Dave Knight | 27 Jul 2022 2:22 a.m. PST |
I had an absolute blast at my first USA convention, Historicon. Coming over from the UK I wondered if any others would meet the following criteria 3 days Reasonably close to an airport Accommodation at or close to the venue I will be back to Historicon nexy year in any event |
robert piepenbrink | 27 Jul 2022 3:30 a.m. PST |
Little Wars (Chicago) I think. Cold Wars and Fall In are usually held in the Philadelphia/Lancaster area, so at least as close to an airport as Historicon was this year. "Three days" would depend. Not uncommon to officially open and have a little light gaming Thursday evening, go full blast Friday and Saturday, and have a reduced schedule and an open flea market on Sunday morning. Anyway, glad you enjoyed Historicon. |
Dervel | 27 Jul 2022 4:26 a.m. PST |
You went to the biggest of this nature in the US. Historicon is the only one I know of that has the full Thursday-Saturday schedule. Cold Wars and Fall In are probably the nest in line they will feel like a slightly smaller version. Starting unofficially on Thursday evening running through Sunday morning. Little Wars as mentioned above is smaller, but in Chicago area so can be flown to. Nashcon is similar to Little Wars. Adepticon and Nova Open are larger events even than Historicon but much more focused on fantasy and tournament play. So fewer participation games and fewer historical games. |
saltflats1929 | 27 Jul 2022 4:40 a.m. PST |
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OSCS74 | 27 Jul 2022 4:49 a.m. PST |
I also had a great time at Historicon. Hope to see you there next time. |
GamesPoet | 27 Jul 2022 5:14 a.m. PST |
Like Fall-In and Cold Wars, Huzzah! goes from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon. Not as large in number of games and people, although it is plenty fun enough. Accommodations can be on site or next door, food opportunities in walking distance with more just beyond. And Portland Maine has an international airport. |
Marc33594 | 27 Jul 2022 5:33 a.m. PST |
I will put in a plug for HMGS-South's Recon and Hurricon. Recon is the last full weekend in April and Hurricon the last full weekend in September. Gaming starts early evening Thursday and runs through to Sunday morning. Orlando airport is reasonable close so direct flights from the UK. One added bonus is free transportation from the host hotel to various theme parks like Disney World. Several folks bring their families and make it a complete holiday. We have one gentleman who flies over from UK with his brother. They spend a week here with part of the at the convention and the rest at various theme parks. Link to this years Hurricon link |
Wackmole9 | 27 Jul 2022 6:26 a.m. PST |
Hi Adepticon in Chicago in March. Its going to be near ohara airport at the rosemont center. |
Admiral Rich | 27 Jul 2022 6:26 a.m. PST |
Dave, I will second Marc's recommendation for HURRICON & RECON. The venue is close to Orlando International (MCO), the room rates are very reasonable and the facility was renovated last year. The HMGS-South staff have been doing a top-notch job of running these two cons for longer than I can remember! Hope to see you there… |
Ed Mohrmann | 27 Jul 2022 7:38 a.m. PST |
Dave, another recommndation for Hurricon and/or Recon in Florida. GREAT folks, great venue and superb games! |
Murphy | 27 Jul 2022 8:08 a.m. PST |
If you come to the Midwest, from April to August, you can get the following: 1: The Seven Years War Convention. 2: Origins 3: Adepticon 4: Little Wars 5: Gencon 6: Nashcon 7: Advance the Colors 8: Cincy Con That's just right off the top of my head. All of these match your criteria with the exception of #7, which is in Springfield, and you would need to fly into Dayton and drive there. Personally I would say I like Little Wars. I've been to the majority of the other ones, and while SYW convention, and LW are miniature oriented, the bigger ones, (Gencon and Origins) are overall game cons and fairs, although there are miniature events also. ATC (#7) is perhaps the smallest of them, but it is slowly growing. All of the locations here provide good places to play, dealers, games to play, good lodging and good places to eat, along with stuff for non-gaming family members to see and do. Enjoy your trips, welcome to US Conventions, and have fun! Meet me at Little Wars next year, and the first round is on me! Keep us informed of your adventures! |
Shagnasty | 27 Jul 2022 8:57 a.m. PST |
There is Millennium Con very near Austin, Texas. It is held in the 2nd week of November and is about 45 mins from Austin/Bergstrom Airport. It has about 250-300 participants, access to BBQ and real Tex-Mex food. |
Dave Knight | 27 Jul 2022 9:36 a.m. PST |
Hurricon is a possibility – I just need to see if the logistics work. Is the organisation, signing up for games in advance etc the same? |
Admiral Rich | 27 Jul 2022 9:59 a.m. PST |
Dave, Yes, all the sign-up info, etc. is at link and you can register for games now…but more will be added over the course of the next six weeks or so. Happy to buy you a beer or a tot of Pussers if you can make it… |
14Bore | 27 Jul 2022 1:03 p.m. PST |
Seems Fall in will be at different venue than Historicon in Lancaster not King of Prussia, sadly as KoP is 12 minutes away for me |
Stew art | 27 Jul 2022 1:13 p.m. PST |
