"How is Historicon this year?" Topic

I knot the dealers have only been open for about an hour, and the flea market opens soon, but I was wondering how the games have looked this year.

I am living vicariously through the posting on TMP because I am not able to make it this year.

Matthew

I hope they are getting along fine without me.
I did send my minions off with a shopping list but it's not the same thing.

I know what you mean. It is much better to shop at the show than hand off a list. The only good thing about the list, you can't get side tracked by something new and shiny.

Matthew

I wish that I was there so that I could buy a couple more Chinese food carryout containers of MDF bases.

I am with you Frizt the MDF bases come in real handy. I sent a list with Nazrat and he has already contacted me to let me know his mission was successful and Steve at Age of Glory has made some money, and I got a free pack of Crusader Late Crusades to boot.

But yes wish I was there. I finish graduate school this week which had already precluded my attending and to top it off my brother passed away last Saturday. I am the executor, so I have my hands full at the moment with making funeral arrangements. So all in all a rough week but I am glad folks are having fun up there and that life goes on. Roll some dice and move some figures around for me.

I'm sorry to hear about your brother. That always comes at the wrong time.

My classes are keeping me away too, both in time and money.

Matthew

The Peter Pig game looks nice. Desert war Italians v British on a nice new mat. Great chance to play the new PBI rules with the author, Martin.

There are some nice looking games so far, and the Dealer's Hall is full of dealers and well attended by customers. There are a good many new companies and I have found some cool stuff.

I' m VERY glad to be here and really looking forward to running my Battlegroup game tomorrow night!

Nazrat:

Your game looked awesome.

Some pics guys! Please
Clif

I am enjoying it. BTC has really expanded its inventory.

Being Thursday, the games have been a little light.

Have seen lots of friends which is half the fun.

Tom

BTC has really expanded its inventory.

Do tell further. My wallet is cringing in anticipation of Cold Wars.

What new stuff do they have?

So far, so good. Not a lot of games, and the flea market was a bit sparse, but its Thursday so no big surprise. I saw 2 really nice layouts of siege games, I'm sure there will be pix. One was a pallisaded dark ages hill fort that was very well rendered on stepped foam terrain. The other was a medieval castle siege. The vendor hall is sorta open, but I looked at the 2012 book before I headed out and the vendor hall was bad cramped that year because they had the flea market set up in the back. I remember trying to peruse in Last Square and there was barely enough room to turn around. This is better. I have spent a fair bit of coin, GHQ, BTC, Battlefront bases, Brookhurst, and more to go once I peruse some handouts. Architects of War is running a kick starter of 15mm fantasy and the figs look nice.

There is one vendor here showing off 3D printed armor that is just fracking gorgeous. He has several in the normal translucent pearly material. He had an FT 17 printed in opaque yellow that had to be at least 90mm scale. He had printed out a tread section that had to be 120mm scale. The 90mm tank was the size of a toaster and you could lift it with one hand. It was neither soft nor slimy as some 3Ds can be. They print some tanks with magnetized modules. Their UK Mk IV WWI tank has magnetized side panels so you can swap out the sponsons to allow it to be male, female or hemaphrodite, as you see fit. I'll have to make a note of who these guys are. Given the size of the FT17, they have clearly mastered the printing theater area size restriction problem.

There is another new vendor who are all about molds to cast your own stuff. They seem to be a lot about make up molds like for Face Off, but the applications to gaming seem pretty apt. They had a cast and painted powder horn I was sure was real.

Another new vendor is once again stocking Essex 15mm figs. I doubted I'd ever see that again.

Old Glory/Blue Moon/The Shipyard are here of course. They are keyster deep in new Blue Moon Nappy equipment releases. I can't see how that guy finds time to sleep.

Warlords is playing host to Footsore, so they are here.

Belle and Blade has the Brad Pitt tank movie playing, among others, so traffic at their corner is bogging down more than usual.

Costco did not show. Instead they have Noodles and Company where they were supposed to be. Fair trade. Don't know if N&C was taking orders for delivery.

I came down the Maryland West shore and, allowing for one pit stop and a weird car noise check, and a stop for a very hobbity second breakfast, it took the projected 3 hours.

The organizers were sorry for the mixup, but admission isn't $25 USD, its $30. USD
Oh well. A bargain at either price I guess.

The registration line was slow, but I've seen it worse. A fair bit of bother about their system accessing member rolls. Mine went thru AOK, tho.

I have crashed in my room at the Hospitality. Its a mile, but it only got to 86 so I didn't bake. In a few minutes I will do a sock change and go once more into the breach.

I will post again, probably late tomorrow, or Sunday. I am due to bug out tomorrow late.

Having a better than average time. Wish you could all be here.

KPinder, thanks very much for the report! Have a great night and if you can afford the time please bring the rest of us who can't be there up to date with your further adventures!

I can't make it this year as well, so like others am planning on living vicariously through the experiences (and posts--with pictures. please) of those that made it.

