The Raider Flag is Coming Down

[Wild Bill]

Effective September 30th, the flag of the Wild Bill's Raiders is being taken down. The Raiders will officially be disbanded.

The individual teams working with the Raiders will continue. You can find their sites on the Wargamer.

They include:

Steel Panthers: The Arsenal Team
Combat Mission: Boots and Tracks
Squad Battles: The Squad Battles Team
Steel Beasts: The Steel Beasts Team

The four team captains, including the recently promoted Frank E-4 Harmon for Squad Battles have been great team players. They include in addition to Frank, the recently retired Louie "Gung Ho" Marsh, Bryan "Marauder" Melvin, and Eric "RnR" Myers. I cannot omit the name of Neil "Dingo" Stalker who has been all things for me in every situation: web designer, scenario creator, writer, and one of the most loyal friends a man could ever have.

In addition some 32 Raiders serving with these teams have given their best.

Six years ago almost to the day, Wild Bill's Raiders came into being. The original seven have gone except for me. We have in that time supported the beta development of over a dozen wargames, done over 1,000 scenarios and campaigns and participated in the development of three of the four mega-campaigns.

When the Raiders began there was no such thing. There were not to my knowledge small independent teams working together to enhance various wargames on the market. From humble beginnings to having set a precedent in the hobby that is now mirrored all over the world, the Raiders have done their job, and done it well.

So a salute to my fellow team members. Thank you all. You did well. To David Heath and David Landrey, who gave me my chance in the hobby, a profound vote of gratitude. Without David Heath allowing me to post scenarios and articles to the old "Gamers Net" site, I might have remained in the shadows. No man has supported me more than old "Sergeant Rock."

And to you dear friends, who have loyally supported the Raiders in every effort, I am so appreciative.

So an era comes to an end.

What about me? Will I just "fade away?" Not likely. We are just putting the finishing touches on our Newest Mega Campaign (see the announcement) and I've completed 12 scenarios for the upcoming Combat Mission: Afrika Korps.

There is still a lot I want to do. I won't fade away at all. I still love wargaming. I still enjoy all of your and your friendship. I'm not going anywhere, just looking to using my meager creative talents for new scenarios and games.

Again, thank you all. The Raider helmet now goes to posterity. I hope the memory of what we have done will remain for a long time. It was worth, wasn't it, Raiders?

Wild Bill

[M4Jess]

WE LOVE YOU BILL!!!

See you soon in Kentucky!!!!!???

Dont make me drive down there to get you!!!

You sir, are my Hero!

every time I put a tie on, I have the M4 pin on...the one you gave me at Aberdeen.

With all my love,
Jess

[Supervisor]

Thanks for everything. It will be missed.

[Jim1954]

Now Bill, perhaps we may actually get to see if you can still play.

I'll pbem you, anytime.

Jim

[Goblin]

Bummer.

And I mean that.


Thanks for everything to all of you!

Goblin

[M4Jess]

Now Bill, perhaps we may actually get to see if you can still play.

I'll pbem you, anytime.

Jim

Ditto, I want some of his arse also! :p

[Akmatov]

Many thanks for a stellar performance. I HATE it when things I rely on being there disappear, but you guys had a GREAT run!

[Grenadier]

Kunel,

I know how long you have thought about this decision and why you feel it necessary. Let me reiterate to you now what I told you before. I would not be where I am today if not for you and the Raiders. Now I am not sure if this is a good thing or bad

The Raiders will always be a part of wargaming history and your name will go on inspiring me and countless others to strive for that pinnacle of excellence you have already scaled. You made the path for the rest of us to follow.

You will always be my beloved Kunel

Your faithful Grenadier

[Wild Bill]

Thank you, My Grenadier

The good Grenadier has earned his title. Like Steiner, he has seen the best and the worst. Unlike him, however, the Grenadier does not "hate all officers."

He has now become one himself. He carries it well. In the upcoming magnificent Combat Leader, Brent will be heading up an enormous share of the beta testing and scenario design.

Its a heavy load but he has proven more than able to respond to the task at hand. If anyone doubts that, go to the East Front, join the panzer columns in th "Lost Victories" Mega Campaign.

Many of you don't know, because Brent does not toot his own horn, many new innovations in graphics and the game came through the brilliant way Grenadier and his team sought to bring new situations to the player.

And that huge piece of PDF called the SPWAW manual. That is the work of the Grenadier.

And now this magnificently detailed series of scenarios and articles on "Cross of Iron." Great work!

Brent has never failed me...not once! Not once!

Anytime I have called upon him, he has answered that call. THAT, my friends, is a good leader.

Had I been on the Eastern Front in that horrid cauldron of death, I would have followed Steiner. He knew his business. So does Brent. So do all the Raiders ... or those who have been Raiders and are now continuing their work.

Wild Bill

[Wild Bill]

Everyone wants a piece of the Kunel, eh?

Careful what you ask for, Jim and Jess!

The last time that was tried was two years ago when the mighty tank hunter, Davor Popovic, challenged me to an EF scenario. 8 turns in the game and I was sent simply the message...I surrender!

Old age and cunning often beat youth and strength!

And of course I won't tell you the story of the old rooster challenged by the young newly arrived rooster, in his prime, as king of the hen house, or the race that the old rooster asked for to confirm that position, with the old rooster asking for a five second head start, or the angry farmer who came out on his porch with a shotgun and blew away the young rooster because he could not tell the difference between a rooster and a hen.

No, I won't tell you that. I'll let you find out for yourself

[Tombstone]

Wow. No more Raiders. There it is. The beauty is that, although organizations may fade away, the experts that make them great dont.

Tomo

[AbsntMndedProf]

IMHO, the Raider's flag should be enshrined somewhere on the Matrix forums, perhaps on the masthead of the scen/campaign forum.

Eric Maietta

[Commander Klank]

Like others have said maybe now you can kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor and get some more games in.

Get out there and play the field you helped build. Perhaps get ICQ and dabble in online play a bit; nothing beats it. A visit from Wild Bill every now and then would be cool.

Thanks and enjoy your retirement (sort of )

[AbsntMndedProf]

After my four morning cups of coffee, I thought a gathering of a few of the men to say goodbye to the Raider's flag and all that it stood for would be appropriate:



For me, it has come to symbolize all that is good about SP:WaW and Matrixgames. Not just gaming, but the importance of good sportsmanship, team work, and friendship!

Eric Maietta

[Wild Bill]

Thank you, my friends, on behalf of all Raiders from 97 till now.

Its been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Your support and encouragement kept us going in the hardest of times.

What a ride! I would not have missed it for anything!

WB

[dox44]

don't want any part of the kunel but thanks for taking me
along on a couple of your adventures...

casebier

[Vathailos]

BELATED

I just thought I’d take a second as a ‘noob’ to the SP boards (even though I’ve been playing since its release) to say thank you to Wild Bill and his team. In addition, I’d like to quickly express my sincere gratitude for all of you folks out there working on/producing upgrades, MCs, maps, etc.

It takes a special crew to make sacrifices of their own time, most often unpaid/underpaid, to produce a product we all love and enjoy. Genuinely appreciate all the hard work!