Another Siege of Augusta has come and gone and this one ranks as one of the best ever. While I don't have the actual attendance numbers, it was up significantly over any number previously posted. There were about 60 folks there on Friday night.

There is one new figure range that I will comment on later, after I get my thoughts together, but the first impression of this 15mm Napoleonic range is, "Wow!" They are very nice -- excellent animation, crisp, clean lines that remind you of the best Anthony Barton work for Battle Honors. They are a little pricey at 37 cents each. It appears with the new ownership of Frei Korps, they will be reliably available on our side of the pond. Frei Korps are available from the folks at Hinton Hunt.

The absolute highlight of the show were the junior High kids from Florida that were brought in by two of their teachers, who are also gamers. They spent Friday and all day Saturday playing Armati. Given the fact that several of them didn't move from their location for up to six hours at a time, I think they were enjoying the action. They had, by the way, painted their own armies and did a pretty nice job of it as well. Oh, to have a 14-year-old's eyes again!

I was in the running for the "Siege army," but lost out on the last draw of the cards. just what I needed though -- more 15mm Seven Years War figures! Next year's Siege army will be one to shoot for, though -25mm ACW. The concept of the Siege Army is pretty neat. All you need to do to be in the drawing for it is paint a unit for the army and hand it in on Saturday of the convention. In the evening, those who painted a unit are all placed on a cards which are turned over. The last man standing wins! There are booby prizes along the way, and to liven the event more, there are opportunities to sell your chance to win to those who have been eliminated or didn't do any painting.

The gaming this year was not like any mix that has ever gone before. There were no Naps or SYW and only one ACW` game. There were any number of World War II, Medieval and Ancients games being run. The most unusual game was the defense of Pass Sankt George by the Austrians against the Ottoman Empire in 1644. It was really a bad day to be Ottoman, as they forgot their artillery, and the peasant scum fared badly against the French reinforcements (the Guard!). At Shiloh, the rebels found out what a 9-inch Dahlgren can do to massed infantry at short range -- blown to pieces. A heroic stand by the Union as they shattered the Confederate attack. Grant will be moving on Vicksburg sooner than anyone expected!

A deep bow with ruffles and flourishes for Dr. Jim Birdseye and his loyal staff for another splendid weekend of gaming and conversation, with anticipation of returning next year.