| AussieAndy | 10 Nov 2014 7:46 p.m. PST |
Hello
I am planning on attending Cold Wars for the first time next March. I was thinking that two days might be enough for me. If you were to only go for two days, would you make it Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday? Alternatively, please tell me if I would be mad not to go to all three days.
Any other tips for visiting a big show like this for the first time would also be appreciated (such as when bookings open for the participation games).
Thank you |
| Pictors Studio | 10 Nov 2014 7:52 p.m. PST |
I would go Friday-Saturday. Things are pretty dead on Sunday. Most people either arrive Friday afternoon or Thursday evening and then are saying good byes and leaving Sunday morning. This is not to say that no one hangs out to play Sunday but your best time is probably Friday night or Saturday afternoon, most people with least burn out. |
 Saber6   | 10 Nov 2014 8:00 p.m. PST |
How far are you traveling? I have arrived Thursday (or Wednesday night due to work travel) and leave Sunday. It is all about getting all the tome you need. Friday and Saturday are the busiest, but more time means more chances to game/shop |
| AussieAndy | 10 Nov 2014 9:49 p.m. PST |
Thank you for the advice. Saber6, I will be travelling from Australia, then spending a few days around Fredericksburg before making my way to Lancaster. I am planning to arrive on the Thurdsday afternoon. |
| WarWizard | 11 Nov 2014 7:10 a.m. PST |
I would do Friday and Saturday. |
| Daribuck | 11 Nov 2014 7:43 a.m. PST |
RE: then spending a few days around Fredericksburg Maybe you should go to Historicon instead! That's in JUly… |
 Jlundberg | 11 Nov 2014 11:09 a.m. PST |
The convention is full go on Friday and Saturday. There are some formal and many informal games on Thursday night. By Sunday morning, most people are just checking out and heading home. I would usually do my last run through the dealer area, but I am ready to head home by Sunday.
For best results arrive Thursday evening and leave Sunday morning |
| AussieAndy | 11 Nov 2014 1:31 p.m. PST |
Thanks, I'll go with that.
Hisoricon wasn't an option, as the rest of the trip is to be devoted to walking battlefields and I would rather do that in the cold than in the heat and humidity. |
| Razor78 | 12 Nov 2014 7:22 a.m. PST |
Andy,
If you have the time Antietam is between Fredricksburg and Lancaster and is a great battlefield to visit. Oh and of course so is Gettysburg…. |
 Bobgnar | 12 Nov 2014 1:21 p.m. PST |
The cold you prefer might be a blizzard! It has happened. Battlefield tours in the snow do not seem all that fun. If you can come for Historicon, you will see the most fantastic of miniatures wargaming conventions. Three days, as long as you have come all that way. Not all that hot in early July. If it must be Cold Wars, bring warm clothes. Ditto to Jlundberg on the timing. |
| capncarp | 12 Nov 2014 4:11 p.m. PST |
You would do well to preregister-- this gives you a leg up on what is available. You also get a discount on admission.
Bobgnar touched on the subject of weather--you may encounter snow in appreciable amounts. If you are driving, take your time and maintain control of your vehicle: the idiot behind you can just wait a little longer to get where he's going. Get here in one piece, please. |
| AussieAndy | 12 Nov 2014 7:04 p.m. PST |
Thank you for your suggestions. I would still rather take my chances on snow, rather than put up with the heat and humidity of summer. My mother's family arrived in Australia 226 years ago, but clearly that hasn't been long enough for us to evolve to deal with the heat and humidity. We only have snow on the mountains here, but I have dealt with it in winter in Europe. Capncarp, when can you pre-register? |
| capncarp | 13 Nov 2014 4:32 p.m. PST |
hmgs.site-ym.com This past Fall-In had the Events List go up on the website on September 1, Online registration opened September 21, mail-in registration had to be postmarked by October 13, and online closed October 26. Keep watching for news about Cold Wars 2015 on the website, and you will get plenty of notice when pre-registration opens, as well as the Events List. Of course, becoming a member gets you the discount. |
| AussieAndy | 13 Nov 2014 7:32 p.m. PST |
Thank you. I will become a member. |
| Bowman | 14 Nov 2014 4:00 a.m. PST |
I would still rather take my chances on snow, rather than put up with the heat and humidity of summer. Let me get this straight: an Australian is worried about summer in Virginia?  Now I hate heat and humidity, but saying that even gets me weird looks back in Canada. |
| AussieAndy | 14 Nov 2014 5:29 a.m. PST |
I live in Melbourne. It can get hot (up to about 44 celsius in summer) and humid, but it aint the tropics of north Queensland. When it's hot and humid here, I spend most of my time in air conditioning, rather than trying to walk battlefields. |
| capncarp | 15 Nov 2014 2:48 p.m. PST |
Bowman, having reenacted most of my adult life along the Mida-Atlantic region, I can relate to someone being cautious about heat and humidity. Us old pharts were the ones generally on our feet at the end of the day because we knew when to back off and take a break/drink/rest. AussieAndy is showing an unnervingly large share of sense and self-preservation. I'm not sure us 'Merkans want that kind of feller 'round here… ;D
(pssst…Andy…don't worry, we'll sneak you in anyway!) |
