"Cold Wars 2025?" Topic

Any announcements or discussions at Historicon on the future of Cold Wars?

I hope so too

Paper came around to dealers about 2025 Cold Wars in Gettysburg, Feb 21-23. It has not been voted on yet to my knowledge.

My spin on it is; there are some local conventions that are planned in Feb. to avoid conflict of schedules with Cold Wars now CW planners want to move it to the same month.

I have a vested interest in Williamsburg Muster in VA on 14-16 Feb. So I will not attend Cols Wars in Feb. I would attend it was in March.

FYI: Cold Wars 2023 was held Mar 9-12.

I would attend all 3 days if in Gettysburg. I always enjoyed Fall In when it was there.
That seems like a lifetime ago.

From what I had seen on a painter's Facebook page it stated that they are looking at holding it in Gettysburg on February 27 to March 2 but nothing is set in stone.

Disco Joe, I stand corrected on the dates.

It was posted on a dealers table at Historicon as Feb 28,29 Mar 1,2

Kim

2/29/25? Surely, you jest.

Yes, I was jesting, and…

stop calling me Shirley.

The Williamsburg Muster and Cold Wars 2 weeks apart. An embarrassment of riches.

I commend the Board for getting Cold Wars up and going. While the earlier date does present weather risks (though anything prior to April 1 does), I actually like this 2025 date BECAUSE it is a little earlier and therefore won't mess with spring breaks of my kids and with other conventions.

Well that sucks…. first weekend in March is always our Cincycon.org event and we posted those dates April of this year to make sure we got it out to the public and other event coordinators….. We draw about 1000 attendees and share several vendors with the HMGS Shows… I cannot move my dates so will just have to ride it out…

Not that I don't understand that HMGS may have had to pick that date for venue availability issues?

But, I do feel like I have to say that as a former vendor(15 years) at all 3 HMGS events I stopped vending at Gettysburg events… Location is a dump, 1 bathroom in the entire vendor hall(that always broke), virtually zero food options on site or near for that matter, terrible sales(half) because so many gamers would spend a day on the battlefield and not gaming or shopping… I now visit Gettysburg about every other year and just dive into the entire experience minus trying to jam in a gaming convention…

My biggest fear is that this could look like the 2023 Valley Forge Cold Wars experience which was Terribly Attended… HMGS had to of lost money on that show…. I Absolutely don't wish Ill on any organization but I do wish HMGS would do a better job of not picking poorly attended venues or dates. With the Graying of Historical Gamers I feel like this hobby is to fragile for what I feel is probably some questionable decision making? I Absolutely commend HMGS for the current Historicon Venue and the incredible efforts put into that event! :)

I have no secret access to the Board's thinking, but they may be estimating that Gettysburg would be so poorly attended that they could fit everything into the twin hotels and not require the Allstars. That would lower overhead, perhaps enough to shift from red to black.

I too saw a flyer posted about CW 2025 in Gettysburg at the Eisenhower.

A few years after the HMGS left that venue I returned for a family event over at the college, and stayed there because a room was insanely cheap and everywhere else was expensive. We found out why, it was still a dump! In particular the older portion of the hotel. Now maybe since that time it has been renovated, but my memory of the hotel and venue are not good.

Gettysburg would be nice.

Well,

"With the Graying of Historical Gamers"
This is a very true statement about HMGS cons but not a true statement about the hobby.

About 3 years ago I took a joy ride up to the Eisenhower to look it over and breathe the air. They seemed to be about 75% thru a complete renovation of the older hotel. The Allstar is still there but the folks in the Eisenhower told me it's only open from time to time, when shows and events book it.

The day I was there it was open. There was some kind of regional K9 police get together. The cart track is there but the carts themselves are long gone.

The Boyd's Bear Barn across the street is now a restaurant. The only other alternatives are down in Emmitsburg or up in Gettysburg.

The current website info on food is vague, but both wings of the hotel complex appear to have complimentary breakfasts.

Last time I went to Cold Wars I drove through a snow storm to get to the airport for my cancelled flight.

I might be back for April or May.

Louis XIV I remember that show… we made it about as far as 1 hour on the turnpike (coming from Ohio) We were barely moving with my 4 wheel drive F-150 pulling my show trailer and had to give up for the night. So did everyone else so we grabbed literally the last hotel room or we would have slept in the F-150 that night… When we got up the Turnpike was a parking lot going maybe 3 MPH. Turns out PA had not shoveled or touched the turnpike so yikes!!! I called a buddy that had made it to the show that morning and I asked him what it looked like… he said the Host parking lot had not been touched and was a mess…

We had to make the decision to give up…head back home since we could not get to Lancaster with remotely enough time to unload. Saw 4 semis in ditches on the way back… what a mess and it took forever to get to Cincinnati.

I will say that after pitching a stink with HMGS for vulnerable show dates they did credit my booth cost into the next shows booth cost so super cool on their part!

I don't understand the Early dates for 2025 or the Venue choice…. I have not posted in a long time regarding HMGS but I felt like someone should start some type of conversation about "What the What" I do want to say that I really love our Hobby and HMGS!

Louis XIV I remember that show… we made it about as far as 1 hour on the turnpike (coming from Ohio) We were barely moving with my 4 wheel drive F-150 pulling my show trailer and had to give up for the night. So did everyone else so we grabbed literally the last hotel room or we would have slept in the F-150 that night… When we got up the Turnpike was a parking lot going maybe 3 MPH. Turns out PA had not shoveled or touched the turnpike so yikes!!! I called a buddy that had made it to the show that morning and I asked him what it looked like… he said the Host parking lot had not been touched and was a mess…

We had to make the decision to give up…head back home since we could not get to Lancaster with remotely enough time to unload. Saw 4 semis in ditches on the way back… what a mess and it took forever to get to Cincinnati.

