Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) 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. The founding members consisted of Frank Chadwick, Rich Banner, Marc Miller, and Loren Wiseman. GDW acquired the Conflict Games Company from John Hill in the early 1970s.
GDW published a new product approximately every twenty-two days for over twenty years. In an effort to bridge the gap between role players, board wargamers and miniature wargamers, the company published RPGs with fantastic settings alongside games with realistic themes including rulesets for 15mm and 20mm miniatures set during the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the modern era; and boardgames involving these eras such as the Air Superiority series and Harpoon.
The company disbanded February 29, 1996 after suffering financial troubles.
Products
Role-playing games En Garde! (1975): Dueling game set in 17th-century France, often run as a play-by-mail game. Traveller (1977): A science fiction game originally intended as a ruleset for generic space adventures. Revised and reissued as Megatraveller (1987) and with completely different rules and a greatly changed setting as Traveller: The New Era (1993)The Traveller Bibliography, page 25 Twilight: 2000 (1984): An alternate history game set in a Europe devastated by nuclear war, with adventures and supplements also dealing with the U.S. and Bangkok. Traveller: 2300 (1987): A hard science fiction roleplaying game, set 300 years after the Twilight War featured in Twilight: 2000. Traveller: 2300 was later renamed to 2300 AD in (1988) with the release of the second edition. Space: 1889 (1988): Victorian-era spacefaring game which provided for roleplay opportunities, steampunk aerial gunboat engagements and "colonial" miniature warfare with retro-futuristic elements such as Martian brave warbands and odd space creatures. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1990): Based on the underground comic book Xenozoic Tales. Dark Conspiracy (1991): a near-future horror role-playing game (RPG), created by Lester Smith Dangerous Journeys (1992): Roleplaying game created by Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the original Dungeons & Dragons system.
Board games Game Year Designer Category Notes19401980Frank ChadwickwargameSeries 12019411981John AstellwargameSeries 12019421978Marc MillerwargameSeries 1201815: The Waterloo Campaign1975 (2nd ed. 1982)Frank Chadwickwargame8th Army: Operation Crusader1984Frank ChadwickwargameDouble Blind seriesBattle of Agincourt - 1415 AD1978Marc MillerwargameSeries 120Air Strike1987JD WebsterwargameAir Superiority seriesAir Superiority1987JD WebsterwargameAir Superiority seriesBattle of Alma1978Frank ChadwickwargameSeries 120Arctic Front1985Frank ChadwickwargameThe Third World War seriesAssault1983Frank ChadwickwargameAssault seriesAsteroid1980Frank Chadwicksci-fiSeries 120Attack in the Ardennes1982Frank ChadwickwargameAvalanche1976Frank ChadwickwargameAzhanti High Lightning1980Frank Chadwick & Marc Millersci-fiCharles S. Roberts Award winnerBar-Lev1977Frank ChadwickwargameAcquired from John Hill/Conflict GamesBattle for Basra1991Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesBattle Rider1994Frank Chadwicksci-fiBattlefield Europe1990Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesBeda Fomm1979Frank ChadwickwargameSeries 120Belter1979Frank Chadwicksci-fiBlood & Thunder1992Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesBloodtree Rebellion1979Lynn Willissci-fiBloody Kasserine1992Frank ChadwickwargameBlue Max1983Phil HallwargameBoots & Saddles1984Frank ChadwickwargameAssault seriesBrilliant Lances1993David Nilsensci-fiBundeswehr1986Frank ChadwickwargameAssault seriesBurma1976Bob FowlerwargameCase White1977Frank ChadwickwargameEuropa series game VIIChaco1973Marc MillerwargameChieftain1988Frank ChadwickwargameAssault