Okay, so the first day is done and I'm already begging for pictures--pathetic.

Rob

I'll have some tomorrow.. You know, that volunteering thing.. it eats into my goofing off time.

Walt

My game is Friday night at 7 so I will be taking lots of shots then. I'll post them as soon as I can!

Thanks to everyone who has posted. Looking forward to you pictures Nazrat. Your setup last year was great and a lot of fun to play.

Matthew

First time we made it down to Fredricksburg. Traffic in the dealer hall was good yesterday so I didn't make it out of the booth to check out the gaming tables until evening.

The facility is nice. A representative from Fredricksburg came by and welcomed us, and dropped off a pamphlet of what's in the immediate area. I counted 49 restaurants in the immediate area.

Got a chance to walk around in the evening and the gaming halls were moderately filled. Some nice looking tables (I'll post some pics in the Evil Bob's blog if I get a chance later today). Noise level didn't seem bad at all.

I wandered the game hall last PM and it seemed the number of games rose considerably after dinner. A fair few open tables in the main area. Most of the satellite rooms were pretty packed.

There was an Egyptian pulp kids game where someone had fashioned a 2' square at the base Great Pyramid, with the limestone cap. Impressive. The large Roman rebellion table was present. The Peter Pig PBI marathon was still underway. There was a large and we'll terrained 7YW game going.

The topper was a pretty simple game in concept that looked to be a blast. It was a 40mm retreat from Moscow game, using rules generated and printed in the Courier years ago. A modest column of allied troops is on a road headed for safety. The figs didn't move vis a vis the terrain, but reshuffle as events oblige. Dice and cards interact to produce lots of events. Wolves, Cossacks, encountering a broke down cart which offered hope of supplies, only to turn up evidence of cannibalism to erode morale. A broken bridge over an icy stream. The scenics were simple, a white sheet and some XMas garden pine trees, but more than adequate. Superbly painted Sash and Saber 40mm figs. Damn they are gorgeous. I can't speak for the con organizers but it sure "pour encouraged" moi.

Well, off to Breakfast, the back to it…

Wish I was there, will be back next year.

I go every year but had to cancel out this time. Hurts when I know I should be in a game at a certain time or going to the usual restaurant with my friends.

My dad passed a week ago, so I had to cancel. Hope you guys have a good time.

Condolences on the loss of your Dad, demiurgex…

Sorry to hear that, demiurgex.

Very sorry to hear that, Demiurgex. My condolences for your loss.

Sorry for your loss Demiurgex.

I'm having a great time, always do.

Thanks guys, very kind.

So what games have you guys enjoyed? Give me some vicarious thrills! :D

Final AAR

Been home since Friday PM. Only planned to go for 2 days since I couldn't get a room closer than 1 mile and the heat projections for Sat and Sun were in the mid 90s.

On balance a big step up over many past shows. Pretty much the same crew of vendors and only 1 disappointed me with low stock. My shopping list was pretty well crossed off. Gaming was a big area of improvement. MANY games, and what was on showed a lot of creativity and more attention to eye candy scenics.

I only saw the Thurs and Fri flea markets. Lots of FOW and Warhammer. Fewer books and boxed board war games. A bit less painted lead.

I expect there will be a lot of Saturday pix posted once the gamers recuperate and get back home.

Duke Seifried was able to come. He was to run one of his mega'stravaganzas Sat, so I'm sure there will be pix if that.

Re me earlier post, the 3d printing tanks were from Trenchworx, and the casting company, apparently a late entry as they weren't in the book, was called SmoothOn.

Tired, but smiling.

I had a great time this year. Had a few more friends to spend the weekend with, which is always a bonus. Played in some games and enjoyed the Saga Tournament (despite losing all my games!)

The weather was nice and the drink and food was excellent. I must say, from a food standpoint, the local eating is the best of all the cons. I didn't eat at the FCC and only got some sushi at Wegmans. The long (14 hours each way) drive sucked, but it is what it is.

On Friday night one of the volunteers at the games registration desk found my friends and I a table to play an impromtu game on. Quick, efficient and friendly. Thank you, sir!

Thanks to Richard who spent a few hours trying to teach me DBA. I appreciate your help and generosity.

Bought a lot of stuff and even found something of interest in the flea market.

My Historicon AAR

I love Historicon! I always have a tremendous time there. And while I prefer the Host, I have to say, I thought the facility was better this year than the previous three. The gaming hall was carpeted and they had the flimsy curtains they put up last year and more gamer friendly chairs. The food choices on site were limited but better than previous years IIRC. I thought the gaming hall was quieter than previous years so I think the carpet helped, but if attendance was down that could be part of it.

I am thankful to all the GMs for putting on the games, the vendors for coming, especially Old Glory, who routinely get most of my money, but all of the vendors, many of whom I have bought from either this year or in previous years.

I started out on Friday with a fun ancients game of "Joe Hack" using a humongous amount of beautifully painted 28 mm Romans and Barbarians on a wonderful large terrain board. The game was a lot of fun. Thanks Joe Swartz!

