One of the nice side benefits of this job is the name recognition it gives you. I'm not trying to sound like I have a big head or anything, but it is nice when folks recognize you from your connections to the chapter.

That came in handy in December when Terry Brown, who read about us online, came up to Muskegon to play in our monthly Arenacon game. In March, I had a chance to repay the favor and join his merry little band playtesting a set of Spanish Civil War rules based on Squad Leader. The games were a hoot. We got together every two weeks on Sunday afternoons (just finished the game today) for four hours, followed by a light meal.

In joining up with this merry band of fellows, I had a chance to reflect on another person's work in painting and modeling. I was impressed with techniques that I personally didn't care for (black priming and drybrushing for painting). Seeing it "in the flesh" as it were, as opposed to a photo in a magazine or on a website, made me reconsider my position. I also saw a technique for ruined buildings that I'm going to have to try one of these days. It goes to show you that you can learn a lot from other's work.

Well the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the weather is warming up. It must be spring, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. That means that time is short for our first convention, Drums Along the Maumee. Ok, I've said it before, where did the time go? Wasn't ATC just last month or something? This means that our schedule is even more compressed now that the weather is coming. We have a fine list of events planned for you. After Drums comes The HOT program at Origins, Warparty, Historicals at Gencon (more on this later in the issue), and finally, Advance the Colors. This is besides all of the other small local and regional events that will be blooming like spring and summer flowers all over the place. Get out and enjoy the fine weather and also please stop in and enjoy some of our wonderful conventions too. Good luck and good gaming.

A Note from Smethurst's Basement

Thanks to all who helped, and all who attended Warband. We had 50 gamers enjoying a day of various miniature events, great food and company, prizes and raffle. Jim Williams ran a great DBA mini-tourney, which saw Jay Bevington win a Gallic army. See you at Warparty in July! -- Rich Smethurst