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Showing the Flag
4-7 July 2002

By Pat Condray

HMGS has been showing the historical miniatures flag at ORIGINS since before we began our independent convention program. In fact, several founding members were managing miniatures at ORIGINS before Wally’s Basement. But in recent years, at least since 1997, the effort has been under the banner of the HMGS at ORIGINS TEAM (HOT-originally Project, or HOP.) Also since 1997, the HOT standard has been carried by Pete, and lately Jodie, Panzeri. This year they were back on the job. But there were a lot of unusual features.

ORIGINS is the “Adventure Gaming Convention,” sanctioned by the Game Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA.) Traditionally it has been managed for GAMA by contractors. HMGS had negotiated management of miniatures at ORIGINS 82 and 85 with ATLANTICON. HMGS MIDWEST worked the combined GENCON/ORIGINS 88 with Tactical Simulations Research (TSR) though GAMA, under Frank Chadwick, was more involved. This year, however, GAMA was directly involved. TSR and ANDON, the convention management company that handled ORIGINS 95 for GAMA, had been absorbed by the Wizards of the Coast ( WOC-the Magic Card people.) And a couple of years back HASBRO (the Microsoft of the Gaming Industry) bought WOC. This year HASBRO gave ORIGINS back to GAMA, so GAMA was on its own, though some of the players remained the same. The convention remained in Columbus Ohio. Next year GENCON (the former TSR Convention) will also be under new management. It will move from Milwaukee to Indianapolis (both in HMGS-GL territory). Fortunately ORIGINS seems to have survived transition with no ill effects, and was attended by a reported 11,500 people.

The new management took as good care of HOT. A large Exhibit Hall (D) was set aside for miniatures and board games. Moreover, tables, usually carefully managed, were provided in abundance. This was a great convenience to the GMs and gamers, though admittedly it didn’t show well. The feature GM were Phil Viverito (Classical Hack), Bob Giglio (the Prohibition Wars), Pete Panzeri, who has traditionally presented gala 25mm and larger games, and Dave Waxtel, whose 25mm Franco-Prussian and Castle Storming epics have graced many HMGS as well as GAMA conventions. This year Pete and Jodie as well as Dave were commuting by air. Pete compensated with masses of quick and highly playable games with relatively casual props, and Dave by focussing on repeat scenarios of the Castle Storming. Viverito and Giglio carried the standard with very presentable scenarios repeated each day of the Siege of Tyre and the Liquor Franchise disputes of the 1920s (the latter get better with each iteration.) Nothing to rival the gala Pirate Game given two years ago by Uncle Duke Seifried. But, with Michael Grow’s 1/6th WW II game they represented historical miniatures well. HMGS Great Lakes (GL) supported in force. The Newsletter Editor President, and four other BOD members joined in manning the HOT desk. There was a very colorful St. Mere Eglise scenario in 25mm. Dayton Painting Consortium’s 30mm SYW Zorndorf was as usual impressive, and there were numerous well presented games, the majority by HMGS-GL members. The total program ran to a reported 300+ historical miniatures related events.

The ORIGINS 02 Program gave full play to historical miniatures. It also carried full NSDM and War College programs, an ad for NASAMW and BORODINO 02, and a listing of HMGS Chapters. Our side of the hobby was given good treatment by GAMA. Unfortunately HM vendors were little represented. On the other hand I was amazed at the large number of exhibitors from the board game industry whose demise is often reported.

My own ORIGINS experience was great. I was able to meet Comrade Radey, whose Guadalajara manuscript was so helpful to my article in THE COURIER the subject. One of his War College Seminars was on Guadalajara. Unfortunately I was running a game on the same subject at the time. I was glad to see Pete and Jodie again as well as Charles Sharp, and to meet the HMGS-GL crew who supported the program. All four games went well. Each side won once in the two scenarios, which encourages a GM to believe the scenario was well designed.

ORIGINS 02 saw the release of the Osprey Military Journal supplement contrived between HMGS East and Osprey Publishing Company to promote the hobby. Since it is designed to promote the hobby among those not yet involved the venue was well conceived. I would suggest, however, that the full page ORIGINS ad for ORIGINS on the back page may have been wasted in a publication which first appeared in large numbers at ORIGINS.

All told there is no doubt that the historical miniatures gaming hobby was well served by the HOT program this year. I hope that GAMA is as well pleased with our contribution.

Courier Dispatch News About the Hobby.

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