seriesCitadel: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu1977Frank Chadwickwargame2 Game Designer Guild Awards Coral Sea1974 (2nd ed. 1976)Marc MillerwargameCrimea1975Frank ChadwickwargameDark Nebula1980Marc Millersci-fiSeries 120Desert Falcons1989JD WebsterwargameAir Superiority seriesDouble Star1979Marc Millersci-fiDrang Nach Osten!1973Frank ChadwickwargameEuropa series game IEagles1974Loren WisemanwargameEn Garde!1975 (2nd ed. 1977)Darryl HanyrpgEylau1980Rik FontanawargameThe Fall of France1981John AstellwargameEuropa series game VIIIThe Fall of Tobruk1978Frank ChadwickwargameFifth Frontier War1981Marc Millersci-fiFire in the East1984John AstellwargameEuropa series game IGreat Patriotic War1988Frank ChadwickwargameGuilford Courthouse1978Greg NovakwargameSeries 120Harpoon1987Larry Bondwargameincludes supplement Troubled WatersHarpoon: Captain's Edition1990Larry BondwargameA House Divided1981 (2nd ed. 1989)Frank Chadwickwargame2 time Charles S. Roberts Award winnerIllad1978Rik Fontanasci-fiImperium1977Marc Millersci-fiIndian Ocean Adventure1978Marc MillerwargameInvasion Earth1981Marc Millersci-fiKasserine Pass1977Frank ChadwickwargameLa Bataille de la Moscowa1977 & 1988John HarshmanwargameLast Battle1989Tim RyanrpgThe Battle of Lobositz1978Frank ChadwickwargameSeries 120Manassas1975 (2nd ed. 1976)Tom EllerwargameMarita-Merkur1978Rich BannerwargameEuropa series game III Mayday1978Marc Millersci-fiCharles S. Roberts Award winnerBattle for Midway1976Marc MillerwargameBattle for Moscow1986Frank ChadwickwargameFree giveaway, Charles S. Roberts Award finalistNarvik1974 (2nd ed. 1980)Frank ChadwickwargameEuropa series game IVThe Near East1983John AstellwargameEuropa series game IXThe Normandy Campaign1983Ben KnightwargameDouble Blind seriesOperation Crusader1978Frank Chadwickwargame8th Army: Operation Crusader – The Winter Battles for Tobruk, 19411984Frank ChadwickwargameDouble blind seriesOperation Market Garden1985Frank ChadwickwargameDouble Blind seriesOver the Top1990Greg NovakwargameCommand Decision series rulesOverlord1978Frank ChadwickwargamePearl Harbor1977 (2nd ed. 1979)John Prados wargame2nd edition developed by Marc MillerPersian Gulf1986Frank ChadwickwargameThe Third World War seriesPharsalus1977Loren WisemanwargamePhase Line Smash1992Frank Chadwickwargamesolitaire gamePort Arthur1976Marc MillerwargameThe Battle of Prague1980Frank ChadwickwargameSeries 120The Race for Tunis1992Frank ChadwickwargameThe Battle of Raphia, 217 B.C.1977Marc MillerwargameSeries 120Red Army1982John AstellwargameRed Empire1990Frank ChadwickwargameRed Star/White Eagle1979Dave WilliamswargameReinforcements1985Frank ChadwickwargameAssault series: Russo–Polish WarRoad to the Rhine1979Frank ChadwickwargameThe Sands of War Expansion Kit1992Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesThe Sands of War1991Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesScorched Earth1987John AstellwargameEuropa series game IISnapshot1979Marc Millersci-fiSoldier King1982Frank ChadwickwargameSouthern Front1984Frank ChadwickwargameThe Third World War seriesSpain & Portugal1984Frank ChadwickwargameEuropa series game XSuez '731981Frank ChadwickwargameSSN1975Stephen NewbergwargameStand & Die1991Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesTacforce1980Frank Chadwickwargameminiatures rulesTeam Yankee1987Frank ChadwickwargameFirst Battle seriesTest of Arms1988Larry SmithwargameFirst Battle seriesTet Offensive: 19681991Frank ChadwickwargameTheir Finest Hour1976Marc MillerwargameEuropa series game VTheir Finest Hour1982 & 1984John AstellwargameEuropa series game VThe Third World War1984Frank ChadwickwargameThe Third World War seriesTorch1985John AstellwargameEuropa series game XITorgau1974Frank ChadwickwargameTrenchfoot1981Frank ChadwickwargameTriplanetary1973 (2nd ed. 1981)John Harshman, Marc Millersci-fiTsushima1976Marc MillerwargameUnentschieden1973Frank ChadwickwargameEuropa series game IIVerdun1978Marc MillerwargameWestern Desert1983John AstellwargameEuropa series game VIWhite Death1979Frank ChadwickwargameYalu1978John Hillwargame
