As is usual, I compile these convention reports from my own observations, but mostly from the input of others. In this case I am especially grateful to (in no special order) Jay Hadley, Bill Rutherford, Scott Holder, John Knudson, Toby Barrett Dave Bonk, Pete Panzieri, Otto Schmidt, and many others - ED. The controversial Lord of The Rings game put on by Duke Seigfried. This is about 20% of the Helm’s Deep table. The Evil forces under Lord Saruman approach from the lower left. The Vice-President of Convention operations, Jay Hadley announced that the recently completed Historicon ‘03 convention recently played host to one of the largest wargaming crowds in HMGS history. Over 3,400 people attended the four-day event held at the Lancaster Host Resort in Lancaster, PA. Thanks to the work of board member (and our modern period Editor - ED) Bill Rutherford, our new computerized registration system allows us to capture preliminary attendance numbers within hours of closing the convention. This year’s attendance: Paid attendees: 2,543 Non-paid (staff, minors and families): 471 Dealer badges: 389 Total: 3,403 Historicon experienced an 18.6% increase in paid attendance over Historicon`02. There were 97 dealers and over 500 games. These do not include the competition Ancient games in the Lampateer room or the many pick-up games. The Ents come to the rescue at Helm’s Deep. Your editor, Dick Bryant played Lord Saruman in this game! Pete and Jodi Panzeri who served as the gamemaster coordinators, ran the awards program and coordinated the gamemasters help desk. A Historicon first was a GM security coordinator, designed to help prevent theft in the gaming areas. This service will now be provided at all HMGS-east conventions. The position was ably performed by Mark Zaslovsky. John Knudsen on rec.games.miniatures.historical compiles a breakdown of the game types at the conventions based on a reading of the convention booklet. I include it here for your information - ED Under each general classification, the first number is the total number of games of that type in my compilation, sometimes (in the case of those classifications which represent a significant portion of the total) followed by a number in parentheses indicating the approximate percentage of the total which that number represents. After the first slash, the number of different rulesets in use for that classification; and after a second slash, the number of times the most-used ruleset appears in the list. Ancient & Medieval 46 (11%) / 22 / 9 Ancient & Medieval Naval 19 (4.4%) / 7 / 7 Renaissance 19 (4.4%) / 11 / 4 Renaissance Naval 6 / 4 Eighteenth Century 22 (5%) / 16 / 3 Eighteenth Century Naval 5 / 5 Napoleonic 43 (10%) / 19 / 7 Fighting Sail 11 / 6 / 3 American Civil War 28 (6.5%) / 14 / 8 Wild West 9 / 4 / 5 Colonial/Victorian 41 (9.5%) / 15 / 19 World War One Land 9 / 4 / 5 World War One Naval 9 / 6 / 3 World War One Air 3 / 1 World War Two Land 85 (20%) / 26 / 13 World War Two Naval 4 / 3 World War Two Air 16 / 8 / 4 Modern Land 6 / 4 / 3 Modern Naval 1 Fantasy/SciFi/Juvenile/Whatever 41 events “The Courier Room” AKA The Paradise Room at the Host had some 56 games run from Thursday Noon until Saturday at midnight. These games were game mastered by members of The Courier Staff, its advertisers and authors. The games covered every period from ancients to WWII. At least two won GM Awards: Pete Mancini’s The Stand at Uji Bridge and Rob Walter & Pete Landry’s Zulu Dawn. Advertisers supported the events with over $2500 worth of prizes in merchandise and gift certificates that were given out to the players. The winner on each side in the game is chosen by the vote of his opposing side. Special thanks to the support provided by (in no particular order): Wargames, TCS, RLBPS, Reverisco, Redoubt, Knuckleduster, SeeKreig 5, MagWeb, Thoroughbred Miniatures. Richard Sartore, co-author of SeeKreig wrote: I feel it’s important to take a moment and thank the folks responsible for organizing HISTORICON 2003. It was, in a word, outstanding. It has been nearly 20 years since I attended a major con and was prepared for the usual inconveniences associated with gatherings of this size, especially since I had never been to Lancaster. It wasn’t at all what I expected. Although not exactly a direct route, it took little more than an hour to drive from the airport in