"A Robin Williams Memorial Competition?" Topic

A thought struck me not 10 minutes ago –

Given that Robin Williams was a wargamer – a player of Warhamer 40K particularly – does anyone else think it would be fitting to approach his family, and suggest a memorial trophy, named after him, with any proceeds raised donated to appropriate mental health / suicide prevention charities?

What do we think? And does anyone in the TMP community have an avenue to approach the Williams family, at an appropriate time?

A very good idea in my opinion. We have members here who have painted stuff for his collection, they should have contact details. Perhaps for a major US convention next year?

It is a great idea but the only thing I would suggest is to maybe to wait a bit and let things calm down before approaching the family. It should not feel like we are trying to gain from this terrible event, especially since we have also lost one of our own in the gaming community. With time, I think they would see the sincerity in the offer and perhaps be thrilled that we wish to honor him in that way.
Larry

As I stated Larry –

"at an appropriate time?"

Be assured, I realise that just because I had the idea today, now would not be the best of opportunities to enquire.

I'd like to think Games Workshop might even have the heart to come aboard for something like this, given that Robin was well known in gaming circles as a 40K player, or so I am led to believe.

I'd say give it six months to a year. Let the family grieve first.

Robin Williams played 40K? Now , I miss him even more…

Perhaps renaming "Needs More Boobies" with a Robin Williams tie in? Any appropriate line from "Mrs. Doubtfire"?

Didn't know that he played 40K … Wow !!!!

It's a reasonable idea – but yeah, wait half a year or so as gaming wasn't really the thing he was best known for.

Were a family member of mine to meet a similar demise, I don't think that I would consider such a gesture appropriate. I would thank you for the consideration and then politely decline the offer.

BHR

Why? Because someone famous shared the same hobby?

He wasn't a banner waver for the hobby, a lot of people (most even?) in the hobby were unaware of his involvement, much less his mainstream fans.

Do we have a Featherstone Memorial competition? He, as much as anyone, brought this hobby into existence.

H.G. Wells?
Grant?
Young?
Morschauer?

How about David Chandler?
Bruce Quarrie?
David Gilder?

Doesn't it make more sense to honor someone who shaped and advanced the hobby-instead of "famous participant"?

Didn't know that he played 40K … Wow !!!!

I think I saw a link yesterday, that also mentioned he had some interest in Warhammer Fantasy Battle as well.

Happy Little Trees – so sorry, I didn't realise that proposing to make a small gesture to remember a life lost tragically was a crime punishable by firing squad.

You want to create a competition to remember the lives of any or all of the persons you have mentioned? Go ahead. Absolutely no-one will stop you. I certainly won't. I may even support you.

I certainly won't jump up and down on any thread you open, where you foolishly tried to discuss the idea in a polite, civilised manner.

I don't think HLT was inappropriate, MacrossMartin – I have to admit I had no idea he was a fan at all! If anything your reply above is considerably more antagonistic.

Gentlemen, I believe- and correct me if I am wrong- that MacrossMartinīs point is that Robin Williamsīname would bring in a not insignificant amount to be donated to the charity of choice of the Williams family.
Thus, I donīt see the connection to this of honoring one of our wargaming founding fathers, as deserved as they may be. Certainly the name of a famous participant, in this case Mr Williams, would generate a bit more publicity for the cause.

I think in time possibly, but to be effective it would need to involve pics of him gaming or more concrete verification he was an avid gamer. If he just dabbled in it, this may come off as trying to grab something weird from his death. My example of this is many of us have Monopoly games in our closets, but that doesn't make us Monopoly aficionados. With his death so recent, people need to tread very carefully during the mourning process.

link

reading no 10 he doesn't play but owns some armies

Do we have a Featherstone Memorial competition?

Yes, though it hasn't been held since Cold Wars '13 (or maybe it was '12, I forget), for a number of reasons. This is a write up from the 3rd one back in 2004: hmgs.org/featherstone.htm

…reading no 10 he doesn't play but owns some armies…

And I read it as 'I've several [Fantasy] armies, but I've never played [40K].

I thought scuttlebutt was he favored greenskins.

Locally, I'll start pushing for an Ork-inawa in his honor, even if not his game.

Doug

It is my understanding that he also played English Civil War
Either way it is a tremendous loss

We have a Jack Scruby Award given every other year by HMGS east

Doesn't Origins have an H.G. Wells award for best games and figures.

The North American Society of Ancient and Medieval Wargames gives the Tony Bath Award to winner of DBA Doubles competition at Historicon.

I suspect most gamers do not even know who the following are, yet most people recognize Robin Williams

Charles Grant?
Peter Young?
Joe Morschauser?
David Chandler?
Bruce Quarrie?
David Gilder?

Do not forget that Winston Churchill was a figure collector and war gamer in his youth.

I recall the Featherstone Trophy, strange that it was not for playing any game that he developed.

I'm pretty sure you are correct about the HG Wells Award, Bobgnar.

Texas Jack – thank you. Yes, that is EXACTLY what I have in mind.

An RW Memorial Tournament would be great if you want to raise the profile of the hobby. Press/media would be interested.

Alas same could not be said for a DF tournament.

Personally, I would not wish to 'raise the profile of the hobby' by seeking tenuous links with celebrities, who may play the odd wargame when not working, much like the rest of us, but have made no more significant contribution to wargaming than most of the rest of us. Can you imagine – I just LOVE playing WH40K!!' tweets Kim Kardashian…

Awards, tournaments &c. commemorating people important to the history/development of wargaming will only be meaningful to those 'in the know', and that is right and proper. Hence Henry Hyde organising a wargaming weekend to commemorate Donald Featherstone, which was a great success and much enjoyed by those fortunate to attend.

A festival of his films would be an appropriate way to commemorate Robin Williams. Tacking his name onto a wargame tournament seems a rather tasteless intrusion upon his family's – and his many fans' – grief, IMHO.

Whereas, I'm rather disappointed I've never seen a 'Peter Cushing Memorial Tournament'.

Doug

I would consider that inappropriate, for some of the cited reasons above. Such an initiative should originate from the family, not the other way around. If the family thinks RW's involvement in the gaming hobby was a significant part of his life, then they might seek contact with some people they know in the hobby.

Leave it up to the family and friends to decide how they want to commemorate a loved one, whether a celebrity or not.

And I consider that inappropriate.

Peter Cushing posed for promotional films, painting figures, proud of his hobby.

I WILL CELEBRATE HIS BEING PROUD OF HIS HOBBY.

If my family ever tries to say a memorial game with my name on it was inappropriate, anyone may use this post to tell them to go to hell. Well, maybe Magic the Gathering…

My family's privacy in grief is important, but THEY DON'T OWN ME.

Megan, daughter, are you listening?

Doug