"If You Could Change One Thing About Historicon..." Topic

…what would you change?

Move it back to Fredericksburg.

Bwah ha ha! Just kidding!!!!

(Hey! I wasn't the guy who asked the ultimate inflammatory question!)

Move it around the country.

Id put it closer to Wisconsin.

Great idea! Move it to Lake Geneva.

What makes you think it's a NATIONAL convention?
It's run by HMGS EAST. It's not run by HMGS Las Vegas ir HMGS Wisconsin.
All you are saying by demanding that Historicon move to your area is that the local talent are incapable of running a convention.

Here's an idea. Instead of trying to steal OUR convention, grow your own. If you are capable of it. Which I doubt.

Guys who jump on a plane and fly to Lancaster or Fredericksburg are not attending a national convention. They are going to a rather small, by convention standards, local con.
One of the main problems of Historicon is the hubris of attendees in thinking that it's a Big Deal. It's not, as cons go. As Miniatures gaming cons go, that's another story. As far as venues go, we're a small con with delusions of grandeur.

I would show up

Can I suggest three things?
1. Don't cut off pre-registration so early – IMO a month or more out is too restrictive.

2. It seemed like back in the old days there was a healthier ratio of games/gamers. I used to be able to walk up to most games and find a seat at the table. Now it seems like if you don't pre-register you can't count on playing at all. (I may be wrong as this is only an anecdotal observation, I'd be curious to learn the events/attendees ratio over the years.) If it's in fact a problem perhaps more could be done to encourage gamemasters?

3. I miss the days when players could vote on the 'Pour Encourager Les Outres" (did I get that right? probably not…) award. I always put in a vote for the game I most enjoyed playing over the weekend.

Having overrun my quota by two, I should add that I think the various people that have run the con have done a fine job over the years and my hat's off to the organizers and volunteers that make it happen.

How about allowing entrance into the dealer hall, even if you have not registered for Historicon

Games.
--More short games, especially in the evening slots.
--More simple games with one or two-page rules.
--More dice games. Horse & musket seems to be dominated by Carnage & Glory.
--More historical games. Easier to stalk xombies than redcoats in an HMGS convention? Something wrong.
After that, I'd like to see more historical dealers.

But everything said, a bunch of unpaid staff and volunetter game masters are doing a very good job.

Geez, Winston, overreact much? I think Chuck was being tongue in cheek. Hell, I'd move it closer to Wisconsin as that's where I live. When I lived in Boston everyone there lamented it wasn't closer to Boston (and they still do). Everyone wishes every con was closer to them. That's Human nature.

Honestly we have a fantastic con near Chicago run by HMGS Midwest- Little Wars, so we don't need Historicon. We also have GenCon, Origins, GameHoleCon, Rockcon, Nexus, Adepticon, GaryCon, and a host of smaller conventions. You can relax.

If I'd change any one thing about Historicon, it would be to find a nice venue that is both affordable and well maintained for the foreseeable future. I liked the facility at Fredericksburg (though it was too loud), I hope The Host's owners live up to eveyone's desires.

+1 TG

I'd move it to far northern Alaska, like Barrow or Prudhoe Bay so ALL of us could complain about the travel distance!

Rather than move it around the country, why not leave it in place and move the country around it? It's Lancaster, PA today but next summer we'll call it Dallas, Texas or Bemidji, Minnesota or Kennebunk, Maine….etc etc. Than everyone could feel fulfilled of having the convention near them?

Move it to a mold free, code standard facility that allows easy access to gaming and the dealer hall. Oh, sorry, that was Fredericksburg……

1. Miss the old painting competition that actually featured military wargame units

2. I wish more games were put on with more commercially available rule systems. It's nice to try those out by someone who knows what they are doing.

Calypso – have you been reading the other thread on how full games were? I don't think this is a problem. The director for FI said he had a record number of games no-show, but some data gathered by the staff showed on average, the games were only 75% full – this with record number of cancelled games. Of course it may not apply to an individual game you were looking to get into.

Before answering ,I Have to agree with TGerritsen, not just about Winston overreacting. The Midwest has a large number of well run and attended conventions that draw from across the region and nation. Perhaps Winston may want to attend some of them ,then he will see that HIS Historicon is not really needed or wanted .
Back to the question:
a) Make it different from the other 2 conventions : right now the ONLY difference between the 3 is what month they are in. Same attendees, same games, same issues with registration ,etc..
why attend ??

HG, I didn't see that thread. I'm afraid I wasn't able to attend FI this year. Did the director indicate why he thought so many games no-showed?

I too miss the painting competitions of old. I often have a hard time finding them at the con's and the viewing hours haven't always been that friendly for the idly curious.

I'd say move it to Vegas ! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas the commercial says … So … No one would know if you won or lost and/or how much you spent on toys !

Don't charge Old Glory for their booth and pay for all of our hotel rooms??? OK,OK --you asked??

Regards
Russ Dunaway

The CD for Fall In was looking into it but perhaps as many reasons for cancelling as there are GMs.

For me the Hcon painting competition jumped the shark when a single figure of Kurt Russel from the movie "The Thing" won for best historical. Can't make this stuff up, folks.

Make it a National Convention and move it to Mid-America,
How about St.Louis

The name:

Hiscifantacon

Work with People putting on games so that sessions that fill up quickly have more slots available – perhaps asking others to host similar games or adding a an extra time slot – within reason

Like the idea of letting public in to shop or see some games – might help the vendors a bit and I doubt would hurt paid attendance much

Tumbleweed beat me to it. Sort of… 😀

Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!

