ED NOTE: this report is assembled from inputs provided by Scott Holder, JT Thomas Jay Hadley and from my own observations. Any omissions or errors are entirely mine. - DICK BRYANT Historicon'98 had a 10% increase in attendance over last year to 3725. With well over 400 games, and 90 dealers there was something for everyone. Co-directors JT Thomas and Jay Hadley, the Board of Directors and the many volunteers are to be congratulated. The dealers were moved into the tennis barn which gave them more room and the ancient tournaments, flea market and open gaming were placed in the former dealers room. This was an overall improvement. The hotel also provided additional gaming rooms. Those who commented that the convention was not as well attended as previous ones, did not take into account all the additional rooms being used that made the main gaming areas less crowded and with welcome elbow room. The major failing of the affair was the poor air conditioning. The Hotel just can't seem to get it right! That's not the convention's fault but, in my opinion one of the main reasons why HMGS-East should consider a change of venue - that and the poor lighting in the main gaming room. The theme for the convention was the Spanish American War with Greg Novak as guest of honor. There were several spectaclar games: Duke Seifried held his usual extravaganza with a complete 25mm Aztec city to fight around; Pete Panzieri ran several games of his loved and much expanded Alamo game; Dick Bryant hosted The Fred Vietmeyer Memorial C, L & S game with 30mm figures from the 60's;; Herb Gundt and Bob beattie ran several games of Harper's ferry with Herb's magnificent scenery and buildings; and Matt DeLaMater & Steve St. Claire ran a 6mm, 10:1 recreation of Waterloo. The terrain was breathtaking! Many clubs ran several games - I don't have all their names, but The Courier with Old Colony Wargamers ran 17 games between Thursday and Saturday. THE COURIER GAMES The Courier and the club where it started, Old Colony Wargamers ran 17 games, three of which were Irish Rebellion games by Leo Cronin. Some $600 worth of gift certificates were given out. These were contributed by Rennaissance Ink ($170!!), Stone Mountain ($80!), Brookhurst Hobbies, Guernsey Foundry, Miniature Service Center, Musket Miniatures, Quality Castings, TCS, Tommy Gunner, Wargames, and The Courier. For the most part the awards were given to the best player on a side as voted by his opponents. The Courier sponsored The 7th Annual Dick Bryant Duplicate Open DBA Tourney, a DBR co-sponsored with the US Pike & Shot Society, and an introduction to DBR game. For some reason a preponderance (6) of The Courier games were WWII. The remainder were Camerone (the wooden hand is on the way to Paris), San Jacinto, Hessians & Highlanders, and a French & Indian war game - hosted by yours truly - based on the modified Desperado rules that appear in this issue. (the Americans could not buy a dice roll!). Many thanks to the Courier Staff, Old Colony Members and Friends who made this possible. Historicon 98 Ancients Report by Scott Holder The Ancient tournaments had two "celebrities" participate in the form of Phil and Sue Barker, he playing in the DBM Mini, she in at least one DBA event. They were merely the tip of the UK contingent that invaded our shores this year. This was our third straight Historicon in which we pulled in over 200 individual players played in the four game systems (7ed, DBM, DBA, Armati). About 40% of all players at least doubled up on events and about a third tripled up on games. Furthermore, the first DBA NICT attracted around 15-20 people. The Armati Arena remains strong although it's a sense of deja vu all over again. The two guys who were scheduled to play in the finals, Tom Haslett and Steve Herndon, are the same guys who pulled this stuff back in the days of 4th Edition when Dick Bryant was running the tournaments. Attempts at scheduled rounds again fell flat. The Armati tourney culture is different. Basically the guys show up and play as many games as they can cram into a 48 hour period. Arty Conliffe then scored everything and had a 9 player "cut" and the finals began Saturday afternoon Please note the individual Sportsman award winners (in the DBM Theme and Armati) in addition to the following people: Steve Phellen, Mark Ketner, Ronda Gilmour, Sean Scott, Scott