Over 2000 gamers attended the summer event in Lancaster, PA
July 22-25. The controversial rented air-conditioning (a special one-time
fee was appended to the room rates to pay for it) in the dealers area
changed the complaints from too hot to too cold.
The Tullieres Model photo by Greenwald
237 scheduled games and over 50 unscheduled games provided more than 2200 gaming slots for the attendees. This does not count I 10 participants in the Ancients competitions. 61 dealers and an extensive fleamarket rounded out the event.
The guests of honor were Don Featherstone and Dr. Christopher Duffy who gave a series of entertaining talks on wargarning and Frederick the Great, respectively.
JACK SCRUBY AWARD
Pat Condray was a special guest of honor, receiving The Jack Scruby Award at a Saturday evening banquet.
Pat Condray accepts the Scruby Award. Photo by Butters
This award is awarded to those special few who have made a contribution to the hobby on such a level that it would not be the same if they had not been a part of it. Pat was honored for his lifelong dedication to the enrichment of the hobby. And the many HMGS conventions he organized in the early years of the organization.
SEMINARS
There were many more seminars than usual, with several talks by D. Featherstone and Dr. Duffy as well as Scott Bowden, R. Coggins and S. Craig Taylor, Jean Lochet, Jim Arnold, George Nafziger, W. Keyser and Frank Chadwick.
The highlight of Historicon had to be the Tulleries 25mm model that Todd Fisher of Emperor's Headquarters had commissioned for what is rumored to be over $30,000 (including thousands of figures). The detail was fantastic and many had a great time storming it. Todd also brought along a full scaleworking guillotine. - There is no evidence that it was used on the losers of the Tulleries game!
Painting
The painting competition was improved by the addition of a Masters category. Painters who had won a competition before, were required to compete against each other in this category. The result was that many more first time entrants participated. Another refinement was that the item submitted could not be one that had won in a contest previously. Cash and gift certificate prizes of over $750 were contributed by HMGS, Jenkintown Hobby, Old Glory Miniatures, Emperor's HQ, Editions Brokaw, The Armor y, Soldier World, USA, Geo Hex, The Elite Group, Aide De Camp, Wargames, Pendragon Miniatures, and The Ship Shop. The winners were (with thanks to Jay Hadley):
OPEN
Under 15MM
UNIT: Steve Hojnacki Grenadier a Pied
ARMY. Robert Vance German 10th Panzer
15MM
UNIT: Dave Paddock Revolutionary French
ARMY- Tom TuckPrussian SYW25MM No Award
NAVAL Nile Gunboat Steve Wooster
MASTER'S CATEGORY
Under 15MM
UNIT
1st: Israel Recon Paul Bernarino III
2nd: Devun's Brigade Paul Bernarino III
15 MM
UNIT
1st: Byzantines Doug Mudd
2nd: Aechean Peltasts Stan Berry
ARMY
1st: British SYWJim Purkey
2nd: Sassanid Persians Joe Miceli
25mm
UNIT
1st: Confederate Bde Chris Hughes
2nd: 11th British SYW Bob Marshall
ARMY
1st: Late Greeks Stan Berry
2nd: US 1812 Bob Marshall
BEST OF SHOW
Late Greek Army Stan Berry
PEOPLE'S CHOICE:
Irish Saxons Bob Vagas
HONORABLE MENTION
25mm Hoplites Stan
Berry
15mm Galatians Greg Skelly
ANCIENT TOURNEYS
Scott Holder reports that the rumors of the demise of the 7th edition rules were certainly premature. That tourney had 110 players, a 20% increase over last year. NASAMW ran 3 DBA events which drew 40 gamers including 28 that participated in the Friday Midnight shootout event. Aside from the very strong tournament showing, ancients was visible just about everywhere. Many NASAMW members ran gamesand Bob Beattie ran several for The Courier.
Simtac continues to be the sole sponsor for the 15mm DBA events under NASAMW aegis. The other events are supported by Wargames, Ral Partha, Emperor's HQ., Mr. Miniature, Soldier and Sword and Thistle and Rose.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Sportsman: Chris Hall
25mm NICT Champion: Derek Downs - Han Chinese
15mm NICT Champion: John Herrmann - Inca
25mm NICT Runner Up: Joe Serafin - Feudal Germans
15mm NICT Runner Up: Mike Pfanestiel - Han Chinese
25mm Asia Winner: James White - Khmer
25mm Asia Runner Up: Gary Dziatko - Khitan Liao
15mm Asia Winner: Rich Kroupa - Mongols
15mm Asia Runner Up: Bill Low - Ghaznavid
25mm Open Winner: Rich Kroupa - Seleucid
25mm Open Runner Up: James White - Late Romans
15mm Open Winner: Tim Grimmett - Han Chinese
15mm Open Runner Up: Charles Jackson - Han Chinese
15mm Mini Open Winner: Curt Wright - Aztec
Best Painted 25mm: Greg Hauser - Burmese
Best Painted 15mm: Stan Berry - Camillan Romans
DBA WINNERS:
Friday Shootout: Tony Jacoby - Seleucid
25mm Open; Mike McVeigh - Numidians
15mm Biblical: Mike McVeigh - Elamites
15mm Classical John Desmond - Pontic
15mm Dark Age Rich Mursin - Pre-Feudal Scots
15mm Medieval Stan Berry - War of Roses British
This year's convention merited coverage by Ms Amy Gamerman of the Wall Street Journal that resulted in a quite favorable front page article on wargaming! Ms. Gamerman spent the whole weekend and played in several games.
The Courier Staff ran a series of games in the Paradise Room at least two games were going on morning, evening and night. This is the second year The Courier does this and will do it again at each Cold Wars and Historicon.
There was a very interesting Irish Rebellion game put on by Leo Cronin, The Courier's business manager, Finigan's Wake. This is a historical miniatures role-play game concerning the late troubles circa 1917. Leo outdid himself in generating a scenariowith many mysterious and devious turnings. Our British guests played the British parts to the hilt as did several Irish guests. The gamers were serenaded by Pat McGuire who sang various Irish Ballads. Various Irish Beers were available topped off by a very large bottle of Tallamore Dew supplied by Ferkin Doyle. Dick Bryant was seen to navigate back to his room with a decided tilt after the festivities.
Courier Dispatch News About the Hobby.
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