After hearing all of the good news about last year's Tricon Convention, I just had to check it out for myself. So my wife and I took a long weekend break in the Boston area October 24-27, 1997 to visit the nearby Lexington and Concord battlefield sites. This convention turned out to be one of the best shows that I have ever had the pleasure to attend, and it should be a model for how all conventions should be organized and run.

Byron Champlin and friends did a terrific job of organizing a wargame convention devoted entirely to subjects from the 18th Century. The wargames covered the gamut of history from the Great Northern War (Russians vs Swedes) to the SYW (numerous events), the American Revolution (again, numerous events) and the French Revolution. Additional events of interest included presentations on archeological digs at French & Indian War sites, SYW tactics by Brent Nosworthy, the battle of Falkirk by Mark Mocarski (followed by a terrific-looking wargame of the same in 25mm) and a discussion of the British Army clothing regulations of 1742 and uniform colors by Robert Mulligan.

Perhaps the highlight of the whole convention, at least for me, was a battlefield tour of Bunker Hill, on the following Sunday, conducted by National Park Ranger, historian and wargamer Mark Nichipor. Mark did an excellent job of bringing the battle to life as we walked through the built-up streets of Charlestown. Well done!

Byron asked me to issue an appeal to gamers on the East Coast to step forward and volunteer to run some 18th Century games for next year's convention. The same people have carried the load for the first two years, but additional help and energy will be needed to keep this terrific convention going. I am going to do my part and run a game next year, so if I can travel all the way from Chicago to host a game, certainly some of our East Coast members can do the same.

Contact Byron Champlin at 154 Rumford Street, Concord, NH 03301 or call him at (630) 228 0097 for more information on Tricon 1998. I am confident that the membership will give its best support to this fine historical convention.

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