The Winter season for me means preparing for the batch of local gaming conventions held around the Toledo area. First was Wintercon Jan. 24 in Warren, MI. Sponsored by the Metro Detroit Gamers, it offers a wide range of historical, fantasy and ever-present board games. I was all set to run a sci-fi game there, but a bad cold interfered. More on that later. Other conventions include Bashcon Feb. 27 (in Toledo), which is also open to all games, which offers some historicals. Battlefields, March 27 in Westland Michigan is an all historical con sponsored by the Pro Con group. Check out their website at proorcon.com.

My favorite cold-season event is the Seven Years Association Conference held in South Bend, IN (March 19-20, this year). This small, two day event was my idea of what "Drums Along the Maumee" should be. Two days of gaming with a banquet and a special guest speaker. A perfect weekend for anyone interested in history and military miniatures gaming. In recent years, they have had Dr. Christopher Duffy, author and leading scholar on warfare in the 18th Century. His wit and dry, British humor make his lectures a highlight of the Conference.

Preparing for these conventions is always a challenge. The Johnson Brothers normally like to run a new scenario each year. At the SYW conference, we have done French and Indian conflicts, a Scottish Highland skirmish and an Austrian-Prussian encounter. It's at times like these that I envy those hobbyists that concentrate on one period. I have always enjoyed starting over and getting something new "in the box." And this brings me to the big question: Should we buy the new figs, and start painting like mad, or just do an old game we have in the box? There is no right answer. Sometimes it depends on what Old Glory and the rest have released. What to do?

This year at Drums Along the Maumee, we will have more games and more room. Our game schedule is about full, but we are always looking for that unique event to add. A new feature this year is the addition of 5' round tables for smaller games. Each round table GM will receive a "Fellowship of the Roundtable" button to wear proudly at the convention. We have about six or seven in the Fellowship already. The game schedule will be posted on the HMGS-GL website, so check out our special events. Since I missed Wintercon, I will run a make-up game Friday night at Drums. This will be my BIG METAL SPACESHIP using the now famous magnetic space marines. It may not be historical yet, but if human nature is any indicator, it may be in our future.