Odenthus has passed away.

[smjohnso77]

My name is Andrew and one of Mark's brothers. Sadly Mark passed away today after a too brief battle against cancer aged 62.

He had asked me to let his wargaming friends and combatants know when the end came as one of his great pleasures was the numerous hours, often into the early hours UK time, he spent with many of you online designing, playing and enjoying these games.

He love his moniker of Odenthus and he educated into its origins, his vast and detailed knowledge of military history was lost on us but was a godsend in pub quizzes!

He will be missed by all and if you wish to contact me my details are andrew.stevens1963@gmail.com.

Keep on gaming

[smjohnso77]

Odenthus, Mark Stevens, my friend for 6+ years passed away from cancer. We played hundreds of games together. Our conversations were on politics, history, and life were as important as the games. At first, he kicked my butt all the time, but I improved to where we were 50/50 in the win/losses. We kicked around ideas for his next new game scenario design. He told me that his last design of Dettington was his swan song. He did not believe the cancer would kill him, but things took a sudden turn for the worst over the last two weeks. Mark will be greatly missed.

[smjohnso77]

If you follow the progression of Odenathus's games, he covers the whole gunpowder period from medieval battles to the Boer War. As his games gat into the late 20th century, you can see how things were progressing to the trenches of WW1. In Magerstein, the British cannot just charge the Boers without getting completely shot up. He included rules that showed the feel and progression of the gunpowder period in very accurate games for the most part. I think that maybe people who are not interested in the pike and shot period are really missing out if they pass on this game because a majority of the battles are outside the 16th and 17th centuries which are the most fun and interesting I think. Odenathus did a majority of these games that really added to the enjoyment of this game. Maybe Slitherine should add 19th century and 18th century mods and repackage the game as Battles of the Gunpowder Age.

[awesum4]

That is really sad news. I enjoyed playing him, and also playing the various historical battles he recreated.
A top bloke, and my condolences to his family.

[AlexDetrojan]

Truly sorry to hear this.

[w_michael]

It is a sad day when someone who can contribute so much leaves us. My condolences and best wishes to the family.

[lascar]

Very sorry to hear this. He sounds like someone I would have liked to have known personally. He created many fine historical scenarios for P&S that I continue to play and enjoy.

[CaptainSpire]

RIP Odenthus/Mark.

[Mord]

Very sorry to hear this. I didn't know him personally but I knew his work. He was a very talented and prolific scenario designer. His memory will live on in all the wonderful battles he created for all of us. My condolences to your family.

Mord.

[stockwellpete]

Very sad to hear this. He was a great scenario designer.

[rbodleyscott]

Very sorry to hear this. I have corresponded with Mark frequently over the last 7 years, and helped him mod the rules to suit his scenarios.

For those who are unaware he created:

60 MP and 54 SP scenarios for Pike and Shot:

viewtopic.php?f=299&t=55562

11 MP and 10 SP scenarios for FOG2:

viewtopic.php?f=477&t=80329

He will be greatly missed.

[zakblood]

sorry to hear the bad news, RIP and hope everyone in the family is ok

[StuccoFresco]

Sorry to hear, he was a legend.

[ahuyton]

I share the sentiments on this sad news. He was obviously talented and generous, and these are fine qualities especially the latter.

Best wishes and condolences to family and friends

[Doyley50]

So very sorry at this sad news. I helped play test a good few of of his many excellent scenarios. He will be sadly missed, condolences to the family.

[Athos1660]

This is very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

[cromlechi]

Extremely sorry to hear this. My condolences to the family.

Adam

[Adebar]

Sad news indeed. Condolences to his loved ones.

He will be sincerely missed by our small community here as one of the best P&S scenario designers; for all the hard work he put into his projects, his imaginativeness and dedication he will be remembered with affection.

I'll keep him in my prayers.

[Pixel]

Very Sad News indeed. My Condolences to Odenthus' friends and family. He made some truly wonderful scenarios!

[Cronos09]

I am also very sorry that Odenathus left us. He was at the origins of P&S modding and continued to do this until the end of his days. He opened for us the era of the 18th and 19th centuries in this game. He was a great scenario designer and made a lot of excellent scenarios. My condolences to his family.