I think conventions are a clever way of forcing us to finish projects. I had committed to running the Battle of Culloden, 1746, for Origins '98. Since all but a few of the Jacobite highlanders, and the English were ready, I dithered over completing the terrain during Spring. As we all do at times, I waited too long and spent the week before the con hunched over my desk finishing everything. I'm sure I averaged four hours or less sleep per night. However, when the cottages, stone fences, marshy ground and necessary sheep were all laid out on the board -- and the strands of "Aikendrum" from the Tannehill Weavers was playing on the boom box -- I knew it was worth it. I've always felt my painting was a touch above average, but my terrain a tad below. This time was different and I received lots of compliments. The games went well -- the English quashed the Stewart cause on Thursday and the Jacobites exacted revenge with their claymores on Friday. The players had a good time, though, which is most important. As a matter of fact, everyone seemed pleased with the HMGS presence at Origins. There was an excellent selection of historical miniatures games (well over 100 for the weekend), and they appeared full. My friends, Tim and Dean, hosted their "Warband & Retinue" Dark Age skirmish 10 times. It looked packed every time. Pete Panzeri, who organized and energized the HMGS effort is to be commended for its success. Gamemasters who ran two events and worked a stint at the booth attended the four-day con free. This is a better deal than most HMGS cons give. Origins is an excellent venue to promote HMGS. A final topic I'd like to touch on is advertising in The Herald. Although I received only a handful of ads this issue, I want to encourage hobby stores, distributors, mail order services, painters, terrain-makers,etc., to consider taking out an ad. Our prices are absurdly cheap -- $20 for a full page ad, $10 half page and $6 business card. There are annual discounts, too ($100, $50, $30 for six issues instead of above). The Herald reaches more than 200 historical gamers. One or two "bites" and you've covered the cost plus tallied a profit. The relationship between gamers, vendors, cons and gaming publications is a symbiotic one. When one prospers, we all benefit. Back to The Herald 24 Table of Contents Back to The Herald List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by HMGS-GL. 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