McDonald, Tim Grimmett, Dick Hurchanik, Jim Bisigani, Jake Kovel, and Larry Essick. Umpires for the weekend were Scott Holder, Larry Essick, and Jevon Garrett for the 7.5 games, John Shirey, Bob Nedwich, Rich Novak, and Gary Dziatko for DBM, Dave Ray and Mike McVeigh for DBA, and good ole Arty "I hate tournaments" Conliffe for Armati. Old Glory provided the always coveted NICT t-shirts. As mentioned, Thistle and Rose provided the Sportsman award and would have done terrain and armies if there had been time to select something. Wargames sponsored the Armati tournament. Other sponsors included Regal Miniatures for DBA, and Ral Partha for the NICTs. Apologies if we forgot anyone. TOURNAMENT RESULTS DBM 25mm NICT Mark Huml, Macedonian E Successor DBM 15mm NICT Paul Robinson, Ottomans 7.5 NICT Eric Turner, Yuan DBA NICT Jeff Hady Armati TBD at later date (Steve Hernden got sick) Armati Sportsman Pete Suawak US/UK Challenge Match UK Team (sigh) 7.5 25mm Mini Robert Turnball, Late Roman 7.5 15mm Mini Todd Kaeser, Aztec DBM 25mm Mini John Buckley, Republican Indian DBM 15mm Mini Tim Stubbings, Medieval Portuguese 7.5 25mm Theme Dave Markowitz, Anglo-Norman 7.5 15mm Theme John Green, E Frank DBM 25mm Theme John Buckley, Serbian DBM 15mm Theme Kevin Donovan, Bayid 7.5 Open Dave Pyle, Late Roman DBM 25mm Open Walt Leach, Golden Horde DBM 15mm Open Hilton McMannis, Feudal Spanish DBA Midnite Mike Guth, Hussite DBA 25mm Jeff Hady, Viking DBA Bronze Age Steve Donlon, N Kingdom Egypt DBA Classical Terry Hollern, Marian Rome DBA Steppe Terrence McPartland, Hindu Indian DBA Dark Ages Mark Chilinskas, Arab Empire DBA Medieval Chris Burr, Teutonic Knights PAINTING COMPETITION There were over 100 entries between the Masters and the Open Categories. Unfortunately there were no entries in the Apprentice Category. The competition was organized by John Spiess, the judges were:Chris Hughes, Jay Worth (rennaissance Ink), John Jennings(La Gloire Magazine), and Chuck Crane (Ral Partha). The judges did a very good job as there were many outstanding pieces. Best of Show Award: Rod & Carol Langton Napoleonic French Ships Old Glory Eagle Award: Awarded to the Best Overall Entry of Old Glory figures: Bob Marshal 25mm Mexican Army Masters Class Gold Medal Name: Description Category David Bonk Polish Army, 1241AD 25mm Army Mike Lavigne WWI Aircraft Naval & Vehicle Display Rod & Carol Langton Napoleonic French Naval & Vehicle Display Dana O'Hara Western Cowboys 25mm Unit Bob Marshal Mexican Army 25mm Army Silver Medal David Bonk Mongol Army, 1241 AD 25mm Army Harry Porfort French Ship Naval & Vehicle Display Greg Skelly The 97th Rgt of Foot 25mm Unit Bronze Medal Jim Moffet 1941 German Recce Btn. Naval & Vehicle Display David Bonk French 32nd Demi-Bde 25mm Unit Peter Hume- Germans, 1519AD 25mm Unit Roger Dospil Space Fleet Naval & Vehicle Display Greg Skelly Japanese Monks 15mm Unit Paul Remardino Zulus Under 15mm Unit Timothy Wright Crusaders 25mm Unit Open Class Gold Medal Jefferson Hobbs Norse/Viking Army 15mm Army Bill Williams American Armor Naval & Vehicle Display Ned Merrick Napolean's Old Guard 25mm Unit Silver Medal Sturgis Payne ACW Confederates 25mm Unit Danny Jones Galatian Warband #1 15mm Unit Wayne Downey Napoleonic French 25mm Army Mark Stevens America Regt., Spain 1748 25mm Unit Bill Williams Japanese 15mm Unit Bill Williams Union Brigade 15mm Unit Bill Williams Napoleonics 15mm Unit Eric: Harden Cossacks 25mm Unit Bronze Medal Pete Landry French Line, Peninsular War 15mm Unit Pete Landry British light, Peninsular War 15mm Unit Sturgis Payne French 2nd Hussars 25mm Unit Joe Moore Arab Camelry 15mm Unit Joe Moore Sepoy Mutiny 15mm Unit Danny Jones Galatian Army 15mm Army Wayne Downey British Highlanders 25mm Unit Danny Jones Galatian Warband #2 15mm Unit Joe Nacchio Mongols 15mm Army Joe Nacchio WWII Snow Tigers Naval & Vehicle Display Bill Williams Romans 15mm Army Rick Base Cossacks 25mm Army Al Slisinger ACW Confederates 25mm Unit More Dispatch News Historicon '98 Convention Report Avalon Hill Sold Leo Cronin and Larry Brom Honored The Courier Elected to Origins Hall of Fame The Sword and the Flame Reverts to Author Product News Magazines Calendar Conventions Back to Table of Contents -- Courier #75 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by The Courier Publishing Company. 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