Illustrator

Charles Kibler

Charles Kibler, American illustrator and cartographer, active 1979–2020, specialized in wargame maps and historical simulation art.

34 Games

Biography

Charles J. Kibler II is an artist and game designer from Tennessee. He served as cartographer and artist for the maps of the Great Campaigns of the American Civil War series (Avalon Hill/MMP) and worked on supplements for Advanced Squad Leader. He trained at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Our database lists 34 projects associated with him.

Career

Active from 1979 to 2020, Kibler produced maps and illustrations primarily for historical wargames and war simulations. His contributions span classic strategy titles and detailed simulation games, often requiring clear hex-based maps and readable iconography. Many of his pieces appear in publications dealing with World War II and earlier conflicts, supporting both standalone game designs and larger system supplements. His work emphasizes cartographic accuracy combined with gameplay clarity.

Most Famous Games

Notable titles featuring Kibler's graphic or map work in our records include Churchill (2015), Washington's War (2010) and Andean Abyss (2012). Other significant entries are Paths of Glory (1999), The Republic of Rome (1990) and Civilization (1980). Several of these games received multiple Golden Geek Best Wargame recognitions.

Design Style

Kibler's style is functional and cartographic: clear hex and terrain rendering, legible icons and map layouts optimized for playability. His illustrations suit games using Dice Rolling, Simulation and Hexagon Grid mechanics.