Just a comment to all as to why HMGS/PSW made the decision to be a presence a "Smackdown" this fall.
First I am the current President of HMGS/PSW and if anyone knows the motives/reasons for this move its me. I do not know all the reasons or really care that much as to the reason Smackdown is running on that weekend and to a point in compitition with the other con, nor should we as a group get into it. I have heard all the reasons pro and con and the fact is that this convention is happening and many of our members interested in attending.
We as a group need to look at this without emotion, step back from the politics and look at what this means and how it affects HMGS/PSW. This has the potential of dividing HMGS/PSW into two camps, which is not good for us or historical miniatures period. We need to take this less than perfect situation and make it work for us and historical miniature gaming in the Pacific Southwest. We are not going to stop either of these conventions by our failure to attend them. We will divide our membership by supporting one over the other. The best thing we can do is to attempt to treat each one fairly and support them as equally as possible for the good of miniatures players all over the pacific southwest. Whatever the reasons or politics of this situation are it means little or nothing to the majority of miniatures gamers. The majority of miniatures gamers go to a particular convention because of location, and cost. They will then return to that convention based on the quality of the experience they had minus the cost/hassle to attend, period. There will be many potential HMGS/PSW members and future historical gamers going to
"Smackdown" and HMGS/PSW needs to be there in force to welcome them and make their convention experience a positive one. We need to let them know that this positive experience was due in a large part because of the participation of HMGS/PSW and the professional level of gaming brought in by us. These gamers will then follow the HMGS/PSW banner and seek out other conventions that we attend as a group.
HMGS/PSW is also expanding with 3 times the members we had a few years ago and more coming in all the time. Many of these new members are from a wide area and we need to expand into these areas but do it in a way that is cost effective for us as we grow. To do this we are "piggy backing" onto some of the areas larger conventions. This is a "win / win" situation for both them and us. We get the logistic support of a big venue with little risk, and without having to foot an impossible bill for us at this time. They get the hard work of the HMGS/PSW officers and GM's in bringing the best miniatures games in the Pacific Southwest to their conventions, building the miniatures presence at their conventions, and creating a bigger better experience for the convention attendees.
We cannot afford an attitude based on politics to influence our decisions to attend one con or another. We need to base our decisions on what is best for us as members of the HMGS/PSW gaming community. We need to support our fellow members wherever their efforts take them. Many of us have looked at gamers in other areas and questioned why they did not come to events in our areas, lets show them that we will can rise above any silly stuff and go down and support their "homecoming game" no matter what "stadium" it is held in. We had a vote, HMGS/PSW decided to give equal support to both conventions as the best course of action. You do not come to either convention because of who puts it on or where it is but because it's a HMGS/PSW sponsored event and your friends and fellow HMGS members will be running games you want to be a part of.
The Pacific Southwest is a huge area and Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego, and Orange county have a population base of 20 million plus, surly there are enough miniatures gamers in that number to support two conventions that weekend, we just have to work hard at getting them off their butts and out to a convention! I feel that a successful Orange county convention will help to increase the number of miniature gamers in the entire area and if they come away with a positive experience at one con they may decide to attend another convention in the area before waiting a year to go to another OC event. This means they will be attending a "Strategicon" or even a HMGS/PSW event.
There will be an HMGS/PSW presence at "Gateway" as that is for some members a better fit, that's great, we have an official HMGS/PSW rep there in Frank Vassallo, he is the miniatures co coordinator replacing Harmon Ward for this con. Harmon and I will be at "Smackdown" this time around and HMGS/PSW's "official" fall con as well as meeting will be there. We hope to see as large an HMGS/PSW presence as possible there. There will be discounts for HMGS/PSW members at both conventions.
How long will this schedule of conventions last? Well that is for the future and us as a organization to decide. Does it work for us? Does it accomplish our goals? Are we having fun? All these questions need to be answered, then we are free to decide what we want to different.
Bottom line is that a failure of HMGS/PSW as a group to attend "Smackdown" would be much more divisive to the miniatures gaming community in the Pacific southwest. Remember we will be having our "official" Spring Campaign convention at Strategicons "Gammex in May and are a big presence at their other two yearly conventions, surely we can give some support t the southern side of HMGS/PSW and attend something in their backyard. I would like to see as much support for HMGS/PSW at "Smackdown" as possible and look forward to seeing many of you there.
Yours in Gaming,
Bill Witthans
President HMGS/PSW
By the way I'm glad to here that Henry and Adam may change the name! I suggested that last time we spoke. Smack down is somewhat silly, adolescent, and certainly not something you want to ask your wife to let you attend.
says 'thank you' one more time.
