Phil Barker

[4] In the early 1960s he gamed alongside founders of the modern hobby such as Donald Featherstone, Tony Bath, and Charles Grant.

One of the basic principles of the WRG was that wargames rules should be based on the study of the nature of warfare of the period being modelled, and Phil was initially the researcher of the group.

[7] However, his succinct writing style has drawn criticism, resulting in the term Barkerese to describe his complex explanation of rules.

The first edition of the WRG's War Games Rules 1000 BC to 500 AD was published in 1969 and immediately made a great impact.

The reason for this was that, for the first time, a book of rules based on firm research and considerable playing experience had been made generally available.

Phil Barker was a founder member of the Society of Ancients, serving on the committee for many years and contributing regularly to their magazine Slingshot.