"Cold Wars 19 Convention Report incl 250 pics!" Topic
14 Posts
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Colonel Bill | 20 Mar 2019 9:44 a.m. PST |
My Cold Wars 2019 convention report, complete with pithy prose, perfect prognostications and two links at the end of the article for two online photo repositories, one of the entire con (close to 200 images) and my own game in 10 mm (about 50). Seriously, its the first day of Spring so it just can't get any better :). You're welcome. link Colonel Bill wargamer.com |
robert piepenbrink | 20 Mar 2019 10:49 a.m. PST |
Nicely done, and I am in substantial agreement. I'd hedge a bit about the Dealers Hall. Certainly the age of some vendors and the rise of Internet sales are factors. But I think we're missing some opportunities, too. The HMGS Big Three should be a showcase for new lines and rules and a reliable restock point for craft supplies. At the very least if rules are being played at the convention, someone should be selling them in the hall. But we'll see how things develop. |
historygamer | 20 Mar 2019 11:12 a.m. PST |
You bring up an interesting topic on the rules being played at HMSG cons. I often look at the PEL to see if there are rules being run that I'd like to play, but too often home rules are used. While home rules may be fun, they aren't usually a repeatable and take-home sort of thing. I see a lot of new rules being mentioned here on TMP, but I rarely see them at HMSG cons, or perhaps maybe one game of them. Not sure what that says, or what can be done, or should be done. Just sharing my observations. |
aegiscg47 | 20 Mar 2019 11:13 a.m. PST |
Bill, your 10mm game pics were awesome! The article was very well done as well and I'm in agreement with you about having so much stuff that I'll never get it done. I look at the thousands of painted figs I already have, the thousands that still need painting, and then 250+ board war-games that still need playing! I was recently at a board game con and didn't buy anything, fearing that it would just get added to the stacks! I would be interested in your views on how (at least to me) skirmish gaming seems to have replaced operational level gaming, which may explain the buying habits of many gamers. Why purchase a Warlord Games Greek starter set when all you need is one pack of 8 figs for your game. |
historygamer | 20 Mar 2019 11:52 a.m. PST |
Interesting take on the smaller games that seem to be in favor currently. |
dapeters | 20 Mar 2019 12:24 p.m. PST |
Do the groups that sponsor tournaments pay for the space they use? |
torokchar | 20 Mar 2019 4:44 p.m. PST |
Great report Bill – thanks from us who do not live out east. |
clifblkskull | 20 Mar 2019 8:55 p.m. PST |
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Bowman | 21 Mar 2019 6:32 a.m. PST |
I see a lot of new rules being mentioned here on TMP, but I rarely see them at HMSG cons, or perhaps maybe one game of them. Not sure what that says, or what can be done, or should be done. This is just my opinion. There are some great games out there that are perfect for playing at home or with your friends who are familiar with the rules. Sometimes they don't translate well to a convention setting. That maybe why the popular games aren't showing up at conventions as much as sales seem to indicate. For Historicon, I'm thinking of running an EnGarde/Ronin game with Samurai and Wako pirates. It's not a simple rule set and has a slightly complex combat system. It's probably at my limit for complexity and ease of play in a convention setting with potentially newbie players. Therefore there will only be 4 players and they will only control a few figures each. On the other hand I had 10 players playing in my Raids on Henderson Airbase a few years ago. But they were the very simple Wings of Glory Rules. I flew the Japanese bombers because they were boring to fly (just full speed ahead and hope you get to the target). |
historygamer | 21 Mar 2019 8:39 a.m. PST |
I think you are correct. It just makes me wonder if that is a good/bad/indifferent thing. I do know that going to a con and playing a set of rules you are interested in is a good thing. I just seem to find that option very often – at least for the rules I have been looking to try. |
47Ronin | 29 Mar 2019 10:32 a.m. PST |
Great report, Col. Bill. Thanks for sharing. |
HMS Exeter | 29 Mar 2019 5:50 p.m. PST |
I don't run games much, but, to the extent that I think about it, I am intimidated about trying to use popular rules. I am fearful I'll get a bunch of hardcore fans of the rules who know them so well, and the designer approved modifications so completely that I'll have to surrender control of the game, and become just a spectator, or have a raft of torqued off gamers. I would not run an ADLG or Bolt Action game on a bet. Mayhaps that may be part of the spate of house rules? |
Grumble87106 | 02 Apr 2019 6:31 a.m. PST |
As usual, the World War II, Napoleonic, American Civil War and – surprise – World War I took the big numbers as regards regular gaming, Note: quote is from Colonel Bill's blog, not this thread. I plan on doing my best at Historicon to keep up the WWI participation by offering two games set on the fringes of the Great War. 1. THEME GAME -- August 18, 1917: The King's African Rifles had the mission to outflank von Lettow-Vorbeck's Feldkompagnien and prevent their redeployment into Portuguese East Africa. "One never knows, at the commencement of a day, the full difficulties to overcome." That's putting it mildly. In the dense bush, progress was fraught with the dangers of ambush, snipers and simply not knowing what to expect. Lead the brave and determined Askaris of both sides as they fight for the British Empire or the Kaiserlichen Schutztruppe. Both sides will have the chance to attack and defend in this see-saw jungle battle. [Men Under Fire] 2. April 14, 1915: Turkish Lieutenant Colonel Suleiman Askari saw his chance to recapture Basra and put an end to the infidel invasion of Mesopotamia. Confined to his litter due to a knee wound, he nevertheless counted on 6,000 Turks and 10,000-20,000 Arab allies to give him the victory. 7,000 British Empire troops – mostly from India – held the fortified camp of Shaiba that stood between him and success. Both sides will need to attack and defend in this see-saw desert battle. [Command Decision 4 -TOB] |
historygamer | 02 Apr 2019 10:12 a.m. PST |
Kevin: So I get what your saying, and found myself in that position once. But that was on me for not knowing the rules better. While a GM can certainly run a home brew set of rules and entertain some people for a few hours, I'm not sure that helps advance or sustain the hobby, if in part, that is an HMGS goal. I'm not saying that HMGS should set a standard on rules, but as a gamer, if I can't redo the rules for the boys back home, other than a few hours entertainment I'm not walking away with much. Maybe that is enough. I don't know. I just know that as a gamer, I like to try out rules that I can actually purchase and play later Opinions may vary on that. :-) |
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