On the West Coast Kublacon is also 4 days and right next to an airport. |
Grumble87106 | 27 Jul 2022 1:24 p.m. PST |
Seems Fall in will be at different venue than Historicon in Lancaster Yes, November 4-6 Fall-In! this year will be at the Wyndham Resort (formerly the Lancaster Host) on US Hwy 30 to the east of downtown Lancaster. Who knows, maybe Cold Wars 2023 will be in King of Prussia. |
Prince Alberts Revenge | 27 Jul 2022 2:34 p.m. PST |
Dave: it was great to roll dice with you at the age of sail game on Friday night (even though your French fleet thoroughly smashed our British). Your Test of Resolve games looked fantastic. Very happy to hear you enjoyed yourself. I'd recommend Fall In and Cold Wars, slightly smaller than Historicon but same feel. I'm sure many others are just as good but I haven't been to them. |
GamesPoet | 27 Jul 2022 3:08 p.m. PST |
Murphy buys the first round at Little Wars? Hmmm … maybe I'll have to go one year. ; ) |
miniMo | 27 Jul 2022 3:48 p.m. PST |
Huzzah! in Portland Maine in May, great games at a great venue, very close by the Portland Jetport. Usually 3 days, Fri-Sun. Was 4 days this year to make up for lost pandemic time. Haven't heard yet if next year will be 4 or 3. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 27 Jul 2022 8:27 p.m. PST |
I attend Kublacon every year. It's held -- centered, really -- at a hotel called the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, and is, literally, about 5 minutes' drive from the airport (maybe 10 minutes if there is heavy traffic in the airport). You'll have to wait longer for your Uber/Lyft to pick you up than to reach the hotel. It's a very nice hotel, and it's been hosting the convention for almost 20 years. I think about 2,500 people typically attend. Convention activities now span three hotels within about a 1-mile radius. (That's what I meant by "centered" above.) The convention takes place about the last weekend in May, determined by the date of Memorial Day, which I think occurs on the last Monday in May. kublacon.com Now that I think about it, Pacificon Game Expo (Labor Day weekend -- end of August) and Dundracon (Washington's Birthday weekend -- mid-February) are both held near San Jose International Airport. link dundracon.com |
greenknight4 | 28 Jul 2022 7:03 a.m. PST |
Thumbs up to Huzzah in may in Portland Maine as well :) |
Dave Knight | 28 Jul 2022 12:10 p.m. PST |
PAR – I enjoyed Trincomallee but cannot claim much credit for the result! Admiral Rich – I may take you up on that beer Murphy – ditto I am still sorting out logistics but 80% certain to get to Hurricon. Thanks for all the ideas – I am hoping to get to a few more conventions but taking one at a time Any decent ones in Canada? |
Tgerritsen | 28 Jul 2022 4:53 p.m. PST |
Little Wars and Huzzah are both great miniatures focused conventions. Gen Con is the biggest general game convention, and Adepticon is quite good (and large). PAX East has games as well, though is mostly video games focused. |
SgtGuinness | 28 Jul 2022 5:53 p.m. PST |
HurriCon and Recon in Florida for the same reasons as Marc and Ed pointed out and then some. About 2 years ago I met a bloke from England on the LAF forum at HurriCon who gamed with us the whole con. If I remember correctly he came with his wife and kids and did the Disney Parks afterwards! I've met many gamers from across the country and the globe at these Florida cons. Many bring their families to hit the theme parks. link |
shthar | 28 Jul 2022 8:23 p.m. PST |
Little Wars or Nashcon would be my rec for a show west of the alleghanies. cannot speak to airport closeness. |
snurl1 | 28 Jul 2022 11:25 p.m. PST |
Every gamer should experience Gen Con at least once. Games of every description are played there. |
Dave Knight | 30 Jul 2022 2:18 a.m. PST |
I have signed up for Hurricon. Now to organise the hotel and flights |
Marc33594 | 31 Jul 2022 5:17 a.m. PST |
Dave look forward to meeting you! For the hotel be sure to ask for the Hurricon rate. Among other things you will NOT be charge the resort fee on check out. Heard that our original room block sold out but they should be adding more soon. Let me know if I can help you. |
Marc33594 | 31 Jul 2022 9:26 a.m. PST |
Dave please drop me a line at marc33594ATyahooDOTcom Have some information for you |
Dave Knight | 31 Jul 2022 2:19 p.m. PST |
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Grattan54 | 01 Aug 2022 7:49 a.m. PST |
Adepticon is mostly fantasy if you are looking for more historical gaming then Adepticon would not be your thing. |
Dave Knight | 01 Aug 2022 1:36 p.m. PST |
I do some fantasy and science fiction gaming but am generally more into historicals |
etotheipi | 01 Aug 2022 1:52 p.m. PST |
Guns of August and Williamsburg Muster put on by the Old Dominion Military Society are smaller than those listed above, but sport the three-day agenda, and a good mix of historical, fantasy, and scifi games from crunchy rules to slick, quick-play, odmsclub.com/conventions.html |
Grattan54 | 01 Aug 2022 8:13 p.m. PST |
I would suggest Little Wars in Chicago. Where it is held is fairly close to O-Hara airport I believe. |
Dave Knight | 04 Aug 2022 2:13 a.m. PST |
Booked for Hurricon. What next? |
Dave Knight | 26 Sep 2022 1:54 p.m. PST |
I had a great time at Hurricon. It is my firm intention to be back – somewhere in the USA – next year |