Administrative problems contributed to a less than stellar Cold Wars `97. After a long string of successes, Cold Wars lost money in 1997. The PEL (Preliminary Event List) was sent out without any information on the Ancient Toumeys and several Historical events, the details of which the Convention coordinator had since the previous Historicon did not appear and were not scheduled. Bob Watts, Convention Coodinator resigned after the convention. Mr. Watts made no formal Report to the Board of Directors as to why the convention had the problems it did.

Financial problems aside, the gamers enjoyed over 250 games in every period. The Courier put on is usual set of games some where truncated by the scheduling fiasco. Bob Beattie put on a very huge 25mm DBR game - The Battle of Fornovo; Terry Man ran a naval game base on his rules which are a derivative of the original Janes's Naval Rules. A Command Decision game Shoestring Ridge was run by Allen Garbee and Jim Birdseye put on 2 of his popular Sharpe's Gold Scenarios.

About 12% of the games were Naval almost equaling the most numerous Napaleomc games (13%). On a more soniber note 7% were fantasy/science fiction games - on a par with ACW (7%) and more than Colonial games at 3%.

Through the stupendaus efforts of Scott Holder and the North American Society for Medeival and Ancient Wargaming the shortcomings of the PEL were made good and a very successful Ancient Tourney was hekd. About 130 players filled 160 tournament slots.

While no specific prize was awarded this tune for Best Terrain, or Best Army, nominations were entertained. Tournament wide nominees this time included Tim Stubbmgs, Matt Kollmer, Tim Gile, Mike Byrne, Dick Hurchanik, Ed Bernhart, and Jirn Bisigani. Terrain standouts included efforts by Tom and Kate Thomas, Danny Weitz, and Mark Huml.

Armies in 25mm were great with some previous winners in attendence (Greg Hauser's Burmese) plus Mark Huml's Ptolemaics, Danny Weitz's Marian Romans, Walt Leach's Early Germans and the Thomas' 100 Years War English. The only 15mm army that caught my eye was Miles Toomey's Qin Chinese.

Rich Novak, John Shirey, Scott Holder; Mike Byrne, Mike McVeigh and Mike Kelly. Arty Conliffe ran Armati and Bob Beattie ran a DBA 25mm. Sponsorship was provided by Blood Axe, Pharoah's Arms, Simtac, and Pass of the North.

More Courier Dispatch News

Phil Barker Wins Scruby
Historicon '97
Historicon '97 Ancient Events
Cold Wars '97
Jersey Association of Gamers
MagWeb Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
Nashcon '97