Philadelphia to the hotel in Lancaster (which, of course, was AFTER spending the afternoon visiting the USS OLYMPIA, USS NEW JERSEY and having a cheese-steak and beer in Philly for dinner). The facilities for a con in Lancaster were perfect. There are plenty of hotels within a couple miles of one another and lots of restaurants. Of course, I’m sure some of those restaurants lost out on business because the availability and variety of food available at the host hotel during the con was incredible. It was a real treat to be able to take a short break from running the game and grab a grilled burger and a beer in less than five minutes. Since I were pre-registered, getting my badge took about 90 seconds – actually closer to five minutes since there was no one else in line and we enjoyed chatting with the friendly gals manning the registration desk. I would also like to thank Dick Bryant and his sponsorship of the Courier Room. This is an ideal setting for games since it has a limited capacity of about seven games. Trying to run a game that requires any interaction between the judge and the players is often very difficult to do in a large room due to the noise level. In our opinion, HISTORICON 2003 was the best con we have ever attended and those responsible for organizing and staffing the event are worthy of the highest praise. - WELL DONE !!!! The controversial Lord of the Rings game put on by the inestimable Duke Seifried took up 5 enormous tables in the lobby of the hotel. Like or hate Fantasy gaming, one had to admit that the terrain and the figures were breathtaking. The game was controversial as many HMGS members felt that a fantasy game was out of place as a showpiece for a Historical Miniatures convention. But a lot of interest was shown in the exhibit and many of the “names” in the hobby took part in some of the 3 day - all day - game. DAISY AWARD Melanie Follmer of Trenton edged out a whole gang of other very impressive candidates and won The Society of Daisy Award for Humor in Wargaming for her “Settlers and Savages” game. “Mel’s” “minimalist production was up against huge extravaganza’s put on by competitors which featured B-Movie productions, Outlandish races in the Jungle featuring Golem pulled carts, flamingo chariots, and flying steam engines, and rabid attack-hippos gobbling up occasional penny-farthing racers. It was a tough choice, but Melanie got the award by showing what you can do with a minimum— a ragged shred of felt, a few cabins a half a dozen figures and some animals produced a riotous game of constant laughter, jokes, and wild play. Of course the settlers having dogs which were a sort of “Colonial Cujo’s” helped. Melanie’s subtle gamesmastering was also an art in itself- a subtle hint here- a word there- an “Oh yes you should remember—” were at the top of the art. Most impressive was that she was scheduled to put on the game once, but groups of gamers sought her out to plead with her to put it on again and she would up doing it three times more! That’s deserving of a medal on its own! The Society of Daisy Award is given to the gamer who in the judgement of the Society produces an exemplary game of humor, style, and burlesque and thereby contributes to the “lighthearted” and less serious side of the hobby. The prize confers an engraved gold medal and a $50 cash prize. Of note, Otto Schmidt, Grand Oyah and Great Wazoo of the Society says is that “Historicon 03’ was a real milestone. Previously only one or two games per convention were considered. At Historcon we were kept running by a huge proliferation of “humoresque” games such that it was all we could do to judge them all.” Schmidt also noted that beacuse of the growth of “humerous games” and the excellence of effort being showcased, the society is considering other awards, including a Humor in gaming award 2nd class, and a third class for humorous submissions to the Society. Game Master Awards For several HMGS conventions now, Game Masters have been receiving awards for the best presented games. Awards are made for Thursday afternoon, Friday morning, afternoon and evening, Saturday morning, afternoon and evening and for Sunday morning. The judges are game masters themselves. Unfortunately as we go to press, I haven’t received the list of winners and will publish them in the next issue. HMGS EAST “BEST” EVENT AWARDS I have not