Friday night I played in Peter (Gozalvo) Anderson's the Battle of Ligny. I always enjoy playing Peter and his group, beautiful terrain, great 28 mm figs and excellent GMing. The rules were of course Field of Battle which I like, but they are not for everyone. The fog of war created by the cards are frustrating for many, as is the waiting for the right cards so you can do what you need or want to. I like the friction created with this mechanism. The game itself was terrific. I was a Prussian player right at the hinge of the line (and rolled as Blucher too). The French started off slamming us to the left of center all the of the way down the left of our line. We were getting lousy cards and the French were winning. Our right side was holding its own though. Then I won the initiative roll and we actually got to play 10 cards. 10 cards is an amazing amount and with those cards we counterattacked along the line, broke through the center and controlled the objectives necessary for a victory. Thanks again Peter, another great game by you!

Saturday, my pre-registered game, Attack on the great Redoubt was cancelled. It would have been my first Black Powder game and I was looking forward to it. Oh well, because I read TMP, I decided to try the Magnificent 7 instead. I saw the game mentioned here and that ist was to be a fun game. I managed to get into the game. It was great. Ron Prillaman did a great job of GMing, keeping everyone involved and making stuff up on the fly when necessary. I got to be Brenner and McQueen, but passed McQueen along to another player when his guy died. The 7 got slaughtered, only Robert Vaughan's character escaped which is poignantly fitting as he is the only one of the 7's actors still alive. It was a real fun game.

Early on Friday I played Victory at Sea for the first time in an end of WWI battle. I had two small British cruisers and got smashed. The German's had more ships, better firepower and armor on the ships aligned against mine. I finished at 3 knots and 1 tube left capable of firing. The German's were a little banged up, but none the worse for wear. It was an enjoyable game. Thanks David Embee!

I also went to a seminar on the life of Carl Von Clausewitz presented by Dr. Donald Stoker who is a professor at the US Naval War College. It was very interesting and informative.

Saturday
My first game on Saturday was the Battle of Vittoria put on by the HAWKS' Duncan Adams and Dave Wood. 10mm using the LSNC Napoleonic variant called Fate of Battle. I really like this system and did a review on TMP a year ago about it. I had fun even though I was getting crushed due to very unlucky dice. I did not have a successful morale check the entire game, and since I was facing a huge force with a small one, I had lots of those pesky morale checks. Duncan and Dave ran a good game and I had fun playing. I like this system and Brent Oman's Field of Battle a lot. I pre-registered for this one.

My second (and last game of Historicon 2015) was my favorite game of the weekend. I did not pre-register for it, but I had it as a priority choice to try to get when the unsold games were made available.

This game was "Sharpe's Escape." It was a skirmish game put on by Robin Empey who came down from Ontario to run it. The game used Robin's own "Green Jackets and Voltigeurs" skirmish rules system. The rules were easy to pick up and made a lot of sense. Robin was an excellent GM as he allowed the players to attempt anything during the game, roll for morale to see if it was accomplished and he told you how many "actions" it would take. I don't want to get into the details here (I will on the Napoleonic Discussion board), but we did throw a lot of crazy stuff at Robin and had him shaking his head in disbelief. He allowed for all kinds of deception (in a role playing kind of feature for the game) and was prepared for everything. We all laughed, cut up and had a great time. The figs were very nice and the terrain was great. It is a shame that no one from the Historicon awards committee paid any attention to this game. Robin really should have won an award for putting on the most entertaining game, or doing the best job at GMing or something. This was an outstanding convention game. Everyone was involved all of the time (despite it being card driven kind of like Sharp Practice in that regard), even when it was not there turn, there was conversation about strategy for both sides, little friendly verbal bards and laughter at each situation. It was a great game. For the record, I had never met Robin before this game. This is an honest appraisal.

I also attended the painting Bay Horses class at Hobby University. It was interesting and well presented by Christin Sciuili. She did a nice job of teaching beginning through advanced techniques.

I also sort of attended Paper Modeling presented by Joey McGuire. I found it very informative, but got pulled out by a friend who wanted to chat. I got the meat of the class though.

I did not find anything at the Flea Market er, Wally's Basement although I was tempted by some really well priced Greek and Macedonian 28 MM plastic sets. In the end, my Old Glory card won out as it left metals at a similar/slightly more expensive rate, and while I want to start som 28mm Ancient's I need to add on to my 28mm and 15mm Naps more.
The vendor hall seemed to be lacking some vendors but there were some interesting new ones as pointed out in this thread. I bought a lot from Old Glory, some from Architects of War, some rivers from BTC, some Howard Hues paints and some flags from Dayton Painting Consortium I think, a pack of Perry plastic French Heavy Cavalry for $15 USD from Brigade Games and Hobby , some dice from Harmony House and few other small items here and there.

I want to thank all of the GMs and Dealers and Convention Committee members for making this a terrific Historicon for me.