John Hill (game designer)
Encyclopedia
John Hill is an American
designer of military wargames
, as well as rules for miniature wargaming
such as Johnny Reb 3. He is a member of the Wargaming Hall of Fame.
Hill, a native of Indiana
, is most known as the designer of the extremely popular Avalon Hill
board game
Squad Leader
in 1977. Hill founded Conflict Games Company in the late 1960s and owned a hobby shop, The Scale, in Lafayette, Indiana
, for several years. Among his many titles were Verdun, Kasserine Pass, Overlord, Battle For Stalingrad, Tank Leader, Eastern Front Tank Leader and many others. He also designed Hue
, based upon the fighting near the City of Hue in the Vietnam War
.
In 1978, Hill was named to the Wargaming Hall of Fame, receiving the Charles S. Roberts Award
at the Origins
gaming convention in Chester, Pennsylvania
, on June 23, 1979.
Hill developed what arguably is the most popular rules set ever developed for regiment
al level American Civil War
miniature gaming, the Johnny Reb series (published by Game Designers' Workshop
). He was noted for his elaborate 10mm miniature wargaming layouts for Civil War battles at Historical Miniatures Gaming Society
conventions such as Historicon
, Cold Wars and Fall In!
. He founded and owned the Johnny Reb Gaming Company, which published the third version of the Johnny Reb rules.
Hill today is a frequent contributor to the Johnny Reb Gaming Society
's popular CHARGE! magazine
, offering rules interpretations and strategy advice for Johnny Reb players. He now lives in New Mexico
after spending many years in Virginia
. He is an analyst for the U.S. military.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
designer of military wargames
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
, as well as rules for miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
such as Johnny Reb 3. He is a member of the Wargaming Hall of Fame.
Hill, a native of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, is most known as the designer of the extremely popular Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
Squad Leader
Squad Leader
thumb|Squad Leader game package.Squad Leader is a tactical level board wargame originally published by Avalon Hill in 1977. It was designed by Hall of Fame game designer John Hill and focuses on infantry combat in Europe during World War II...
in 1977. Hill founded Conflict Games Company in the late 1960s and owned a hobby shop, The Scale, in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, for several years. Among his many titles were Verdun, Kasserine Pass, Overlord, Battle For Stalingrad, Tank Leader, Eastern Front Tank Leader and many others. He also designed Hue
Hue (wargame)
Hue is a board wargame first published in 1973 by Simulations Design Corporation in Conflict #6 and again in 1977 as Battle for Hue, and subsequently published by Mayfair Games in 1982 under the one-word title....
, based upon the fighting near the City of Hue in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
In 1978, Hill was named to the Wargaming Hall of Fame, receiving the Charles S. Roberts Award
Charles S. Roberts Award
The Charles S. Roberts Awards are given annually for excellence in the historical wargaming hobby. It is named after Charles S. Roberts the "Father of Wargaming" who founded Avalon Hill. The award is informally called a "Charlie" and officially called a "Charles S...
at the Origins
Origins International Game Expo
Origins Game Fair is one of North America's most prominent annual gaming conventions, second in size only to Gen Con. Origins takes place each year in Columbus, Ohio at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, in late June or early July....
gaming convention in Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
, on June 23, 1979.
Hill developed what arguably is the most popular rules set ever developed for regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al level American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
miniature gaming, the Johnny Reb series (published by Game Designers' Workshop
Game Designers' Workshop
Game Designers' Workshop was a wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers.-History:Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973...
). He was noted for his elaborate 10mm miniature wargaming layouts for Civil War battles at Historical Miniatures Gaming Society
Historical Miniatures Gaming Society
The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society promotes the hobby of historical miniature wargaming as a registered non-profit charitable and educational foundation...
conventions such as Historicon
Historicon
Historicon is the largest gaming convention in North America devoted to historical miniature wargaming. It is sponsored by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, a nonprofit guiding organization...
, Cold Wars and Fall In!
Fall In!
Fall In! is one of the largest gaming conventions in North America devoted to historical miniature wargaming. It is sponsored by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, a nonprofit guiding organization, which also sponsors the much larger Historicon convention.Typically, Fall In! is a three-day...
. He founded and owned the Johnny Reb Gaming Company, which published the third version of the Johnny Reb rules.
Hill today is a frequent contributor to the Johnny Reb Gaming Society
Johnny Reb Gaming Society
The Johnny Reb Gaming Society is the leading international society for the hobby of miniature wargaming of the American Civil War. Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, the non-profit society exists to promote regimental level miniature gaming of historical battles from the Civil War...
's popular CHARGE! magazine
CHARGE! (magazine)
CHARGE! is a miniature wargaming newsletter / fanzine published quarterly by the Johnny Reb Gaming Society, headquartered in York, Pennsylvania...
, offering rules interpretations and strategy advice for Johnny Reb players. He now lives in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
after spending many years in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He is an analyst for the U.S. military.