Congratulations to the HMGS Origins Team (HOT'99), representing HMGS at the 1999 Origins convention in Columbus, OH. From the first game on Thursday morning, (Steve Verdoliva's incredibly well-constructed 6mm Wagram) to the very last game of the entire convention (7 pm, Sunday, John Pittenger's 54mm Bonnie and Clyde) historical miniatures ruled! All of the HOT Team worked many late hours, which paid off with a resounding success for Great Lakes and other HMGS Chapters, magnificently promoting our hobby to the 10,000 attendees.

We recruited many new members at both the HMGS control desk and numerous gaming tables, including our feature-demo in the main exhibit area. A majority of the HOT gamers and new members came from the Origins Boardgaming and War College crowd. Mike Demana and other GL members, such as Chris von Fahnestock, Dave Doty, Rich Masse, and Gavin Tovrea represented local gamers, while dozens of other GMs showed the flag for HMGS East, Mid-South, International, and West (Steve Verdoliva -- all the way from California!). Each did superb job of running magnificent games.

While some gamers apparently came for the food-court experience alone, the dedicated gamemasters and HOT Desk volunteers (such as Jodie Lindberg, Gordon Bliss, Deb Apperson, and many others), all deserve much credit for their service. Master Game Designers and celebrity wargamers such as Frank Chadwick, Duke Siefried, Jim Getz, John Hill, and many others were present to represent HMGS as well. The list goes on and on. Thanks to you all, your support helped other GMs and players get down to business all that much easier, and the impact you've had on the hobby is immeasurable.

In 1996, when I first attended Origins in Columbus, there were only about a dozen historical miniatures games. With HMGS'support, we reached 100 events in 1997, and topped 150 in 1998. This year (despite a surprise deadline), we surpassed our previous game totals, and expanded player attendance significantly. HOT'99, in it's 3rd year of growth, included over 120 scheduled and 40 more unscheduled historical events. According to Origin's preliminary data collection, we increased the percentage of gamers playing historical miniatures by about 20% over last year, and doubled what we did two years ago. The non-historical miniatures were down a corresponding 20%. (We weren't "bugged" to have that much more "space" -- intended pun).

Despite a few unexpected no-show GMs on the schedule, we enjoyed many more LARGE feature and show-case games with few table-schedule conflicts, as well as many more players per game than ever before. We were allowed to run several historical games in the main exhibition area, and several others across the hall in the non-historical (space) room. The cross-over gave us excellent exposure to the "alt.gamers." The ample table space in our (historical) room was a blessing for those running the multi-table games.

One aside note: The alt.gamers (Non-Historical Miniatures) had the usual spaceship-n-ghost type games, but some other VERY "interesting" games as well. I swear I saw this: A miniatures "alt.gamer" with checkered table-cloth, plastic food (like ears of corn?) and plastic insects. Picnic-wars maybe? I told them this was reminiscent of my 4th of July picnic, and therefore, technically, it was "HISTORICAL MINIATURES!" (Maybe a safer name now for us would be Historical MILITARY MINIATURES, eh? But then no, that would exclude that excellent Bonnie and Clyde game!).

Wizards of the Coast and the Origins directors also deserve much thanks for their tireless efforts. Gwen Kestrel, Dave Gervais and "SuperDave" were as proactive and responsive as an SF Team on Alert. They gave us unbelievable support. Origins went all out to accommodate HMGS and HOT '99, giving us a color, 2-page HOT '99 spread in their PEL with our own text, color photos, promotional data -- and then mailed thousands of copies worldwide. They dedicated another two pages of HMGS promotional information in the front of their onsite program with contact info for every HMGS Chapter (worth thousands in advertising). Each of our staff members and HMGS GMs got a free Origins access badge and HOT '99 ribbon for free Historical Gaming. They provided us our own huge gaming room to use for four days (a room as large as Historicon's Distlefink -- which would have cost us $6000 or more). They set up four hallway demo tables by the high-traffic, Hyatt hallway, two more in the Dealer Area (one was a 10'x 30' WWII Anzio Command Decision III campaign, one was the Alamo), and more than 100 six and eight foot tables (almost double last year).

They provided a full time Origins staff member at our location to help meet our needs, a TV, VCR, phone, six easels for our display data, a dual set of huge placards with HOT'99 events and a daily printout updating all historical miniatures games. Between the superior location, ample space, excellent service and the clean, roomy, elegant atmosphere, it was (as always) a four-star experience.

To give an idea of thefirst class accommodations we had: Table clothes and skirting on the HMGS Control Desk cost Origins $300 from the Hyatt service people. We received hotel accommodations worth over $900 for visiting GMs. I estimate that Origins invested over $10,000 on the HMGS portion of their convention, and over $25,000 over the past three years of HOT's growth. (Heck, they spent $10,000 just red-carpeting the dealer hall alone -- why not us, too?)

While Wizards of the Coast is a multi-million dollar operation, Origins is not a money-making event for them. They spend much more than they make, seeing the event as a "promotion of the hobby," which they recoup with the growth of their own products. They spend and lose tens of thousands, all invested in the convention and the growth of our gaming hobby. Their investment in our HMGS effort alone shows that. I am thankful for them. And why did they give all of this for HOT and HMGS? Because, like Dominos pizza, we delivered! Also, I think, like the War College," we provide an educational legitimacy for their PR people. So everyone wins!

All in All, HOT'99 provided quality gaming for HMGS attendees, successful recruiting from the boardgamers, War College, or "alt.gamer" attendees, and extensive international exposure for HMGS. Next year, Origins will promote HOT 2000 to their most visible location -- right next to their registration, exhibition hall and vendor entrance (and also directly adjacent to the massive Magic crowds). So, the early tournament turn-outs will be coming to HOT later. This marks a three year growth for historical gaming at Origins, with over 1,000 % in expansion, as well as moving up to the premier exposure location.

We look forward to HOT 2K as the HMGS Origins Team can only grow from here, and hopefully continue grow HMGS with it.