Origins '78

Origins '78 took place from July 13–16, 1978. [1]

The convention was held at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.

above, J.A. Nelson at the Tactical Studies Group booth, Origins ‘78

In 1977 Kevin Zucker established Tactical Studies Group, a new publishing venture. The company was renamed Operational Studies Group (OSG) in 1978 to avoid confusion with Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons.[1] OSG specializes in operational-level wargames depicting Napoleonic campaigns, emphasizing maneuver, supply, and command at a grand-tactical scale. The first OSG game, Napoleon at Bay (1978), drew on SPI-inspired elements to create innovations in Napoleonic wargaming. OSG's inaugural project faced significant development hurdles. Zucker initially planned a spiral-bound format but abandoned it for a more conventional wargame presentation to make it easier to produce. Funding was secured through a large pre-order from Hippocrene Books, a New York publisher and distributor. The game was printed in an edition of 2,000 copies by SPI's printer. At Origins '78, the debut convention, OSG was at booth 18 and sold 250 copies of NAB, providing crucial early revenue.[1]