Well, Fall is here and we have been busy as usual. This is now year number 20 for most of us. Several of the Colbys made it to Advance the Colors in September. The Three Johnson Brothers, Tim and his son, and Jim came down on saturday morning. The Johnsons ran Steve's Civil War event -- very bloody, and with a stream to make things interesting.

Tim and son played all weekend to savor the games that the other GMs ran at the ATC. He played in the Aerodrome Game, the Reichstag and Cowboy Game and the Gaslight event. Many, many interesting observations were recorded and relayed to the rest of the Colbys.

Jim ran a French Foreign Legion game out by the pool on saturday. Excellent players and plenty of room enabled several bystanders to watch the carnage. Arab Cavalry and Infantry swarmed the seaside village as the Legion defenders tried to protect an Explorer Unit and their treasures. A Gunboat showed up to shell the attackers and to retrieve the defenders. Satchel charges were thrown and many, many figures went down in a fast and deadly battle. A big thank you to the contestants!

Plans are being prepared for October's Pro or Con events on the 18th of the month. Also possible this year are trips to U-Con, WinterCon, SpartaCon, BashCon and Seven Years War. All depends on who is free on those weekends, with the holidays squeezed in.

We have completed the MECH-A-COLBY Game using the Mechwarrior toys. Latest playtest was a battle with 68 units on a 6'x8' board -- all dead but two by the time we ended 90 minutes later. It works! Another attempt to make a Convention beginner-friendly game. With Tim's notes from his experience in the Gaslight Game, we have begun work on a similar project for this winter. We have done Colonials for 20 years, as well as Sci-Fi infantry Battles.

Steve is getting married this Fall, and we hope to get the Party invite soon.

Finally, a Drums 5 update: We shall begin taking in events and possible Dealers after Thanksgiving, as usual. This year, we plan on renting two more additional rooms for our saturday convention traffic to enable us to spread out some, add Dealers or more games and generally provide a nicer layout. Be ready next issue to read the Drums 5 Timeline for next Spring.

-- Colonel Colby, fixing the keel of the gunboat "Weasel!"