Origins

Easy Eight has just returned from our trip to Origins 24 in Columbus, OH. The trip was a huge success for us and we are very excited about going next year.

The facilities for the Origins show are excettent. There is plenty of space and all areas are well lit. It was easy for us to get around and our hotel was built right into the convention hats. Best of all, there was a good food court and plenty of nearby restaurants. And we can't forget "red white and boom" - Columbus put on an excellent fireworks display just blocks from the center. It was enough to ease the sting of working all day on the Fourth of July.

We put on several games at Origins and had plenty of gamers and spectators around the Battle-Table. The theme for the show was 25mm figs, in preparation for the release of our Battle-Cast figures at GenCon98. Origins also saw the release of our Battle-Ground terrain. Battle Ground was a big succes and helped all our demos look great.

Arctic Thunder was the new product published for Origins. It is a "mission pack" with one scenario and special rules and characters to support that scenario. We only ran Arctic Thunder once and it was a huge success. Much like our Peenamunde scenario, Arctic Thunder must remain shrouded in mystay but I can quote a now deceased NKVD officer "There is something moving and it ain't us!"

Tanker's Challenge - we would be remiss if we went to a con without at least one game of Tanker's Challenge! A demolition derby of WWII tanks, what's not to love??? TC was a blast at Origins and we ended with 10 players and a table covered with smoldering wreckage.

GenCon

Gen Con saw the initial release of Battle-Cast, Easy Eight's new miniature line. The figures arrived - hot off the spinner - and were immediately put on the shelves for eager gamers.

Islands of Glory, Easy Eight's treatment of the Pacific Theater, was also new for sale at Gen Con and very popular. The release of these new products, when added to our existing rules, supplements, and terrain meant that there was something for everyone at Easy Eight's booth in the dealer area.

We kept the Battle-Table running through out the con with exciting, classic scenarios for new gamers and old fans. Tanker's Challenge at Gen Con also was the site of the ultimate demolition derby - Tanker's Chaltenge. This was a two round event. We played two qualifying scenarioe with the top five players from each qualifier going on to the great round on Saturday night. We used a variety of tactics to spice up the game that ensured as many kills as possible. First, any tank that carried HVAP or APCR was assumed to carry an unlimited supply for purposes of this scenario. This made the Soviet tanks far more effective agaiost superior German armor protection.

Second, the final round was "sudden death." The GM and his assistant secretly determined how long the game would last and did not tell anyone. This prevented players from cowardly hiding or making rash moves on the final turn - no one knew when the final turn would come. All three events were marked by exciting, smart play and good sportsmanship - a good time was had by all. Alan Majeski (at right) was the Gen Con Tank Ace and received one of every product Easy Eight produces.

Thanks to everyone who we saw at GenCon, to alt our friends in the industry, and the excellent staff at Andon.