For the record, we still prefer the Host to the convention center in Fredericksburg and look forward to attending Cold Wars in Lancaster in 2018.

Cheers, Tumbleweed

The Viking Forge

Let customers in free to the vendor hall, or at least have a $5 USD pass or something. The vendor fees pay for a lot more than just the vendor hall at the show!

I rather enjoy the mobility of it, even if it is northeast-centric. I agree that it is not THE 'National' convention. It is one of the many regional conventions that we have access to, but there are several other smaller conventions spread out around the calendar that are just as enjoyable.

One recommendation that I think we can all get behind is hygiene. Some of our boys are pretty ripe when they get there… let alone by Saturday afternoon!!

Try moving it to say… Fredericksburg? NOT kidding.

Tumbleweed, SO glad "we still prefer the Host to the convention center in Fredericksburg" and who is "WE"? And why do you like a run down, flea bag hotel more than a damn fine Convention Center?

Living in southwestern Ohio, I live closer to Lancaster than Fredericksburg.

I still say move it back to Fredericksburg.

Tom

It was my 1st time this year but I would move it to the South west of the UK (near me)

Hmm. Bill will no doubt make a poll out of this, so just to make sure my response isn't invalidated:

Add more short simple non-computer-moderated games in the evening sessions. And no, Bill, I'm not kidding.

Ceterman:

"We" refers to the staff here at the Viking Forge. We like the Host better than the Fredericksburg center.

There is nothing wrong with the FCC, we just like the Host better. Let's just leave it at that.

I'll preface this by saying I live in Texas. Been to 4 different Historicon conventions. Enjoyed all four,two at the Host, two at Fredericksburg. I go to cons for several reasons: 1). Game with rules I've never played. 2). Buys toys from dealers 3). Buy from flea market. With that in mind to lure the things I like:

A). Give GM's free admission. Comments to the effect that there aren't enough games are true. You want folks to bring their toys, insentify them to do so.

B). Dealers are critical to a cons success. Do not charge them a fee to bring their merchandise. And if financially possible pay for their stay at the Host. Remember most dealers are small businesses. Their margins are critical to their success. More dealers would attend if their overhead was lower. This hobby needs dealers to survive.

C). Flea Market. Don't charge for tables. Set hours that the only thing open is the flea market. MilleniumCon does this Sunday morning. Gets everyone in the room shopping.

Historicon is great. I will attend again. However like all these type of things you are competing for attendees. They can be motivated to attend or blow it off as not worth the effort to attend. Got to innovate to compete.

Andy

Just to balance out the people yelling for F'burg-
It is overpriced, the gaming hall is so loud it is impossible to hear someone across the table, there is place to socialize and besides, I just don't like it.

Actually I have an addition to my answer above .
Get a bar that actually stocks a decent selection of drinks and draft beers. A decent one, I am not demanding a SpringBank 18 or Pappy 12 year or even Rauzan- Segla. just a good selection and perhaps a good cider on draft (angry orchard is NOT a good cider )

move it to the geographical center of the HMGS-east instead of on the eastern end of it.

Keep it away from F'burg, ditto to PJ ONeill. The best facility was at King of Prussia

GM's should be given a break on fees.

Dealers should pay percentage of sales. If they are not trusted to keep an accounting, then do not invite them.

Dealer's area should be open to anyone for free. I had a friend a few years ago who would make counterfeit badge because all he wanted to do was shop, but did not think he should pay for that, or at least not full price.

Mr Smith, it seems from their website that the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, inc, that runs Historicon is not HMGS-east. Nowhere on the site does it call itself "east". The convention director is from Ohio. They give a grant to school in Memphis, TN. Wikipedia says the organization has 2000 members "world wide." There are regional organizations that use the name HMGS, but there is no HMGS east.

Move it to New Orleans.

Hold it in Atlantic City.

Just to balance out the people yelling for the Host
It is overpriced. The Host is a dump, you can spend all the money in the world and still not fix it. But Some just love it. I just Hate it.

Ps I've been to 30+ HMGS east events from Colorado, So Driving distance doesn't matter to me.

Move it anywhere, as long as it's a nice venue within shuttle-bus distance of an airport.

From someone flying out from CA my preference was the Lancaster area. Much easier to fly to Philly and drive then flying into DC and flogging through traffic to Fredericksburg. Also, I thought the FCC facility was mediocre.

A past frequent GM in our group who doesn't do it anymore said tonight that the main reason he doesn't run Games anymore is because he is required to do it through Facebook. No simple on line game registration any more. Can only be Facebook, which he refuses to do.
I'm not on Fakebook either, for many reasons beyond being a simple Luddite. I consider it, and Zuckerberg dangerous.

>>move it to the geographical center of the HMGS-east instead of on the eastern end of it.

Keep it away from F'burg, ditto to PJ ONeill. The best facility was at King of Prussia<<

Agree with Bobgnar, the best facility HCon has been is King of Prussia. I think I read somewhere on the HMGS board that KoP is being considered again now that the casino renovation is done but not sure how accurate that is.

One of the Boston guys.

KoP was only one I went to, felt guilty not as it was so close. Lancaster isn't so far as most of you travel

Demand the Host allow card credit purchases of drinks and food. It's 2018 folks – the fact that the Host is cash-only is ridiculous. Hot dog vendors on the street can take cards now.

Perhaps someone should recommend to the HMGS BoD that depending on how successful (financially) Historicon does, a pro-rated refund be given to the vendors within 60 days of the convention. Both pros and cons to the idea, but just something to consider.

More parking. That is all.