been able to get a list of these winners at press time and will have to report on them in the next issue. SCRUBY AWARD WINNERS The HMGS Legion of Honnor elected HMGS’s long time BOD member and recent president as the recipient of The Scruby Award. The Scruby Award is given every other year to a gamer who has made a contribution to the hobby at such a level that if he had not been involved, the hobby would not be the same. Jay was “knighted” at the awards dinner by Queen Elizabeth, herself (AKA Mrs Bill Rutherford). Jay Hadley knighted by the Queen at the Scruby Award Dinner. Left background is Duke Seifried, center is Todd Fisher, and right is Bob Coggins. The Legion added two members to its roster for outstanding contributions to the hobby - Bob Beattie (The very first editor of the Courier who has done so much to spread the gaming of DBX gaming and introduced your editor to Wargaming) and Russ Dunaway, founder and owner of Old Glory Miniatures who has done so much to keep figures affordable. A PERSONAL NOTE: Bob Beattie’s elevation to the Legion is particulary poignant for me. Back in 1968, I received a phone call in answer to a letter i had placed in the Armchair General - a wargame publication that Pat Condray was publishing at the time. On the other end of the phone was Bob who asked “ I understand that you are interested in learning about miniature wargaming?” Bob invited me to his home and introduced me to C. L & S. Much to my wife’s chagrin I stopped by Bobs, almost every night for the next several months immersed in this new hobby. Bob suggested that we form a group, which we did, called the New England Wargames Association. It started with 3 or 4 members, one of who was Leo Cronin. Bob’s next suggestion was that we have a newsletter. THAT grew from a mimeo 2 page to The Courier of today. Bob was the first editor and initial guiding light of The Courier. So whatever The Courier, and I and any of the several hundred gamers who have passed through NEWA (later OCW)have been able to bring to the hobby all started with that phone call. Bob richly deserves the honor. - DICK BRYANT. NASAMW HISTORICON 2003 TOURNAMENT RESULTS (about 250 players total in all events) SPORTSMEN DBM: Ken Winland DBA: Ed Dillon Warrior: John Chriss Warhammer: Eddie Wilson, Tom Opalka, Steve Schifani Medieval Warfare: Jim Bleed, Guido Marra NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Warrior: Derek Downs DBA: David Kuijt DBM 15: Kevin Donovan DBM 25: Tom Thomas DBM Mini: Joey Miller DBM 15mm Theme: Dan Hazelwood DBM 25mm Theme: Ken Winland DBM Open (1): Brian Walter DBM Open (2): Mark Bumala WAB Chariot: Adam Hughes WAB Classical: Matt Iverson WAB Open: Dave Reiners WAB Doubles: Jonas/Effinger MW 15mm: Silvio Marra AW 25mm : Allen Kaplan Warrior 15mm Theme: Mark Cribbs Warrior 25mm Theme: Ewan McNay Warrior 15mm Mini: Dan Woyke Warrior 25mm Mini: Eric Turner Warrior 15mm Open: Scott McDonald Fast Warrior Theme: Jamie Gentry DBA MM: Mark Pozniak DBA Hoplite: Roland Fricke DBA 25 Open: Matt Torres/Kyle Burley DBA Teen: Derek Hawkins DBA Biblical: Sue Laflin-Barker DBA Roman Clas: David Kuijt DBA Greek Clasl: David Schlanger DBA East Asia/Steppes: Mark Pozniak DBA Dark Age: Rob Torres DBA Medieval: Matt Torres DBA Big Battles: Coniglio/Coniglio DBA Duplicate: David Schlanger DBA League: David Schlanger DBA Big Board: David Kujit DBA Rookie of the Year: Alex Bostwick PAINTING AWARDS Best of Show & Gold medal Andrew Ringlet Arena Scenes Gold medal Jesus Rivero Wellington's Guard Silver Medal Jeff Jonas Macedonian Successor Elephant Brian Redding Kyrenean Greek Michael Koznarsky Scotts Coventeers Greg Skelly Fallschrimjager Wayne Hansen Samnite Paul Robinson Union ACW Fleet and British Battlecruiser Peter Hume Army of Sulliman Silver Medal, Best Theme Entry Award and Old Glory Award Mike Adair Custer's 7th Cavalry Greg Skelly Joan D' Arc Wayne Hansen Teutonic Order Peter Skaar WWI British and German Ships Michael White 1812 Russians Rob Robertson Confederate Battery Jeff Hobbes 100 Years War French Raiding Party Jim Moffett British Division at Waterloo Bronze MEDAL and Sash and Sabre Award Bob Moon Medieval Knights Courier Dispatch News About the Hobby. Historicon 2003 Product News Publications and Catalogs Calendar Events Back to Table of Contents -- Courier # 89 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com