Drums along the Maumee 4 was our best effort for HMGS Great Lakes and the Colby Street Irregulars. Within a week after the convention, we had many Game Masters and Dealer requests for spots in next year's Drums! Next year's date is May 14-15 at the same location.

Highlights from the convention include:

Around 143 Gamers attended on friday and saturday (Drums 1 had 63). A dozen went to the Fort Meigs for the three games laid out there Sunday morning.

Drums 4 had 40 events (Drums 1 had around 20).

All eight Dealers had come pre-paid for the event and all showed up for good sales. No complaints about not having a "Good Sales Day."

The Holiday Inn staff was very good to us again. They prepared the rooms beforehand, laying out all the tables to our configurations. This was a big help. Likewise, they ran the hot dog cart on the weekend and provided more garbage cans and cold water jugs on request.

Friday's gate was so good that the rest of the hotel bill was paid off by about 8 pm that night. Saturday would be all profit for the chapter -- not bad!

Plans are already in the mix for Drums 5. We intend to add another room into the show for more space, games, dealers, etc.

A "Closed Box" (pick what you want to win) Raffle was run on saturday, as well as two smaller 50/50 Raffles for cash prizes.

Four GL Board members were present. Tom Bryant, Jack Shaw, Doug Johnson and Steve Smith. Other clubs sending members included Wayne's Legion, Metro Detroit Gamers, as well as staff from SpartaCon, MichiCon and Pro or Con. The local Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg and Detroit gamers attended in force.

Two Big Games were in the mix for the convention. Gordon Andrew's Group, "5 guys and a Lawyer," came and laid out a 15'x6' Boxer Rebellion game in 25mm scale. More than 1000 painted figures battled the Siege of Peking all day friday and saturday, with about 20 gamers each time. Chris van der Sluis of Fremont came and ran his 1/6th scale G.I. Joe game. A 4' long, scratch built, Tiger 1 battled U.S. Stuarts, M-8 scout cars and M-3 Halftracks. About 40 figures of the 12 inch size G.I. Joes were all over the 30'x30' battlefield.

Three different GMs ran World War I air games, all in 1/72 scale.

The First Drums Flea Market was a success -- local gamers came (and for a small fee) -- were able to sell their unwanted figures, games, books, etc.

The seamless offering of games that occurred almost each hour gave many players the chance to try many new systems. They could go eat, take a break and then jump into another good game that normally started within the hour.

The variety of this years events was very good. Ancient Rome, Wild West, World War II Naval, American Civil War, 19th century, Boer War, American Revolution, War of 1812 Naval, ACW Ironclads, World War II infantry and armor battles, Modem, a DBA Tournament and a few "possible futuristic fights." Scales ran from 2mm to 1/6th scale, and everything in between.

Many new members were signed on and others renewed their memberships.

Don't ask me why the hotel bar close early each night - we are "working" on that one for next year. (Ed. Note: "Hear, hear!)

The #1 Question I was asked was: "How many Colbys are there? They seem to be everywhere!" Well, at one time, we had 16. There were 12 walking around Drums for the convention. Several ones on "Leave" came back for the cause. On a given normal week at the basement, six or seven attend. Locally, there are seven that are no longer a part of the group, two of those still attended! When the Colbys joined Great Lakes, we thinned out over past and future direction.

If you came to Drums, we are sure you got your money's worth. If you did not come, join us next year and help write new stories for The Herald!