Miniatures rules Fire & Steel (Napoleonic Wars, 1978) Harpoon (modern naval combat), later developed into a computer game Johnny Reb (American Civil War) Striker (science fiction, 1983), another Traveller based game. Command Decision (20th century warfare, World War II. 1st and 2nd editions; a 3rd edition was written by Frank Chadwick and published in 1998 by EHQ and Old Glory) Combined Arms (Cold War, post-WWII) TacForce (20th century warfare) Over the Top (20th century, WWI) Star Cruiser (23rd century space warfare) a 2300AD-based game Sky Galleons of Mars (Space 1889 aerial warfare, boxed board game with miniatures) Cloudships and Gunboats (Space 1889 aerial Warfare, boxed board game with miniatures) Soldier's Companion (Space 1889 land, air and sea warfare) Striker II (science fiction, 1994), Traveller: The New Era–based game. Volley & Bayonet (big battles in black powder era, 1994)
Grenadier Magazine The Grenadier was the house magazine from 1978 to 1990, with 35 issues. It started off as a quarterly magazine, but towards the end was published sporadically. Although it covered games from all companies, it gave most of the magazine space to GDW games.
Journal of the Travellers Aid Society Journal of the Travellers Aid Society was a magazine dedicated to Traveller published by GDW between 1979 and 1985.
Challenge Challenge was a role-playing game magazine that replaced Journal of the Travellers Aid Society. It covered all of GDW's role playing games, not just Traveller. It was published between 1986 and 1996.
Video games The Battle of Chickamauga Rommel: Battles for Tobruk
Awards Best Graphics of 1976 Charles S. Roberts Award, Avalanche Best Fantasy/Futuristic Game of 1978 Charles S. Roberts Award, Mayday Best Miniatures Rules of 1978 H. G. Wells Award, Fire & Steel Best Historical Figure Series of 1979 H. G. Wells Award, System Seven Napoleonics Best Miniatures Rules of 1979 H. G. Wells Award, System Seven Napoleonics Best Roleplaying Adventure of 1979 H. G. Wells Award, Kinunir Best Magazine Covering Roleplaying of 1979 H. G. Wells Award, Journal of the Travellers Aid Society Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Boardgame of 1980 Charles S. Roberts Award, Azhanti High Lightning Best Miniatures Rules of 1980 H. G. Wells Award, Tacforce Best Roleplaying Adventure of 1980 H. G. Wells Award, Twilights Peak Best Professional Magazine Covering Roleplaying of 1980 H. G. Wells Award, Journal of the Travellers Aid Society Best Pre-20th Century Boardgame of 1981 Charles S. Roberts Award, House Divided Best Professional Roleplaying Magazine of 1981 H. G. Wells Award, Journal of the Travellers Aid Society All Time Best Miniatures Rules for 20th Century Land Battles of 1981 H. G. Wells Award, Tacforce Best Miniatures Rules of 1982 H. G. Wells Award, Striker Best Roleplaying Rules of 1984 H. G. Wells Award, Twilight: 2000 Best Miniatures Rules of 1986 H. G. Wells Award, Command Decision Best Roleplaying Adventure of 1986 H. G. Wells Award, Going Home Best Boardgame Covering the Period 1900-1946 of 1987 Origins Award, Scorched Earth Best Boardgame Covering the Period 1947-Modern Day of 1987 Origins Award, Team Yankee Best Miniatures Rules of 1987 Origins Award, Harpoon Best Miniatures Rules of 1988 Origins Award, To The Sound of the Guns Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Boardgame of 1988 Origins Award, Sky Galleons of Mars Best Graphic Presentation of a Boardgame of 1988 Origins Award, Sky Galleons of Mars Best Pre-World War Two Game of 1989 Charles S. Roberts Award, House Divided (2nd edition) Best Roleplaying Rules of 1993 Origins Award, Traveller: the New Era
References