"How Many Have Dropped Historicon From The Schedule?" Topic

Simple question, easy to answer.

A while back I asked about your gaming plans for 2013. (See related topic.) I'm curious to see how many people (players, GMs, vendors, etc.) have dropped attending Historicon from their gaming calendars.

Not looking to re-argue the merits of "The Move" to VA. (BTW, in case you missed it, HMGS plans to keep Historicon in VA for 2014 and 2015.) Just wondering how many have decided to stay home this week?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

I will be staying home, primarily due to work and having no one to watch the dog.

I'm passing but has nothing to do with change in location.

I will be attending for the first time in about 4 years. Really looking forward to it!

My group isn't going to Historicon, although we almost never missed it at the Host.

I won't be going for the first time in many years. Fredricksburg is just too far.

Too far to drive. Have not attended since they left the Host.

I have only missed three Historicons since they started.

1) Missed the first one.
2) Away at academy training (DI's don't give passes for game conventions)
3) Birth of first child.

Went to last years, but it is difficult. Long drive, extra days on both ends, makes it hard.

I will be there this year, and most likely every year.

It is not so much for the convention, dealers or games. I can get those at Cold Wars and Fall In, but it is for the friends that I see too rarely.

I only get to laugh with them at these conventions and that makes it worth the effort.

I would've gone to Historicon this year if had been in Lancaster. Just didn't want to have to deal with the trip down to Virginia just for a weekend.

Come to think of it, I haven't been to Historicon since they left the Host.

Looks like we are already re-arguing the point. No need to do this again and again. Let it rest.

This will be my 17th in a row, 14th as a vendor.

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

For those who are going, temps in the high 90's all week, 102 on Thursday, so pack/dress accordingly.

This is the fourth year in a row a heat wave has clobbered the East Coast the week of Historicon; between the heat for Historicon, the snow for Cold Wars and Fall In and Hurricane Sandy for Fall In, we don't seem to be able to catch a break weatherwise.

Being from Ohio, I find it curious that many of those who say they don't go now are from PA. So it used to be in your backyards, correct? I am not trying to stir things up. So please take the question in the spirit it's intended.

It was a 10.5 to 11 hour trip each way from Ohio. I haven't gone since my 1st son was born. Been a very long time. Just impossible for me during July. Otherwise, I'd probably be there. Is this just a case of relativity? PA & NE folks used to have a 1 hour to 4+ hour drive and now that's increased? Or is it dislike for the new venue?

Thanks,

John

In the past ten years or so I've attended most but just as a daytripper while visiting parents. Missed last year due to work but this year I and three fellow gamers will be there the entire time so this is our first full Historicon and we are looking forward to it.

I am travelling to Historicon from Wisconsin. Driving is an issue whether in Lancaster, Valley Forge, or Virginia. Lots of historical stuff to see all around the area, so I make a vacation out of it. I will NOT miss the good old Pennsylvania Turnpike and the eternal construction that you get to pay to drive through…

Had to cancel this year. Maybe next year.

The Elmo family flies so location is not that important. New is always better, tho.

I'm passing this year due to a new job (finally!) and tight finances (being out of work from Oct to March does that to you). And since I'd be coming from SoCal, the location doesn't really matter to me (they're all far away…).

I'll be there and I'm excited to go – let the traffic whimps stay home at watch the weather channel while they converse online about either conspiracy theories, the horrors of DC traffic (I hear it's responsible for global warming also).

If you go with a frame of mind to have a good time your over half way there.

I had a great time when it was at the Host, I had a great time at Valley Forge and I had a great time at FCC last year – I suspect this year will be the same.

To be honest, I do live in Maryland so it's 2hrs north for me to Lancaster and 2 hours south to Fredericksburg. Either way works

sounds like my excuses for GenCon was much easier to attend when it was in own backyard and harder now that it take travel time and lodging into account

It's actually closer to me. Be there all three days.

Joey

I've only made it once, so that hardly counts as being on my 'schedule'.
Actually the only game convention I can attend usually is the one I organize…

Have never gone so its hard to drop it.. I only go to one con a year and its always the same one "Council of Five Nations"

Funny thing is: I'm going for the first time because it is much closer to where I live. My only regret is I can't go both Friday and Saturday (couldn't get away from work Friday). And this is coming from a guy who was at first hesitant to go, but was convinced by several people here.

Yes I have this year. Just relocated to California. Will I go again? In a New York minute.

Oh and the North Easterners be damned. It will grow over the next few years with the original base which as always been south of the Host.

Still some just do not get it. HMGS made the right move and it will grow and those who have to spend an hour and 1/2 move to get to it. Well, get over yourself.

VR
James Mattes

This is my first Historicon. I had to travel to Charlottesville anyway, so at this location was able to arrange my work trip to serve double duty.

Leaving Wednesday. I have attended whenever possible, at 4 different locations (Penn Harris, Host, VFCC, and FCC)

If my wife gets a job offer on Wednesday I will be going (she was asked to a meet and greet on Tursday)

If a road is uphill in one direction, it must be downhill in the other direction.

Perhaps I am harsh but I just finished driving 2500 miles for a new job. I attended my first Hcon after driving from Arizona to Georgia in the late 1980s at Penn Harris and detoured to attend. I would have never known about it had not the Courier ran an advertisement. I have attended a number of conventions and FWIW each was worth the drive. My last convention was a regional one in Illinois, Winter Wars, I was only able to attend for one day, drove only about 50 miles so not a big thing. I ran into two vendors (Bob Bowling and his wife Ann) who made the trip totally worth while.

