money to throw into serious modifications/updates to a 15 year old game system with only a tiny following in the market?).

Still wonder where some of the old hands from way back are today. Made some good friends round the world through this place/game.

Take it easy all,

LR