Little Wars 2002, HMGS Midwest's flagship convention, was held March 15-17 in Lincolnshire, IL, at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort. This convention gets better every year, and if you can get to Chicago in March, it is not to be missed! The venue is a secluded, 5-star resort with every amenity on site, nearby shopping and eateries. There were more than 35 dealers on hand, selling everything from lead and paint to military prints, plus a flea market, so there was ample opportunity to empty your wallet.

Oh, and there were games, too! More than 120 of them, some of them put on by such notables as Convention VIPs Larry Brom, Frank Chadwick, Greg Novak and Duke Seifried. Lots of World War II and American Civil War land and naval, a good bit of Seven Years War and Revolutionary War, and a smattering of about everything else. One area that was very well done was the numerous games meant for kids. They ran pirates, 54mm ACW, and a Revolutionary War game that was one of the best games, period, I have ever seen. The guys running them were great, and the kids had a ball. They even gave out medals after the games! My 12 year old son played all of them at least once. By Sunday, he had that "gimme the dice" look in his eyes!

I got to play in Chadwick's 54mm Ancients game and got crushed by Alexander and the Macedonians, but redeemed myself playing Ironclads on the Rebel side by helping destroy the entire James River blockading squadron without losing a ship! Confederate torpedoes are great when they actually go off. I also played in a great Charlie Company Viet Nam riverine game, complete with monitors, LCMs and PBRs in 20mm.

The whole weekend was very well organized, and it is obvious that Midwest puts a lot of time and effort into Little Wars. It is the best Convention west of the Ohio line, and I can recommend it without any reservations. So, if you can make it to Chicago next March, be there. You'll have a great time, and help out our nearby, sister HMGS chapter.