I will say that after pitching a stink with HMGS for vulnerable show dates they did credit my booth cost into the next shows booth cost so super cool on their part!

I don't understand the Early dates for 2025 or the Venue choice…. I have not posted in a long time regarding HMGS but I felt like someone should start some type of conversation about "What the What" I do want to say that I really love our Hobby and HMGS!

Guys if you plot it out it seems like the conventions work out to roughly every 4 months so that is why February or March would make sense. Yes there is a chance of snow which I wouldn't be happy about but you can't have them too close together as suggested by another member because of the cost for those attending unless you are one of the lucky ones who are independently wealthy.

They have been discussing Cold Wars on the Historicon Official Discussion Group on Facebook. I suggest there for information being sent out by the new communication director. And before anyone says "I don't do Facebook" you won't do informed communication either then.

Grimm

There's all different types of communication that can be very informative, not just facebum.

Your local sheriff would be glad to show you his facebooks.

The new communication director announced they are still in negotiations. It would be a one year contract. HMGS also realizes it conflicts with other Cons but this was the only date available. A director has been found for Cold Wars. In the future they want to move back to their usual dates.

So then instead of the end of February and beginning of March it would move back to the middle of March?

@Grimmnar

Percentage of people who use the internet – 93%
Percentage of people who use Facebook – 67%

Percentage of people who do not use Facebook – 26% + 7%

Percentage of organizations with Facebook, but
no website – 28%

So, 1/3 of people don't look to Facebook, and 1/3 of organizations refuse to use anything else. Here's a recipe for the smooth flow of static.

Goal is middle of March. We run into trouble if we get too close to Adepticon. Any Spring show runs the risk of bad weather. We've had bad weather for Fall In as well. I think we are looking at a smaller show. New venue, less ideal date, weather risk all band together. I think we will lose some vendors, and maybe pick up others. Might it bleed some support from local events – that is a possibility. My Spring plans include the Muster, Cold Wars and Adepticon. After that I hope to be home to enjoy the rest of the Spring

I don't attend any cons other than the HMGS shows. Maybe someday, but not for now. I'll absolutely make the effort to attend (and run a game or two). The only things that would keep me away are heavy snow, or pricey accommodations. Everything else I can deal with.

@TSD

Where, generally, do you live

@Exeter

Philadelphia suburbs.

Given your location, let me suggest making a day trip to the Saturday session of Barrage, Saturday 9/28, in Havre de Grace, MD, about a 70 minute drive each way. It's a 2 day event, but I suspect suggesting you stay over is suggesting too much.

link

About 200 attendees. It's not unusual to see plates from VA and NJ.

Given the February dates, and our multiple interpretations of the Fall-In! theme, should Cold Wars' theme just be frostbite?

I kid… I'll be there.

I enjoyed the shows at this location in the past. I was worried about the dealer hall being separate from the gaming. However it worked out.

Well, that shoots ScrumCon right in the foot. Thanks, Guys.

I vote for Lancaster in early March. My seven years war convention is April 3-5

Lancaster convention center is best because one can park in garage and never get into car again particularly if it snowd

Also two excellent French restaurants within walking distance. Since I fly in from Omaha, the cost of the hotel room is of minimal concern.

The last I heard was that The Board had green lit a Cold Wars con for late February at the Eisenhower in Gettysburg. This is only an approval. The jungle drums are suggesting that there are issues with getting a con director, so its' actually occurring is another matter.

"I said it to Wilbur. I said it to Orville. I'll say it to you. You'll never get it off the ground,"

We should have a clearer picture once some kind of "word" comes out of the membership meeting here at Fall In.

The "word" that I have heard is that Cold Wars 2025 is on, at the Eisenhower in Gettysburg, 2/28-3/2 inclusive.

Happy, happy, joy, joy, happy, happy, joy…

I visited the HMGS website and saw this for the dates for Cold Wars 2025:

February 27th-March 1st – Cold Wars® 2025

Is that correct? One-half day on February 27 and the convention ends on Saturday, March 1st?

The handout for Cold Wars 2025 provided at Fall-In 2024 last week indicated that Sunday, March 2nd would be the last day of Cold Wars.

I went to the HMGS website and didn't see anything listed for Cold Wars like you stated Tumbleweed. What is it listed under because I couldn't even find it under the title conventions?

Its not set in stone. As far as I know, as of Fall In they were negotiating but hadn't been able to sign a contract yet. Time is running out though. Feb 28th is only 4 months away.

When I go to the HMGS site, all I get is a reference to the Valley Forge 2023 con.

hmgs.org/page/CW_Home

hmgs.org/page/hmgs_cons

Thanks for providing the link Martyn.

Martyn has confirmed that at this point, it looks like the convention will end on Saturday and there will be no Sunday. The question is; what time will it close on Saturday?

Tumbleweed, it will end Sunday. Sunday, just like all the other Cons HMGS has ever, ever had. Sunday.

This is why HMGS(E) never gives chewing gum to their board/officers. They might be called upon to walk somewhere.

HMGS board members are members of our gaming community who have stepped up to run an organization that put on some great gaming conventions. Fall In and Historicon were both excellent conventions this year.
I don't think that insulting their intelligence on a community forum is constructive. If there are legitimate complaints, members can vote or attend the membership meetings.

+1 Martyn K