It really comes down to what you want and expect out of a convention. For me I have never been disappointed in any I have attended and have made friends around the world who are fellow historical gamers. In over 40 plus years I can say I never had a bad time except at the one convention where the Tournament lobby when over the edge over an issue.

VR
James Mattes

I can understand the ire of the fellas who had it move from their backyard! I've attended a few events in Chicago, and those were because of ease of getting there and time and cash to do so.
I have 7 more years of Guard duty and maybe two decades of work( or more) before retirement. After that, I fully intend upon going to all the conventions I have missed due to drill, deployment, family, overtime…

For me it's a ~4 hour drive instead of 1.5 hours. I attended last year, had a good time, and will also attend this year. I'm also taking the time to spend a couple days with family touring Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

I understand those that lament the move. Ease of access is a great motivator. This is my fifth trip (last at Host, 2x VFCC now 2x FCC) up from Jacksonville, Florida. I've got a full car again (3 Buddies) and they all love that I am a driving machine. About 10 hours on the road and we are there! I wouldn't miss this for the world. Yes, it is a trip. We make a vacation out of it.

I am more disappointed that two vendors I really wanted to see are now not going, and at least one friend I met here can't make it. This is the convention I go to to see all the stuff that's new and different. I see friends that I see no where else. I see games/rules not even played in the South-East.

So, for all you not going to make it, I'll miss seeing you. Our community is not the largest, so it's nice to keep in touch over a table. For those that are attending, safe travels and see you in a few days.

Finn

I have an interview in Winchester Wednesday!
Wife has instructed me not to stop at my parents house on that night so I can delay my homecoming until Thursday afternoon. Not sure why she would want me to do this.

This is the same lady that planned to go visit my grandparents (which I loved to do) on the same weekend the G.I.Joe convention came to town. I did not realize it until I saw the billboard on the way out of town.
Think I might have to stop at noon to pop in for a few :)

The Lancaster Host is about a 4 hour drive from my house in central Pennsylvania. Gettysburg is a bit further. The convention in Virginia would be about 8.5 hours.

I used to drive 8 hours and more for gaming conventions when I was younger, but no more. Any drive longer than about 5 hours better be at least a week's vacation.

I won't be going this year due to employment issues, however I plan to go next year

First went to Historicon in 2010, and returning this year for my second time.

I am not going (again!), but for economic reasons. The location change is actually a shorter drive. I just can't afford it in this economic "recovery."

Never been. Tried to go this year. It's a long drive. 13 hours. My car has been slowly dying for years and the cost of a van (or repairs) was way too much. I couldn't justify it. Not sure I'm ready to risk $1,500 USD for a convention yet.

Not to mention the extra cash needed to build up stock and the 20+ hours days for 3 weeks to make it all.

Maybe next year.

I had been attending for about 10 yrs at Host but the move left my friends out of going so I have switched to Cold Wars.
I travel from Calif and would go to HCon if my gang did BUT, all of the lads from Gettysburg dropped, as did my NJ friends.
So we meet up at Cold Wars
Clif

I am not going this year. Like Oddball I go mainly to see old friends. This year I am not going because of in the following order:

1.) I'm supporting regional conventions this year. I want to help the prosperity of my region and improve the state of gaming here.
2.) austerity – I am trying to get more of my current unpainted collection painted and money not spent on travel and big conventions goes into that. If you paint figures drop me a line (pete at nectarineimp dot com)
3.) work. I got hired as a scientist last year and while I love every minute of it my work is never done.

Will be Thursday ,15 hours later. To much fun to miss.

We are driving there from Texas, though it gets a bit longer than a straight shot because we have to go to NW Arkansas then to Knoxville first.

A few years ago I flew to attend the last Historicon at The Host. I think I'll be much happier driving.

From Aberdeen MD – Of my original plan for the year, I made it to Cold Wars; missed the Williamsburg Muster but made it to Nashcon. Still going to Historicon, Barrage, and Fall In. and possibly Guns of August.

I'm out – used to skip Hcon and hit cold wars & fall in 'cause they were less crowded – really liked fall in @ Gburg – new job & no time off – but hope to make it some day

I prefer smaller cons, so I only go to Fall In and Cold Wars when they work out with my schedule, which hasn't allowed me to attend the past few years. :-(

Dropped it this year to celebrate my daughter's 21st Birthday. Went/going to several regional cons instead.

Will probably go next year.

We have added it back again to our list. We went 19 years in a row but have not been back in 8 years.

The Monstrous Jake 14 Jul 2013 6:39 p.m. PST wrote: The Lancaster Host is about a 4 hour drive from my house in central Pennsylvania. Gettysburg is a bit further. The convention in Virginia would be about 8.5 hours.

Really? REALLY? Allow me to be the first to throw the Bull flag here. Here are links to Lancaster from you and from you to Fredericksburg. Nice try but your facts are wrong:

link

Suggested routes 228 mi, 3 hours 41 mins
I-81 S and US-15 S

From you to Lancaster:
link

124 mi, 2 hours 20 mins
I-476 S and US-222 S

Yes it is double but not EIGHT HOURS. YMMV

VR
James Mattes

I'm bringing 7 other people that haven't been to an HMGS event before from Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas.
And not one toll road between here and our destination…..

Wingnut

Not I. I'm crossing half a continent to be there this year, after missing last year.

And I am practically giddy with excitement.

Oh, and bringing a friend who has never been to a major convention before, as well.