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Dispatch

By Dick Bryant

The North South Challenge Game

The 2nd annual North South Challenge Game was again won by the Northern team. Each year at Historicon, Ed Morhman puts together an ACW scenario using On To Richmond rules. A Northern team plays the Union, a team from South of the Mason-Dixon line plays the Confederacy. A Winners Cup goes to the group that wins each year. Eventually each player will also get a medal recognizing his participation in the challenge game.

This year's game was reminiscent of anamalgam of the 2nd and 3rd day at Gettysburg. Birney's exposed Brigades held off Longstreet's attacks while the simultaneous attack of Picket was clobbered from its left flank by 4 batteries of Union artillery. Massive Union reinforcements then came over Cemetery ridge to roll up the Confederate left. The Rebel team was: Bob Wallasin, CIC; Mike Miller, Dave Minser, Walker Crump, Paul Billings, Warren Hart, Larry Brom, Steve Raynor, and Fred Ellesesser. The Union team was: Dick Bryant, CIC; Tom Desmond, Steve Brown, Steve Parsons, Bill Greenwald, Ed Sullivan, Jay Hadley, Steve Rettick, and Randy Field.

Health in the Hobby: Brom and Swick

Larry Brom Suffers Heart Attack

Larry Brom survived a heart attack the week after Historicon. He is recovering nicely. Larry is the author of the popular rule sets THE SWORD AND THE FLAME (probably responsible all by itself for the revival of the Colonial Period as a gaming interest) and CHASSEPOT AND NEEDLEGUN, rules for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

Larry attributes his survival to Leo Cronin's (Business Manager of The Courier Publishing Co.) advice. At Historicon, Larry told Leo that he never bought more figures than he could paint in a short time. Leo, who is totally opposite in that regard, said, "Larry, that's the wrong WAY to go... no wargamer can die if he has figures to paint." Larry went out and bought several hundred figures. Larry's wife reports that among his first conscious words after his recovery were "Leo was right."

Let me see, where are those catalogs? 200,000 unpainted figures should do it.

Special Plea from Mid South: Gerald Swick

It has come to my attention that one of our own is experiencing a tragic family situation. Forthose of you who know Gerald Swick, he has been a stalwart of the Nashville wargame group. His beautiful bride Marybeth is also active and was one of the wonderful ladies who manned the registration desk at Nashcon. Marybeth has cancer. Last week she was hospitalized with a broken hip and they discovered that the cancer has spread to her bones. I am told that their insurance coverage is either inadequate or non-existent and there is a real financial need. A special fund has been established by HMGS Mid-South for them and everyone can make a contribution. Please address your donation to the Treasurer HMGS Mid-South, 124 Sugar Creek Ln., Smyrna, TN 37167, and indicate that it is for Marybeth. (From HMGS Mid- South Newsletter, August, 1989)

Madison Game Day


by Theron O. Kuntz

Area miniature and boardgame enthusiasts gathered at the Ramada Inn on Madison's north-side for a single day of steel and polish.

This primeval wargaming event, held on Father's Day, featured many genres from fantasy and science fiction to historical miniature simulations and parlour games.

Several of the area's dealers also set up shop to display their wares in the Superior Rooms. These included Pegasus Games, The Wargame Room (from Milwaukee), Walden software', and Hobby Craft.

Besides science fiction and fantasy, a multiplicity of historical miniature events were held.

Although I played in two of the many events, a Boxer Rebellion and Napoleonics scenario there were many more exciting games happening. at those same moments. For instancy, Gary Blum (Wargame Room) staged a 1/285-1/300 Nato and Warsaw Pact confrontation in battalionsized formations.

For reaction,Mr. Blum paged through 3x5 note cards with each participating unit printed on them. He would shuffle these each new game turn and flip the topmost card until all of the players moved their units. Obviously, the players moving first were at a disadvantage, butthis could change depending on what capabilities your units had.

In "Stop the Soviet Hordes", a late WWII scenario by Bill Michel, Tigers and Panthers brush with numerous T34's and Stalins using GDW's Command Decision miniature rules. The German defenders must somehow combine their firepower on the Soviet formations to win. Otherwise, the fast-moving Soviet armor will outflank or breakthrough insufficient defenses.

The Sword and the Flame by Larry V. Brom was the only rules used in the several colonial conflict events: Pathans, Afghanistan, and the Boxer Rebellion.

The invasion of southern Italy by a British expedtionary force was the theme of the only 15mm miniature scenario at the Game Day. Jim Harkonen combined NAPOLEONETTES with his rules, Fusilier (unpublished), which played very reasonably in a recreation of Maida.

If your interest vacillated, you could meander and play a parlourgame of Backgammon or Mhing, listen or participate in a free demonstration game, or BYO game - these were all free!

Nick Klapper, one of Madison Came Day sponsors and past secretary of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society - Midwest, was excited about the attendance of both enthusiasts and judges foreach game, enough so that there are plans for next year's annual event. A local media station made its spontaneous appearance for coverage of the event during the news broadcast.

If you have any questions concerning this event, its sponsors, or next year's agenda, please contact Mr. Nick Klapper, Madison Gamers Association, 1909 Heath Ave., Madison, WI 53704, or call (608) 249-3264.

Courier Dispatch News of The Hobby

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