Great reviews on Richard Berg's website

To everybody who didn't know this yet, Richard Berg offers many great reviews on his website: http://members.tripod.com/~RichardHBerg/ebrog.html

The games reviewed are from the early to mid 90s, so most of them are now out of print. But maybe you can find an unknown gem.

I know that Richard is a bone of contention with some people, but I rather like him. No, I don't like all of his games, but I can appreciate his design philosophy. He also doesn't suffer fools very much, which I can also appreciate.

--Mike L.

I like Berg and I even like his games. He's the closest the hobby has to a Harlan Ellison-style abrasive genius. His approach is much more artistic in a lot of ways- he understands that not every game is successful and that many are simply experiments in form or expressing certain content. I like that he says what he means and means what he says and doesn't brook a bunch of internet nonsense. I like that he stands by his designs, good or bad, and I think there's plenty to respect about the guy. Good reviews on that site, I read through it a few years ago.

Berg is a total fucking asshole, but he seems to make some decent designs (and some shitty ones, of course). I wouldn't rule out buying his games because of his personality, but at the same time getting insulted for even discussing rules problems is not really a draw either. As for the reviews, they're pretty good. He was posting them on BGG awhile back and I remember thinking they were good reviews then as well.

Hey, I didn't say he wasn't an asshole...he is. But I'd rather somebody be an outspoken asshole than try to cover it up with a smiley face facade.

Some of my favourite people are assholes. It's a great character trait.

I like dicks, but not assholes.

Wait. What are we talking about now?

I am pretty sure we just got the forum on another black list.

I neither like dicks or arseholes.

But I found Berg's review on "Bataille de Quatre-Bras" very good, because he pretty much explained why someone like me won't like the system.

Yeah, Richard's an asshole at times, but that's fine with me. He's nowhere near the level the Pirateer asshole was back in the old rec.games.board newsgroup, because he's not a shamelessly self promoting prick who starts fights if you don't think that his designs are the best thing in the world.

I've been patiently waiting on Blackbeard and the reprint of Pax Romana, and I've been extremely curious about what's going to happen with the Conquistador rewrite. It seems that when Richard works with a developer like Neil Randall, he seems to shine the most.

--Mike L.