Hacking Around...
Editorial
by Philip J. Viverito
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It is with some relief that this the fourth Classical Hack News Letter is released, however late. We seemed to have spent more time in the air than on ground! October and November were very busy and uniquely rewarding for us. Home at last with our travels completed for the year we can now return to our abnormal routine. October saw us visiting the west coast putting demonstration games of Homeric Hack at Lion Heart Games and then Fall Campaign, in Altadena California. Home briefly were prepared for The Legacy Of Hannibal Program hosted by The Ambassador of Tunisia in conjunction with the Hannibal Club and the Smithsonian; in Washington, D.C. Two weeks after Washington it was time for Fall In!, held in Gettysburg, PA. We learned much about flying places and getting things there and back safely. The California and D.C. events present minor difficulties which all travellers are subject to when flying in the Post 911 World.
When planning to do demonstration games of any size be sure to allow plenty of time when travelling by plane or car. If you require large scale models of things like Troy, figure out the best way to transport them. We swear by the U.S. Postal Service, in regard to cost and delivery. Be sure you have the packages boxed properly, which we did. Make sure that the mail clerk sends them all the same way. Which we somehow did not do. Two of our boxes got to California days after the event. Consider time and arrive early to the seminar or convention. Plan on things going wrong. When visiting a different city find out where the good craft stores are located. If something needs fixing or replacing you can get the goods you require to make rebuilds and repairs. Having arrived early we had plenty of time to find and replace the missing parts. Knowing we would be returning to California again in 2005 we decided to leave Troy in California with Marcelo. It was decided by Lynne that it was easier to build a new city of Troy and build a new one for Fall In!, some two weeks later. Fortunately John Hutt's systems for scratch building is fast and fun. Lynne was right. Be sure projects are worth doing as were ours. Do not let life's little problems over take the joys of your vocation. When you stop enjoying projects like these it will show and people will see right through you. In regard to building things which occupies much of my time, nothing of the enjoyment has been lost. I have a friend who once set up several thousand figures for his new line of figures and rules; for a demonstration game at a big convention. His figures were great and his rules well done. Unfortunately only one person signed up for his game. Disappointed he cancelled on the single player and packed up to go. I asked him why he did not play the game? It wasn't worth his time. Frankly I told him, "Your time was already spent, you should have played the game." I have had this happen to me and I look at it as a time where I can make a new acquaintance and get a chance to really game. That's why we go to conventions isn't it? To show our stuff and to game. That's our mission. In Hacking around I have made many new friends, gained the ability to interact with others with a similar vocation and to strut my stuff. Hacking Around is worth it when I prioritize events, allow enough time for travel, am prepared for mishaps and have apartner who helps things get done. Priori tizing, planing and help make Hacking Around possible and enjoyable. Back to Table of Contents -- Classical Hack Newsletter # 4 Back to Classical Hack Newsletter List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2004 by Phil Viverito. 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 |
A word to the wise for those who have figures and travel by air. Put a manifest list of the box contents on the outside of the box. Be sure to mention that the contents are fragile, metal figurines of great value with edges that could injure inspectors. Make it clear to the baggage people that you expect things not to be damaged. Be bold about this.