The Second Annual Historical Miniatures Mini-Convention has passed even more successfully than the first. We had anticipated, along with some gains in attendance and new events, some rather less splendid terrain layouts than last year. After all, Major Mike Norris was transferred right after HMMC #1, and Navy Lieutenant Tod Kauderer didn't get his reprieve in time to schedule an event. As it turned out their example had caught on. Two local hobby shops, The Little Soldier of Alexandria, and Wargamer's Hobby of Stirling Park brought terrain of that style, as did Loren Schwendeman, who has recently acquired rights to ROS Heroics 1/300th figures. As if this were not enough John Hill demonstrated Johnny Reb with splendid new 10mm terrain and troops, while Richard Hasenauer, a newly arrived graphics artist enhanced the On To Richmond and Napoleon The Little scenarios with his work. I n fact, so much interesting terrain arrived that it tended to overshadow the lack of the motel provided green tablecloths so helpful last year.
We were again joined in force by Dr. Martin Gordon's Smithsonian Associates, and with substantial delegations from affiliated clubs up and down the coast. Things went so smoothly that it is hard to believe we were saved from disaster only by a string of blunders for which I can modestly take my share of credit.
We knew we didn't have the space to warrant general advertising. A brief notice appeared in the Wargamer's Digest and a somewhat cryptic advt in The Courier. Otherwise we notified such of last year's crowd as had left addresses and asked The Courier to hit the Mid-Atlantic Coast with our brochure. At this point luck took a hand-and a rather negative sort of skill. By an ingenious combination of printing the stamp in the wrong place and sending the brochures to the wrong address we managed to delay the bulk mailing so much that many didn't arrive until after the convention.
With apologies to those we didn't reach, it was probably just as well. Over 400 people did manage to show up, and at times during the day Saturday it didn't look as though another person could be squeezed in. Between the large crowd and the Holiday Inn's eccentric new decor with shoulder high chandeliers, somebody was always bumping into something. Yet somehow everything went smoothly and none of the silly chandeliers were even broken.
As usual events covered all major periods from antiquity to WWII], representing the main wargame periods with a few novelties thrown in. Unusual settings included Romans and Zealots (Rafm) Vikings and Franks (juggernaut) Rebels and Redcoats (Jim Arnold) Austro-Prussian War (mine) with unscheduled open gaming in WWI Skirmishes (Fred Haub) Mexican War (Dave Waxtel) and WWI Naval Action (juggernaut). Medieval, Renaissance, Seven Years War, and WWI I were well represented, with a real surge of ancient, Napoleonic, and War Between The States (ACW to Yankees) events.
WRG Ancients watchers will be interested in the fact that Bob Andriola's Late Romans did it again-against a strong 15mm Field that included the formidable Steve Herndon. Bob Hess with an early Hapsburg Imperial (late medieval) army won the 25mm event. There were more armies I rom the high middle ages in evidence-and some discussion of following British precedent in banning Book III armies from competition with earlier periods. This was muted by the continued success of Andriola's Late Romans. Jay Stone swept the Renaissance field with a combination of tactical skill and WRG gamesmanship. He did it with Huguenots too! Much to my surprise. Not that I have anything against Huguenots-the first Condray to hit North America is said to have been one. I just don't have much faith in horse-pistol cavalry.
COMPETITIVE GAMING EVENTS
(apologies to those whose names were not recorded)
| EVENT | WINNER | PRIZE DONOR | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| WRG Ancients 15mm Tournament | Bob Andriola (Late Roman) | Mike's Models | $25 Certificate |
| Best Painted Entry | Mitch Fitel | Mike's Models | $25 Certificate |
| WRG Ancients 25mm Tournament | Bob Hess (Early Hapsburg) | Ral Partha | $25. Certificate |
| Best Painted | Tom McMillan (1480 Italians) | Ral Partha | $25 certificate |
| WRG Renaissance (15mm) Tournament | Jay Stone (Huguenots) | Mike's Models | $25 Certificate |
| Best Painted | Kevin Donovan (Huguenots) | Mike's Models | $25 Certificate |
| Knights and Magik | ? | Juggernaut | Gift Certificate |
| Universal Soldier | ? | Rafm | Gift Certificate |
| Koenigskrieg | ? | Mike's Models | $25 Certificate |
| Rebels and Redcoats | Jeff Lebo | Stone Mountain | $15 Certificate |
| On To Richmond I | Richard Turner Greg Lyle | Stone Mountain The Courier | $15 Certificate |
| On To Richmond II | George Mangano | Stone Mountain | $15 Certificate |
| Age Of Napoleon The Little | Rich Hasenauer | Die Kaiserzeit | Figures |
| Invasion of Prussia | Bob Burnham | HMGS | Trophy |
| The Sound Of The Guns | Richard Turner Greg Becker Bob Brindelson | Schwendeman | Painted Figures |
| World War III In Europe | ? | The Little Soldier | Gift Certificates |
| PAINTING COMPETITION | |||
| Best Wargame Army 1st Prize | Steve Aleo | 15mm Romans | Essex/Little Soldier Figures |
| Best Wargame Army 2nd Prize | Fred Haub | Normans and Saxons | Soldier World $25 Certificate |
| Best Unit Under 10mm 20th Century | Vance 1/285 | M 109 Btn. | Ros Heroics/Schwendeman |
| Pre-20th Century | No Entries | ||
| Best Essex Unit | No Entries Note: Two people with very good Essex Units missed the announcement of this category. We expect it to be a feature of the HMMC in the future, so take notice! | ||
BEST PRESENTED GAME
Rafm offered a $50.00 Certificate in this category. It had been intended that this go to a non-commercial event, particularly since Rafm put on a fine gaming event of their own. However, this ran afoul of our effort to have games run by rules authors. The prize went to John Hill, whose demonstrations of Johnny Reb were highlighted by new lines of terrain and troops in 10mm scale.
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